Chapter 1: Betrayal and Exile

A sharp slap echoed through the halls of the Snow Emperor Sect.

"You treacherous disciple, how dare you lust after your master!"

A woman, her clothes in tatters, erupted in rage and humiliation. The disciple she had raised since he was young had committed an unforgivable act against her.

This woman, with a graceful body and perfect curves, was Bai Lufei, the master of the Snow Emperor Sect. As a member of the nine-tailed fox bloodline, her flawless figure was a mark of her lineage, and her power was unparalleled in the sect. Bai Lufei had dedicated her life to the sect, guiding her disciples with a firm but fair hand, never expecting such a betrayal from one she trusted so deeply.

A man suddenly flew out of the main gate at an alarming speed. Bai Lufei's slap, containing 80% of her cultivation power, instantly sobered up Bai Yan. He landed heavily on the stone path outside the cave, his vision blurred and his face stinging from the impact. The pain was a harsh reminder of the gravity of his situation.

The last thing Bai Yan remembered was his junior brother giving him some tea. The next moment, he found himself flying out of the empress's cave, his face swollen and stinging. Disoriented and in pain, he struggled to understand what had happened. The taste of the tea lingered in his mouth, now mixed with the metallic tang of blood.

"Bai Yan, I took you in when you were abandoned by everyone, and this is how you repay my kindness?" Bai Lufei's voice was filled with a mix of sorrow and anger, her eyes blazing with righteous fury.

Suddenly, many people arrived at the main peak where the empress resided, drawn by the burst of a 7-star emperor's aura. Disciples and elders alike rushed to the scene, their faces etched with concern and confusion. They assumed there was an intruder fighting the sect master, but were surprised to see Bai Yan, half-alive and topless, outside the cave.

A bold thought crossed the minds of all the elders simultaneously: "Surely the great disciple of Empress Lufei would not do that."

"Bai Yan has always been a well-behaved child. Something must be going on," one elder said, his voice tinged with disbelief and concern. The elders exchanged worried glances, their collective unease growing.

Empress Lufei, still furious, drew her 4-star imperial weapon, a blade shimmering with ethereal light, ready to strike Bai Yan. Her grip on the hilt tightened as she struggled to control her emotions. The blade, an extension of her own power, hummed with anticipation.

Suddenly, Bai Yan's junior brother, Bai Tian, stepped forward to speak on his behalf. Bai Tian's face was a mask of concern, but behind his eyes lurked a glint of satisfaction. His plan was unfolding perfectly.

"Master, please calm down. Surely there is an explanation. There is no way Senior Brother Yan would do something so atrocious," Bai Tian pleaded, his voice steady and earnest. He placed himself between Bai Yan and the empress, his posture protective and respectful.

Many elders also tried to calm Empress Lufei. They had watched Bai Yan grow up and couldn't bear to see him die under his own master's blade. Their voices formed a chorus of reason, urging her to reconsider.

"This treacherous disciple actually dared to lust after his master. Why are you still defending him? He had the thought of taking my purity," Empress Lufei's voice cracked with the intensity of her emotions. Her eyes flickered with a mixture of hurt and anger.

"Sect Master, surely something else is going on. Little Yan has never shown any such behavior. We've all seen him grow up to be a gentleman," an elder pleaded, stepping forward. His face was lined with years of wisdom and experience, and his voice carried the weight of their shared history.

Empress Lufei, consumed by fury, ignored their words. She only wanted to kill her disciple to wipe away her shame. Her hand trembled as she raised her blade, her mind a tumult of conflicting emotions.

"Little Yan, hurry and explain yourself before the empress decides to kill you!" another disciple shouted, desperation clear in his voice. The crowd pressed closer, their faces a sea of anxious anticipation.

Bai Yan, equally lost, had no recollection after drinking the tea. His mind was a foggy maze of confusion and fear. He struggled to find the words to defend himself, but his throat felt dry and constricted.

"Senior brother, hurry, before master decides your fate!" a younger disciple urged, his eyes wide with fear. The tension in the air was palpable, the weight of the situation pressing down on them all.

"I-," Bai Yan stammered, his voice barely a whisper. He looked around, searching for something—anything—that might explain what had happened. His gaze met Bai Tian's for a brief moment, and a flicker of suspicion crossed his mind.

"Master, please, there must be something wrong with senior brother. Why not cripple his cultivation and erase his memories? It's a more fitting punishment for such a heinous act," Bai Tian suggested with a hidden smirk. This was his plan all along to get rid of his senior brother and take the top disciple position. His eyes gleamed with barely concealed triumph.

Empress Lufei, slightly calmed by the elders' and disciples' pleas, considered the possibility that something else might have caused Bai Yan's actions. Her breathing slowed, and she lowered her blade slightly. The elders' words had planted a seed of doubt in her mind.

She extended her hand and unleashed a powerful wave of energy, crippling Bai Yan's cultivation completely. Bai Yan felt his energy drain away, leaving him weak and vulnerable. His once formidable power dissipated, and he fell to his knees, gasping in pain and disbelief.

Empress Lufei then placed her fingers on Bai Yan's forehead, channeling her energy to erase his memories. The process was excruciating, and Bai Yan's eyes widened in terror as he felt his memories being ripped away. His past, his identity, everything he knew was being erased.

"Bai Lei, Bai Dian, send Bai Yan to the demon realm to live out his days in exile," she ordered, her voice firm but tinged with sorrow. The two disciples nodded and stepped forward, their expressions solemn.

As Bai Yan was led away, he cast one last, desperate look at his master. "Master, I swear, I did not—" His voice was cut off as the portal to the demon realm opened, swallowing him whole.

The crowd watched in silence as the portal closed, leaving a heavy sense of finality in the air. Bai Tian's smirk widened imperceptibly, his plan moving forward without a hitch. Empress Lufei turned away, her heart heavy with doubt and sorrow. The elders dispersed, murmuring amongst themselves, the sect left to grapple with the aftermath of betrayal and exile.