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

Before the Venerable Qi Yuan could finish speaking, his voice abruptly halted, as though something had choked it off.

“Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by reincarnation? And what is this awakening you speak of?” Xu Yang asked, confusion evident in his tone.

“The heavens and earth themselves are but a cycle of reincarnation. As for awakening…” The Venerable Qi Yuan paused before continuing, “It’s difficult to explain. You came here seeking my inheritance, but my path may not be suited to you…”

“Forget the inheritance for a moment. Let’s focus on this awakening business,” Xu Yang pressed. He detested half-answers and found people like this particularly aggravating.

“Fellow Daoist, it’s not that I won’t say, but that I can’t. Such truths are beyond the limits of what can be disclosed,” the Venerable Qi Yuan said helplessly.

‘Riddler, get out of Gotham! If you’re on the brink of death and tormented by misfortune, what’s the harm in speaking plainly?’ Xu Yang thought. Frustrated, he tamped down his curiosity and shifted the conversation.

“You mentioned your Dao doesn’t suit me. Why is that?”

The Venerable Qi Yuan’s demeanor softened as he explained, “My Dao is one of formations—an art that requires exceptional talent and unparalleled comprehension. Judging by your Supreme Yang Physique, your cultivation likely emphasizes overwhelming force. My inheritance would not complement such a Dao.”

Xu Yang scoffed internally. ‘Why not just say I’m all brawn and no brains?’ Of course, he wouldn’t admit to that. He prided himself on both his strength and his wit.

The truth became clear to Xu Yang. The Venerable Qi Yuan didn’t want to entrust his inheritance to someone like him because it would merely enhance an already powerful arsenal. The Venerable sought someone who could genuinely carry his legacy forward, not merely use it as a minor convenience.

“If that’s the case, which of my two disciples do you think would be most suitable for your inheritance?” Xu Yang asked, unwilling to let the opportunity slip away. ‘If I don’t take it, the protagonist surely will.’

In the original story, the protagonist had squandered the inheritance, unable to understand its profundity until much later. Even then, it was more of a decorative accomplishment since the protagonist relied on a single brute-force technique to defeat all enemies. For the Venerable Qi Yuan, entrusting his legacy to the protagonist had been a misstep.

“If I’m not mistaken, the young girl in green possesses the Four Symbols Spirit Constitution,” the Venerable replied. “As the saying goes, ‘From the Two Elements arise the Four Symbols, and from the Four Symbols, the Eight Trigrams.’ Her natural affinity for formations makes her an ideal candidate. With time, she may become a Formation Saint!”

Excitement filled his voice. The Venerable had endured millennia of torment, clinging to life for the sole purpose of passing on his legacy. Now, at last, he had found the perfect successor. Even the red hairs of the curse trembled in anticipation, and the forbidden entities lurking behind him howled in agitation.

“I care little for saints. I simply don’t want your inheritance to be lost to the sands of time,” Xu Yang said, summoning Xue Jinli with a wave of his hand.

Xue Jinli’s eyes sparkled as she quickly approached. “Master, what is it you need?”

Xu Yang gestured with a burst of radiant energy, incinerating the encroaching cursed entities. “Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan wishes to pass his inheritance to you. Will you accept?”

Xue Jinli’s chest swelled with pride. ‘Master refers to the Venerable Qi Yuan as a fellow Daoist. How fitting for someone like my master!’ She tilted her head, curiosity sparkling in her gaze. “Why doesn’t Senior Qi Yuan pass the inheritance directly to you, Master?”

“Because our paths differ,” Xu Yang replied smoothly, sparing the Venerable Qi Yuan from having to explain further.

The Venerable nodded gratefully and addressed Xue Jinli, “Young lady, will you accept my legacy and bring it to new heights?”

Xue Jinli looked at Xu Yang. Seeing her master wink at her, she immediately nodded. “I’m willing.”

“Good!” the Venerable said. A terrifying aura erupted from his body. The cursed red hairs covering him shivered and began to fall away, while the forbidden entities behind him were crushed by an invisible force, emitting ear-piercing shrieks.

A booming sound echoed as countless formation patterns manifested in the void. Ancient and mysterious, they radiated brilliance as intricate runes wove themselves together. A jade slip began to take shape, glowing faintly as it solidified.

Moments later, the Venerable’s aura subsided. The cursed red hairs surged back with a vengeance, and the forbidden entities renewed their frenzied attacks. Enduring excruciating pain, the Venerable handed the glowing jade slip to Xue Jinli. His voice trembled as he spoke:

“This jade slip contains all my knowledge… Fellow Daoist, I can’t hold on any longer. Can you… send me off?”

“Of course,” Xu Yang agreed without hesitation.

The Venerable Qi Yuan’s body was little more than an empty shell after millennia of torment, sustained only by a flicker of will. Having secured a worthy successor, he no longer had regrets. Even if Xu Yang wanted to save him, there was no way. The best he could do was grant the Venerable a swift and dignified end.

Xu Yang stepped forward, his imposing figure radiating boundless light. His overwhelming vitality surged like a blazing sun, filling the chamber with an indomitable presence.

With a single punch, Xu Yang’s immense strength shattered the Venerable’s cursed body. The red hairs disintegrated in the torrent of Yang energy, and the forbidden entities let out desperate screams as they were obliterated, vanishing into wisps of vapor.

The Venerable’s frail form was restored to its original appearance—a gaunt, middle-aged man bearing a striking resemblance to the descriptions in ancient texts.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoist,” the Venerable Qi Yuan whispered, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion. A serene smile spread across his face as his body dissolved into ashes, scattering into the void like a burned-out flame.

After five thousand years of torment, he was finally free.