Harmonious Union Sect, Yin-Yang Martial Arts

Escorted by the women in white, Jiang Yuan and Guo Hongtao crossed more than half the forest and arrived at a cluster of buildings built halfway up the mountain.

This should have been the so-called outer sect stronghold of the Harmonious Union Sect.

Along the way, they encountered quite a few female disciples dressed in colorful skirts. When those disciples saw Jiang Yuan—especially when they sensed the pure yang aura around him, fresh from his breakthrough and not yet fully restrained—they all wore expressions like starving wolves spotting fresh meat.

Guo Hongtao's scalp prickled under their gazes, and he instinctively edged closer to Jiang Yuan.

"Brother Yuan, the women in this place... why do they all feel so strange?"

"Put away those inappropriate thoughts of yours," Jiang Yuan replied blandly.

The two were brought into an ancient, elegant hall.

Seated in the place of honor was a mature, beautiful woman. She wore a luxurious purple robe. Though she appeared to be no longer young, she had maintained herself extremely well, and every movement carried a mature, seductive charm.

"Steward He, we've brought them," the woman in white said respectfully, bowing.

Steward He nodded. Her gaze swept over Jiang Yuan and Guo Hongtao before finally settling on Jiang Yuan.

"So you're the one who injured my disciple and intruded into our Meridian Opening Realm?"

Her voice was pleasant, carrying a lazy magnetism, but the pressure hidden within it made Guo Hongtao's breathing hitch.

"Yes," Jiang Yuan answered, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Interesting." Steward He suddenly rose and slowly walked over to Jiang Yuan.

She extended a well-maintained finger and lightly pressed it against Jiang Yuan's chest.

A surge of pure, icy energy entered Jiang Yuan's body through her fingertip, seemingly probing something.

The next second, the laziness vanished from Steward He's face, replaced by unconcealed shock and wild delight!

"Good! Good! Good!"

She said "good" three times in succession, looking at Jiang Yuan as though he were an unparalleled treasure.

"You've only just opened your first primary meridian, yet your foundation is already this deep! And you cultivate a top-tier technique of utmost yang and utmost rigidity!"

Her palm pressed against Jiang Yuan's body as she examined him carefully.

"And this body... You've actually cultivated a top-tier body-tempering technique to the level of great mastery! This is... this is practically a supreme furnace vessel tailor-made for our Harmonious Union Sect!"

Furnace vessel?

When Guo Hongtao heard those words, his heart sank, and a terrible premonition rose within him.

But Steward He ignored him. She returned to the seat of honor, wearing a smile that said she had already won.

"Young man, I won't beat around the bush."

"Our Harmonious Union Sect's techniques are founded upon yin-yang dual cultivation. We believe yin and yang must complement each other for the Great Dao to reach perfection."

"And you," she said, pointing at Jiang Yuan without concealing her intentions, "your physique, your cultivation technique, and your body all perfectly meet the highest standards for our sect's Yang Furnace Position!"

"From today onward, you are an outer sect disciple of the Harmonious Union Sect! You will become the most precious asset of our entire outer sect. Every female disciple will line up to register as your dual-cultivation partner, helping both sides improve together!"

Steward He spoke as though it were only natural, as if she were granting Jiang Yuan an immense favor.

Guo Hongtao finally understood. He exploded on the spot!

"Pah! What kind of fucking dogshit sect is this?!" He pointed at Steward He's nose and cursed. "Aren't you just treating Brother Yuan like a tool for your cultivation? And you want people lining up? Have you no shame at all?!"

"Impudent!" Steward He's expression darkened, and a powerful aura crashed down on Guo Hongtao.

Guo Hongtao's legs buckled under the pressure, and he nearly dropped to his knees. Yet he still craned his neck and stood stubbornly in front of Jiang Yuan.

"Brother Yuan, run! I'll fight them!"

But Jiang Yuan pulled him back and calmly spoke to Steward He on the dais.

"Steward, such an important matter probably isn't something an outer sect steward like you can decide alone, is it?"

His words caught Steward He off guard.

"I hope to meet someone who can truly make decisions for the Harmonious Union Sect," Jiang Yuan continued.

Steward He looked at Jiang Yuan's utterly fearless face and suddenly smiled.

"Interesting. What an ambitious young man."

She seemed to have seen through Jiang Yuan's attempt to stall for time, but she did not care.

"However, in the Harmonious Union Sect, everything must be done according to the rules."

She took out a palm-sized wooden plaque from her sleeve. It bore a strange furnace-shaped mark.

"You want to meet those above me? Fine. First, press your blood and qi imprint onto this Furnace Vessel Token and officially become an outer sect disciple of our sect."

"When you've 'served' all three hundred and sixty female disciples of our outer sect to their satisfaction, allowing each of their cultivations to advance, I'll naturally consider your request."

Those words were no different from directly pronouncing Jiang Yuan's "fate."

Jiang Yuan looked at the wooden plaque and shook his head.

"I have no interest in getting entangled with hundreds of women."

"Not even if they're beautiful."

That sentence completely tore apart the last shred of hollow politeness between them.

The smile vanished entirely from Steward He's face, replaced by icy menace.

"Boy, it seems you still haven't figured out your situation."

There was no trace of seduction left in her voice, only unquestionable cruelty.

"Here, if I say you're a furnace vessel, then you're a furnace vessel! Your opinion doesn't matter!"

She suddenly waved her hand and issued her orders.

"Guards! Seal the mountain gate! Don't let even a fly escape!"

"Lock that fatty in the Reflection Room!"

"As for you..." Her gaze nailed itself to Jiang Yuan, filled with possessiveness and the desire to control him.

"Strip him naked, wash him clean, and send him to the Dual-Cultivation Hall immediately!"

"Today, I'll personally teach you what the rules of the Harmonious Union Sect are!"

Two female guards in the Meridian Opening Realm immediately stepped forward and seized Guo Hongtao from either side.

The other four guards approached Jiang Yuan with malicious smiles.

Looking down at him from above, Steward He coldly declared,

"Today, whether you're willing or not, it isn't up to you!"