Official Recruitment, Bai Ye's Probe

The private bathroom on the top floor of the Extreme Martial Arts Hall was extravagantly luxurious.

Mist drifted through the crack beneath the door, carrying a distinctive fragrance that blended premium bath oil with a young woman's natural scent.

Jiang Yuan stood outside the door, calm-faced, his arms folded across his chest.

The sound of splashing water came from within, accompanied by a languid, alluring voice.

"Jiang Yuan, are you still out there?"

"I am."

"I just tried circulating my family's cultivation art in the water like you said. It felt strange."

Shen Liuli's voice sounded faint through the door.

"My previously sluggish meridians really seemed to flow more smoothly in the warm water, but when the force reached the Shanzhong acupoint in my chest, it started heating up again, like a ball of fire was lodged there."

Shen Liuli seemed to shift her position in the water, making the splashing clearer.

"But it still doesn't feel right. I can't explain it clearly through the door. Could you... could you come a little closer?"

Creak.

The bathroom door was pulled open from inside, leaving a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A stronger wave of damp, heated fragrance washed over him.

Most of Shen Liuli's body remained hidden behind the door. Only her small head peeked out, beaded with glistening droplets. Her freshly bathed cheeks were tinged with enticing pink.

She wore only a white bath towel, while her wet black hair clung to her smooth, delicate shoulders, leaving the lines of her collarbones clearly visible.

"Come take a look. I think the circulation of force in my arm is still wrong."

As she spoke, she tried to pull Jiang Yuan inside.

Jiang Yuan did not budge. He merely extended one finger and tapped Shen Liuli's wrist.

A gentle yet irresistible force pushed her back.

Leaning against the door, Shen Liuli watched Jiang Yuan's utterly indifferent retreating figure and stomped her foot in anger.

What a blockhead! A complete steel-hearted straight man!

She lowered her head and looked at the carefully crafted intimate atmosphere and seductive pose she had arranged, doubting her own charm for the first time.

Uncle Zhou happened to be walking over from the other end of the corridor. Seeing Shen Liuli in this state, then glancing in the direction Jiang Yuan had left, he wore a knowing smile.

"Miss, all the hidden sentries and surveillance equipment Chu He placed around the martial arts hall have been cleared out by our people. He's blind now."

Uncle Zhou bowed as he made his report.

"Good work."

Shen Liuli shut the door again, her voice carrying more than a trace of irritated resentment.

"Also, the New Star Investigation Group's direct line just came through. The chief examiner specifically requested to see Jiang Yuan immediately. There is something extremely important to discuss."

Fifteen minutes later, on the top floor of an unremarkable administrative building in the center of Jiang Hai City.

This was the New Star Investigation Group's temporary command center.

The chief examiner had changed out of his casual clothes and into a crisp, custom-made dark blue combat uniform. A silver star insignia representing a special department rested on his shoulder.

"Jiang Yuan, I'll get straight to the point. This time, I am not representing New Star Martial University, but the military's Special Talent Strategic Action Department."

The chief examiner brought up a holographic projection.

"Your performance in the selection tournament, as well as the ancient martial arts techniques you displayed, have drawn the department leadership's serious attention. We have decided to offer you an early S-rank talent recruitment."

He swiped across the screen, revealing one enviable condition after another.

"As long as you agree, you can immediately receive twice the resource allocation of a core student at New Star Martial University. After graduation, you will be transferred directly into the Action Department without any assessment, granted the rank of major, and appointed captain of a field squad."

These terms were far more generous than the Shen Family's offer.

Jiang Yuan did not answer immediately. He knew perfectly well that there was no such thing as a free lunch. The richer the treatment, the harsher the conditions behind it would surely be.

"What do I have to give?"

"Give?"

The chief examiner smiled. He admired Jiang Yuan's composure.

"This is not about giving something up. It is a contribution to human civilization, a glorious mission."

He swiped the projection again, and photographs and profiles of young women appeared on the screen.

