The Heavenly Jade Sect was no longer the same.
Since Souta's arrival, everything had changed.
The once-proud elders, who had ruled with strict discipline, now trembled in his presence. The male disciples, who had once dreamed of being top geniuses, were forced to accept the reality that their greatest aspiration was nothing compared to Souta's casual existence.
And the female disciples…
Well, many of them had begun to look at their new Sect Master with different kinds of eyes.
Some with awe.
Some with curiosity.
And some with undeniable interest.
Souta sat on his golden throne, his legs crossed lazily. Beside him, Mei Yan stood with her arms folded, watching the changes unfold with amusement.
"It's amazing," she mused, "how easily power shifts everything. Just a few days ago, these people would have never accepted a new ruler. And now? They kneel at your feet without hesitation."
Souta smirked. "That's just the way the world works. Strength creates respect. Power commands loyalty. And…" His golden eyes gleamed as he scanned the crowd, "…charm makes it all worthwhile."
Mei Yan chuckled. "Shameless as ever."
Souta stretched. "Speaking of shameless—where's Yue Lian?"
As if summoned by his words, the icy beauty entered the hall, her long white robes flowing as she walked. Her cold, piercing eyes glared at him as she stopped a few feet away.
"You called for me?"
Souta grinned. "You say that like you don't enjoy my company."
Yue Lian scoffed. "I don't."
Souta's smirk deepened. "Then why do you always show up when I call?"
She hesitated, her gaze flickering for a brief moment before regaining its coldness. "You're the Sect Master now. It's my duty to listen."
"Is that so?" Souta leaned forward. "Or are you just waiting for an excuse to spend time with me?"
A soft pink hue barely touched her cheeks before she turned away. "You're insufferable."
Mei Yan laughed. "This is entertaining."
Souta sighed dramatically. "Ah, women always resist at first. But in the end, they always fall for me."
Mei Yan rolled her eyes. "You act like you've already conquered the entire sect."
Souta's golden gaze flickered with amusement.
"Not yet."
---
[Realm Advancement: Eternal Origin God achieved.]
[Primordial Chaos Sovereign achieved.]
[Absolute Omnipotent Monarch achieved.]
His power continued to break all logic, defying every rule of cultivation.
And this was only the beginning.
Souta stood, stretching. "Alright. Time to go on a little… recruitment mission."
Mei Yan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Where to?"
Souta smirked.
"There are other sects out there, aren't there?"
---
Souta stood at the peak of the Heavenly Jade Sect, the wind blowing through his robe as he gazed out at the endless world before him. He had conquered this sect effortlessly, but this was just the beginning.
There were other sects.
Other powerful women.
Other challenges waiting for him.
And Souta never ignored an opportunity.
Mei Yan stood beside him, arms crossed. "So, where to first?"
Souta smirked. "The Scarlet Moon Sect."
Yue Lian, who had just arrived, frowned. "That sect is filled with nothing but women. They're extremely hostile to men."
Souta's grin widened. "Perfect."
Mei Yan laughed. "Oh, this is going to be fun."
---
The Scarlet Moon Sect was an elite sect, known for its strict doctrine—men were considered inferior, weak, and unworthy.
No man had ever stepped foot into their sect's inner grounds and lived to tell the tale.
Until today.
*Swoosh!*
A golden light streaked across the sky as Souta descended from above, landing directly in the sect's sacred garden. Flowers swayed, the ground trembled, and the spiritual energy in the air bent to his presence.
Instantly, dozens of women—dressed in elegant yet battle-ready robes—appeared, swords drawn.
"INTRUDER!"
"How dare a man step into our holy ground?!"
"Die where you stand!"
Souta didn't move. He simply smiled, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. "Now, now. Is that any way to treat a guest?"
A powerful wave of killing intent filled the air as a woman in crimson robes stepped forward.
She had long silver hair, piercing red eyes, and an aura of absolute dominance. The aura of a Sect Mistress.
"Who are you?" Her voice was cold, but her gaze was wary. She could feel that this man wasn't normal.
Souta's golden eyes gleamed. "I'm Souta Akihiro. Your future Sect Master."
Silence.
Then—
"INSOLENCE!"
"YOU DARE?!"
The female cultivators rushed at him, unleashing deadly techniques.
Souta sighed. "I was hoping we could talk first, but—"
He snapped his fingers.
*BOOM!*
A massive shockwave exploded outward. The entire Scarlet Moon Sect shook, the earth splitting, the sky trembling under his power.
