C3 Ten Thousand Years of Transmigration

Zhou Mu was seething with frustration.

If they were in the same time and space, Zhou Mu might have clung to the hope of reverting to his former male self.

But now, they were a staggering ten thousand years apart!

Did his past self even exist anymore?

Zhou Mu slumped back into his seat, his expression the epitome of defeat.

For a long while, he sat in silence...

"Come to think of it, being the female head of a sect isn't too shabby," he mused.

In the Immortal Realm, formidable cultivators wielded the power to shatter the heavens and the earth with a mere gesture. They boasted lifespans stretching into the hundreds or thousands of years, some even enjoying eternal life.

Previously, Zhou Mu, lacking a Spirit Root, was nothing more than a deadweight in the Jade Sun Sect. Now, having become a sect leader, he was eager to savor the life of an Immortal Cultivator.

Though he had become a woman, his status as a sect leader brought with it numerous advantages.

If he was unable to revert to his original form, Zhou Mu was prepared to come to terms with it.

He would seize the opportunity to subtly probe Du Yue and her companions!

Given the grandeur of this demonic sect, it undoubtedly possessed an abundance of pills and magical treasures.

Through them, Zhou Mu planned to collect information that would benefit him!

...

A day went by.

Vast Azure Mountain.

Xia Xuanji, now in a male body, wandered aimlessly along a mountain trail.

"This body lacks a Spirit Root; I'll need the world's spiritual medicines to restore my cultivation level."

"If I could return to the Desolate Land of Mystic, I could acquire some miraculous herbs to transform my body's constitution. Alas..."

Xia Xuanji was on the verge of tears from frustration.

This body was so utterly useless it couldn't get any worse.

Without a Spirit Root, she couldn't even perceive Spiritual Qi, much less restore her cultivation to the Nascent Infant Stage.

"Just ahead is the Immortal Cultivation Sect. I can detect the scent of herbal medicines there."

"But there are guards posted at the entrance..."

Xia Xuanji continued forward, her eyes landing on the massive archway ahead, inscribed with the words "Jade Sun."

Despite having lost all her magical powers, Xia Xuanji's perception remained incredibly acute.

At that moment, she caught the rich scent of herbs wafting from a certain direction within the Jade Sun Sect.

Her gaze flickered as she bypassed the main entrance and approached the perimeter wall, leaping over it with ease.

Inside, numerous disciples were engaged in their cultivation practices, yet Xia Xuanji remained undetected, her concealment flawless.

Guided by the scent of the medicinal herbs, she quickly found herself before a pavilion.

Unattended, the door beckoned her inside where the scent of herbs grew stronger, mingled with the essence of flames.

"This must be the Spirit Fire. It looks like this is the Medicine Refining Pavilion of the sect."

"Shame it's somewhat rudimentary."

Xia Xuanji regarded the pavilion with a hint of disdain.

Regardless, the presence of medicinal herbs would aid in her recovery.

She slipped into the pavilion, her movements a silent shadow.

Her senses had already confirmed the absence of others, making her entry a simple feat.

At the heart of the pavilion stood a grand Pill Furnace, surrounded by stone cabinets with hidden compartments.

These compartments brimmed with jade bottles, each filled with various Pills.

A gleam of delight flashed in Xia Xuanji's eyes as she approached the compartments, reaching for the bottles.

Suddenly, a barrier of light emerged, thwarting her access—a protective restriction had been placed.

Yet, with her centuries of cultivation experience, Xia Xuanji effortlessly dispelled the restriction and secured a bottle of Pills.

Anyone witnessing this would be astounded.

This was a safeguard crafted by Han Ye, the Third Elder of the Jade Sun Sect, an alchemist and a Formation Master of considerable renown.

His expertise in both alchemy and formations had attained a third-grade level, making him the preeminent figure in both disciplines within the entire sect. His protections were not easily overcome.

But now, they were mere trifles to Xia Xuanji.

