Naked Sword Art

Chapter 486: Demon Hunter Kong

"Demon Hunter Kong."

Xiao Kong’s gaze slowly met the Elder who’d spoken.

There was no anger. No acknowledgment. Just a faint, effortless look—cold and indifferent—as if he were observing something small, forgettable, and beneath notice.

The Elder felt his spine tighten.

That glance alone was enough to remind him of the rumors—of the countless demons slain, the sects silenced, the wars ended before they began.

This was not a man one challenged. This was a force. A calamity wearing human skin. And he was none other than Xiao Fang’s grandfather.

’How can they be classified as a 2nd Tier sect,’ the Elder thought. ’That man alone... could singlehandedly bring a 2nd Tier sect down to their knees.’

If the classifications of a sect could be given based on the strength of a single person, the Heavenly Fate sect would certainly be considered a 3rd-Grade sect. However, one man alone couldn’t change the grade of a sect.

’Just who is the leader of the Heavenly Fate sect, and how could he contain such a monster,’ the Elders thought as his eyes scanned the others in Xiao Kong’s group.

The other 12, although their cultivation couldn’t compare to Xiao Kong’s, they didn’t look weak at all. Their collective presence alone made cultivators across the hall unconsciously straighten their backs.

The three Heavenly Fate disciples who had arrived earlier released the breath they’d been holding. Moments ago, they had been the target of quiet mockery and pressure from other sects—now those same cultivators lowered their gazes and pretended nothing had happened, swallowing their pride along with their arrogance.

Among the thirteen newcomers, the man at the center stood out—not because he appeared ancient or imposing, but because he looked almost too young.

Barely past a hundred years of age, yet it appeared as if the others in his group followed him without question.

Despite his relatively young age, this man was none other than the former Patriarch of the Heavenly Fate Sect.

Calm and reserved, his expression revealed nothing as his eyes swept the hall. His gaze was gentle but unraveling, as if he could see through any secret with nothing but a glance.

Then, spotting a familiar face, his expression warmed slightly. With a graceful descent, he touched down and exchanged greetings.

"Quite the entrance, little brother." A woman stepped forward, her hair long and emerald-green, robes embroidered with blooming vines. She was none other than Yu Weili—the Matriarch of the Evergreen Sect. "I remember watching our father attempt to learn that technique before he passed away. To see his son complete what he could not... it brings me satisfaction."

"It’s good to see you too, elder sister," the former Patriarch replied softly. "Is your husband not attending?"

She waved her hand as if brushing away a trivial problem.

"He injured himself during seclusion. So I’m here in his place. You could say..." her lips curved into a teasing smirk, "...fate put me here."

"One man’s misfortune becomes another’s opportunity," he answered with a faint smile. "For me, seeing you again is a fortunate one."

Before she could respond further, the sky began to warp.

"Someone’s coming."

All eyes lifted toward the open ceiling. A heartbeat later, streaks of spirit light flashed across the sky as massive spirit beasts descended — each one pulling chariots forged from gold and jade. Their intricate carvings glimmered with ancient inscriptions, drawing gasps from the hall below.

"Look! The Immortal SkyCloud Sect... they really came."

"And not just them—more are arriving!"

One after another, colossal aerial ships and celestial chariots broke through the clouds. The ground trembled faintly beneath the weight of their presence; the air itself grew heavy as these titanic vessels lowered toward the grand hall.

These were the true powerhouse sects of the continent. Their arrival made even the Heavenly Fate Sect’s dramatic entrance seem modest in comparison.

Suddenly, the ceiling began to shift. Massive stone plates slid into place overhead as countless inscriptions ignited along the dome—locking the hall with protective formations.

Then a deep, resonant voice rolled across the chamber:

"Welcome, honored guests."

A man in phoenix-embroidered robes appeared at the forefront, descending with effortless grace.

"Now that everyone has arrived," he declared, his voice carrying authority that silenced even the strongest cultivators, "let the conference begin."

...

Around the edges of the grand hall, disciples of the Heavenly Flame Sect lifted their hands in unison. Flames surged from their palms and rose toward the dome above, forming a massive projection of the Northern Continent of Yuhuang.

Bit by bit, the fiery image clarified—mountains, borders, kingdoms, and sect territories appearing as glowing red outlines.

When the southern region lit up, the tone in the room shifted.

"That," one elder narrated, "is the domain of the Demon Race."

The flames then shifted lower—revealing a much smaller territory beneath the demon lands.

A name burned into view.

Koh.

"The Land of Koh," the narrator continued, "has remained isolated for thousands of years. Unlike other kingdoms, they neither seek alliances nor wage war. Their belief is simple—a nation’s borders extend only as far as its king can strike."

Murmurs spread among the representatives.

"To this day," the elder said, "no one alive has ever seen the Koh king attack. Yet their territory has never shrunk... only expanded."

Another flame flickered, showing the migration path of the demon armies—moving northward.

"Make no mistake," the elder said. "The demons are not marching because they seek conquest."

The hall fell silent.

"They are fleeing."

Gasps broke out—sharp, incredulous.

"They are running from the growing Koh Empire."

A heavy stillness settled in the air as the projection faded.

Only then did the meeting truly begin—first to present the full scope of the threat, then to discuss strategies, alliances, and war.

"What do we know about the Koh people?" multiple representatives asked at once, tension rising across the room.

A senior scholar from the Heavenly Flame Sect stepped forward, clasping his hands behind his back.

"The Koh are... unlike the rest of us," he began. "They are neither allies nor enemies, but they behave as if the world beyond their borders does not matter."

A pause.

"They do not negotiate. They do not send envoys. When they act, it is without warning and without reason anyone can understand."

His gaze swept the room.

"If something interests them, they take it. If someone stands in their way, they destroy them. Not out of malice, but their own twisted form of respect. They acknowledge only one law—strength."

Whispers stirred the hall.

"They are not hostile by nature," the scholar clarified, "but they are unpredictable. And unpredictability, at their level of power..."

His expression hardened.

"...is as dangerous as open war."