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

“Master, this is the place,” Ruan Yuer announced as she guided the spirit vessel to a cave rumored to house a Nascent Soul-level beast.

“I wasn’t sure at first if this was the entrance to Qi Yuan’s Cave. But remembering your instructions, I summoned the courage to venture inside and found no trace of any beast—its aura was entirely crafted by a formation.”

Xu Yang nodded, carefully examining the cave’s entrance. After focusing for a moment, he sensed the illusion array hiding within the cave.

“Let’s proceed,” he said, retrieving the spirit vessel before leading his disciples into the cave.

Once inside, Xu Yang wasted no time and struck a section of the cave wall with his fist. A surge of power erupted.

Boom!

Rocks shattered to dust, exposing a hidden void barrier behind them.

‘So that’s why the Qi Yuan Cave manifested—it was because this void barrier can’t last much longer,’ Xu Yang thought, his brows furrowing slightly. Initially, he’d considered breaking through with brute force, but doing so would likely make the realm visible to others. That would lead numerous powers to swarm here for the treasures, leaving him with nothing to show for his efforts.

And Xu Yang wasn’t one to let others reap where he had sown.

So, with a quick thought, he summoned the Heavenly Desolation Pagoda. The small, ancient-looking tower appeared in his palm, its surface spattered with the aged blood of long-defeated immortals, carrying an eerie and desolate air.

This pagoda had a unique and invaluable ability: it could create a temporary void passage without damaging existing barriers.

“Is that… the legendary Nine-Floor Pagoda?”

“Once wielded by the Supreme Youth Tian Huang, the greatest treasure of humanity?”

The disciples, wide-eyed, stared at the pagoda in awe. The mystical stories surrounding it were ingrained in history—it had been the young supreme’s weapon of choice, bringing him numerous victories. Legends of this tower had reached even the modern era, where powerful cultivators still coveted it. If word of its existence got out, it would send shockwaves across the five regions.

Yuan Kouxuan, the eldest disciple, recognized the potential danger and immediately cautioned her sisters, “Not a word of this leaves our circle. Master possessing the Heavenly Desolation Pagoda must remain an absolute secret.”

Ruan Yuer nodded solemnly. “If this got out, we would risk bringing disaster upon Purple Cloud Peak.”

“Master trusts us to keep his secrets, and we can’t let him down,” Situ Qingqing affirmed.

“I’ll protect Master’s secret with my life!” vowed Liu Beifeng.

Xue Jinli, however, blinked in confusion. “What are you all talking about? I don’t get it.”

Hearing his disciples’ heartfelt promises made Xu Yang feel deeply gratified. It seemed his efforts had been worth it. Of course, he wouldn’t stop here—he had a responsibility to all his disciples. Luckily, they weren’t living in his past world, where a seven-day schedule would mean some would go without attention.

With a thought, he activated the pagoda, which glowed softly as its mystical energy flowed into the barrier.

Hum…

The void barrier rippled like water, then gradually opened into a passageway wide enough for one person.

Xu Yang stowed the pagoda and said, “The passage won’t last long. You all go first; I’ll follow.”

Yuan Kouxuan led the way, stepping into the portal, and the others followed her lead. After his disciples entered, Xu Yang stepped in, and the void passage behind him quietly faded away.

The moment Xu Yang set foot in the cave, he felt a binding force restrict his cultivation to the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Anticipating this, he remained unperturbed and walked forward to find his disciples frozen in awe at the magnificent scenery before them.

The air was thick with spirit energy, and the landscape stretched endlessly: ancient, towering trees shrouded in mist, lofty peaks suspended above the clouds, and mountains undulating like dragons. Here, precious spiritual treasures lay scattered about, many of which were rare and over a thousand years old, able to significantly enhance a cultivator’s chances of advancing to the Core Formation realm.

All around, streams of spirit energy flowed freely like rivers.

“So, this is Qi Yuan’s Cave?”

“The spiritual energy here is even richer than on Purple Cloud Peak. Cultivating here for a single day would be equal to several days’ work outside!”

“Look, an 800-year-old Violet Flame Snow Blossom, a 900-year-old Earth Essence Ginseng, and a 1,200-year-old Origin Jade Shoot…all mine!”

“If only we could transport this realm back to Purple Cloud Peak!”

“Master would have to reach immortality to achieve that!”

“Immortality? Master could do that with one hand tied behind his back!”

‘Flattery is fine, but don’t go overboard,’ Xu Yang thought with mild exasperation. Hearing Xue Jinli’s outrageous claim, he almost ordered Yuan Kouxuan to discipline her right there on the spot.

While most disciples dreamed of becoming like a phoenix, his disciples seemed focused on seeing their master ascend to the heavens—quite a reversal!

Overjoyed by the sight of so many treasures, Xue Jinli quivered with excitement. Perhaps too excited, she suddenly turned and latched onto Xu Yang’s leg, her face nuzzling his knee like a kitten.

“Master, let me worship you for your greatness!”

Luckily, Xu Yang hadn’t reached the point of wearing ceremonial robes, or he’d have made her regret that move.

“Alright, instead of worshiping me, how about focusing on treasure hunting before your sisters claim everything?” he advised.

Xue Jinli glanced back and, to her dismay, saw that her sisters had already begun gathering up the treasures she’d been eyeing.

“You little…!” she exclaimed. “Master, I’ll be back to worship you later!”

She sprang up, brushed herself off, and sprinted toward the nearest cluster of spirit plants, shouting, “Eldest Sister, put down that herb! It’s too much for you—let me handle it!”

With his hands in his pockets, Xu Yang smirked. A responsible master doesn’t just wait passively; he maximizes his disciples’ potential. After all, his disciples’ resources would eventually run dry, so he brought them along precisely to gather more wealth from this realm.

Now, he simply had to wait for his treasure-hunting disciples to offer him their finds.