In the magnificent main hall of the Azure Origin Sect, an imposing figure sat upon a throne of purple and gold.
Sect Leader Empress Lyralei blinked her eyes that shone as bright as the stars themselves. Her striking figure was draped in a flowing wine-red dress, her bare feet casually resting as she leaned against the ornate armrest.
With her lotus-like arms supporting her delicate cheeks, her lazy yet penetrating gaze swept across the assembled crowd below before finally settling on a young man kneeling before her.
"Elder peak masters," her melodious voice echoed through the hall,
"Ethan, an outer sect disciple, has entered the martial arts through physical cultivation. Although he possesses no Dantian or spiritual roots, his comprehension is extraordinary and his strength outstanding among his peers in the outer sect. I would like to accept him as an inner sect disciple and appoint him as a Saint Protector. What do you think?"
The hall fell into a heavy silence.
Everyone present exchanged meaningful glances, but none dared to voice their thoughts aloud.
As the contemporary head of the Azure Origin Dao Sect, Empress Lyralei held the supreme title and wielded absolute authority.
Her power was legendary, her dominance unquestionable, and her word was law throughout the territory. Who would dare contradict her decisions except perhaps the beloved Saintess herself?
Those privileged enough to stand in the Main Hall were all seasoned cultivators who understood the unspoken rules.
They knew the Empress was merely making an announcement—the request for their opinions was nothing more than a formality. Even if they harbored reservations, expressing them openly would be tantamount to courting death.
After all, who wouldn't desire to have someone under their command become a Saint Protector? The position came with incredible prestige and opportunities.
The Saint was extraordinarily talented and beautiful, the Empress's only direct disciple and future successor of the sect. For any disciple of the Azure Origin Dao Sect, becoming her protector was both a tremendous honor and an invaluable chance for advancement.
The benefits were immeasurable—access to superior resources, a guaranteed path to success, and most importantly, the privilege of standing closest to the Saint herself.
The implications of such proximity needed no elaboration; everyone understood perfectly.
"Since you all have no objections, then the matter is settled," the Empress declared with satisfaction.
"Master, this disciple has something to say."
A girl wearing an elegant lavender dress rose gracefully from her position. Tall and breathtakingly beautiful, she possessed an aura as cold and untouchable as an iceberg. She cupped her hands respectfully before speaking.
Her piercing blue eyes turned toward the young man kneeling on the ground, looking down from her elevated position with unmistakable disdain and disgust written across her perfect features.
This was Saintess Seraphina, the contemporary Saint of the Azure Origin Dao Sect.
At merely seventeen years old, she had already achieved the Nascent Soul realm—a level that took ordinary cultivators more than hundred years of grueling effort to reach. She had even awakened the legendary Ice Spirit Soul Body, an ancient physique of immense power. Her talent rivaled that of Empress Lyralei herself in her youth.
"Saintess, don't you approve of the protector your master has chosen for you?" the Empress inquired, her tone remaining unhurried.
"You already have three guardians, each with their own specialties. The only thing you lack is a powerful physical practitioner. With his assistance, you will find your future endeavors much more manageable."
"Master," Seraphina's voice carried an icy edge,
"I believe I recognize this person. After careful consideration, I recall seeing him near the Moonlit Springs area when I first entered the sect."
"This person's behavior was suspicious, and I could tell at a glance that he intended to spy on the female disciples while they bathed. Someone with such perverted intentions is unworthy of being an inner sect disciple!"
"Oh? Is this true?" The Empress, who had maintained her lazy demeanor throughout, suddenly frowned.
The moment these words left Seraphina's lips, the hall erupted into chaos.
"The Moonlit Springs is where female disciples of the Dao Sect frequently go to bathe and relax. Who would have imagined this scoundrel would commit such a despicable act?"
"Although our Azure Origin Dao Sect values strength and talent above all, character remains an essential criterion for measuring a disciple's worth."
"This boy displays such lecherous tendencies at such a young age. He is absolutely unsuitable to serve as a Saint Protector."
The hall filled with indignant murmurs and heated discussions.
Meanwhile, Ethan, who had been kneeling in confusion, slowly opened his eyes. His vision gradually cleared, revealing an environment that was utterly foreign to him.
