Reborn as the Novel’s Villain: Cultivation Lost, Female Leads Take Control

Two hours had passed.

The sun was setting, painting the horizon in hues of gold and crimson. The faint glow of the Moon Rabbit now reflected a deeper, reddish hue against the dimming sky.

Qingming Sect’s Back Hall.

Ji Hongluan lay reclined, her beautiful eyes closed, her cheeks flushed with both exhaustion and embarrassment. She looked utterly unlike the domineering and paranoid master she was known to be—soft, vulnerable, and weak as a willow branch in the breeze.

Xu Yang leaned closer, gently tapping her nose with his finger.

“Master,” he teased, “about that skill…”

Ji Hongluan’s long eyelashes trembled. She tried to muster a glare, even attempting to lift her foot to kick him, but found her legs as heavy as lead. After a moment’s hesitation, her voice, soft as a mosquito’s buzz, finally broke the silence:

“I practiced that technique… for my disciple…”

Her words carried a deeper meaning—complete surrender.

“Then why didn’t Master admit it earlier? Lying is not allowed. I’ll have to punish you!”

Xu Yang reached out, as if to pull Ji Hongluan back into his arms.

“I was wrong! I was wrong, disciple—dear husband! I apologize!”

Flustered, Ji Hongluan instinctively grabbed Xu Yang’s face and pecked him lightly on the lips, her tone suddenly shifting to that of a virtuous little wife.

“Good, Xiao Hongluan, since you’ve admitted your mistake, I won’t punish you this time.”

Xu Yang smiled, gently rubbing the rouge on her chin, a glint of mischief in his eyes. After several days, he had finally turned the tables and taken full control of the situation.

“Now, go back to Purple Cloud Peak. I need some rest,” Ji Hongluan murmured, looking both embarrassed and exasperated.

“Fine, my dear. Have a good rest. I’ll visit again tomorrow!”

“No, not tomorrow.”

“Then the day after?”

“Not even then. Let’s wait until the Six Peaks Competition!”

“Alright, I’ll wait. Who am I to argue with my wife?” Xu Yang chuckled as he prepared to leave.

As his figure disappeared, Ji Hongluan let out a long sigh of relief.

“Why did I practice that technique…” she muttered to herself, her voice tinged with regret.

“Though my cultivation has improved, I feel like I’ve lost everything…”

Her anger flared momentarily before exhaustion overtook her. Slowly, her eyelids closed, and she drifted into a deep sleep.

After some time, a cautious figure crept into the hall—it was Little Flower, her cat-headed military advisor. Behind her followed Ji Xiyao, who looked utterly helpless.

Xiyao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Sister Hongluan is too guarded, always sending Little Flower to escort me away whenever Xu Yang visits. If this continues, I might as well become Little Flower’s spiritual pet.

Meanwhile, Xu Yang flew toward Purple Cloud Peak, streaking across the sky like a divine rainbow. His thoughts churned as he contemplated his next steps.

“In the original story, after Xiao Ye was expelled from Qingming Sect, he quickly stumbled upon a great opportunity—the Star Gate. Through the Star Gate, he could access the legendary Cloud Dream Immortal Realm, where time flowed thirty times slower than in the outside world. One month of cultivation inside equaled just a single day outside. That treasure must be mine!”

Xu Yang’s gaze grew sharper as he recalled the details.

“The Star Gate’s location is tied to an ancient ruin known as the Burial Place of Immortals. Beneath the surface lies countless inheritances yet to be discovered, along with great dangers. It’s home to powerful indigenous beings, all descended from immortals, some even at the Mahayana realm. The site is a treacherous balance of risk and reward.”

His thoughts turned to the map described in the original story—a key to the Star Gate that had been in the Black Tortoise Emperor’s possession. In the story, Xiao Ye had managed to steal it during a fierce battle.

“But why didn’t I find the map on the Black Tortoise Emperor earlier? Could it be…”

Xu Yang’s brow furrowed as he considered the possibilities.

“The first possibility is that the Black Tortoise Emperor acquired the map later. The second is that it originally came from the Great Sage Xuanwu. Either way, I must get my hands on it. The Star Gate is crucial for me. Training inside would save an immense amount of time and rapidly accelerate my cultivation!”

