C1 I Have Changed into the Female Sect Master

Vast Azure Mountain, renowned in the State of Yue as a mountain of immortals, was home to the Jade Sun and Bright Moon, two prestigious sects that had been cultivating immortals for centuries.

On the 28th day of the 10,000th year of the Divine Prefecture Calendar, night had fallen.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

A series of deep, resonant sounds echoed from the dense forest at the mountain's base.

Several burly men encircled a frail youth, about seventeen or eighteen years old, raining down punches and kicks upon him mercilessly.

"A mere salted fish without a Spirit Root dares to compete with us for missions in the sect? He's delusional!"

"Finish him off!"

"..."

Zhou Mu felt excruciating pain coursing through his body as he opened his eyes, bewildered. Surveying his surroundings, he found them unfamiliar.

With a furrowed brow, he looked up at the men before him, his gaze icy.

"Senior Brother Zhang, this kid seems defiant!"

A lanky man smirked, eyeing Zhou Mu with contempt.

Kid?

Zhou Mu was confused, then glanced down at himself.

And he was taken aback.

Was this a man's body?

"How did I turn into a man?"

She wasn't Zhou Mu; she was Xia Xuanji, the Sect Master of the Purple Heaven Sect, one of the four major demonic sects of the Mystic Desolate Sacred Land, and a notorious female demon in the Immortal Realm.

Could it be that her seclusion breakthrough had failed, resulting in a mental demon?

"Heh... Looks like this kid is asking for death."

The man known as "Brother Zhang" let out a cold laugh. "Kill him!"

Several figures darted forward, encircling Xia Xuanji with murderous intent in their eyes.

"Seeking death!"

Xia Xuanji's brow furrowed lightly.

With a palm raised in the air, she struck with the speed of lightning.

A flurry of muffled cracks ensued. Xia Xuanji acted with swift decisiveness, and in a moment, the assailants were sent flying, landing with agonized groans.

The man named Zhang inhaled sharply.

When had this youngster become so formidable?

"Run!"

Terror painted Zhang's face as he turned on his heel and fled without a second thought.

This kid suddenly gained such terrifying combat power. Staying would mean certain death for me!

The others, faces etched with fear, quickly followed Zhang Yun and fled in all directions.

"Hmph!"

Xia Xuanji let out a cold snort and pursued them.

But then, her expression turned rigid.

Her movements were sluggish, and she couldn't cast any spells!

Where has my mana gone?

Xia Xuanji's gaze faltered.

At that moment, she had no cultivation whatsoever, not even the ability to perform the simplest movement technique!

And in the moment she hesitated, the man named Zhang had vanished.

Xia Xuanji furrowed her brow, annoyed that she had let him escape.

"A few mortals, fortunate to escape from my presence."

"But... why has my cultivation disappeared?"

"I had encountered complications while striving for the Deification realm. Is that why I've been transformed into a man?"

"But this body..."

Xia Xuanji examined her current form with a look of distaste.

Without a Spirit Root or true essence, she was utterly powerless!

"Now, without any mana, I must keep my identity hidden. If my enemies were to discover this, they would never spare me."

"It seems there's an Immortal Cultivation Sect ahead. I should go and investigate, see if there's anything that could help me restore my cultivation."

With that thought, Xia Xuanji lifted her gaze to the Immortal Sect atop the mountain and hastened her steps up the slope.

As she walked, her mind swirled with growing doubts.

...

Meanwhile, countless leagues away in the Mystic Desolate Sacred Land, behind the Purple Heaven Sect, within a tranquil lake.

"Whoosh!"

A beautiful figure emerged from the water, her long hair cascading down, her clothes clinging to her, her skin as white as snow – a vision of a lotus blooming from the depths.

"I nearly suffocated!"

Zhou Mu exhaled deeply, then surveyed his surroundings with confusion.

A lake?

Yet this lake wasn't cold; it was pleasantly warm.

How did I end up here?

If I remember correctly, I was cornered in an alley by Zhang Yun, and several people ganged up on me.

Could it be that Zhang Yun and his cronies not only beat me up but also intended to silence me permanently?

