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

In the Qi Yuan Cave.

By the riverbank.

“Stop fighting, you two. If you keep this up, someone’s really going to get hurt,” Liu Beifeng said, pulling apart the two beavers locked in a vicious struggle.

Initially, their fight had been a playful demonstration, but somewhere along the way, things got serious—likely due to one of them getting a bit too aggressive.

The two beavers, forcibly separated, glared at each other, both looking ready to resume their quarrel at any moment.

“If you want to fight, go back to the river and do it there,” Xu Yang remarked casually.

The beavers shivered, their aggression vanishing in an instant as they returned to Xu Yang’s side, standing guard like dutiful sentries. If you could ignore the fact they were beavers, they might even be comparable to the revered Tang Dynasty guardians of old.

About an incense stick of time later, bubbles appeared on the river’s surface.

The large beaver reemerged, followed by several others, each hefting a lush green lotus that stood half as tall as a person.

The lotus emitted a soft, shimmering light, with a faint, misty aura surrounding it. It exuded a divine radiance and filled the air with a sweet fragrance.

“This… could it be the Chaotic Green Lotus?” Liu Beifeng gasped, her beautiful eyes wide with surprise.

She had read about such a lotus in ancient texts, although this one looked a little different from the description.

“It’s not quite the Chaotic Green Lotus—just a lesser variant that’s absorbed a trace of its aura,” Xu Yang corrected, his initial excitement calming.

He had also momentarily mistaken it for the legendary Chaotic Green Lotus, said to be the top of the ten great heavenly treasures. However, he quickly realized it wasn’t quite that.

If it were truly a Chaotic Green Lotus, even a single wisp of its aura would be immensely heavy, and no mere Foundation Establishment beavers could have uprooted it, let alone carried it without getting crushed.

“Still, at around 4,000 years old, this is quite a remarkable treasure,” Xu Yang remarked approvingly.

“Master truly has great insight!” The large beaver took the opportunity to flatter him.

“Enough. Leave the lotus here, and you’re staying too,” Xu Yang said, pointing to the beaver.

“M-Master… I also have to stay?” The large beaver trembled, its legs turning weak.

Seeing the two beavers he’d left behind now looking battered and bruised, he could only imagine what fate might await him. If his followers got thrashed this badly, he, as the ringleader, would surely fare worse.

“What? Are you unwilling?” Xu Yang’s tone turned icy. “By my principles, since you dared to harm my disciple, I should have wiped out your entire clan. But since you were obedient, I’m giving you a chance to redeem yourself.”

‘Wipe out my clan?!’

‘This master was indeed a terrifying figure.’

“No, no, I’m willing! I’m willing!” The large beaver hastily kowtowed, its voice trembling with fear.

“Hold on. Tell me, who tended this lotus?” Xu Yang asked.

“It was me, Master,” the large beaver replied honestly.

“Congratulations, then. You get to live. From now on, you are the Spirit Farmer of Purple Cloud Peak. All heavenly treasures will be under your care. If anything goes wrong, you’ll answer to me,” Xu Yang declared sternly.

He was thinking long-term. This venture into the Qi Yuan Cave would undoubtedly yield an abundance of treasures, and his disciples wouldn’t need all of them immediately. Storing them was also inconvenient, so planting them in the spirit fields at Purple Cloud Peak would be the best option.

With the disciples at Purple Cloud Peak being all gentle, delicate young ladies, Xu Yang couldn’t bear the thought of them doing farm work.

The beaver, on the other hand, was tough and resilient—a natural for the job. Most importantly, the beaver didn’t have human rights, so even if he worked it day and night, there’d be no complaints.

“The River King greets the Peak Master!” The beaver, relieved to be alive, bowed deeply to Xu Yang.

‘River King?’

“Your name’s a bit much for a beaver,” Xu Yang said, raising an eyebrow. “Not catchy at all. Let’s just call you ‘Little Black,’ after your dark fur.”

“Little Black… that’s…” The beaver paused before continuing enthusiastically, “An excellent name! Black represents the night, the true essence of this world… Peak Master must be encouraging me not to be constrained by titles like River King, to strive to be a virtuous, selfless beaver, upright and courageous!”

“Master’s wisdom is as boundless as the heavens! My admiration for you flows as endlessly as the rivers!” The beaver looked at Xu Yang with awe.

Liu Beifeng gazed dreamily at her master, feeling that everything the beaver said was true. The longer she spent with her master, the more she sensed that his every word and action carried a profound meaning, enlightening her spirit.

Xu Yang was taken aback. He had only chosen the name “Little Black” because it was easier to remember. Still, he had to admit the beaver had a talent for flattery. Perhaps keeping it around wasn’t such a bad idea.

Turning to Liu Beifeng, Xu Yang said, “Disciple, this green lotus is yours. At 4,000 years old, it’ll be an excellent aid for you when you’re ready to advance to Core Formation.”

“No, no, Master. I’m only at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment—Core Formation is still a long way off. I’d rather you keep it,” Liu Beifeng replied modestly.

Xu Yang lightly knocked her on the head. “As my personal disciple, how can you lack ambition?”

Liu Beifeng blushed, rubbing her head. “But Master is just so incredible… Core Formation was nothing for you.”

“If you keep spending time with your Third Sister, you’re going to end up like her—always talking back,” Xu Yang teased with a smile. He then stored the green lotus in his system space.

“I’ll hold onto this for now. When you’re ready for Core Formation, I’ll return it to you.”

Interestingly, the system notification he expected didn’t appear.

Perhaps, in the system’s judgment, this didn’t count as a gift from his disciple?

That made sense.

After all, he had technically taken the green lotus before Liu Beifeng even got her hands on it, so the system likely saw it as rightfully his from the start.

So no shortcuts there.

Xu Yang had briefly considered handing treasures to his disciples and having them return them as “gifts,” hoping to exploit the system’s rewards. But it seemed the system, existing beyond the natural order, wasn’t so easily fooled.

Clearly, his plan had been too simplistic!