Reborn as the Novel’s Villain: Cultivation Lost, Female Leads Take Control - Chapter 130

“I don’t accept this! I haven’t even used all my techniques! If I had, you wouldn’t be my match!”

Xiao Ye clenched his fists, his face twisting with resentment.

“Fine, then stand up. I’ll give you a quarter of an hour to recover, and we’ll fight again.”

Shen He tossed a bottle of healing pills to Xiao Ye, crossing his arms as he coldly looked down at his defeated opponent.

Xiao Ye’s face instantly changed colors, from flushed red to sickly green. The humiliation was almost too much to bear. His entire body trembled with suppressed rage.

To be treated with such condescension—handed healing pills in full view of everyone, as though it were an act of benevolence—was nothing short of a slap to his face.

Proud as he was, how could he endure this?

The murmurs of the onlookers pierced Xiao Ye’s ears like needles, further fueling his desire to lash out. He longed to pull out the Human Emperor Banner and wipe out this crowd of “insects” mocking him.

Just as Xiao Ye was about to lose control, a calm voice echoed in his mind, “Disciple, a true man must know when to endure. Let him have his moment. When the source stone is opened, all of White Emperor City will become the Holy Hall’s hunting ground. By then, this Shen He will be like a pig in a pen, entirely at your mercy.”

The words of his master froze Xiao Ye’s expression and quelled his anger.

He understood that this wasn’t just advice but a warning. If he acted recklessly and jeopardized the Holy Hall’s grand plan, it wouldn’t be these so-called Immortal Clan heirs who ended his life—it would be his master.

After all, the Holy Hall demanded absolute loyalty.

Once before, when the leader of the Mystic Heaven Sect had tried to kill him, it was only the Holy Hall’s intervention that saved him.

If the Holy Hall turned against him this time, no one would save him.

With this sobering thought, Xiao Ye regained his composure, his eyes regaining their clarity.

“Shen He, I apologize for my earlier behavior. Your strength surpasses mine. I admit defeat.”

Xiao Ye’s apology was so smooth and genuine it was as though he had practiced such submissions countless times.

“Wang Chen, I hope your words are sincere. In the future, I don’t want to hear you uttering any slander about Master Xu again. If you do, the next Great Sealing Palm will take your life.”

Shen He’s voice was cold as he stared down Xiao Ye for a few seconds, then turned and flew back to the viewing platform.

The crowd broke into murmurs:

“He slandered Master Xu? What gall!”

“With such a pathetic performance, what right does he have to criticize Master Xu?”

“Some people are just shameless. He probably wanted to hitch a ride on Master Xu’s fame.”

“But he couldn’t even beat a celestial scion’s follower!”

“Master Xu doesn’t even spare him a glance—like a dragon ignoring the barking of a dog!”

The jeers reached Xiao Ye’s ears, making his face flicker with shades of red and green as he slinked off the stage, blending into the crowd.

“Well, that was unexpected.”

“The protagonist joins the demonic path and suddenly learns patience!”

“Could it be that patience is a hallmark of the demonic path?”

Xu Yang was slightly surprised to see Xiao Ye endure such humiliation. He couldn’t help but recall Xiao Ye’s former master, Lei Wanjun, who also displayed an uncanny level of restraint.

“Master, do you know this person?”

Yuan Kouxuan noticed her master’s gaze lingering on Xiao Ye and asked softly.

“Not only do I know him,” Xu Yang replied with a slight nod, “but so do you.”

“Master, your disciple knows him too?”

Qin Kewan pointed at herself, her expression puzzled.

Xu Yang chuckled. “That man is none other than Xiao Ye, the demonic spy who infiltrated Heavenly Thunder Peak. He’s using a technique to alter his appearance. While it can deceive most, it cannot fool me.”

He spoke openly, choosing not to hide the truth from his disciples. True trust, he believed, required mutual honesty.

“What?”

“That’s Xiao Ye, the demonic spy?”

Qin Kewan’s eyes widened in shock. Though she wasn’t in Qingming Sect, she had heard all about Xiao Ye’s betrayal from Senior Sister Qingqing. Yuan Kouxuan had even issued a bounty for Xiao Ye’s capture.