"Marrow Cleansing Pill?"

"Quite a basic Pill, but I suppose it will suffice for now."

Xia Xuanji scrutinized the bottle of pills for a moment before tipping the entire contents into her mouth. Having cultivated for several centuries, it had been ages since she had ingested such low-level pills. As the pills descended, she faintly sensed medicinal energy coursing through her body, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"This body lacks a Spirit Root; it's utterly incapable of absorbing the pill's potency..." Xia Xuanji felt a twinge of frustration. The body was disappointingly deficient. Nevertheless, if it couldn't assimilate the pill's effects, she would simply continue consuming them. There was an abundance of pills available, and she would keep eating until she could perceive the Spiritual Qi. With that, she began opening one hidden compartment after another.

...

At that moment, within a concealed chamber of the Jade Sun Sect, a glowing orb shimmered in and out of visibility, surrounded by enigmatic runes. Suddenly, the chamber's door burst open, and several disciples clad in black and white hastened inside. They were the acolytes of the Third Elder, Han Ye, tasked with safeguarding the Medicine Refining Pavilion and upholding the sect's various prohibitions.

Upon seeing the orb suspended in midair, radiating mysterious runes, their faces registered alarm. "This is the Medicine Refining Pavilion's restriction! What's causing this anomaly?" one exclaimed.

"Not good! The restriction's been breached! Someone has infiltrated the Medicine Refining Pavilion!" another cried out.

"Hurry! We must inform the Master at the Jade Sun Hall!" they urged one another.

Their hearts pounding, the Qi Refining Stage disciples knew the gravity of the situation. The orb was the Formation Eye, the linchpin of the pavilion's restrictions. Its sudden aberration signaled an unauthorized entry into the Medicine Refining Pavilion. Without delay, they dashed from the chamber to report the incident to Han Ye.

...

In the Jade Sun Hall, the Jade Sun Patriarch, Sect Master Huang Feng, Great Elder Xiao Hee, Second Elder Mo Fan, and Third Elder Han Ye were convened, the air heavy with gravity.

"Patriarch, with the ten-year term nearing its end and the Bright Moon Sect stirring, do you truly intend to honor the appointment?" Huang Feng inquired, concern etched on his face as he regarded the elder before him.

The Jade Sun Patriarch, his hair and beard a snowy white, emanated an effortless dignity befitting his sage-like presence.

He sat serenely at the head of the room, his eyes half-closed in contemplation. After a lengthy pause, he finally responded, "I made a pact with Bright Moon Elder a decade ago. It's only right that I honor it."

Huang Feng wore a grave expression as he reported, "The intelligence from our undercover agents indicates that Bright Moon Elder broke through to the Foundation Stage Late Period a month ago. He's on the cusp of reaching the Core Formation Stage. If you engage him in combat, I fear the odds might not be in your favor."

His words cast a weighty silence over the room.

Xiao Hee, Mo Fan, and Han Ye exchanged uneasy glances, each choosing to remain quiet.

"Foundation Stage Late Period..."

"Bright Moon Elder has indeed gotten the jump on me," mused the Jade Sun Patriarch, his white eyebrows lifting slightly as a chill glint appeared in his eyes.

He had been at the pinnacle of the Foundation Stage Middle Period for many years without advancing, and now, just as the appointed time approached, Bright Moon Elder had managed to break through first.

In the midst of this, several Qi Refining disciples rushed in, their faces etched with panic, and knelt before Han Ye.

"Master, we have a serious problem!" they exclaimed. "Someone has infiltrated the Medicine Refining Pavilion and breached its defenses!"

"What?" Han Ye's face turned pale with shock.

"Who would dare such a brazen act against my Medicine Refining Pavilion?"

"Lead me there at once!"

Without a moment's delay or a chance to bid farewell to the Jade Sun Patriarch and Huang Feng, Han Ye employed his movement technique and sped off toward the Medicine Refining Pavilion.