Villain Cultivator

***********************************

Author's Note: This chapter has changed the usual MC's name "Miaomiao" into "Xu Miao" to experiment if readers prefer the comedic name or the serious name. Leave a comment or vote if you wish for me to continue using "Miaomiao" or change it to "Xu Miao".

***********************************

.

.

.

Xu Miao had seen the fight between Xie Tian and the clones. Surprisingly, Xie Tian's second opponent was him.

The fight between Xie Tian and Xu Miao's clone was intense. The clone used Yang Flame several times without caring if the skill would kill the user. On the other hand, Xie Tian seemed to possess a natural fire resistance ability as the Yang Flame couldn't burn him.

Eventually, the clone died because it self-destructed, but it managed to summon a magic sword out of nowhere and severed Xie Tian's torso before it died.

Thus, Xie Tian couldn't continue the challenge.

Xu Miao learned from Xu Xiuying while they were spectating. The clones' abilities reflected the experience of the test takers. If they believed that the heart devil illusion was super strong, it would be as strong as the test takers had imagined.

However, if the test takers only experienced a fracture of the original's abilities, the clones would only display the abilities that the takers had seen or experienced.

Xie Tian had only seen Xu Miao's skills when the latter had fought against Xu Xiuying's clone and the Isekai Service Truck, so the clone could only use Yang Flame and summon the magic dadao.

It was the same for Xu Miao. He fought against Xu Xiuying's clone and died a hundred times, so he only remembered the skills that the clone had used. Therefore, the illusion could only use the same techniques.

As for the stripper ultimate skill, the Stripper Swordsmanship skill book was written by Xu Xiuying, and Xu Miao had skimmed through the entire book. As a result, he believed that Xu Xiuying should be able to use the ultimate technique with ease, and the heart devil illusion used the skill to seal Xu Miao's Qi in the end.

.

*********************************************

.

[Evaluation – Xie Tian]

Surviving Time: 3.10 Minutes

Defeated Opponents: 2

Total Score: 380

.

*********************************************

.

Xie Tian's score was a bit lower than Xu Miao, but that wasn't what he was concerned about.

'What the hell did I ever do to him!? Why is his heart devil me!?'

Xu Miao didn't like it when he realized that Xie Tian had something against him. The young master didn't expect that a protagonist's devil hearts were Jiang Lan and himself.

'Oh, wait. Didn't this bastard ask for Jiang Lan? Is he aware that I'm her husband? Hold on… a protagonist, a young master, a girl, and a love triangle…'

Xu Miao almost figured out something. It was an indescribable feeling that had been urging him for a while.

"Say, Senior Xu, err, mother. What's Xie Tian's relationship with Jiang Lan?" Xu Miao asked Xu Xiuying to confirm his theory.

"From what I've learned, that man was once Jiang Lan's childhood sweetheart. He tried to free Jiang Lan many times before, but he didn't have enough spirit stones to buy her. Well, you took her a few days before that man returned with spirit stones."

Xu Xiuying paused for a moment as she recalled something. After Jiang Lan had been given to Xu Miao, Wei Feng visited her brothel before Xie Tian. Wei Feng also specifically came to the brothel to buy Jiang Lan, but the brothel couldn't sell her because Xu Miao had taken her first.

"By the way, Wei Feng visited us when you're busy dual-cultivating. He also wanted to buy Jiang Lan, but we refused because we had given her to you," Xu Xiuying revealed what she had recalled.

"!!!"

Xu Miao finally realized why his instinct was tingling.

'So, if Xie Tian is a protagonist, the story plot without me in this world should be different. Wei Feng should have bought Jiang Lan, and she should have become his concubine. Then, Xie Tian would have come along and found out about it later…'

Xu Miao rearranged the past timeline, using his novel knowledge with the reference of Xie Tian, Jiang Lan, and Wei Feng as main characters.

Without his existence, Wei Feng should have been the main antagonist in this arc. Xie Tian would have marked Wei Feng as someone he had to surpass, and the protagonist should have been able to rescue Jiang Lan. But knowing Jiang Lan's greed and her personality, she would have eventually betrayed Xie Tian along the way and returned to Wei Feng's side.

Afterward, Wei Feng would act like a common villain by sending goons to kill Xie Tian. The protagonist would continue to overcome difficulties and get stronger. Then, Xie Tian and Wei Feng would settle their score in the end. Of course, Xie Tian would win at the price of offending the Wei Clan and many others, creating a snowball effect and continuing his adventure story.

However, everything was different in this world after Xu Miao got involved.

After identifying the possible plots and Xie Tian's motive, Xu Miao confirmed that he somehow took over Wei Feng's role as the antagonist.

The plots and the scripts weren't in Xu Miao's favor. He didn't want to fight against the protagonist yet.

'System. I want you to confirm this to me. Is Xie Tian the protagonist of this world?'

[[Yes and no. Xie Tian is one of the protagonists in this world.]]

A terrifying revelation came from the system, but Xu Miao didn't care about the other protagonists. His survival took priority.

'Well, shit. Am I an antagonist now?'

[[Yes.]]

'Is there a way to avoid fighting him? I don't want to get involved with an MC!'

[[Impossible. The host will eventually be forced to fight him as the final tutorial quest involves killing a protagonist.]]

'What!? Why!? Can't the quests be something else!?'

