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

In the secret room, Xu Yang examined the large patch of burned skin on his thigh, his expression slightly solemn. He had attempted to repair it using the power of the Yang Dao but was blocked by an evil law that resisted his efforts.

He understood that the blood-colored thunder was a manifestation of the power of the law. However, this particular law was strange—full of evil and demonic intent, corroding his flesh and blood. It seemed to share the same origin as his own power, yet it felt even higher in level.

This… is the way of the heavens.

Xu Yang’s eyes darkened, and an inexplicable sense of depression rose in his heart. It was as though he had experienced something similar before but couldn’t recall it. The feeling left him uneasy, gnawing at his sense of security.

“Hu—”

Xu Yang exhaled deeply. Since he couldn’t remember, there was no use dwelling on it. Narrowing his eyes, he muttered in a low, hoarse voice:

“I thought becoming a Venerable would mean I could protect myself, but now it seems I’m far from ready. I have to work harder… and make better use of my disciples.”

He sighed, his expression hardening.

“First, I need to heal this injury.”

Xu Yang retrieved the thunder tribulation liquid and tilted the jade bottle back, drinking deeply. Majestic life essence coursed through him, spreading from his abdomen to his limbs.

In that moment, Xu Yang’s body began an incredible transformation.

Every inch of his skin was being cleansed, and his bones, flesh, and even hair absorbed the active essence of the thunder tribulation liquid. A radiant glow enveloped him, and the secret room was filled with an overwhelming sense of vitality.

The burned skin on his thigh began to heal. The corrosive power of the evil law was being subdued by a certain element within the liquid. To speed up the process, Xu Yang took another large gulp.

The thunder tribulation liquid worked quickly. Boundless vitality swept through his body, eliminating the malicious force corroding his skin.

New flesh and blood grew rapidly.

A layer of dark, dead skin flaked off, revealing smooth, gem-like new skin beneath. It shimmered with brilliance, exuding extraordinary divinity.

“The thunder tribulation liquid truly lives up to its name as a spiritual object of heaven and earth. The life essence it contains can even heal Dao injuries!”

Xu Yang marveled as he examined himself. His bones had become crystal clear, and his soul, now baptized by the liquid, radiated majesty and an ethereal aura.

“The injuries are healed. It’s time to continue breaking through.”

He took another sip of the thunder tribulation liquid, then retrieved a large number of law fragments from his system space and began refining them.

In an instant, golden lotus flowers seemed to bloom above his head, and a soft, mysterious heavenly melody echoed faintly.

This was the manifestation of enlightenment. The golden lotuses symbolized the Great Dao itself.

As time passed, Xu Yang’s cultivation advanced rapidly:

Breaking through the second level of the Void Shattering realm…
Breaking through the third level of the Void Shattering realm…

…until he stopped at the fifth level of the Void Shattering realm.

Opening his eyes, Xu Yang’s gaze shimmered with endless Dao rhymes, carrying the air of an ancient Dao master.

He suppressed his divine aura and pondered for a moment.

“This is enough.”

“Too much is as bad as too little. Forcing a breakthrough could destabilize my cultivation.”

He sighed softly.

“Practice must be done step by step. Rushing for quick success will only weaken my foundation.”

Though he was dissatisfied with his current realm and eager to break through to the Mahayana realm, he knew that steady progress was necessary. Only with true strength could he face any potential crises with confidence. Blindly chasing advancement would only result in fragile cultivation and diminished combat power.

Therefore, Xu Yang chose to stop and consolidate his foundation. After all, he didn’t need to worry about his cultivation level stagnating. He could easily improve by sparring with Xiao Hongluan or a few other disciples.

“Now my combat power is comparable to that of the Mahayana realm without any issue!”

“As long as it’s not one of those old monsters that haven’t appeared in ages, I should be able to fight on equal footing!”

“It seems that the fifth level of the Void Shattering realm is sufficient for now!”

“Alright, it’s time to come out of retreat!”

With this decision, Xu Yang released his divine consciousness, instantly enveloping all of Purple Cloud Peak. After notifying all the disciples to gather in the Purple Cloud Hall, he withdrew his divine consciousness, stood up from the cushion, and walked towards the hall.

Yangyuan Residence

Yuan Kouxuan was contemplating which outfit to wear, anticipating that her master might need to detoxify once he emerged from his retreat. After much deliberation, she finally selected a set of enticing garments. Just as she was about to try them on, a gentle voice echoed in her ears:

“Xuan’er, Master doesn’t need to detoxify today. Come to the main hall.”

?!

Master had come out of retreat!

Wait… didn’t that mean he saw her trying on the outfit just now?

‘Master said there’s no need to detoxify today!’
‘And he used the word temporarily!’
‘That means detoxification might still be needed tonight!’

Determined to be prepared, Yuan Kouxuan decided to keep the outfit on. She donned a black robe over it, grabbed Purple Sky, stepped on Qing’ai, and flew toward Purple Cloud Hall on her sword.

Flying Cloud Pavilion

Ruan Yuer lay sprawled on her bed, examining a peculiar toy.

“I figured it out. This thing doesn’t improve combat power much; it’s only good for entertainment.”

She curled her lips in dissatisfaction and tossed the toy aside.

“I don’t get why Qing’er and Jinli sacrifice practicality for trivial nonsense. It’s clear that improving combat power is the right path, but they insist on exploring these ridiculous side routes.”

“I told you that long ago, but you didn’t listen. If survival depended on these toys, you wouldn’t have to call me,” a mocking voice echoed in her mind.

“It’s not like calling you helps much, and weren’t you the one who asked me to study this thing?”

Ruan Yuer retorted sarcastically.

“…”

The voice in her head faltered, clearly agitated and about to argue further.

Suddenly, a majestic divine thought descended.

“What is Yuer studying?”

Startled by the voice, Ruan Yu’er instinctively tried to hide the toys. However, realizing it was her master, she hesitated—there was no need to conceal anything from him.

“Nothing, just some small toys…” she replied nervously.

She felt uneasy. She had been so engrossed in her study that she hadn’t noticed whether her master had been observing for a while or had just arrived. If he had been there for some time, he might have overheard her conversation with the voice in her head.

“Don’t study those things anymore. They’ll harm your body. Come to the main hall—your master has a treasure for you.”

Hearing this, Ruan Yuer let out a sigh of relief. It seemed her master was unaware of her two “selves.” She obediently replied, “Okay, Master!”

She quickly collected all the toys scattered on the bed, ensuring none were left behind, and stored them in her storage ring. Then, turning into a streak of light, she flew toward the Purple Cloud Hall.