"Zhang Yun, how could you be so cruel!"

Zhou Mu gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with hatred.

He had left his family at fifteen to seek cultivation at the Vast Azure Mountain, only to discover he lacked a Spirit Root.

Without a Spirit Root, he was doomed to never walk the path of cultivation.

Crushed by this revelation, Zhou Mu had no desire to return home.

Instead, he chose to remain at the Jade Sun Sect as a Miscellaneous Affairs Disciple.

A Miscellaneous Affairs Disciple didn't need any special talents, as cultivators required assistance with their daily routines. The sect frequently needed supplies from the mountain's base, tasks that were managed by the Miscellaneous Affairs Disciples. Consequently, many mortals served the cultivators within the sect.

Zhou Mu had now been serving for three years.

In that time, he had dedicated himself wholeheartedly, excelling in every task and earning a favorable reputation within the Jade Sun Sect. Naturally, the more desirable assignments came his way.

This, of course, bred envy among some.

Zhang Yun was Zhou Mu's arch-nemesis.

He constantly sought to make Zhou Mu's life difficult, hell-bent on driving him out of the Jade Sun Sect.

This time, Zhang Yun had taken his cruelty to new extremes.

"Zhang Yun, you'll regret this!" Zhou Mu seethed with anger.

He rose to his feet, ready to depart. Though mild-mannered, he was no pushover and fully intended to settle the score with Zhang Yun.

But for now, the priority was to get out of there. Revenge could wait until he was safely away.

Just then, something caught his eye, and he glanced down at the lake.

Reflected in the water was the image of a stunning woman, her features delicate and her figure elegant, a vision of loveliness.

Zhou Mu was taken aback. He looked around; he was alone.

Could the woman in the water be him?

He touched his face and quickly stood to examine his body.

His skin was radiant and soft, his figure shapely. He was, without a doubt, a breathtaking beauty.

"This..."

"Have I become a woman?"

"What's going on?"

Zhou Mu felt as though he had been struck by a thunderbolt.

He knew nothing about his current body and had no memories associated with it.

His mind was flooded with questions.

Who am I?

Where am I?

Just then, footsteps approached from the shore, and several young women dressed in palace attire appeared before Zhou Mu.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Sect Master?

Zhou Mu was taken aback.

Could this body be the Sect Master of a cultivation sect?

He observed the women closely. They were all strikingly beautiful, yet their demeanors were cold, and they exuded a heavy, ominous aura.

One, an older woman in yellow robes, had reached the Foundation Stage Middle Period in her cultivation.

Zhou Mu, lacking a Spirit Root, had spent three years with the Jade Sun Sect and had gained considerable knowledge about cultivators.

The cultivation realms were divided into five major stages: Qi Refining, Foundation Stage, Core Formation, Nascent Infant, and Deification.

The Qi Refining stage had ten levels, and the subsequent stages were categorized into early, middle, and late phases.

Among these women, aside from the leader who was at the Foundation Stage, the rest were between the eighth and ninth levels of the Qi Refining stage.

Zhou Mu was in a state of panic!

He was certainly not any Sect Master...

These women seemed formidable, and falling into their hands could mean certain death.

Zhou Mu decided it was best to keep his true identity hidden.

Since he was perceived as the Sect Master, he needed to maintain the appropriate demeanor. Acting with a cool detachment shouldn't pose any problems.

Thus, Zhou Mu feigned indifference and asked, "What's the matter?"

The woman in yellow robes, at the Foundation Stage Middle Period, stepped forward and respectfully bowed, "As per the Sect Master's orders, we have captured a few more cauldrons today. Would you like us to bring them up, Sect Master?"

Furnace Cauldrons?

Zhou Mu recalled that in the Immortal Realm, there was a cultivation method that involved using human bodies as Furnace Cauldrons.

Men would use women as cauldrons to absorb their essence and greatly enhance their own power.

Conversely, women would use men as cauldrons to strengthen their own techniques.

This is the work of the Devil Dao!

Is this body really abducting people to use as Furnace Cauldrons?

Could she possibly be a female practitioner of the Devil Dao?