[[Impossible. Your sponsors have issued the quest themselves. As a price for obtaining the system skill and the system's assistant, you are to entertain our sponsors. Please train hard and prepare to kill Xie Tian in the meantime.]]

There was no free meal in this world. The system came with a heavy restriction and responsibility.

At this moment, Xu Miao realized that the system had set him up.

During the first tutorial quest, it was the system that forced Xu Miao to pick Jiang Lan as his dual cultivation partner. It might have known that Jiang Lan was the protagonist's childhood lover, so it forced him to be Xie Tian's rival.

Now, the system revealed the final tutorial quest content. No matter what Xu Miao would do, he and Xie Tian would eventually have to kill each other.

[[Ding]]

[[You have received the final tutorial quest.]]

[[Tutorial Quest 10: Kill Xie Tian, the native protagonist.]]

[[Completion Reward: Unlock the Campaign Mode.]]

[[Time Limit: 1 Year.]]

[[Failure Penalty: The host will be terminated.]]

The messages were like a nail to the coffin. It gave a quest to Xu Miao right away without waiting for him to complete the previous quest, forcing him to prepare and kill Xie Tian.

At present, Xu Miao got stuck at Tutorial Quest 5. Therefore, including the incomplete quests, he still had 6 quests to do. Still, that was not Xu Miao's main concern.

'You goddamn system! You set me up!'

[[All quests and rewards are there to help the host. Please do not slander your system.]]

'But why did you pair me with Jiang Lan!?'

[[You could have abandoned her after you've completed the first quest. The system didn't force you to make her your main wife.]]

"…"

Xu Miao facepalmed. He stopped bickering with the system for now as Xu Xiuying was watching him talking to himself. The young master adjusted his priority and focused on the issues at hand.

Xu Miao glared at Xie Tian, who looked back at his direction. Their eyes met. None of them averted their eyes as both men wanted one thing in common - They wanted to talk to each other.

Currently, Xie Tian bore no grudge against Xu Miao, but he only wanted to make sure that the latter was a good man. On the other hand, Xu Miao's hands were tied. Unless Xie Tian was dead, he would be destroyed by the system.

An odd rivalry had started.

'I should start collecting information about Xie Tian's background and his hidden skills. First of all, I should use Xu Xiuying to get more information... Oh, hey. I've taken the role of a villain young master, right? Then, I should act like one.'

Xu Miao's eyes glinted. He smiled at Xie Tian before he whispered to Xu Xiuying.

"The 2nd exam should be over soon. Can you send someone to invite Xie Tian here? Tell him that I want to have a chat with him."

Xu Xiuying was amused, "I didn't know that you swing that way. Wait, are you a bi-sexual?"

"Stop joking, mother. Didn't you want to recruit him into our clan? I just want to make friends with a promising cultivator at my age. Can't I?"

"Hahaha! Okay. I'll send someone to fetch him. Make sure he joins us as a clansman, not your male concubine."

"…"

Xu Xiuying had fun messing with Xu Miao. She ordered her workers to get Xie Tian while she returned to the stage and helped Jia Shan managing the preparation of the next exam.

Xu Miao averted his eyes from Xie Tian and turned to Jiang Lan.

.

[Current Partners and Progression]

Jiang Lan (99.99%)

.

The percentage rating reflected the brainwashing progress. When his partner could reach 100%, the girl would become a new person, and she could be commanded by the system menu.

Right now, Jiang Lan's brainwash completion rate got stuck at 99.99%. Unless Xu Miao completed rewriting her persona by using the system menu, it would remain at 99.99% forever, maintaining her status as his sex doll.

Xu Miao tabbed on Jiang Lan's name.

A menu appeared, which Xu Miao could alter her personality, memory, and her loyalty toward everyone. The young master's fingers skillfully touched the screens and adjusted her value.

Xu Miao implanted a new set of commands and pressed the confirm button, setting her free from the Yin Cauldron status, giving her a new personality and a new life.

Jiang Lan's eyes slowly regained lights…

.

.

.

"He wants to see me?"

Xu Xiuying's messenger cupped his fist to Xie Tian, "Yes, sir. Our young master wishes to invite you for a meal."

"…"

Xie Tian was puzzled why Xu Miao wanted to see him. But when he recalled that Jiang Lan became his wife, she might have told the young master about himself.

Since Xie Tian wanted to talk to Xu Miao, he didn't decline the invitation, "I'll go with you. Lead the way."

…

On the Silver Phoenix Sect's spectator stand, Xie Tian was welcomed by many women. He was guided to the VIP seat next to Xu Miao.

Tea tables were arranged next to each VIP seat. On the tables, cooked meat, spirit fruits, spirit soft drinks, wine jars, and various desserts had been prepared beforehand to service the sect's representatives and their guests.

Xie Tian was taken aback by the warm reception. When he finally saw Xu Miao upfront, he couldn't help but show respect to this young master. But before Xie Tian could utter a word, Xu Miao cupped his fist and saluted him first.

Xu Miao took a formal stance to show his utmost respect to this protagonist.

"Welcome, friend. My name is Xu Miao, a humble outer disciple of the Silver Phoenix Sect. Thank you for accepting my invitation."

Xie Tian couldn't help but return the gesture, "Xie Tian greets young master Xu Miao. Thank you for your invitation."

That moment, the fated protagonist and the soon-to-be villain met face-to-face for the first time.