The attacking disciples froze in midair—unable to move, their bodies locked in place by an unseen force.
Souta took a step forward, his presence pressing down on them like a divine decree.
"You should know," he said casually, "that fighting me is pointless."
The Sect Mistress clenched her fists. "Y-You… What are you?!"
Souta grinned.
"I'm the man who's about to own this sect."
---
[Realm Advancement: Supreme Void God achieved.]
[Omniversal Conqueror achieved.]
[Transcendent Harem Monarch achieved.]
His unstoppable journey had begun.
And the Scarlet Moon Sect?
It was just the first of many.
---
The air was heavy with tension. The Scarlet Moon Sect's most powerful disciples and elders were paralyzed, unable to move under the weight of Souta's sheer presence. Even the Sect Mistress, a woman who had never once bowed her head to a man, was frozen in place, her crimson eyes filled with shock.
Souta sighed and stretched his arms. "You know, I expected a warmer welcome. I mean, I just got here, and you're already trying to kill me? That's not very nice."
The silence was deafening. No one had the strength to respond.
He took another step forward, and the ground beneath his feet trembled. Some of the weaker disciples instinctively took a step back, their hands gripping their weapons tightly, but none dared to attack again.
The Sect Mistress finally broke the silence, her voice strained but filled with defiance. "We are the Scarlet Moon Sect. No man has ever ruled us. No man ever will."
Souta chuckled. "That's cute. Really. But let's be honest here… do you think you have a choice?"
She gritted her teeth. Spiritual energy surged around her as she forced herself to move, breaking free from his oppressive aura through sheer willpower. Flames ignited around her body, her cultivation reaching its peak.
"Even if you are strong," she said, her voice cold, "we will never submit."
Souta raised an eyebrow. "Never?"
Without another word, she launched herself forward, her blade glowing with divine light as she slashed at him with all her strength. The very air around them was sliced apart, creating a massive shockwave.
The attack never landed.
Souta didn't move. He didn't dodge. He didn't even block.
Her blade stopped an inch from his throat, trembling violently as if reality itself refused to let it touch him. The Sect Mistress's eyes widened in disbelief. No matter how much strength she poured into the strike, it wouldn't move any further.
Souta smiled. "You done?"
With a flick of his finger, an invisible force sent her flying back. She crashed into the ground, coughing as dust and debris filled the air.
The entire sect watched in stunned silence.
Souta walked toward her, his golden eyes filled with amusement. He crouched down, resting his chin on his hand. "Let's make a deal. You swear loyalty to me, and in return, I'll make sure your sect prospers beyond anything you've ever imagined."
She glared at him, breathing heavily. "And if I refuse?"
His smile didn't fade. "Then I take over anyway. But if you cooperate, I'll be a *very* generous master."
Her hands clenched into fists. Everything about this man infuriated her—his arrogance, his overwhelming power, the way he spoke as if he had already won.
Because he *had* won.
No technique, no strategy, no amount of resistance would change the outcome. He was beyond anything she had ever encountered.
The Scarlet Moon Sect had always prided itself on never bowing to a man. But what was the meaning of pride in the face of absolute power?
Her breath steadied. Slowly, she lowered her head. "The Scarlet Moon Sect… submits."
Souta grinned. "Good girl."
As those words echoed through the sect, the rest of the disciples, one by one, dropped to their knees. Their Sect Mistress had chosen submission. That meant there was no point in resisting.
Souta stood up and stretched. "Alright! Now that we're all one big happy family, I suppose it's time we celebrate a little."
The disciples exchanged glances, unsure of what he meant.
The Sect Mistress narrowed her eyes. "What kind of celebration?"
Souta smirked. "Oh, you'll see soon enough."
And just like that, the Scarlet Moon Sect belonged to him.
---
The Scarlet Moon Sect had fallen.
A sect that had stood for thousands of years, rejecting the rule of men, had bowed before Souta without him even breaking a sweat. The disciples, once filled with unwavering pride and hostility toward the opposite sex, now stood before him with hesitant yet submissive gazes.
The Sect Mistress, still kneeling before him, clenched her fists tightly. She hated this—hated the feeling of helplessness, of being forced to submit. But what else could she do? The gap between them was too vast, like the difference between a mortal and a god.
Souta stretched his arms. "Alright, ladies. Now that we're all one big family, let's make some changes."
The gathered disciples stiffened, wary of his words.
