Reborn as the Novel’s Villain: Cultivation Lost, Female Leads Take Control - Chapter 98

Another day dawned.

At the Qingming Sect’s mountain gate plaza, dozens of massive spirit vessels landed one after another, marking the return of the disciples from the Qi Yuan Cave Mansion.

Before long, the plaza was teeming with disciples, their faces brimming with joy from the gains they had made during this expedition.

“I was lucky enough to find a millennium-old spirit herb. Although it’s just a common Seven-Leaf Grass, it’s still quite decent!”

“Seven-Leaf Grass? Even at a thousand years, it can’t compare to my 700-year-old Water Spirit Flower!”

“Senior Brother is really fortunate. But I heard that Senior Brother Chen from Heavenly Thunder Peak found a 1500-year-old Black Frost Vine!”

Hearing this, many disciples couldn’t help but turn their envious gazes toward Senior Brother Chen. But to their surprise, the usually confident disciple wore a gloomy expression, his brows furrowed with frustration.

A concerned disciple approached him.

“Senior Brother Chen, did something troubling happen?”

Senior Brother Chen didn’t respond, his face clouded as he remained silent.

“Why doesn’t he speak? Could it be that Senior Brother Chen naturally dislikes talking?” another disciple muttered in confusion.

Fortunately, a well-informed disciple pulled him aside and whispered:

“You don’t know? While we were away in the secret realm, a huge event occurred!”

“Purple Cloud Peak Master Xu Yang discovered that Heavenly Thunder Peak Master Wanjun was a demonic spy planted in the sect. Xu Yang killed him on the spot with two punches…”

“With his master gone, do you think Senior Brother Chen would be in a good mood? Let me give you a piece of advice: stay away from Heavenly Thunder Peak disciples for the time being. Who knows if Wanjun had hidden accomplices among them?”

“I see now! No wonder the Heavenly Thunder disciples all seem so miserable. Thanks for the tip, Senior Brother!”

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the disciple cautiously distanced himself from Senior Brother Chen and nodded gratefully to the one who had warned him.

Hearing the chatter around him, the returning disciples from Heavenly Thunder Peak only grew more despondent.

To use an unflattering analogy, they felt like bees who had spent days gathering nectar, only to return home and find their hive destroyed.

It was devastating.

But the betrayal of their master wasn’t the only thing weighing on their hearts.

On the journey back, the elder leading their group announced that all their gains from the Qi Yuan Cave Mansion had to be handed over. Their late master had promised 60% of Heavenly Thunder Peak’s spoils to Purple Cloud Peak as compensation.

When this news broke, the disciples felt as if they had swallowed flies—disgusted and utterly helpless.

Their situation was akin to bandits whose leader had been killed. Not only were they unable to seek revenge, but they also had to hand over most of their plunder to the very person who killed their leader.

Meanwhile, on Purple Cloud Peak, Xu Yang was diligently cultivating when the communication jade at his waist vibrated.

Taking a glance, he saw a message from Sect Master Ji Hongluan, instructing him to send someone to the mountain gate plaza to collect the portion of treasures promised to their peak.

To be honest, Xu Yang wasn’t particularly interested in the spoils. He had already emptied the secret realm of its most valuable treasures, leaving behind only scraps. However, since this was a token of goodwill from the Sect Master, he replied courteously:

Xu Yang: “Understood, Master. I’ll handle it right away.”

After a short delay, Ji Hongluan’s response came:

Ji Hongluan: “Don’t call me ‘Master’!”

‘Weren’t you the one who said it was thrilling when I called you that…?’ Xu Yang thought with amusement as he sent another reply.

Xu Yang: “Why not?”

Ji Hongluan, seeing his message, felt her face flush red. The real reason? Every time he called her “Master,” she had an irresistible urge to “give in.” But she couldn’t possibly tell him that.

Instead, she quickly changed the subject:

Ji Hongluan: “Don’t ask. Just do as I say. Send someone to collect the spoils—I’m busy and can’t chat!”

Amused, Xu Yang decided to test the waters further:

Xu Yang: “Master?”

Ji Hongluan pretended not to see his message.

Xu Yang: “Master, your disciple misses you.”

Her façade crumbled instantly. Flustered and indignant, she typed out a response:

Ji Hongluan: “Come here and see if I don’t beat you to death!”

‘Ah, so that’s it.’ Xu Yang chuckled, finally understanding that “Master” was Ji Hongluan’s soft spot. Satisfied with his discovery, he wisely decided to stop teasing her—for now.

Xu Yang: “My apologies, Sect Master. Without your permission, I won’t call you ‘Master’ again!”

Ji Hongluan: “Hmph, that’s more like it!”

She tossed the jade aside and collapsed onto her bed, her sore waist a constant reminder of the previous night’s exertion. Despite resting all day and having the skilled paws of her feline assistant, Little Flower, massage her, she still felt the ache.

“Little Flower, come massage my waist again!”

“Meow!”

With an air of resignation, Little Flower leapt onto the bed, resuming its role as the Sect Master’s personal masseuse. If this continued, it mused bitterly, it might as well change its title to “Massage Cat.”

As for the spoils of Heavenly Thunder Peak, Xu Yang wasn’t interested enough to collect them personally. His disciples were all busy cultivating, leaving only one candidate…

Extending his divine sense, he locked onto Little Black, the beaver-like spirit beast currently locked in battle with an overgrown weed.

“Little Black has been too idle lately,” Xu Yang thought. “Let’s put it to work.”

With that, he sent a telepathic message:

“Little Black, forget the weeds for now. Head to the mountain gate plaza and collect Heavenly Thunder Peak’s offerings. You don’t need to bring them back—consider it your monthly stipend.”

Hearing this, Little Black froze. ‘Weren’t the good things in the Qi Yuan Cave Mansion already taken by you Master?’

Still, the idea of receiving a stipend made it ecstatic. Bowing reverently, it replied:

“Thank you, Master! Little Black will always remain your loyal servant!”

A short while later, Little Black arrived at the mountain gate plaza. Spotting the Heavenly Thunder Peak spirit vessel, it approached the elder in charge and, in a surprisingly articulate tone, declared:

“By the Master’s decree, I’m here to collect Purple Cloud Peak’s share of the spoils.”

The elder was stunned. He had expected a disciple at the very least, not a spirit beast!

Despite the incredulous stares and whispered disbelief from the gathered disciples and elders, Little Black calmly pocketed the storage ring containing the spoils. After scanning its contents, it grumbled audibly, “Just this? What a waste of time!”

To the shock of everyone present, it then ate the three most valuable spiritual herbs on the spot and, with a casual toss, returned the now-empty storage ring to the stunned elder.

“That’s for you. I’m heading back,” Little Black said before waddling off.

The elder and disciples were left gaping in silence, collectively thinking:

Does Purple Cloud Peak still need spirit pets?

One disciple finally broke the silence:

“Holy crap…”

The sentiment echoed unspoken in everyone’s hearts.

Purple Cloud Peak was extravagantly wealthy—beyond belief!