Reborn as the Novel’s Villain: Cultivation Lost, Female Leads Take Control - Chapter 157

Cloud Dream Immortal Realm.

“Cangxuan greets Senior Daoist Mad!”

Li Cangxuan rose from the ground and bowed deeply to the old man in front of him.

Although Senior Daoist Mad had never formally accepted him as a disciple, he had taught him ancient scriptures and saved his life during his darkest moments. To Li Cangxuan, their bond went beyond that of a typical master-disciple relationship.

Daoist Mad gently waved the palm-leaf fan in his hand, and with a soft ripple in the air, a pavilion materialized before them. With a kind smile, he gestured for Li Cangxuan to follow him.

“Kid, sit down. Let’s talk!”

“Yes, Senior!”

Li Cangxuan obediently followed, taking a seat opposite Daoist Mad in the pavilion. With practiced ease, he poured a cup of tea for the old man before serving himself.

The moment Li Cangxuan sipped the tea, he felt a surge of energy flow through him. The qi in his dantian became more vibrant, his limbs felt reinvigorated, and his mind grew sharper.

“Good tea!” Li Cangxuan wiped his mouth, chuckling as he praised the brew. He then turned his gaze to Daoist Mad and said with a grin, “Senior Daoist Mad, you asked why I hid my cultivation after forming a core? Allow me to explain my reasoning.”

Daoist Mad waved his hand, signaling him to continue.

“Though I’ve reached the Core Formation realm, my peak is full of senior brothers who are also in the Core Formation realm—and let me tell you, most of them are not kindhearted!”

“If they learn that I, Li Cangxuan, not only survived but also managed to turn calamity into fortune, breaking through from the Foundation Establishment realm to the Core Formation realm in just days, they will stop at nothing to steal my opportunity!”

“Even if I defeat them, they have powerful families backing them. Once the younger generation fails, the elders will surely come for me. If I can’t handle both them and their families, my life will once again hang by a thread.”

“So, until I gain enough strength to defeat their families, I must remain hidden…”

Li Cangxuan’s voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed a trace of bitterness. The scars of his past experience—being beaten nearly to death by his senior brothers—still haunted him.

Daoist Mad sighed, shaking his head.

“And how long do you plan to hide like this?”

To Daoist Mad, Li Cangxuan’s cautious nature bordered on cowardice. As a disciple of an immortal sect, showing one’s talent could attract the favor of the sect’s elders. Yet, Li Cangxuan chose to suppress himself, behaving as if he were trapped in a demon sect where a single misstep meant certain death.

“If this continues, you won’t just miss countless opportunities—you might falter when the real calamity arrives!” Daoist Mad warned, his tone carrying a hint of frustration.

Li Cangxuan met Daoist Mad’s gaze with a confident smile. “Senior, I am fully aware of my responsibilities as the savior of this world. I won’t hide forever—I have a plan!”

Daoist Mad raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What plan?”

Setting his cup down, Li Cangxuan leaned forward, his voice brimming with determination:

“In just over half a month, the Six Peaks Competition of the Qingming Sect will commence. During this event, all the sect’s high-ranking leaders will gather—including the sect master and the Grand Elder, who has been in seclusion for years!”

“I will participate in this competition, defeat all the disciples of the Thirty-Six Peaks, and claim the championship in one decisive sweep!”

“And when the Grand Elder witnesses my unmatched talent and combat prowess, he will undoubtedly accept me as his direct disciple!”

Daoist Mad set down his palm-leaf fan, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Li Cangxuan. “That’s quite an ambitious plan. Do you think it will work?”

“Senior Daoist Mad, I’ve analyzed every angle.” Li Cangxuan’s tone was resolute. “The Grand Elder is known for valuing raw talent above all else. If I can prove myself on the stage of the Six Peaks Competition, no one—neither the sect master nor my senior brothers—will dare to touch me!”