"What… what do you intend to do with us?" one of the elders finally asked, her voice cautious.
Souta smirked. "Don't look so scared. I'm not a tyrant. In fact, I'd say I'm a *very* generous man."
The disciples exchanged glances, unsure whether to believe him. The reputation of men in their sect was nothing but betrayal and deception, yet this one carried himself with an arrogance that made them uneasy in an entirely different way.
Souta turned toward the Sect Mistress. "Since you're the leader, why don't you tell me your name?"
She hesitated before finally answering. "Jiang Xue."
"Jiang Xue, huh? A fitting name for a woman as cold as ice," Souta mused, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well then, Jiang Xue, since you're now under me, I'll need to make sure you're taken care of properly."
Jiang Xue's face darkened. "What do you mean by that?"
Souta chuckled. "Simple. I plan to personally *guide* you and your disciples to a new level of strength. The Scarlet Moon Sect may have been impressive before, but under my rule, you'll reach heights you never even dreamed of."
The gathered disciples stirred, whispering among themselves.
"Is he serious?"
"He's clearly powerful, but why would he want to help us?"
"Could this be a trick?"
Jiang Xue narrowed her eyes. "And what do you gain from this?"
Souta's smirk deepened. "Isn't it obvious? If I'm going to rule this world, I want the strongest women at my side. I'm not here to oppress you. I'm here to elevate you."
The disciples looked at each other in shock. They had expected cruelty, punishment, or humiliation. Instead, he was offering them power?
Jiang Xue clenched her teeth. She didn't trust him. Not yet. But she *knew* that rejecting his offer wasn't an option.
After a long pause, she finally sighed. "Very well. But if you're lying—"
Souta interrupted her with a grin. "You'll find that I *never* break my promises."
He turned to the gathered disciples, raising his voice. "From this day forward, the Scarlet Moon Sect is no longer an isolated domain. You will become *my* sect, my people. And I will take you to the top of this world."
Some of the women looked uncertain, but others—especially the younger disciples—were captivated by his confidence.
"Now then," Souta continued, his voice lowering, "let's get to the real reason I came here."
Jiang Xue stiffened. "And what reason is that?"
Souta chuckled. "I'm here to claim what's mine."
A heavy silence fell over the sect.
The meaning behind his words was unmistakable.
Jiang Xue's face turned red with both anger and embarrassment. "You… you dare—"
Souta stepped forward, closing the distance between them. His presence was overwhelming, his golden eyes shining with amusement. "Did you already forget? You *submitted* to me. That means you belong to me now."
The gathered disciples gasped, their faces turning various shades of red.
Jiang Xue's breathing grew heavy. She had spent her entire life resisting men, rejecting their advances, proving that women were just as strong. But this man… this *monster* had broken through everything she believed in with nothing more than a few words and an overwhelming display of power.
She hated him.
And yet…
Her body trembled as he reached out, tilting her chin up so that she was forced to look into his eyes.
"You're mine now, Jiang Xue," Souta whispered. "And soon enough, you'll understand just how much that means."
The Sect Mistress shivered, her body betraying her even as her mind screamed at her to resist.
The disciples stood frozen, watching with wide eyes.
And then, with a smirk, Souta pulled her close.
The night of the Scarlet Moon had only just begun.
---
The night air was heavy with an intoxicating stillness, the kind that heralded the beginning of something monumental. The Scarlet Moon Sect, a once-proud bastion of female independence and power, now stood under a new rule.
Souta stretched his arms as he sat on the highest balcony of the main palace, overlooking the sea of beautiful disciples that now belonged to him. Their eyes, filled with a mixture of curiosity, defiance, and hesitant admiration, gazed up at him.
Jiang Xue stood beside him, her face still tinged with frustration. Despite her submission, there was a fire in her that refused to die.
"You're too quiet," Souta mused, glancing at her. "Are you thinking about how much you hate me?"
Jiang Xue's jaw tightened. "I don't hate you."
Souta raised an eyebrow.
She sighed. "I *should* hate you. But I don't. And that terrifies me."
Souta chuckled. "You're adapting quicker than I expected."
Jiang Xue turned her gaze toward her disciples. "They're still unsure. They don't know if they should follow you completely or resist."
Souta smirked. "That's only natural. But trust me, they'll all come around."
As if to prove his point, a group of younger disciples stepped forward, their faces hesitant but determined.
"Great Lord Souta…" One of them, a girl with jade-green eyes and long silver hair, spoke nervously. "Is it true that you'll make us stronger?"
