C7 I Was Wronged

In the thick of the forest, a figure darted swiftly, moving with the agility of an ape.

Zhou Mu reveled in the sensation of a warm energy coursing through him, making him feel as light as a feather—a sensation he had never experienced before.

As a deadly sword light, brimming with the threat of death, neared him, his body instinctively twisted in a serendipitous dodge.

The sensation was both odd and familiar, as if he had practiced the maneuver countless times, making it effortless to evade.

A large tree loomed ahead. Zhou Mu extended his hands, lightly touching the bark, and then, with both hands, he nimbly and swiftly ascended to the canopy.

"I need to slow down and figure out what's happening," he thought.

Zhou Mu settled down, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he pieced together the bizarre events that had unfolded.

First, he had inexplicably found himself in a woman's body, ten thousand years in the future, no less—and she was the sect master of a powerful sect.

The thought of the woman, who seemed like an ethereal fairy yet was a demon that preyed on others for her own gain, made Zhou Mu shudder.

"The woman's sect is unstable. The Vice Sect Master and several elders appear to be plotting a rebellion," Zhou Mu mused. He wondered if the woman had been aware of her subordinates' treachery. Regardless, it seemed unrelated to him. He just hoped this time-traveling ordeal was a one-time event. Otherwise, what would he do if he found himself in the woman's body again, amidst a coup?

"Right, what's happening to my own body while I'm here?" Zhou Mu pondered.

He remembered Elder Han Ye from the Medicine Refining Pavilion, who had accused him of being a pill thief. Hold on—could it be that during his transmigration, someone else had taken over his body and committed the theft?

The thought of Elder Han Ye's fervent wish to kill him for the crime made Zhou Mu feel an overwhelming sense of injustice. "Elder, I swear I didn't steal the Pill," he lamented.

Meanwhile, in the Spirit Realm, the Purple Heaven Sect stood ten thousand years in the future.

Xia Xuanji's face was a picture of distress as she gently caressed her own fair, jade-like skin.

"Have I transmigrated once more?"

Who was that man, and what was his status? Why had she ended up in some foul man's body? Was this transmigration a one-time occurrence, or could it happen again? And if it did, what would she do?

Furthermore, if she had transmigrated, then who was inhabiting her original body?

These questions caused Xia Xuanji's brow to furrow deeply.

The thought of her pristine body being manipulated by another ignited a flame of rage within her, a flame so fierce it felt as though it could incinerate the heavens and the earth.

"Damn it! If I find out who's pulling the strings, I'll make them wish they were never born!"

Xia Xuanji took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the inferno of anger inside her. She needed to quickly ascertain what had been done with her body in her absence and why the Spirit Pill had been consumed.

Upon her return from transmigration, she had immediately felt an intense heat within her body, a clear side effect of the Spirit Stabilizing Pill.

"Spirit Stabilizing Pill?"

Xia Xuanji, well-acquainted with the pill's adverse effects, looked visibly upset.

"Thank goodness whoever was in control managed to quell it with the lake water, or else..."

The thought of her unblemished body being compromised sent Xia Xuanji's anger soaring. With a flick of her wrist, a torrent of Spiritual Force erupted, blasting the lake water with ferocious power.

Boom!

The lake burst apart, its waters halted mid-air by an invisible barrier before they could even reach her.

Having released her fury, Xia Xuanji gradually regained her composure, her demeanor once again regal and refined.

"Sect Master, have you emerged?"

Du Yue, hearing footsteps, looked up to see Xia Xuanji stepping out.

With a nonchalant "Hmm," Xia Xuanji feigned indifference as she inquired, "Has anything happened within the sect these past few days?"

Du Yue was slightly puzzled. What was amiss with the Sect Master? Hadn't she been present within the sect all this time?

"Nothing much, just Elder Lingyu," Du Yue began, then paused, cautiously glancing at the stoic Sect Master.

"Lingyu?" Xia Xuanji let out a cold chuckle. "What about her?"

Huh? Du Yue's mouth hung open in surprise. Had the Sect Master forgotten? Lingyu had just intruded upon her meditation, and now it slipped her mind?

Despite her confusion, Du Yue proceeded to recount the recent events of the sect.

Upon hearing that Lingyu had dared to disturb her sacred seclusion, a glint of ice flashed in Xia Xuanji's eyes. As the Sect Master of the Purple Heaven Sect, was she not acutely aware of the undercurrents within her domain?

Yet, she often chose inaction, for she knew that any conspiracy would crumble before her overwhelming power.

"However, I do hope this is the only time I'll have to deal with such an intrusion. Otherwise..."

Deep within the boundless woods of Vast Azure Mountain.

Zhou Mu sat atop a tree, reflecting on the past few days' events.

"Awoo!"

The howls of wolves wove through the dense forest, as a silvery-white moon cast a cool glow over the night.

Zhou Mu looked up, feeling a subtle, chilly energy seeping into his body, a sensation both refreshing and soothing.

"This is incredibly comfortable," Zhou Mu murmured, shifting his position before his eyes suddenly widened. "Wait, is this Moonlight Spiritual Force? Can I actually sense the Spiritual Force now?"

In his elation, Zhou Mu's concentration wavered, and the invigorating Spiritual Force vanished in an instant.

"Easy now, stay steady, take it slow," he told himself, taking deep breaths to regain composure. With eyes closed and mind clear, he immersed himself in the lunar radiance, striving to connect with it.

Night after night...

Gradually, Zhou Mu began to perceive the presence of a cool Spiritual Force weaving around him.

Was this truly the Spiritual Force?

Overcome with joy, his focus faltered once more, and the sensation grew faint. He quickly steadied his mind.

When the cool Spiritual Force emerged again, Zhou Mu hesitated before cautiously extending his spirit, drawing a thread of Moonlight Spiritual Force into his being.

In a burst of elation, he opened his eyes. It was indeed the Spiritual Force, the Spiritual Force!

"Thank the heavens, I can finally sense the Spiritual Force. I am no longer the worthless one who cannot cultivate."

Zhou Mu was on the verge of tears, overwhelmed with emotion. Since his arrival at the Jade Sun Sect, he had come to the harsh realization that he was incapable of sensing Spiritual Force, which had earned him nothing but scorn and bullying. Had he not clenched his teeth and clung to the faint hope of a cultivation opportunity, he might have already left the mountain in defeat.

"No, now that I can sense the Spiritual Force, I must return. How else can I cultivate without a proper technique?" he reasoned with himself.

Initially, Zhou Mu had considered simply leaving the mountain after being wrongfully blamed for something he didn't do. He thought it was better to live on his terms than to face the wrath of Elder Han Ye, who would surely be furious with him.