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

The skies above the Qingming Sect churned with unprecedented turbulence.

Spiritual energy from all thirty-six peaks flowed uncontrollably toward Purple Cloud Peak, forming a torrential river of energy. Even the sect’s powerful spirit-gathering formations couldn’t resist this pull, as though the energy were inexorably drawn toward its destined ocean.

Above the heavens, the void rippled like a boundless mirror disturbed by a great force. Waves of majestic air currents spread outward, tearing apart clouds across thousands of miles.

Boom!

Thunder roared as a celestial phenomenon unfolded. In the void, phantom figures began to manifest—one riding an azure ox, another astride a five-colored qilin, yet another wielding a treasure map. Some stood inhumanly tall with divine physiques, a singular ancient lotus hovering above their heads. These were the images of young emperors who had ascended to immortality throughout the ages.

The expressions of these apparitions ranged from astonishment and curiosity to jealousy and admiration. They loomed high above the heavens, gazing down at Purple Cloud Peak.

This extraordinary sight left everyone stunned.

Numerous disciples and elders soared into the air from their respective peaks, their gazes fixed on Purple Cloud Peak with awe and disbelief.

“What in the world is happening at Purple Cloud Peak? How could it trigger such an earth-shattering celestial phenomenon?”

“Those are the silhouettes of celestial beings! The Morality Immortal Sovereign, the Qi Tian Demon Immortal, the Ancient Sacred Body… my heavens! Could this mean True Lord Xu has ascended to the rank of a Venerable?”

“Is he going to become the youngest Venerable in the Northern Province after already being its youngest Nascent Soul cultivator?”

“Joining Purple Cloud Peak is like winning the cosmic lottery. I’ve decided—I’ll join it even if I have to work as a spirit farmer!”

Among the thirty-six peaks, countless disciples gazed enviously toward Purple Cloud Peak. Their own peaks rarely experienced even minor phenomena, while Purple Cloud Peak seemed to invite cosmic spectacles every other week.

“This isn’t the sign of a Venerable’s ascension; it’s the celestial phenomenon for a Nascent Soul cultivator!” a peak master commented, his tone laced with unease.

The thought of Purple Cloud Peak producing another Nascent Soul cultivator made the sect’s peak masters uncomfortable. They could accept being outshone by Xu Yang in terms of personal talent, but losing to him as a teacher? That was intolerable.

“This doesn’t make sense. As far as I know, Xu Yang’s most advanced disciple, Yuan Kouxuan, is only at the peak of the Core Formation stage, still far from Nascent Soul.”

“Could it be the seventh disciple, Tu Shan Yaoyao? The Tushan Fox Clan is said to possess an ancient heritage. If she received a deep inheritance, it’s not entirely impossible for her to leap directly into the Nascent Soul realm.”

“Hah, if the Tushan clan’s inheritance were that powerful, they wouldn’t just produce a single Nascent Soul cultivator; they’d churn out hundreds. The entire Five Regions would have fallen to their control ages ago. Why would they bother placing a direct descendant under Xu Yang’s tutelage?”

The void was alive with whispered exchanges of divine sense as the peak masters speculated. Yet, no matter how they analyzed it, none dared entertain the notion that this phenomenon could be caused by Xu Yang himself.

After all, how could someone already in the Nascent Soul stage break through to Nascent Soul again?

Heavenly Thunder Peak

Master Wanjun, the peak master, stood in his personal quarters, his gaze darkened as he stared toward Purple Cloud Peak. He muttered coldly under his breath, “Another Nascent Soul cultivator… Xu Yang, your methods truly surpass imagination.”

“But it doesn’t matter. Once my Bone Refining Demonic Sutra reaches completion, not only you but every disciple of Purple Cloud Peak will become nothing more than nourishment for my power!”

He let out a series of eerie, bone-chilling laughs. His twisted grin mirrored that of a malicious specter, radiating dread.

Turning on his heel, Master Wanjun entered his sealed chamber. Moments later, a horrific scream echoed from within.

“Master, no! Please, I’m your disciple—don’t—ahhh!”

The chamber’s soundproofing formations ensured that no one outside Heavenly Thunder Peak would notice the atrocities occurring within.

Main Peak

Hovering above the sect’s main peak, Ji Hongluan, the sect leader, watched the phenomena over Purple Cloud Peak with an intense gaze. There was a deep familiarity in the spiritual energy radiating from the peak. She lowered her eyes to the cat nestled in her arms and asked hesitantly, “Little Flower, could this energy… belong to that fool?”

The tuxedo cat yawned lazily and responded, “Meow~”

Ji Hongluan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re saying it’s him?”

The cat nodded.

“That’s… impossible.”

A myriad of emotions flashed across Ji Hongluan’s flawless features as her mind reeled with realizations.

“Then… the Core Formation breakthrough last time was his as well!”

She clenched her hands, trembling slightly. “He lost his cultivation, and I… I didn’t even notice. As sect leader, I have failed him.”

Her long lashes fluttered as she bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. “So, when he confessed his feelings, it was because he had lost his cultivation. His heart was shaken, and he finally acknowledged his true emotions…”

“And when I proposed visiting Purple Cloud Peak, he refused… to spare me the sight of his weakened state.”

Tears began to roll down Ji Hongluan’s cheeks. Her voice cracked as she sobbed, “Little Flower, I misunderstood him again!”

The tuxedo cat looked up at its mistress, utterly speechless.

Even as a cat, it couldn’t fathom how someone could be this delusional about romance. The entire narrative seemed fabricated from thin air!

If this were a matter between cats, affection would be demonstrated directly—through mutual grooming and playful nuzzles. Perhaps Ji Hongluan needed to take notes from cat courtship instead of relying on wild imagination.

“Next time,” the cat mused silently, “I’ll suggest she try licking his face.”