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

“Eldest Sister, put down that treasure and let me… Ah~!”

A cry echoed as Xue Jinli’s cheeky antics finally earned her a well-deserved smack on the backside.

Watching this, Xu Yang thought with satisfaction, ‘Well done!’

They say boys grow up to be pranksters, but girls—troublemakers. And Xue Jinli was the perfect example of this!

Once his disciples had wandered off, Xu Yang retrieved the storage ring taken from the treasure-seeking “gift-bringer,” Wang Teng. He was eager to investigate the artifact rumored to locate hidden opportunities—something that even Yuer hadn’t noticed. She had assumed that the Magnetic Earth Heart was Wang Teng’s most valuable possession, unaware that this little treasure-seeking item held greater significance.

The original story didn’t elaborate much on the item’s functions, aside from aiding the protagonist in treasure hunting. But Xu Yang was certain that anything capable of revealing the fortunes of others couldn’t be ordinary. It might even be a shard of a divine artifact.

Opening the storage ring, Xu Yang found various pills and manuals. Unfortunately, none were valuable enough to capture his attention.

After sifting through the contents, he finally uncovered an object that looked suspiciously like a treasure-seeking artifact—a single-lens monocle in a black frame.

If he hadn’t known he was in a novel world, he’d assume that some earlier transmigrator had crafted this peculiar item out of sheer boredom.

‘Is this seriously the treasure-seeking artifact?’ Xu Yang held up the monocle in disbelief. Yet, upon sensing its faint yet intricate traces of Dao laws and the cosmic runes etched into the frame, he realized it was indeed the treasure-seeking item.

So this is why so many transmigrators are engineers. He couldn’t help but grin. For engineers, glasses are practically an extension of themselves, which apparently gave them a natural advantage here.

Xu Yang placed the “Treasure-Seeking Monocle” on his eye, and the world transformed. Everything around him dulled to black and white, and five faint glows of varying intensity appeared in the distance, each flickering like a hidden treasure waiting to be found.

‘Perhaps these lights represent the fortunes my disciples are about to discover?’ Xu Yang decided to follow the brightest glow to verify his theory.

Beside a quiet riverbank, Liu Beifeng clutched her life-bound spirit spear, her eyes wary as she scanned her surroundings.

At the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, she couldn’t move as freely as her senior sisters in this mystic realm. Along the way, she’d faced several beast encounters, including a few that were rather formidable, and dispatching them had required considerable effort.

But upon reaching the riverbank, the eerie silence unsettled her. There were no beasts, no insects, not even birds. Only the rushing water disturbed the stillness.

This wasn’t a good sign.

From her time training in the Cloud Drift Mountains, Liu Beifeng had learned that a territory devoid of life usually indicated a powerful creature occupying it. And for such a large riverbank, the owner would undoubtedly be strong.

Deciding it was better to avoid trouble, she prepared to turn back when—

Swoosh!

A water arrow suddenly cut through the air, shining bright as it hurtled toward her.

Fortunately, she had anticipated the attack. With a swift motion, she swung her spear, slicing the water arrow in half. As the liquid hit the ground, it emitted a toxic hiss, corroding the soil it touched.

‘Poisoned?!’

The sight made her even more cautious. In the next moment—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A barrage of water arrows shot up from the river, each glinting as it traveled through the air.

“They’re not here for a friendly chat!” Liu Beifeng steeled herself, channeling her liquid mana reserves that flowed like a raging river within her body. Muscles tensed, bracing as her spear glowed, channeling her power into a furious flurry that met the poison-laced arrows head-on.

“Who dares to intrude upon my domain with such audacity?” a voice bellowed. From beneath the river, an enormous creature, as tall as a man, burst forth, wielding a heavy blade.

In the ensuing clash, Liu Beifeng found herself outmatched. She could only dodge and counter with her spear, creating space between herself and the monstrous creature.

Boom!

The beast’s blade crashed down with a thunderous impact, splitting the air with its force.

“You dare dodge my strike?!” the creature roared, humiliated that its assault had missed. Enraged, it pounced toward her with a frightening intensity.

‘Is that… a beaver?’ Xu Yang paused, having arrived at the source of the light. He removed the Treasure-Seeking Monocle to find himself staring at a massive beaver-like creature.

‘How can a beaver be so huge?’ He thought with surprise. Beavers in the outside world were common beasts, barely intimidating enough to scare fishermen.

But this creature, here in the Qi Yuan Cavern, was like a transformed beast—its ordinary appearance masked an unmistakable power.

This oversized beaver must’ve encountered a significant opportunity, Xu Yang surmised, noting that the brightness displayed in the monocle confirmed it.

The creature was a perfected Foundation Establishment beast with underlings lurking beneath the water’s surface. It was one of the most dominant creatures in this realm. Liu Beifeng, still not yet at that level, struggled to fight against it.

“Let’s see how long you can keep dodging!” the beaver snarled, its weapon gleaming with dark energy as it swung, blocking Liu Beifeng’s escape path.

Trapped with no way out, Liu Beifeng knew she would have to risk everything.

Taking a deep breath, she readied her spear, preparing for a desperate charge—

Boom!

A blinding light burst across the riverbank. The oppressive, golden aura filled the air as if a second sun had risen. The poison arrows disintegrated, dissolving as if they had never existed.

Under the weight of this powerful presence, the beaver’s confidence vanished. Its weapon slipped from its grasp, and its fur stood on end with the chill of dread. Desperate, it tried to retreat, but Xu Yang’s aura held it firmly in place.

As Xu Yang walked over, he lifted the oversized beaver by the scruff, looking down at Liu Beifeng with mild displeasure.

“Why risk your life when your master is here?” he chided.

Liu Beifeng lowered her head, shame coloring her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Master… I’ve not yet mastered my skills.”

“No need for apologies. I haven’t exactly given you much guidance,” Xu Yang replied, waving it off. “Remember, if you’re ever in danger, just call for help. If I’m around, I’ll make sure you’re safe.”

“Yes, Master,” Liu Beifeng nodded obediently, casting a quick glance at his concerned expression. Her lips turned up ever so slightly; though she had been scolded, her heart felt lighter, filled with a sweetness that no amount of honey could match.

So this is what it feels like to be under Master’s protection?

She finally understood it firsthand.