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

“Master Wanjun?” 

Xu Yang couldn’t help but chuckle at Situ Qing’er’s words.

In the original story, Master Wanjun, constantly overshadowed by Xu Yang’s previous incarnation, gradually fell into darkness. Each time the Six Peaks Competition was held, the disciples of Heavenly Thunder Peak would suffer defeat, often dealt humiliating blows. This grudge eventually left Master Wanjun vulnerable to evil spirits, and he became a hidden spy of the Demonic Path within the Qingming Sect.

To win Master Wanjun over, the Demonic Path bestowed him with a forbidden technique known as the Bone Refining Demonic Sutra. 

This depraved method required the absorption of the life force from over a hundred young cultivators with exceptional bone structure to progress. 

Master Wanjun, fully corrupted, secretly began consuming Heavenly Thunder Peak’s disciples, focusing his attention on those outside the sect like new disciples, since any attempt on the main sect’s disciples would surely arouse suspicion.

During Xu Yang’s epic battle with the protagonist, Master Wanjun was biding his time, quietly growing his power. When the protagonist finally defeated Xu Yang’s previous self, Master Wanjun revealed his true nature and attempted to absorb the protagonist’s life force, seeing the young genius as the perfect sacrifice.

Barely surviving Master Wanjun’s assault, the protagonist, with the aid of his jade pendant “Elder” and various life-saving artifacts, managed to escape and exposed Master Wanjun’s true allegiance, sending shockwaves through the Qingming Sect.

Furious, the sect’s three esteemed elders descended to crush Master Wanjun, who responded by calling upon demonic reinforcements, turning the Qingming Sect into a battleground and a base for demonic influence. 

Of course, after a few years of fortunate adventures, the protagonist returned with newfound strength, ending Master Wanjun’s treachery and rescuing every single beauty of the Qingming Sect. The protagonist’s fame attracted the attention of the Demonic Path, leading to repeated sieges on every force he joined—somehow, he always managed to escape…

The plot had been like a game of Russian nesting dolls, constantly escalating. Xu Yang laughed, wondering how his past self had managed to be so engrossed in such convoluted twists.

Yet now, with the protagonist already tangled with Master Wanjun, Xu Yang couldn’t help but question whether the young hero could escape Master Wanjun’s grasp. After all, the protagonist hadn’t yet reached his full potential or uttered his iconic line, “Thirty years east, thirty years west, don’t underestimate the young and poor!”

A devious old devil pitted against a fledgling protagonist with heaven’s fortune—this was going to be entertaining.

Unable to suppress his anticipation, Xu Yang’s lips curved into a smile. His expression softened, casting an ethereal warmth.

To Yuan Kouxuan, who saw this, her heart raced uncontrollably: It’s as if that poetic line, “A smile like starlight,” was written with Master in mind.

What should she do? She wanted nothing more than to push Master down right here and now!

Situ Qing’er noticed her senior sister’s entranced look and silently wished, ‘Master, please stop radiating such charm! Please, reserve that smile only for your disciple!’

…

“Hmm?” Xu Yang snapped out of his thoughts, noticing his two disciples staring at him with dazed expressions. “Is something the matter?”

“Master, that smile is cheating!” Situ Qing’er puffed up her cheeks, her bright, clear eyes wide with complaint.

“Nothing’s wrong, Master,” Yuan Kouxuan quickly intervened, tugging at Situ Qing’er and answering in a soft voice. She assumed that Situ Qing’er harbored the same impure thoughts toward their master as she did, unaware that Qing’er’s devotion had long since crossed that line.

Xu Yang chuckled. “I was just picturing our little Koi getting frustrated with Master Wanjun and couldn’t help but laugh.”

Situ Qing’er immediately burst into laughter, her shoulders shaking. In the Qingming Sect, her third senior sister, Koi, was a notorious troublemaker. Even Yuan Kouxuan didn’t scare her. Whenever Yuan Kouxuan wasn’t looking, Koi would poke or even smack her, embodying the spirit of a true rogue!

Normally, Koi made everyone else suffer, and even if she faced difficulty, she’d retaliate on the spot. The thought of her enduring Master Wanjun’s interference was priceless.

“Careful, Qing’er,” Yuan Kouxuan teased, “or Koi will come after you when she gets back.”

Situ Qing’er stuck out her tongue. “Third Senior Sister isn’t even my match, I’m not scared of her!”

The only people who intimidated Qing’er were Yuan Kouxuan and her master with his mysterious speed abilities!

Yuan Kouxuan sighed, shooting her a playful glare before turning back to Xu Yang with a serious expression.

“Master, with Uncle Wanjun behaving so arrogantly and bullying the weak, it’s clear he has no respect for our Purple Cloud Peak. I suggest I go to Heavenly Thunder Peak tomorrow to demand an explanation and restore our sister’s honor!”

“No need,” Xu Yang waved her off. “Let’s wait until the Six Peaks Competition.”

Yuan Kouxuan froze, momentarily unable to process her master’s words.

‘Wasn’t this unlike him?’ In the past, when disciples from Purple Cloud Peak faced injustice, he’d always shown little outward concern but acted decisively on their behalf. She remembered when she had crippled the sect master’s disciple. Her master had stormed over to the sect master’s peak and argued for an entire day, successfully reversing her punishment.

‘But now, Master wanted to hold back?’

‘Could it be that Master only cares about me?’ Yuan Kouxuan thought, blushing as the idea flitted through her mind.

Her reverie was soon doused by Situ Qing’er’s interjection.

“Senior Sister, you’re overthinking it. Master means that at the Six Peaks Competition, we’ll show no mercy and defeat all of Heavenly Thunder Peak’s disciples in the arena!”

“That way, not only can we avenge Third Senior Sister, but we might even kick Heavenly Thunder Peak out of the Six Peaks. It’s a brilliant strategy!” Qing’er’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Xu Yang with admiration.

Xu Yang blinked. What…? Is this some kind of “enlightened disciple interprets master’s will” situation?

His original plan was to simply watch from the sidelines and enjoy the inevitable chaos. He’d considered waiting until the competition because, by then, the protagonist might not even be alive, or he’d be severely weakened. By then, Xu Yang’s strength would have reached terrifying heights from “borrowing” his disciples’ hard work.

At that point, a battered and broken protagonist would be his to toy with however he liked!