Reborn as the Novel’s Villain: Cultivation Lost, Female Leads Take Control - Chapter 96

Life is as fragile as grass, subject to the whims of growth and decay.

“Why do we always get stuck with these wretched tasks?”

“Stop complaining. If the senior brothers hear you, we won’t fare any better.”

“Still, why couldn’t Li Cangxuan hold it in? He’s endured so much already, but one insult, calling him a ‘lowly mutt,’ and he snaps? Look at him now, beaten half to death—he’s probably not going to make it.”

“Well, think about it. He could’ve been a disciple of Purple Cloud Peak under Peak Master Xu Yang, but instead, he’s stuck here feeding spirit pets. That kind of fall from grace would break anyone. After such humiliation, how could he bear it any longer?”

“Why didn’t Senior Brother just kill him outright?”

“In times like these, if he did, it’d be easy for others to accuse him of being a demonic cultivator. Even his family wouldn’t be able to protect him.”

“Typical of those born into big families. Always thinking ahead… Alright, we’re here.”

Two disciples of Heavenly Thunder Peak carried the bloodied, barely breathing body of Li Cangxuan to a dilapidated cave dwelling and left him inside without a second glance.

Li Cangxuan’s eyelids fluttered as he struggled to open them. His eyes were crusted with congealed blood, making it impossible to see.

Whoosh.

A gust of wind swept through the cave, sending a chill down his broken body.

‘So cold…’

He wanted to curl up for warmth, but his shattered bones refused to move. The icy wind seeped into his flesh and deeper still, chilling him to his very soul.

The sensation was suffocating, as if an unseen hand was clutching his heart, squeezing the last vestiges of life from it.

He gasped desperately, the breaths coming weaker with each moment.

‘Am I… dying?’

The thought crossed his mind before darkness swallowed him whole, plunging him into unconsciousness.

Li Cangxuan’s consciousness drifted aimlessly, like a rootless raft on a vast, indifferent river.

He had no sense of time, no grasp of how long he had been adrift.

When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself in an endless expanse of mist. A stark, otherworldly whiteness surrounded him, obscuring all directions.

Suddenly, a deafening clap of thunder shattered the silence. The mist parted, and the scenery transformed.

Lush grasses and fragrant orchids spread before him, ancient trees towered to the skies, and celestial mists wreathed the idyllic landscape.

‘Is this… an immortal realm?’

As he stood dumbfounded, a breeze brushed his face. Looking up, he saw a figure riding a crane, descending gracefully from the heavens.

‘It’s him!’

Li Cangxuan’s breath hitched. His body trembled as he recognized the figure—an old man with a crane-like visage, exactly like the beggar who once tried to sell him a cultivation manual.

This can’t be a coincidence…

“Child, we meet again,” the old man said, his tone gentle, though a flicker of helplessness passed through his eyes.

“Y-you… You’re that senior?” Li Cangxuan stammered, still grappling with disbelief. Could this beggar, now an immortal-like figure, truly be the same person?

“Without a doubt,” the old man replied. “I am Daoist Mad.”

With a wave of his palm, a pavilion appeared amidst the celestial scene. In a flash, Daoist Mad seated himself and gestured to the stone bench opposite.

“Come, sit down, and we shall talk.”

Li Cangxuan swallowed nervously, making his way to the bench. Sitting with obvious caution, he lowered his head and asked, “Senior… where is this place?”

“This is the Cloud Dream Immortal Realm,” Daoist Mad replied, pouring a cup of tea and handing it to him.

“Drink this.”

Li Cangxuan accepted the cup with reverence, murmuring his thanks before taking a sip.

The moment the tea touched his lips, a miraculous warmth spread through his body. The unbearable pain vanished as if swept away, leaving him refreshed and rejuvenated. Even his mind felt clearer.

“Senior, this tea…”

“It’s nothing of note,” Daoist Mad said, brushing off the gratitude. “Do you know why I’ve come to see you?”

“I… I do not. Please enlighten me,” Li Cangxuan said earnestly.

Daoist Mad waved his fan, his expression grave.

“This world is on the brink of catastrophe. A Heavenly Demon is about to descend, and when it does, chaos and carnage will engulf the land. The mortal realm will become a hellscape.”

“A Heavenly Demon?” Li Cangxuan shuddered, struggling to comprehend. “Senior, I’m just a minor cultivator at the Foundation Establishment realm. What use could I possibly be in such a disaster?”

“You underestimate yourself,” Daoist Mad said with a shake of his head.

“You were born under a heavenly mandate. Though your path has been fraught with hardship, destiny has chosen you. The calamity to come will end through your actions. You will save this world.”

“I… I will?” Li Cangxuan asked, pointing to himself in disbelief.

“Indeed. Many great figures faced trials and tribulations in their youth, yet they left their mark on history, earning eternal renown. Even I endured many hardships in my early years,” Daoist Mad said with a faint smile.

Li Cangxuan hesitated before asking, “But how do I fulfill such a destiny? What must I do?”

“Do you remember the manual I once tried to sell you?”

Li Cangxuan’s face flushed with embarrassment. He had assumed the old man was a swindler and discarded the manual.

Daoist Mad chuckled knowingly. “No matter. I will teach you again.”

With that, he extended a hand and placed it gently on Li Cangxuan’s head.

A thunderous boom resounded, and Li Cangxuan’s mind was flooded with visions of ancient times. He saw the creation of a cultivation scripture by a supreme Immortal Emperor.

When an immortal touches one’s head, longevity is bestowed.

The scripture was none other than the Eternal Life Scripture, a profound work authored by the Immortal Emperor of Eternal Life.

As the visions faded, cryptic yet divine texts etched themselves into Li Cangxuan’s consciousness, their meanings mysterious and unfathomable.

“Thank you, Senior, for this priceless gift!” Li Cangxuan exclaimed, dropping to one knee in deep gratitude.

Daoist Mad waved his fan, lifting Li Cangxuan effortlessly to his feet.

“This was always meant to be yours,” Daoist Mad said with a smile.

“No, if not for you, I would have lost this opportunity forever,” Li Cangxuan said, his voice filled with heartfelt emotion.

“You have a good heart, child,” Daoist Mad said approvingly. “Begin cultivating now. Time flows differently here—one day outside is equivalent to a month within this realm.”

“Yes, Senior. I will not waste this chance!” Li Cangxuan promised, bowing deeply.

He paused briefly and asked, “Senior, how do I leave this place? And how can I return?”

“To leave, simply say ‘wake up.’ To return, enter a meditative state.”

With that, Daoist Mad rose, his fan in hand. A celestial crane emerged from the mists, and he mounted it, vanishing into the clouds.