The army to destroy the Mei Clan was ready by the next day. It included a few elders and many younger generation disciples.
Well, only the elders were truly needed to wipe out the Mei Clan—but the younger Bai Clan members were brought along to ensure no one escaped.
And, of course, to gain some experience.
But among them, one figure stood out above all.
“I didn’t expect the Grand Elder to join us!”
Bai Zihan said with a raised brow.
Indeed, one of the Bai Clan’s strongest had come along.
It was Grand Elder Bai Ren himself.
Frankly, Bai Zihan felt that no one else was needed if Grand Elder Bai Ren was here.
“Hahaha… I heard you were going to do something interesting. How could I miss out?”
The old man chuckled.
Clearly, the Grand Elder had joined for amusement.
Maybe being stuck inside the Bai Clan had left him bored.
After all, he’d even shown up when Bai Zihan only wanted a bit of support during his clash with Shen Liang.
But Bai Zihan had no complaints.
With Grand Elder here, what could possibly go wrong?
“Is everyone ready?”
Bai Zihan turned to the gathered elders and disciples.
“Yes!”
They shouted in unison.
“Well then, let’s depart! Time to destroy the Mei Clan!”
***
The journey to the Mei Clan’s territory wasn’t short.
It took the Bai Clan forces half a day to fly across multiple mountain ranges aboard a Flying Ship.
A Flying Ship was a massive, skyfaring vessel powered by spirit stones and inscribed with flight and stabilization formations.
Shaped like a traditional sea vessel but designed for the skies, it could carry dozens—sometimes hundreds—of passengers, making it the preferred method of group travel in the cultivation world.
Hovering through the air like a slow-moving fortress, it combined speed, defense, and mobility. It wasn’t just transportation—it was a war machine.
The Mei Clan’s city, Meihua City, lay nestled in a fertile valley surrounded by high cliffs and shimmering rivers.
It was beautiful—yes—but beauty meant nothing when death loomed from above.
Meihua City was a major power in the region, ruled entirely by the Mei Clan. Here, they acted like kings.
Their banner—three crimson plum blossoms—flew proudly over every gate, and their disciples walked the streets like arrogant lords.
The city guards were all Mei Clan cultivators, their armor bearing the plum insignia.
But today, none of that mattered.
Today, the Bai Clan arrived.
As their enormous flying ship hovered outside the city, spiritual pressure spilled out like an overflowing dam.
People looked up from the streets in horror.
Commoners fled, merchants shuttered their stores, and cultivators scrambled to the city walls in panic.
After all, Flying ships weren’t allowed to fly over Meihua City unless it was unauthorized.
Then a voice boomed across the sky, thundering like divine judgment.
A single figure shot forward from the flying ship, his robes flaring in the wind, black hair trailing behind him like a banner of war.
He stood mid-air, one hand behind his back, a lazy smirk on his face.
It was Bai Zihan!
“Mei Clan!”
His voice echoed with Qi.
“You’ve lived long enough!”
Countless eyes turned upward.
Mei Clan elders and disciples rushed out of their halls, expressions ranging from confusion to disbelief.
Some laughed, thinking it was a joke. Others felt an icy chill crawl down their backs.
Bai Zihan continued, his tone sharp and cold.
“Today, I, Bai Zihan, stand before your gates to uproot your entire clan. You have two choices—surrender now and maybe, just maybe, I’ll spare you.”
He grinned.
“Or resist… and you can forget about living.”
Silence!
Heavy, suffocating silence fell over Meihua City.
Then, the Bai Clan forces descended behind Bai Zihan like gods of war, come to enforce divine retribution.
Anyone with half a brain could tell—this wasn’t a bluff.
The flying ship was clearly that of the Bai Clan, and at its head stood their heir, Bai Zihan.
From the inner district of Meihua City, a surge of Qi rippled outward as several figures shot into the sky, streaks of light converging above the city gates.
Leading them was an old man with a long silver beard and deep-set eyes that shimmered with restrained power.
His robe bore the three-plum-blossom insignia embroidered in gold thread—clearly an elder of the Mei Clan.
He stepped forward, attempting to calm the fear below as he faced Bai Zihan.
“Young Master Bai,” he said, his voice echoing through the air. “This… is unexpected.”
He cupped his fists in formal greeting, though his hands trembled slightly.
“We, the Mei Clan, have always respected the Bai Clan. We’ve never crossed you. So may I ask—why have you come to our gates with such killing intent?”
For a moment, Bai Zihan just stared at him, lips curling.
Then he laughed.
“Hahaha…”
Loud. Arrogant. Contemptuous!
“Not offended me?”
He repeated mockingly.
“Are you truly clueless, or just pretending?”
Bai Zihan’s expression turned cold.
“Didn’t Mei Rulan warn you? Or are you really that in the dark? Seriously, just when did my words become a joke?”
Bai Zihan said with a hint of irritation.
The Mei Clan elder’s face twitched.
“Rulan…?”
He did know that Mei Rulan had caused some trouble—breaking sect rules or something like that—but he hadn’t imagined she’d provoked the Bai Clan heir.
She hid it well from them.
“Young Master,” the elder said quickly, “although I don’t know the full details, let me apologize on her behalf. She’s young and ignorant.”
Though he didn’t fully understand the situation, he could tell that Mei Rulan had somehow offended Bai Zihan—and now, the clan was paying the price.
He had to do everything in his power to de-escalate this.
Bai Zihan looked amused. These old men knew their place. Unlike the younger ones.
“I already said it before everyone—if Mei Rulan doesn’t stop falsely accusing me, I would destroy her clan. What can I say… a promise is a promise.”
The Mei Clan elders’ expressions darkened. Because of one reckless girl, their entire clan now faced annihilation.
Then—
“BAI ZIHAN!”
A furious voice rang out from the Mei Clan manor, high and sharp like a sword being unsheathed.
From deep within, a streak of light burst into the sky as a woman shot upward.
She was slim, her long black hair tied in a braid, her robes embroidered with the plum blossoms—though hers were edged in crimson.
It was Mei Rulan!
Looks like she has returned to the Mei Clan.
Bai Zihan raised a brow—wasn’t she supposed to be in the Reflection Cave?
Maybe she had voluntarily left the Heaven Sword Sect… or maybe something had happened.
Either way, she was here now. And Bai Zihan thought—it was better this way.
That makes things easier.
She stopped mid-air, face pale but eyes burning with fury.
“Why are you here?!”
Bai Zihan smiled even wider.
“Oh, I made a promise to you, remember? Now I’m here to fulfill it.”