Li Cangxuan’s declaration of confidence in the Six Peaks Competition was not blind arrogance but a calculated assessment of his own abilities. While he didn’t explicitly state that the Grand Elder would definitely accept him as a disciple, his tone was humble considering the profound changes he had undergone.

After practicing the Eternal Life Scripture and drinking a cup of Daoist Mad’s mysterious tea every day, Li Cangxuan’s transformation was undeniable. He was no longer the same person who once struggled to compete with his peers.

His confidence in winning first place stemmed not only from his newfound strength but also from the intelligence he had carefully gathered. While performing menial tasks for his senior brothers, Li Cangxuan overheard plenty of conversations. Through these casual chats, he pieced together the profiles of the popular contestants from the Thirty-Six Peaks who would compete in the Six Peaks Competition.

After analyzing his opponents, it became clear to him that most of them were not a threat.

The real challenge, however, came from Purple Cloud Peak.

Purple Cloud Peak had already announced its participant: the new disciple Liu Beifeng.

Li Cangxuan remembered Liu Beifeng all too well. During the Ascension Conference in Heavenly Origin City, he had narrowly lost to her by a single move. Even back then, it was clear Liu Beifeng had held back her true strength.

But times had changed.

Now armed with the Eternal Life Scripture, Li Cangxuan was confident that even if Liu Beifeng had made significant progress, he would not repeat his past mistakes. He was determined to prevail this time.

As for why Li Cangxuan aimed to impress the Grand Elder rather than the Sect Master, the reasoning was simple.

The Sect Master’s reputation was far from favorable. Known for her harsh methods and ruthlessness, she showed little regard for her disciples. To put it bluntly, she was unreliable as a protector.

Li Cangxuan’s ultimate goal in revealing his strength was to secure a powerful backer. If the Sect Master could not fulfill that role, then the Grand Elder—renowned for his fairness and support of promising disciples—was the logical choice.

“Not bad,” Daoist Mad said, breaking into a gratified smile.

He had initially feared that Li Cangxuan might concoct some reckless or underhanded plan, as many Sons of Destiny were prone to chaotic behavior. However, this plan was so reasonable, so grounded, that Daoist Mad found himself a little stunned.

For a moment, he wondered if the warnings he had received about the unpredictable nature of the Son of Destiny were overblown.

“Thank you for the compliment, Senior!” Li Cangxuan beamed with pride. Being praised by someone of Daoist Mad’s stature felt like a monumental honor.

“Still,” Daoist Mad said, switching to a more serious tone, “you must cultivate well and ensure nothing goes wrong during the competition.”

The Six Peaks Competition was crucial. Daoist Mad understood that it marked the beginning of Li Cangxuan’s rise. Any mishap could severely impact his destiny.

The Son of Destiny’s luck was a fragile but powerful force. If it faltered, opportunities would slip away, and his chances of surviving life-and-death situations would plummet.

“Senior Daoist Mad, I understand. I’ll be cautious,” Li Cangxuan assured him.

Caution was not just a guideline for Li Cangxuan; it was his default strategy. He had no intention of revealing his full strength in the competition.

“A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind,” he thought to himself. “If I outshine everyone too early, the other participants from the Thirty-Six Peaks will join forces to target me.”

Instead, his plan was to keep his victories modest—winning by a single move or even half a move. By simulating the appearance of being seriously injured after each battle, he would downplay his abilities. This façade would not only lower his opponents’ guard but also preserve his strength for the later stages.

The thought of deceiving his opponents so thoroughly brought a sly smile to Li Cangxuan’s face.

Daoist Mad observed Li Cangxuan’s expression and nodded approvingly. Being cautious and calculating in battle was a wise approach.

Before departing, Daoist Mad imparted another martial art to Li Cangxuan, further enhancing his arsenal. Then, with a wave of his hand, he summoned a magnificent crane.

Leaping gracefully onto its back, Daoist Mad gave Li Cangxuan a final glance before flying off into the clouds.