Naked Sword Art

Chapter 402: Flowing Blade Sect

In the early morning, Yin Fei paid a visit to Yu An's residence. Chun Hua answered the door, her posture tense as if prepared to block any uninvited guests. But upon seeing who it was, she stepped aside respectfully.

"Feifei, how nice of you to visit me," Yu An greeted with a warm smile.

Yin Fei stepped in gracefully, her gaze sharp and observant. "I happened to notice your spirit root glowing last night. Did you happen to be... cultivating with someone?"

"Perhaps," Yu An replied with a knowing grin, masking her amusement by sipping her tea.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what Yu An had been doing. Her hair, though still elegant, was slightly unkempt in that distinct way that only came after an intense night. Her eyes were brighter, her skin almost seemed to glow with vitality. Yin Fei couldn't help but be curious; Yu An was far too powerful and beautiful to waste her time with any of the Elders. Even Yin Fei, despite her young age, had already surpassed many of them.

"Who did you do it with?" Yin Fei asked bluntly.

Hearing someone talking about Xiao Fang unintentionally made Chun Hua's eyes flickered violet for a moment, a soft smile appearing on her lips.

"Both of you?" Yin Fei asked in shock when she noticed.

Yu An's smile deepened. "My son was here last night."

Yin Fei blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Your... son?"

"That's right. He's grown into quite the man." Yu An's voice brimmed with pride. Chun Hua, who stood nearby, hid her blushing smile behind her sleeve.

Yin Fei's expression shifted into one of disbelief.

'Her son? How did he manage to get into the clan? If he'd entered, surely I would have noticed,' she thought.

Yin Fei was competitive by nature—at just 19, she'd reached the Core Realm with the Dual Cultivation method. By 20, her combat abilities were nearly unrivaled among her peers, and now, at 21, she had reached the Profound Realm, capable of challenging Elders who had cultivated for decades. Her progress only stalled because of the incomplete version of the method they possessed. If she'd had the complete version, she could have gone straight to the Divine Realm.

Every clan in the Chaos Sect had its own prodigies, but in the Dual Cultivation clan, Yin Fei held that title alone. Hearing that the Matriarch had a son—one who could cultivate the Dual Cultivation method—naturally piqued her interest.

"I can see that you're curious about him. Come, sit, I'll tell you what you want to know," Yu An said with a soft smile.

Yin Fei took a seat across from her, her gaze sharp and calculating. "How old is he?"

"He'll be turning 19 this year."

"So young… What realm has he practiced the Dual Cultivation method to? Or has he even started?" Yin Fei asked, already assuming that if he lived outside the sect, it would have been impossible for him to practice it openly, because he likely would've gotten killed.

"He is currently in the Core realm with the Dual Cultivation method…"

"Core realm, then he's a prodigy as well," she said, comparing his achievements to her own.

"...8th stage of the Core Spirit realm."

"The 8th stage?" she repeated, her disbelief evident.

Yin Fei was 19 when she first entered the Core Realm, yet Xiao Fang hadn't even reached 19 and was nearly at the Profound Realm. It defied logic. No one could cultivate the incomplete Dual Cultivation method to that level in such a short time. Even calling him a prodigy seemed like an understatement. But calling him peerless? That was something she wasn't ready to accept.

Yu An answered a few more of her questions before changing the topic. "I'm sure you'd like to meet him. You should hurry before he leaves."

"Where is he?"

Yu An smiled mysteriously and made a peculiar hand symbol. Her body began to glow with a violet hue, and an overwhelming surge of Qi washed over the entire underground sanctuary. Yin Fei felt it, a power so immense that it stretched throughout the massive cavern where their clan resided. Every disciple within the vicinity felt it too, their hairs standing on end as if touched by thunder.

Yin Fei recognized the technique—it was a spirit-linking search, only usable with those they had created a spirit link with. Yu An's aura dissipated gracefully, and she nodded.

"Follow me."

"You're going out?"

Yu An's smile softened. "I think it's time I stopped hiding from my people."

…

Outside, the enormous Primal Blossom Tree stood majestically in the center of the clan's underground sanctuary.

Beneath its shade, Xiao Fang sat cross-legged, meditating with other clan members. The Dual Cultivation Qi from the Primal Blossom Tree poured into them, empowering their cultivation with remarkable speed.

When Yu An's Qi spread throughout the clan, many disciples opened their eyes in awe.

"Was that really Matriarch Yu?"

"The strength of a Divine Realm Dual Cultivator certainly is incredible."

"Her Qi is everywhere. I've never felt something like that before."

Moments later, the atmosphere grew even more restless. Murmurs spread like wildfire.

"Look! It's Fei Lin! And… who is that woman walking with her?"

"She's so beautiful… Am I dreaming?"

Fei Lin, practically a celebrity in the clan, found her fame temporarily eclipsed by the woman walking beside her. She looked ethereal, her presence demanding attention with every step.

"Since when did we have an Elder like that in our clan?"

"Is that… could that be Matriarch Yu An?"

