“But Sect Leader, if I’m not mistaken, the Hehuan (Joyful Union) Sect doesn’t accept male disciples, does it?”

In an elegant tea room, the young man seated at the table, looking particularly ill at ease, finally voiced his question after a long moment of silent deliberation.

The youth was named Zhou Che, seventeen this year. After his mother, with whom he had depended on each other for survival, passed away from illness the year before, he had wandered aimlessly until early this morning, when the Sect Leader of the Tiandao Sect took notice of him and brought him back.

Upon learning that the other party was a cultivator, Zhou Che was beside himself with excitement, believing he had been chosen by an immortal and could henceforth step onto the path of cultivation, seeking the Way and eternal life.

Yet, barely the time it takes for an incense stick to burn after arriving at the Tiandao Sect, the man revealed his purpose for bringing him back—to have him go to the demonic sect in the neighboring country, the Hehuan Sect, as an undercover agent!

Hearing Zhou Che’s doubt, the Sect Leader of the Tiandao Sect merely smiled slightly and then personally poured him a cup of tea.

“You can set your mind at ease about that. Since I’m sending you, I’ve naturally made ample preparations.”

As he spoke, he handed the tea to Zhou Che.

Zhou Che glanced at the tea in his hands and immediately drank it all in one gulp.

To him, since this was tea from the Sect Leader of the Tiandao Sect, it was surely immortal tea. For a mortal to drink a sip of immortal tea must bring tremendous benefits.

Seeing Zhou Che down it in one go, the Tiandao Sect Leader was first taken aback, then burst out laughing.

“You little rascal, this is tea, meant to be savored slowly!”

“I’ve been rude,” Zhou Che said, his face immediately flushing crimson.

“No matter. This tea is called Sleepless Night. It’s an exceedingly rare, high-grade spirit plant. If you like it, when you go to the Hehuan Sect, I can give you some as well.”

The Sect Leader poured him another cup as he spoke.

Zhou Che, already embarrassed by his earlier loss of composure, did not drink it this time.

Of course, he didn’t refuse the offer of tea either—such a precious thing, it would be a waste not to take it.

“Then, Sect Leader, what should I do?”

Zhou Che looked at the Tiandao Sect Leader, asking with some confusion.

Though a mere mortal, he was not entirely without worldly knowledge, and he knew something of the neighboring country’s Hehuan Sect.

Hearing this, the Tiandao Sect Leader straightened his attitude and answered seriously, “The Hehuan Sect is one of the six great demonic sects of the Qian Kingdom. Though they only admit female disciples, it’s not as if they exclude all men entirely. The cultivation methods they practice are mostly centered on desire, so the vast majority of female disciples actually keep something to assist their cultivation—male favorites.”

“Male favorites! No, no, I can’t do that!” Zhou Che’s face turned bright red.

Seeing his state, the Tiandao Sect Leader naturally understood that the boy had clearly taken it the wrong way. So, he coughed twice and righteously explained, “I’m not asking you to be a male favorite, you can rest assured of that. Although most disciples of the Hehuan Sect practice the art of absorbing yang to supplement yin, it is not the case for everyone. After all, the further one advances in cultivation, the more precious one’s primal yin or primal yang becomes. Thus, those with good talent generally do not engage in so-called harvesting and supplementation techniques.”

“If I’m not to be a male favorite, then how could I possibly enter a sect full of women?” Zhou Che was puzzled.

And upon hearing this question, the Tiandao Sect Leader could no longer suppress his smile.

The smile revealed nothing short of full-blown pride.

Zhou Che grew even more confused at the sight.

The Tiandao Sect Leader gently stroked his beard, and then took out from his storage pouch a Dao pill emitting a seven-colored luster.

The pill’s fragrance was incomparably mellow. The instant it touched the air, a dense spiritual energy rushed forth, making Zhou Che feel several dozen times more alert and invigorated.

“This pill is named the Yin-Yang Reversal Pill. I obtained its formula in an ancient secret realm when I was young, and later spent decades refining it. Not only can it improve one’s physique, it also contains supreme medicinal power that can aid cultivation. One who swallows this pill will not only break through cultivation bottlenecks without hindrance, but their lowest lifetime achievement will be at least the Great Attainment Realm.”

As the Tiandao Sect Leader spoke, the pride on his face became even harder to conceal, leaving Zhou Che utterly dumbfounded.

The Great Attainment Realm! That was a height many cultivators could never reach in their entire lives!

Yet in the next moment, he retracted his smile and said in a somewhat regretful tone, “However, while this pill’s medicinal power is potent, it has an effect that gives one a terrible headache—an effect that not everyone can accept.”

