Naked Sword Art

Chapter 448: Chain Whips

"Well, my unfaithful husband, do you have any last words?" she said with a coy smile, cracking her knuckles one by one.

Xiao Fang grinned, slipping off his upper robe, letting it hang over his waist as if he was preparing for war.

"Last words are for the defeated. I will never experience such a thing," he replied.

"Then maybe I'll be your first," she smirked. "Don't worry, since it's your first time, I'll be gentle."

"Then I might need a safe-word," Xiao Fang smirked.

"Just beg for mercy, and I'll catch the hint," she smiled.

"Come then, show me what defeat tastes like."

Xiao Fang slowly raised the edge of his blindfold, revealing a single violet eye that shimmered with electric power.

In an instant, arcs of lightning erupted from his body—snapping through the air and coiling around him like living serpents.

The night around him lit up with a brilliant light-blue glow, casting flickering shadows across the stage. The stage at his feet trembled as his spiritual pressure surged upward, thick enough to make the very dust swirl like a storm gathering in reverence.

Opposite him, Li Lian's smile faded.

Not from fear—but from purpose.

At that same moment, her spiritual pressure exploded in turn, answering his challenge. A deafening heatwave burst from her body, distorting the air with rippling flames. Her emerald eyes sharpened as the air around her ignited in a low, concentrated blaze. Then came the roar—a deep, thunderous howl that echoed across the empty arena.

[ 1st Stage: Dragon Perception ]

Flames danced up her arms, engulfing her entire body in flames as if it were another layer of robes, turning her hair and eyes red.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," she said, her voice calm—but deadly.

Red met blue.

Fire met lightning.

Two overwhelming auras tore through the arena like colliding storms, the sheer force of their presence cracking the stone underfoot.

Neither of them moved a muscle, yet the wind howled and the Qi-reinforced stage buckled, as if the world itself was bracing for impact.

This wasn't just a friendly spar. This was two monsters of the Mortal Realm preparing for war. As if the moment either of them moved, the world would either burn or shatter.

Li Lian stood tall, her whip coiled tightly in her hand, flames licking faintly along its length. Across from her, Xiao Fang remained empty-handed, his violet eye partially hidden once more behind his blindfold. His stance was relaxed—almost casual—as if he were still looking down on her, even now, even like this.

But Li Lian didn't take it as an insult. She wasn't blind. She knew how much stronger Xiao Fang truly was. Still, that didn't mean she'd accept it.

Her grip tightened.

She knew if she could force him to draw his sword, even once, it would mean she had earned his respect. His acknowledgment.

That was all she wanted.

The fire in her heart surged.

She would make him take her seriously.

Even if it meant scorching the heavens to do it.

With flames rising around her and her eyes burning with resolve, she took one step forward onto the fractured stone.

She was going to impress him no matter what.

Without warning, two fiery [ Illusory Clones ] split from Li Lian's body, each wielding a flaming whip identical to hers. The moment they moved, the arena filled with fire and smoke—every swing of their whips casting illusions, every crack followed by a fiery detonation.

CRACK! BOOM!

CRACK! BOOM!

It looked like dozens of whips were attacking from every direction. To most, it would've been overwhelming, but Xiao Fang didn't even flinch.

His violet eye closed, then his hands moved, piercing through every illusion as if they were mist. He stepped lightly through the battlefield, his body slipping through phantom strikes with an almost lazy precision. His fingers deflected the real whip just before each snap, rendering every explosive swing harmless.

Li Lian narrowed her eyes.

"Fine then…"

She reached into her spatial pouch.

A flash of heat, then the sound of metal rang out.

They were chains.

Scalding red-hot chains surged out, alive with her fiery Qi. They spiraled through the air and wrapped tightly around her arms, hissing as they burned straight through her sleeves. Fabric disintegrated. Steam rose from her body. Her toned arms were now bare, adorned with glowing shackles of flame.

The sight was beautiful, but terrifying.

She gripped the chains like whips, and with a low, guttural cry, she launched herself at him.

No illusions this time. Just raw martial skill.

Xiao Fang accepted her engagement without hesitation. While his hand-to-hand combat couldn't compare to his swordsmanship, he was still far above the average cultivator. However, Li Lian was anything but average. She was a Li Family clansmen, and they were renowned in this province for their mastery of close-combat martial arts.

He ducked beneath the first spinning strike, blocked the next few, and found an opening to counter. His fist shot forward, but Li Lian blocked it with her forearm, wrapped in blisteringly hot glowing chains.

The searing heat scorched Xiao Fang's skin on contact, making him immediately pull his hand back, but in that same breath, her heel came crashing down on his shoulder with brutal force.

He staggered slightly.

She hit hard.

Despite his body cultivation realm being an entire realm above hers, he still felt that strike. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but it impressed him.

The truth was, he didn't try to evade it as much as he normally would. He was curious. Curious to measure the true strength behind her attacks. And from what he could tell, Li Lian certainly wasn't weak.

Before he could analyze her movements further, another kick came.

Faster, sharper, and aimed to break his guard.

He blocked, but the chain lashed at his ribs from the opposite direction.

Then a punch. A knee. A fiery grapple attempt.

She was relentless. And the chains were no joke.

Martial arts flowed through her like water turned to fire, every strike timed perfectly, every move coordinated with the deadly dance of the chains.