Silence lingered a moment longer, as if the entire Bai Clan needed time to digest what had just happened.
Then, the elders stirred.
A few exchanged glances, still stunned by what they had just witnessed.
“Truly… astonishing!”
Elder Bai Wei said, his voice carrying across the courtyard.
“I can’t believe Zihan was hiding something like this. Looks like heaven has truly blessed our Bai Clan.”
He had been the first to object to Bai Zihan’s inclusion as a participant earlier, but now, he’d been proven wrong on every level.
He had no choice but to admit that Bai Zihan wasn’t just qualified—he was the one who would lead the Bai Clan forward.
His words seemed to unfreeze the rest of the elders.
“To display such overwhelming strength, control, and restraint at the Nascent Soul Realm—at sixteen—isn’t just rare. It’s unheard of. That level of swordsmanship… it’s beyond what most of us achieved even in our prime.”
“Indeed,” said another elder, nodding gravely.
“That last attack… I reckon he’s already on the verge of perfecting the Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword technique.”
Another chimed in, half amazed and half bitter, “Two Nascent Soul Realm disciples at sixteen. Bai Tianheng, you old bastard, what the hell have you been feeding your kids?”
That caused a ripple of chuckles among the elders—equal parts impressed and envious.
After all, Bai Tianheng had already been blessed with a top-tier genius in his daughter.
Everyone figured having a ’waste’ of a son balanced it out.
But now… that so-called waste turned out to be just like his sister.
And the only thing they could feel was envy.
Bai Tianheng stood near the platform, arms folded, trying to maintain his usual stoic expression.
But the way his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, the quiet pride in his gaze as he looked at Bai Zihan—it was obvious to anyone paying attention.
Pride, sharp and undeniable, glimmered in his eyes.
Still, there was a trace of awkwardness too.
This was the first time the elders were praising Bai Zihan… instead of complaining about him and he wasn’t used to it.
Even Bai Wei—the most vocal critic—was praising him without hesitation.
The shift in tone was so sharp, it could’ve cut steel.
Elder Bai Feng, who had remained silent the longest, finally let out a reluctant sigh.
His eyes flicked toward his son, Bai Jian—currently slumped over and groaning on the ground, his pride shattered into pieces that might never be put back together.
Then, he looked at Bai Zihan—still standing tall amidst the wreckage, sword in hand, not a trace of smugness on his face, just his usual expression as if he didn’t just wipe the floor with the Elites of Bai Clan.
(…I’ll admit it, even if I won’t say it out loud—your son’s better than mine.)
That thought alone made his gut twist, but there was no denying it. Not after what he’d just witnessed.
(I really thought Jian was going to carry the clan’s future… but today, I saw it clearly. The gap between them isn’t a crack—it’s a damn chasm.)
Cultivation level, mastery of technique… and Sword Intent.
He’d sensed it. That final strike—it carried Sword Intent.
And that was when Bai Feng gave up on the idea of his son ever catching up.
Bai Zihan wasn’t just talented. He was a once-in-a-billion genius.
His jaw clenched as he watched Bai Zihan calmly sheathe his sword.
Nearby, Bai Tianheng stayed quiet, but one corner of his mouth twitched upward.
Bai Zihan, meanwhile, simply stood there—robe tattered, sword in hand, blood trailing down his arm—but with his chin slightly raised.
He didn’t say anything cocky.
Didn’t throw insults.
He didn’t need to.
The battlefield—the groaning disciples, the shattered pride—was already speaking for him.
“Ahem! Looks like the result is undeniable. Bai Zihan will participate, and he will also act as your leader. Do you all understand?”
Bai Feng finally announced amidst the confusion.
“Yes!”
The disciples answered in unison—at least, those who were still conscious. The ones who fought were being carried away for healing.
Bai Zihan hadn’t seriously injured anyone. They’d recover quickly with some healing pills.
“Bai Zihan, do you have anything to say as the Team Leader?”
Bai Tianheng asked, expecting an inspiring speech—the sort of thing leaders usually gave.
He got caught up in the moment and forgot for a second… This was still his son.
“Don’t drag me down. And listen to whatever I say.”
Bai Zihan said flatly.
Bai Tianheng’s pride momentarily deflated. He blinked as reality reasserted itself.
Yep. Still the same brat!
“Ahem! That’s all. Everyone, prepare well for tomorrow. And Zihan’er—come with me. We need to talk.”