The magnificent hall featured dragon-shaped reliefs carved into massive columns, while an ornate carpet stretched across the center with robed figures standing on either side, all dressed in matching ancient garments.
They chattered like agitated sparrows, though he couldn't comprehend their discussions.
"Damn, my head is killing me. I swear I'll never work overtime again. This has to be some kind of hallucination," Ethan muttered, rubbing his throbbing temples.
"Where am I? Is this a dream? Are they filming a movie or something?"
Suddenly, an overwhelming torrent of foreign memories crashed into his consciousness. After a brief but intense struggle, the information merged with his own recollections.
"Azure Origin Dao Sect... Cultivators... Warriors?"
"Holy shit, have I actually transmigrated?"
Ethan immediately pinched his arm hard. The sharp pain made him gasp audibly.
"Ow... that really hurts. This isn't a dream or hallucination!"
"I've transmigrated. I've actually transmigrated!"
Coming to terms with his situation, Ethan stopped trying to distinguish reality from fantasy. Since returning home was impossible, he had to adapt to this new body and world as quickly as possible.
"Incredible... such beautiful women actually exist!"
Ethan's gaze first fell upon Saintess Seraphina before shifting to Empress Lyralei. Both women possessed stunning beauty and figures that could only be described as otherworldly perfection.
The girl nearby maintained a cold, arrogant expression—clearly an ice queen type who was difficult to approach. The woman on the throne exuded mature charm with her tired, lazy demeanor that somehow made her even more alluring and captivating than the younger beauty.
Anyone fortunate enough to marry such a woman would live a life beyond imagination.
"Very well, if that's the case, then we'll postpone the matter of your fourth protector. I will help you find a suitable candidate in the future. As for Ethan..." The Empress's piercing gaze fixed on him.
"Saintess, how do you wish to handle this situation?"
"Huh? Handle what exactly?" Ethan looked around in bewilderment.
"What the hell did I supposedly do?"
He had just transmigrated, and the first thing he faced was punishment from the sect. What crime had he committed?
As confusion overwhelmed him, the integrated memories finally provided clarity about recent events.
Moments ago, he had been on the verge of becoming an inner sect disciple and Saint Protector—a position of incredible honor and opportunity.
The Saintess before him was none other than the cold beauty who had objected to his appointment.
The Azure Origin Dao Sect was apparently a first-rate sect in this territory, a place countless practitioners dreamed of joining.
However, Saintess Seraphina had stood up in opposition, branding him a pervert who had secretly watched female disciples bathe.
Searching through his newfound memories, Ethan discovered the incident the Saintess referenced.
About seven years ago, when the original owner of this body first joined the Azure Origin Dao Sect as an outer disciple, he had been completely unfamiliar with the sect's layout, including the location of the female hot springs.
One day, while hunting a rabbit demon, he had chased it deep into the mountain forest.
While passing by a lake, he accidentally discovered someone bathing there. The original owner had been only ten years old at the time—an innocent, ignorant boy who would never dare to peep at anyone bathing.
He had merely caught an accidental glimpse of the scene by the lake from a distance. Frightened by what he saw, he had immediately fled without lingering for even a moment.
There had been no deliberate peeping—it was clearly a misunderstanding. But now they were pinning this massive accusation on him. One innocent glance had somehow escalated into a major scandal!
"I will defer to whatever Master decides," Seraphina replied with a respectful bow before fixing Ethan with a look of pure disgust.
This young man appeared decent and kind, even quite handsome. If she hadn't witnessed his suspicious behavior and known about his perverted actions, countless female disciples might fall victim to his deception in the future.
"Outer sect disciple Ethan," the Empress announced, her voice carrying the weight of absolute authority,
"you displayed inappropriate sexual behavior in your youth by secretly observing female disciples bathing. By rights, we should abolish your cultivation and expel you from the sect entirely!"
"However, considering your years of dedication and service to the sect, I will strip you of your newly obtained inner sect disciple status and sentence you to guard the ancestral tomb at Serene Mirror Lake. You will spend fifty years in reflection and meditation on your transgressions. You are forbidden from leaving during this period!"
The Empress's final judgment echoed through the hall like thunder, sealing Ethan's fate with the finality of heaven's decree.