Souta nodded. "Of course."
Another disciple stepped forward, this one a curvier woman with fiery red hair. "You said we'd become the strongest. But how?"
Souta chuckled. "Simple. I'll share with you a new path of cultivation, one that no one in this world has ever known before."
Jiang Xue turned to him sharply. "You're not serious. You would just *give* us your knowledge?"
Souta smirked. "What kind of man would I be if I let my women remain weak?"
The words sent a ripple through the disciples. *His women.*
The silver-haired girl blushed, looking away. The red-haired disciple bit her lip. Others shuffled uncomfortably, unsure whether to feel insulted or… something else.
Jiang Xue, however, met his gaze with a deep frown. "You speak as if you already own all of us."
Souta leaned in close to her, his golden eyes glowing in the dim light. "Give it time."
Jiang Xue's breath hitched.
Before she could respond, a loud explosion shook the air.
BOOM!
Souta's expression didn't change as he turned toward the sect's outer walls, where flames erupted into the night sky.
Jiang Xue's eyes widened. "An attack?"
The disciples panicked, rushing to prepare for battle.
Souta sighed. "Already? I was hoping for a peaceful first night."
A disciple ran up to them, breathless. "Sect Mistress! It's—It's the Thunderclap Pavilion! They've come to destroy us!"
Jiang Xue's expression darkened. "Damn it… I should have expected this. They always wanted to wipe us out, and now that we've lost our independence—"
Souta chuckled.
Jiang Xue turned to him in irritation. "What's so funny?"
Souta stood, cracking his knuckles. "It's just cute how you're worried about something so trivial."
Jiang Xue frowned. "You don't understand. The Thunderclap Pavilion is a powerful sect! Their leader is an Ascendant Realm cultivator, and their disciples are trained in destructive lightning techniques. Even at our peak, we struggled to match them—"
Souta yawned. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. They're *strong.* Whatever."
Jiang Xue gritted her teeth. "This isn't a joke, Souta!"
Another explosion tore through the night, and a voice boomed over the battlefield.
"Scarlet Moon Sect! Surrender now, or be annihilated!"
Jiang Xue clenched her fists. "Damn it…"
Souta sighed. "Alright, alright. I'll handle it."
Before Jiang Xue could protest, Souta casually stepped forward… and vanished.
The moment he reappeared, he was standing in front of the invading army. Hundreds of Thunderclap Pavilion disciples stood in formation, their weapons gleaming under the moonlight. A towering man with crackling blue energy surrounding his body floated in the sky, his aura monstrous.
"You must be the leader," Souta said casually.
The man's sharp eyes locked onto him. "Who are you?"
Souta smirked. "Just a passing playboy."
The leader of Thunderclap Pavilion sneered. "A fool, then. Very well. Die."
He raised his hand, and a bolt of lightning the size of a mountain roared toward Souta.
Jiang Xue and the disciples gasped.
Souta, however, simply lifted a finger.
The moment the lightning bolt touched him, it shattered into harmless sparks.
The battlefield went silent.
Souta stretched his arms. "That's all?"
The Thunderclap Pavilion disciples froze, their faces paling.
Their leader gritted his teeth. "Impossible! That was a divine-level attack!"
Souta chuckled. "Oh? Then what do you call this?"
He flicked his finger.
BOOM!
The air itself *tore apart* as a wave of invisible force swept through the battlefield. The Thunderclap Pavilion's outer defenses collapsed instantly. Hundreds of disciples were sent flying, their bodies crashing into the mountains. The leader, once so arrogant, screamed as he was slammed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
Jiang Xue and her disciples stared in stunned silence.
Souta dusted off his sleeves. "Well, that was boring."
The Thunderclap Pavilion leader coughed up blood, his body twitching as he struggled to look up at Souta. "W-Who… *what* are you…?"
Souta crouched down, grabbing the man's face with a smirk. "The strongest."
With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent the man flying into the horizon, disappearing as a mere dot in the sky.
The remaining Thunderclap Pavilion disciples dropped their weapons, their knees shaking.
Souta grinned. "Good. Now run home and tell the world—Scarlet Moon Sect belongs to *me* now."
The disciples scrambled to escape, not daring to look back.
Jiang Xue and her disciples were still frozen, trying to process what had just happened.
Souta turned back to them, rubbing his neck. "Alright. Now that that's over, let's get back to what really matters."
He smirked.
"The *celebration.*"