“What effect?” Zhou Che asked curiously, his heart filled with yearning for the achievements the Yin-Yang Reversal Pill could bring.

Although he was only sixteen, a life of drifting and depending solely on his mother had made him more mature than his peers. Thus, when faced with an opportunity, he was better at knowing how to grasp and strive for it.

“As the name suggests, yin and yang reverse.”

“Yin and yang reverse?”

“Correct!” The Sect Leader nodded. “That is to say, after taking this pill, a man will turn into a woman, and a woman will turn into a man. The pill’s medicinal effect is domineering. Once the gender is changed, aside from taking this pill again, there is no reversal. So, ordinary people generally cannot accept it.”

Upon hearing that one’s gender would change, Zhou Che visibly froze, then immediately shook his head, repeatedly refusing, “Sect Leader, it won’t work. I come from humble beginnings and have been accustomed to a male body for sixteen years. A matter of changing sexes is truly hard to accept.”

Though Zhou Che yearned deeply for immortality and the Dao, being a woman for the rest of his life would be worse than killing him.

Moreover, if his mother knew in the underworld, she would surely be unable to rest in peace because the family line’s incense would be cut off. How would he have the face to meet the ancestors of the Zhou family then?

In short, if he couldn’t restore his male body, he would absolutely never agree.

The Tiandao Sect Leader seemed to have anticipated his refusal. With a light flick, the pill landed on the table in front of Zhou Che.

“You little rascal, you’re about to go to a demonic sect, yet you don’t listen carefully to my words. I clearly stated that what I obtained was the pill formula. So if I could refine one, I can naturally refine countless more. I don’t want you to remain in a female body forever. It’s just that the six great demonic sects have become increasingly active in recent years. If we cannot quickly figure out what they are plotting and stop it, I fear it will once again stir up a bloody storm!”

Having said that, a trace of melancholy appeared on the Tiandao Sect Leader’s face, as if he were recalling something.

Zhou Che glanced at the man, then looked at the Yin-Yang Reversal Pill on the table. After three or four breaths of silence, he finally spoke.

“How many years will this mission take, roughly?”

Seeing Zhou Che ask this, a look of gratification surfaced on the Tiandao Sect Leader’s face. He knew the boy had agreed.

“The timeframe is uncertain, but it will absolutely not exceed ten years. As long as we can figure out what exactly the six great demonic sects are plotting, that’s enough. If you go today and figure it out tomorrow, then you can return tomorrow,” the Tiandao Sect Leader replied.

But Zhou Che felt not a shred of relief. He knew the other was merely offering comfort by saying such joking words.

After all, a matter involving the six great demonic sects—how could it be settled in a single day or night?

“Of course, you are inexperienced in the ways of the world, so I naturally won’t let you go into danger unprepared.”

As he spoke, the Tiandao Sect Leader’s mind stirred, and a platinum-colored rune flew out, instantly merging into Zhou Che’s forehead.

“This is the Dao Rune of the Character ‘Gate,’ one of the Three Dao Characters of the Tiandao Sect. It merges with formlessness, shields divine consciousness, and can block three fatal strikes below the Great Attainment Realm. Though it is triggered passively, it can also be activated by will. Remember to use it with caution.”

After saying this, he took out a jade slip from his storage pouch and used spiritual power to transmit its contents into Zhou Che’s mind.

Zhou Che felt a swell of pain in his head, and then countless wondrous methods and principles drilled into his memory.

“This is the Palm Heaven Passage, one of the Seven Secret Transmissions of the Tiandao Sect. I now impart it to you. As of today, you are my, Lu Yu’s, third disciple. As your master, I make this vow to you: upon your return, I will definitely lead you to the Ancestral Master Spirit Tablet to comprehend the immortal Dao aura left behind by the founding patriarch.”

Hearing this, Zhou Che could no longer conceal the excitement in his heart, and he hastily knelt and kowtowed, “Your disciple, Zhou Che, pays respects to Master.”

He was no fool. Seeing that the Tiandao Sect Leader had gone all out, he naturally had to seize this opportunity well.

Lu Yu nodded, then raised his hand and lifted him with spiritual power.

“When you reach the Hehuan Sect, be extra cautious. Demonic sects are not like orthodox sects; everything there is for profit. Although you have the Dao Rune of the Character ‘Gate’ to protect you, your shallow worldly experience makes you prone to others’ schemes. Remember, remember!”

“This disciple will reverently heed Master’s teachings!”

After Zhou Che finished speaking, he immediately picked up the pill from the table and stuffed it into his mouth…