Lu Li sat in the chair, his face flushed red as he tugged at the oversized robe that kept slipping off his shoulders.
He had refused the ru skirt that Qing Luo handed him.
But the weight on his chest and the emptiness below his waist forced him to move with extreme caution.
If he wanted to change back, he would have to join the Yin Yang Sect and learn the Yin-Yang Reversal Art.
“You’re forcing this on me… Master.” Lu Li let out a soft sigh, glancing at Su Wanqiu, who acted as if nothing had happened.
“Well, because our Yin Yang Sect’s Founding Ancestor was a woman, the art was naturally created based on her own circumstances. Later disciples made some modifications to it,” Su Wanqiu explained gently, as if the events just moments ago had never occurred.
“When you break through and need to sense the world’s spiritual energy more acutely, you can transform into a woman. Once the breakthrough period ends, you’ll revert to your original form.”
“This…” Lu Li lowered his head and looked at the bulge beneath his loose robe, then covered his face with his hands.
To keep the clothing from interfering with his movements, he tried his best to cinch the waistband and fold the fabric.
But that action only made his waist appear even slenderer.
His slender thighs, however, felt terribly uncomfortable inside the empty pant legs.
He looked up and saw Qing Luo smiling at him cheerfully, and Su Wanqiu gazing at him with tender eyes.
In the distance, two female disciples had started cleaning the room.
‘It doesn’t seem so bad, actually.’
‘No, no, no…’ Though Lu Li still felt it was improper, he wouldn’t voice that thought in front of his master—this Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.
“In our sect’s history, there have been men with talents as exceptional as yours, Lu Li. As for what happened to them later…” Su Wanqiu trailed off as if recalling something, then simply said, “Some got used to it, some married and became wives, or else…”
Lu Li felt a chill run down his spine.
“There were also disciples who came with that goal from the very start, so they adapted quickly.”
Lu Li began to sweat all over.
“But, Lu Li, you were invited by a cultivator from the Imperial Sword Sect, weren’t you?” Su Wanqiu turned her wrist, and the moisture in the air condensed into a mirror.
The scene blurred before becoming clear.
“I can show you the Imperial Sword Sect’s training environment. You can compare.”
“That’s fine.” Lu Li leaned forward curiously, only to notice that Senior Sister Qing Luo, sitting below, had red cheeks.
She covered her eyes with both hands but still peeked through her fingers.
“Huh… Huh?!” As the image in the Water Mirror grew clear, Lu Li nearly had his eyes seared by the sight.
The Imperial Sword Sect disciples were indeed training.
But some were completely naked, holding a longsword to their chests, their faces flushed with spring, as if embracing a lover.
Other cultivators had stripped off their outer robes and were slamming into each other in close combat, shouting strange words.
In the distance, a few disciples were tied to iron boards while others whipped their backs with lashes.
“…Master, is this the Imperial Sword Sect?” Lu Li’s voice grew hoarse.
“Yes. The Imperial Sword Sect takes the sword as its foundation, so nurturing the sword spirit, sparring with each other, and strengthening the body are normal,” Su Wanqiu said, pointing a finger.
“Among the Three Sects and Four Gates, there is also the Buddhist Light Sect. I doubt you’d be interested in that either.”
As soon as she spoke, Lu Li noticed that Senior Sister Qing Luo, seated below, had a calm expression and even began supervising the two white-robed disciples as they cleaned.
Sure enough, the mirror showed monks meditating, chanting sutras, and copying scriptures.
Outside the door, there were singing and dancing, willow-waisted beauties; some whispering into each other’s ears, others covering their lips with light laughter.
With this comparison, Lu Li suddenly felt that staying in the Yin Yang Sect wasn’t such a problem.
It was only a temporary transformation into a woman—a small matter.
The path of cultivation was long. Within a single realm, it could take years, decades, or centuries.
What harm was there in becoming a woman for a few dozen days?
Lu Li even thought, ‘This isn’t bad.’
‘No, no, no.’
After watching the scenery in the courtyard for a while, Su Wanqiu withdrew the Water Mirror, turned her wrist, and produced a black ancient token.
“That being the case, Lu Li, you should be joining our Yin Yang Sect, correct?”
“…I think so…” Lu Li had briefly learned about the Three Sects and Four Gates—the seven most prominent cultivation sects in the Southern Region.
Admittedly, his talent might earn him recognition from other sects.
But those regions were far away. He had little money and almost no cultivation level, so he couldn’t travel far.
After much thought, the Yin Yang Sect seemed like the best choice.
Moreover, in his current female form, he indeed needed a technique to change himself back.
“Perfect. The Stone Tablet in Hundred Immortals Town tested your Spiritual Root for quality, but we still need to verify what kind of Spiritual Root it is.” As Su Wanqiu spoke, the token flew in front of Lu Li.
“Hold it, and the token will show your Spiritual Root attributes.”
“Yes, Master.” Lu Li answered and raised his hand.
The moment he touched the token, two streams of qi—one hot, one cold—surged inside his body and were slowly absorbed by the token.
Finally, the token displayed four characters.
Sword: High
Charm: High
“As expected, a Dual Spiritual Root. An exceptional talent.” Su Wanqiu let out a long sigh.
“And it’s the rare Balanced Spiritual Root.”
“…Disciple does not understand. I beg Master to explain.” Lu Li looked at the black token before him, knowing he was about to truly step into a cultivation sect.
This matter could not be taken lightly.
“Oh, right. I haven’t accepted you as a disciple yet.” Su Wanqiu put the token away, then took out a longsword and two books from her storage ring.
“Considering you might have reservations, I won’t force you. Aside from the Yin-Yang Reversal Art, this is a Sword Technique Heart Method. It doesn’t conflict with the Yin Yang Sect’s techniques—you can cultivate both.”
“From today onward, you are the 45th-generation disciple of our Yin Yang Sect, Lu Li. I am your master, Su Wanqiu.” As Su Wanqiu spoke, Lu Li rose from the chair and, trying not to mind the loose clothing, bowed deeply.
“That’s enough ceremony. Although your Spiritual Root is outstanding, you haven’t officially entered the sect yet.” Su Wanqiu pointed her finger, and the green token from before appeared at Lu Li’s waist.
“With this token, you can go to the miscellaneous affairs hall to collect your monthly supplies, as well as your women’s… and men’s robes.”
“Thank you, Master!”
“By the way…” Su Wanqiu looked at Lu Li and fell silent for a moment.
Then, Lu Li felt as if he had entered a layer of mist.
“Lu Li, are you a virgin male body?” The sensation passed instantly, and Su Wanqiu asked.
“Ah?” Lu Li hadn’t expected his master to ask such a question.
Though given his current state, he wasn’t sure he could even be called a “virgin male” anymore.
“This… is rather important in the Yin Yang Sect.”
“Yes.” Lu Li nodded, and his overly soft hair slid down his shoulders with the motion.
“Then you must be especially careful in this month’s competition.” Su Wanqiu warned with a worried expression.
“Your senior and junior sisters will likely covet your body.”