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

Heavenly Origin City.

Inside a bustling tavern, the crowd overflowed, filling every table.

Several waiters darted around frantically, struggling to keep up with the orders.

Behind the counter, a plump tavern owner beamed with satisfaction, his fingers flying across an abacus as he tallied yet another lucrative day.

In walked an ordinary-looking young man, a small beast resting on his shoulder. His expression was grim as he found a recently vacated table and sat down, calling over a waiter, “A couple of small dishes and a pot of clear wine.”

“Right away, sir. Please wait a moment.”

The waiter hurried to the kitchen to rush the order.

The young man’s entrance didn’t cause much of a stir. For one, his appearance was utterly forgettable, and for another, his cultivation level was common—a mere Foundation Establishment level, hardly worth noticing in a tavern where cultivators were as numerous as bricks. A random swing of a brick could hit seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The small purple beast on his shoulder looked somewhat extraordinary but was in a weak and feeble state, as though it wouldn’t last much longer.

Soon, the waiter returned with the food and drink, and the young man tossed a spirit stone to him. As he drank, his ears caught the heated discussions of other cultivators around him.

“I heard that Purple Cloud Peak, one of the six peaks of the Qingming Sect, is recruiting disciples again after five years. Is it true?”

“Definitely true! Just look at how many cultivators have flocked to Heavenly Origin City these past few days—some of them are even Core Formation cultivators!”

“Core Formation experts could be ruling their own territories and establishing sects; what business do they have here?”

“Well, everyone knows that Purple Cloud Peak’s Peak Master, Xu Yang, is the youngest Nascent Soul true lord in the Qingming Sect and even the entire Northern Prefecture. His future is limitless. Joining his discipleship and receiving his guidance would be a grand fortune!”

The young man’s expression flickered. He whispered to the jade pendant hanging at his chest, “Master, could the opportunity you mentioned be connected to this Peak Master Xu Yang?”

This young man was none other than Xiao Ye, still fuming from his “unfair treatment” earlier.

Elder Li Huo hesitated for a moment before replying, “Disciple, your chance does indeed lie at Purple Cloud Peak, but it is not related to Xu Yang himself.”

“How could that be?” Xiao Ye’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Master, if my opportunity is at Purple Cloud Peak, then there’s no avoiding Xu Yang. If he’s not destined to aid me, he won’t just stand by and let me claim it. He’ll likely try to stop me!”

“You’re correct,” Elder Li Huo admitted, “Xu Yang is indeed an obstacle in your path.”

Crash!

Xiao Ye’s wine cup shattered in his hand.

The sound immediately drew the tavern owner’s attention.

At the owner’s signal, a waiter hurried over to Xiao Ye’s side. “Sir, about the cup…”

Realizing his mistake, Xiao Ye quickly tossed another spirit stone to the waiter to avoid further attention.

The waiter gladly accepted the spirit stone, discreetly replacing Xiao Ye’s cup with a new one.

Outwardly, Xiao Ye remained calm, eating and drinking as usual. But inside, his thoughts were in turmoil, like a stormy sea. “Master, if you knew Xu Yang was my destined obstacle, why did you still urge me to come to Heavenly Origin City? Could it be… that you see me as expendable, hoping I’d be cut down by Xu Yang so that you could switch allegiances?”

His voice had turned panicked, forgetting momentarily that without Elder Li Huo, he’d already have been killed by his pursuers long ago.

Elder Li Huo was speechless. This disciple of his was truly spineless.

A mere Nascent Soul cultivator had him quaking with fear before they’d even met.

For a moment, Elder Li Huo doubted his skills in divination.

How could this timid, cowardly young man be the so-called fated child of destiny?

Heavens, were you blind when you chose him?

“Master! Why aren’t you saying anything? Is it because I hit the nail on the head and you’re feeling guilty?” Xiao Ye’s voice wavered with suspicion.

As if there was any choice!

If he could switch disciples, Elder Li Huo would indeed pick Xu Yang, a Nascent Soul cultivator with resources aplenty to help him restore his soul and rebuild his body in no time!

But Xu Yang had no need for him, and he’d already thrown his lot in with Xiao Ye…

Swallowing his grievances, Elder Li Huo sighed and, in a calm voice, said, “Disciple, how could you think so little of your master?”

“Think back—have I ever once betrayed you in all these years?”

Xiao Ye fell silent.

Deep down, he knew the answer.

Elder Li Huo wouldn’t deceive him.

They shared a symbiotic relationship. The stronger Xiao Ye became, the better Elder Li Huo’s chances of reviving his body.

But…

Xu Yang was a Nascent Soul cultivator!

As a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, how could he contend with such power? Xu Yang could crush him with a single finger!

“I apologize, Master… I’m just terrified of Xu Yang. Trying to seize an opportunity from him is like pulling a tiger’s whiskers. I bear deep-seated grudges and cannot afford to risk my life. I hope Master can forgive me for my hesitation.”

Xiao Ye’s apology was sincere.

“Disciple, there’s no need to apologize,” Elder Li Huo replied, restraining his frustration. “You have a kind heart; I know this well. What you said earlier—I didn’t take it to heart.”

Inwardly, Elder Li Huo grumbled, “Forgiveness is more than you deserve.”

Relieved to be forgiven, Xiao Ye hesitated before suggesting, “Master, perhaps we should leave Heavenly Origin City. When my cultivation reaches Nascent Soul, I’ll return to Purple Cloud Peak and take that opportunity. The chance will still be there, after all. What do you think?”

Absolutely not!

Opportunities are rare; if he didn’t seize it, someone else surely would. By the time Xiao Ye returned, it would be long gone!

Elder Li Huo cursed his disciple’s lack of ambition. Despite being a supposed child of destiny with the heavens’ blessing, his first instinct was always to cower…

“Disciple, no need to be so cautious,” Elder Li Huo said with forced patience. “I’ve foreseen it—though Xu Yang is an obstacle, his seven female disciples are the key to your opportunity. Besides, I’ve heard that all seven are outstanding beauties, one of them even a fox woman from Tushan. I’m just mentioning it, though… If you’re intent on leaving, I won’t stop you.”

Appealing to Xiao Ye’s baser interests was Elder Li Huo’s last resort. After all, Xiao Ye was known for his roguish nature; he’d even provoked his entire clan’s downfall by pursuing another man’s wife.

Sure enough, Xiao Ye took the bait.

“A Nascent Soul elder with seven beautiful female disciples?” he mused, a look of outrage forming. “He must be using them as cultivation vessels for dual cultivation!”

“Just imagining those poor women, trapped in such a situation… It pains my heart!”

“I’ve made up my mind. Even if Purple Cloud Peak is a tiger’s den, I must go and rescue those women from Xu Yang’s clutches!”

“From this moment, Xu Yang and I are irreconcilable enemies!”

Xiao Ye’s words brimmed with righteous fury, his face set with conviction. Gone was the timid young man from before, replaced by a figure burning with zeal and purpose.

TN// I have translated the names of some places, so please go back and read the first few chapters if you are confused. Thanks for reading!