"I don't know, but if she told me to kiss her feet, I would do it without hesitation."

The girls nearby rolled their eyes, but even they couldn't help but admire Yu An's beauty. It was undeniable. If Yu An claimed to be the second most beautiful woman in the sect, none would dare to claim first.

Sitting quietly in meditation with his blind fold on, he seemed relatively ordinary with half his face covered and cultivation concealed. No one paid any attention to him, till they noticed Yu An approaching him.

Yu An stopped in front of him, her smile warm and eyes filled with pride.

"Fang, I brought someone I want you to meet."

Since the cat was out of the bag, Xiao Fang saw no reason to keep his blindfold on any longer. As he pulled it off, a wave of gasps rippled through the female disciples around him. His long black hair, tied back neatly, framed a face that seemed almost unreal, now fully exposed to their eyes.

While many were struck by how handsome he was, Fei Lin remained unimpressed—at first. But when he finally opened his eyes, something within her stirred violently. Her breath hitched, and she swallowed involuntarily. Her teeth clenched, and her pupils dilated as if she had been struck by some invisible force.

There existed a technique among Dual Cultivators that allowed them to subtly seduce others with just a single glance. Naturally, there was also a counter-technique designed to negate its effects. Fei Lin instinctively tried to use it, she was stunned to find that it had no effect whatsoever.

The only conclusion she could draw was that Xiao Fang wasn't using a technique at all—it was simply his natural ability. That realization made her understand why he wore a blindfold; it wasn't to hide his eyes, but to suppress the overwhelming charm that seemed to radiate from him effortlessly.

"It's nice to meet you, Yin Fei. You can call me Fang," he said, his voice smooth as honey yet carrying a deep, resonant timbre.

The sound of it sent a ripple through the crowd, leaving the nearby girls breathless, their hearts fluttering with a longing they could hardly understand. In that moment, many of them felt as if they would willingly carve out their hearts and place them at his feet if he only asked.

Yin Fei didn't want to admit it, but Xiao Fang certainly wasn't someone she could look down on.

.

.

.

In the Black Paradise Sect, within the Matriarch's private chambers, Shi Lan sat at her desk, her fingers lightly grazing the edges of a worn, tattered book. Its cover, though faded and frayed, still bore the remnants of its title: "Dual—". Her eyes were fixed on its delicate pages when the doors opened, and Supreme Elder Yao Wu entered with a steady gait.

"What are you reading?" Yao Wu asked, her gaze flickering to the mysterious book.

Shi Lan's fingers paused before she gently closed it, a faint smile touching her lips. "Just an old book," she replied, slipping it back into the drawer of her ornate desk. "A gift from a friend a long time ago."

Yao Wu glanced at the drawer but didn't press further. Her purpose there was more pressing. "I came to speak with you about the province-wide tournament," she said, her tone shifting to one of business.

Shi Lan nodded, pouring a pot of fragrant tea. A light mist of steam curled between them, carrying the aroma of lotus petals through the room, lending a sense of calm to the otherwise tense discussion that was about to unfold.

"I've heard the other provinces have already concluded their tournaments," Yao Wu noted, sipping her tea thoughtfully. "The Golden Lotus Sect selected their core disciples, and the Ironwood Sect chose the Yang brothers. Even the minor sects have finished their selections, and the sect that won amongst them will be arriving here in a few days to challenge us."

Shi Lan's eyes glimmered with intrigue. "The Flowing Blade Sect, if I'm not mistaken?"

Yao Wu nodded. "Yes. Apparently, they've been boasting about a new prodigy—a sword cultivator who's yet to taste defeat."

Shi Lan smirked, swirling her tea cup gently. "All the more reason for us to be prepared. I was thinking of holding a mock tournament of our own. It would give us a clear picture of who among our youngest generation might best represent our sect."

Yao Wu raised an eyebrow. "Are you worried we'd lose?"

"Not exactly," Shi Lan replied, her gaze distant as if seeing something far away. "But I want to ensure we're sending the best. Besides, the mock tournament could serve as a good training opportunity. Many of the younger disciples have grown complacent. A little competition would shake the dust off their blades."

Yao Wu chuckled. "We do have a few promising talents—Gao Ren, Li Qin, and of course, our own direct disciples, Li Lian and Xun Wei. They all have potential. Perhaps seeing them compete against one another would light a fire under the others as well."

Shi Lan's eyes sharpened. "And with the Flowing Blade Sect visiting soon, we can't afford any weaknesses. I want the juniors to understand what real competition looks like before they step onto that stage."

Yao Wu set her cup down, the porcelain clinking lightly. "I'll make the arrangements. We'll hold the mock tournament the day after tomorrow. Let's see who truly deserves to represent the Black Paradise Sect."

Shi Lan's lips curled into a small smile. "And we'll see which of our direct disciples are stronger."

Yao Wu mirrored her grin. "Xun Wei might be younger than Li Lian, but she's full of surprises."

"How exciting, I can't wait."