Every one of these women was stunning, with hot figures and distinct temperaments. There were valiant female officers in military uniforms, elegant and intellectual female researchers in white lab coats, and several young heiresses in luxurious gowns who clearly came from powerful families.

"Through data analysis, we have determined that your genetic sequence possesses extremely high optimization potential and hereditary value. In particular, if you unite with powerful female martial artists of specific attributes, there is a very high chance of producing superhuman descendants who surpass their parents."

The chief examiner's expression turned solemn.

"Your task is to marry into the families on this list, wed these women, multiply for the Federation, and pass on the superior genes you possess. This is the Special Talent Genetic Optimization Program."

He pointed at the photographs, his tone filled with unquestionable authority.

"Don't worry. Every one of them has agreed willingly, and their families will use all their power to aid your cultivation. You will gain everything you want—power, status, resources, and the finest women."

Jiang Yuan looked at the photographs, then at the chief examiner's fanatical face.

"What if I refuse?"

"What?"

The chief examiner's smile froze. He had not expected Jiang Yuan to ask such a question.

"I'll say it again. What if I refuse?"

The chief examiner's expression darkened.

"Jiang Yuan, do you know what you're saying? This is an opportunity countless people would dream of! You are rejecting the Federation's highest recognition!"

A piercing alarm suddenly sounded throughout the room.

The communicator on the chief examiner's wrist projected a red emergency signal.

He glanced at its contents, and his face turned extremely ugly.

"Damn it, those Ruins of Return bastards are causing trouble in the western district again!"

He looked up at Jiang Yuan, his tone urgent.

"Stay here and think it over carefully. Contact me whenever you come to your senses! Don't ruin your own future!"

With that, he hurriedly left the room with his people.

The room fell silent once more.

Just as Jiang Yuan was about to leave, an alloy door disguised as part of the wall silently slid open behind him. A young man in a pure white trench coat and silver-rimmed glasses stepped out.

"Student Jiang Yuan, I have heard much about you."

Bai Ye walked up to Jiang Yuan and brought up footage of the arena finals.

He froze the image of Jiang Yuan dismantling Song Xi's prosthetic body with his bare hands and magnified it dozens of times.

"The spiraling hidden force of the Profound Heaven · Shattering Bone Hand—I have studied it. Very few A-Rank Martial Arts can achieve this, but your method of exerting force is rather unusual."

Bai Ye lightly tapped the projection, placing Jiang Yuan's movements beside another blurry piece of footage.

In that footage, a shadow used the same technique to crush the skull of a third-rank mutated beast with its bare hand.

"To my knowledge, this complete logic for transmitting spiraling force is recorded only in the core inheritances of the Ruins of Return lineage."

Bai Ye adjusted his glasses, their lenses reflecting a cold light.

"Can you explain it? Where did you learn this martial technique?"

Jiang Yuan's heart skipped a beat, but his face revealed no hint of anything unusual.

"I don't know anything about the Ruins of Return."

He pointed to the wooden box on his back and gave a half-true, half-false explanation.

"I found this martial technique some time ago in a hidden compartment of this family heirloom wooden box. There was a very old booklet made of beast hide inside, and it recorded this method of exerting force. After I read it once, the booklet crumbled into powder on its own."

Bai Ye listened quietly without interrupting him.

Only after Jiang Yuan finished did he slowly speak.

"That sounds like a pretty good story."

Bai Ye scanned his qi and blood, finding only clear traces of cultivation from the Azure Wolf Art and Baxia · Stone-Metal Body. He found no residual energy related to the Ruins of Return or any other suspicious cultivation art.

"It seems your body really is very 'clean.'"

Bai Ye withdrew his hand, his face revealing no emotion.

He turned and walked toward the hidden alloy door.

Just as the door was about to close, he stopped. Without turning back, he left behind a single instruction.

"Put Jiang Yuan's name on the list of potential Ruins of Return contacts. During the entrance assessment, assign someone to follow and investigate him throughout."