“Master, since he’s a demonic spy, he must be plotting something. Allow me to capture him for interrogation!”

Yuan Kouxuan, ever decisive, unsheathed her Qing’ai Sword, ready to act.

“Master, let me join Senior Sister!” Qin Kewan chimed in, her voice firm.

Xu Yang lightly tapped the armrest of his chair and smiled. “No need. Xiao Ye is just a small fish. Keep an eye on him, but don’t act rashly. We don’t want to alert the others.”

“Understood, Master.” Yuan Kouxuan reluctantly sheathed her sword.

Qin Kewan, meanwhile, stared at Xu Yang with adoration, her face glowing with admiration. In her heart, she thought, ‘Master’s confidence and composure are simply…’

On the other side of the platform, Xiao Ye’s embarrassing episode had no lasting impact on the ongoing battles.

The aspiring followers of Immortal Clan heirs—be they from prestigious sects or wandering cultivators—were still enthusiastically competing, eager to showcase their strength.

Among them were some extraordinary talents whose dazzling performances even earned compliments from Xu Yang himself.

For those who received such praise, it was an unparalleled honor.

Some were even more delighted than if they had been chosen as followers of a celestial scion.

After all, in their eyes, Xu Yang was destined to shine in the coming golden age, a figure who could sweep through an era unmatched.

Some dared to dream even bigger: perhaps Xu Yang would achieve the ultimate goal of proving the Dao and ascending to immortality.

To receive recognition from a future Immortal Emperor was a source of boundless pride and joy for these young cultivators, leaving their faces radiant and their spirits soaring.

Several days passed.

The Immortal Clan heirs concluded their selections, taking the most promising talents and, in rare cases, a few wandering cultivators as followers. The Heaven’s Chosen Gathering began drawing to a close.

Many unselected disciples of great sects wore expressions of discontent.

Back in their own sects, they were hailed as prodigies. Yet, upon arriving in White Emperor City, they realized there were levels even among so-called prodigies. In comparison, they appeared strikingly mediocre.

The stark contrast left their hearts uneasy, and their Dao hearts wavered.

Meanwhile, many wandering cultivators lingered despite being overlooked. Over the past few days, they had benefited greatly from the discourse among sect prodigies. Some had even broken through bottlenecks in their cultivation.

But the greatest gains undoubtedly came from Xu Yang’s lecture, which many suspected would be their only chance to hear him speak in their lifetime.

Reluctant though they were to leave, they understood the gathering had reached its end, and staying any longer would serve no purpose.

Just as everyone was preparing to depart, Jiang Haoyu stepped forward from the viewing platform, leaning against the railing to address the crowd. His tone was warm and inviting:

“Thank you all for making the effort to come to White Emperor City and participate in this Heaven’s Chosen Gathering. Jiang is deeply grateful…

“Next, I will host a Source Stone Evaluation event. These source stones come from the Primordial Ancient Mine. Those who have been chosen as followers or caught my eye among the talents are allowed to select three stones each.

“Others are welcome to stay and observe if they wish.”

Buzz!

Jiang Haoyu’s words caused an uproar among the crowd, their expressions rippling with shock and excitement.

Source stones from the Primordial Ancient Mine!

And participants were allowed to select three!

This was a grand display of generosity.

Though many were not natives of White Emperor City, they all knew the saying: All divine sources come from the White Emperor.

The divine sources of White Emperor City primarily originated from the Primordial Ancient Mine, controlled by the Jiang family.

What made divine sources so coveted was their potential to contain rare treasures. Such treasures were often enough to attract the envy of experts at the Honored Realm. For a penniless cultivator, finding a divine source could secure their resources for the rest of their cultivation journey.

Upon hearing this, many disciples of prestigious sects were filled with regret.

Had they known this earlier, they would not have held back in battle. They might have fought with all their might, perhaps earning Jiang Haoyu’s favor and the chance to select three source stones from the Primordial Ancient Mine.

As for the wandering cultivators, they took it in stride. After all, no matter how generous the Jiang family was, it had nothing to do with them.

Still, since there was a show to watch, they decided to stay and observe.

And who knows—if someone opened a divine source, it would make for a great story to tell their descendants someday.