Bai Tianheng said, turning away.
Soon, Bai Tianheng and Bai Zihan were alone in the patriarch’s study.
Bai Tianheng studied his son closely. He still looked the same… but he knew, he had gained power beyond what his previous self could.
“Since when did you reach the Nascent Soul Realm?”
Bai Tianheng asked.
“A few days ago!”
Bai Zihan answered honestly.
“Mmm…”
Bai Tianheng was in deep thought.
Bai Zihan’s answer didn’t match that of the power shown by him.
His cultivation wasn’t just stable—it already showed signs of breaking through to the next level.
So, it is hard to believe that Bai Zihan has broken through just recently but he didn’t press further.
“Son… you know what I’m going to ask next, right?”
Bai Tianheng said.
Bai Zihan nodded. He’d been expecting it, honestly, though it had taken longer than he thought.
“You want to know how I suddenly became so strong?”
Bai Tianheng nodded again.
Bai Zihan began his explanation.
“Father, do you remember when Mother stole the Dao Bone from Bai Xinyue and gave it to me?”
Bai Tianheng stiffened and nodded. It was one of his greatest regrets—something that still haunted him with guilt.
“Yes… So, you did gain her cultivation talent?”
He assumed this must be the case. Bai Xinyue’s talent had long been speculated to surpass even Bai Xueqing.
If Bai Zihan had inherited that, it would explain a lot about his sudden growth.
But Bai Zihan shook his head.
“No. If I had, I wouldn’t have been a waste for so many years.”
He continued.
“What I meant is… instead of helping, that Dao Bone was actually hindering my cultivation.”
Bai Tianheng’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He had never expected—nor heard—that transferring a Dao Bone could hinder one’s cultivation. Then again, it made sense. Dao Bones were incredibly rare, and hardly anyone had experience with taking one from someone else.
But what he didn’t expect was that his wife, who only wanted to help their son, had ended up giving him something that held him back instead.
“So… what did you do?”
“I removed it.”
“You what?”
“I took out the Dao Bone.”
“You mean by yourself?!”
“Yes!”
Bai Tianheng looked like he might have a heart attack.
“How?! That’s incredibly dangerous! And painful! Son, how could you take such a risk?!”
“Maybe it was painful?”
He wouldn’t know because his System took out his Dao Bone in an instant without much trouble.
“But even so… that doesn’t explain how you reached the Nascent Soul Realm so fast.”
Bai Tianheng still couldn’t wrap his head around it. If Zihan’s cultivation speed became normal, none of this made sense.
Moreover, his cultivation speed before he got Dao Bone was still insanely slow no matter what type of resources was spent on him.
“Oh, right. It must be because of this.”
Bai Zihan held up his arm.
A faint glow shimmered beneath his skin.
He revealed his Supreme Dao Bone.
Bai Tianheng stared. Baffled. Speechless.
“This…”
He didn’t even need to be sure. He could feel it. This was something beyond even Bai Xinyue’s Dao Bone.
“It’s the Supreme Dao Bone.”
Bai Zihan said.
Bai Tianheng’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
Supreme Dao Bone—a mythical existence. Said to grant unmatched cultivation speed, overwhelming battle power, and the potential to reach the absolute peak of the Dao.
“Zihan’er… are you telling me… you have a Supreme Dao Bone?”
“Pretty sure.”
A few minutes later!
Bai Tianheng finally accepted it.
His son had a Supreme Dao Bone.
A gift from heaven. A one-in-a-million-year blessing.
“Zihan’er… from now on, you must never let anyone find out about this. If someone does…”
He paused.
“Make sure they don’t live long enough to spread it.”
Even the Bai Clan couldn’t guarantee Zihan’s safety if word got out. Cultivators from across the world would come.
Empires had gone to war over rumors of a Supreme Dao Bone.
Because whoever possessed one… stood at the very peak of cultivation.
Bai Zihan nodded.
He understood perfectly.
Bai Tianheng exhaled heavily, still reeling from the truth.
But at the same time, he knew he couldn’t afford to stay shocked.
A divine blessing had fallen upon the Bai Clan.
And now, it was time to act like it.
“Zihan’er, you can go. Prepare for tomorrow. Supreme Dao Bone or not, geniuses from across the Empire will be gathering.”
“You better be ready!”