His determination burned brighter than ever as he raced toward Purple Cloud Peak, ready to seize every opportunity that lay ahead.

And only with enough strength can one truly see the world clearly.

At first, Xu Yang had naively believed that this was merely a world within a book. He thought that as long as he removed the protagonist, Xiao Ye, everything would fall into place.

But when he discovered the immortal body within the Thunder Pool, an unsettling shadow took root in his heart.

In the original story, the protagonist had also ventured deep into the Tribulation Cloud to obtain Thunder Tribulation Liquid. However, there had been no mention of a “celestial body” lying in the crystal-clear depths of the mysterious stone pool.

Is this still the world of the book? Or has the story changed completely?

Xu Yang’s thoughts spiraled in confusion. He couldn’t tell where the original narrative ended and where reality began.

His gaze darkened, flickering with a trace of unease.

Suddenly, his body trembled, and the energy and blood within him surged wildly, rushing toward his heavenly spirit like waves crashing against the shore. A wave of dizziness hit him hard.

“Disregarding my cultivation in the Venerable Realm, even Xiao Hongluan’s combat power is only slightly stronger than Qing’er’s.”

“No, if this continues, I’ll lose control completely. I need Xuan’er’s help to detoxify.”

Xu Yang forced himself to regulate his breath, but it was futile. The boiling energy within him only grew more intense. With no other choice, he quickened his pace.

In the void, a blazing light streaked across the horizon as Xu Yang pushed his speed to the limit. Within moments, he landed in front of Yangyuan Residence.

The door was slightly ajar.

Xu Yang rubbed his temples, trying to maintain clarity as he ascended the steps.

Inside, Yuan Kouxuan sat quietly at the edge of the bed. Her makeup was meticulous, and her attire carefully chosen. Calm and composed, she waited patiently for her master to return.

Squeak—

The door creaked open, and Xu Yang stumbled in. It wasn’t due to carelessness but the uncontrollable turbulence of his energy and blood.

Seeing her master’s state, Yuan Kouxuan immediately understood—he was poisoned again, though the symptoms seemed slightly milder than the first time.

She quickly stepped forward to support him.

As Xu Yang spotted her approach, he collapsed directly onto her.

“Master, you’re really poisoned this time,” Yuan Kouxuan said softly, holding him steady. “Fortunately, your disciple was prepared…”

Supporting his waist, she carried him to the bed and gently laid him down. Then, with thoughtful precision, she unfolded a painting she had prepared earlier and placed it before his eyes.

The painting depicted a bright moon, its surface adorned with a serene Toad Palace. Outside the palace, jade rabbits frolicked playfully under a peach tree laden with three or four spiritual peaches. The peaches glowed faintly, exuding a radiant, fairy-like aura.

“Master,” Yuan Kouxuan asked softly, “does my painting look good?”

“Beautiful…” Xu Yang murmured, his consciousness slipping into a haze.

Suddenly, the painting seemed to come alive.

A fairy dressed in white emerged from the Toad Palace. Her cold and elegant demeanor exuded an orchid-like grace. Floating lightly, she approached the peach tree and plucked a spiritual peach. She then offered it to Xu Yang with a serene smile.

Subconsciously, Xu Yang reached out, accepted the peach, and took a bite. Its fragrance was intoxicating, lingering on his lips and teeth.

The spiritual peach trembled slightly, as though it had a life of its own, but it didn’t escape his grasp.

Time passed.

When Xu Yang’s eyes finally cleared, he found himself sitting up, the remnants of the spiritual peach still in his hand. He glanced at Yuan Kouxuan, who had stayed by his side the entire time.

“Xuan’er,” he said softly, tucking a strand of her black hair behind her ear, “thank you for your hard work.”

“It wasn’t hard,” Yuan Kouxuan replied quietly, though her thoughts were elsewhere.

She was preoccupied with the matter of condensing her Nascent Soul. As cultivation levels rise, condensing the Nascent Soul becomes increasingly difficult.

“Master has already broken through to the Void Shattering realm. If he doesn’t condense his Nascent Soul soon, the chances will only diminish further when he reaches the Mahayana realm.”