Naked Sword Art

Chapter 496: Passed Concealment Formation

"Mother... why did it take so long for you to return?" Xue Li asked.

Xue Jinghua sighed.

"There’s unrest in the Royal Court," she answered honestly. "We may be dragged into a full-scale conflict with another powerful nation."

Xue Li’s expression tightened. "How soon?"

"Hard to say. It could be years—or only months. But things are going to change, and soon."

By the time they arrived outside the Nameless Guild’s guildhouse, the atmosphere felt heavier than before.

Stepping out of the carriage, Supreme Elder Xue paused, studying the building.

’The walls have been renovated,’ she noted.

A brief sweep of her senses revealed faint scorch marks and lingering traces of powerful flame Qi along the structure. At first sight, it seemed as if the guildhouse was as good as new, but Supreme Elder Xue knew better.

’This guildhouse was engulfed in flames...’ she thought.

She couldn’t understand how or why, so all she could do was sigh.

’Why is there always something going on with this guild?’

The last time she was here, the front door was completely destroyed, and now she’s learning it had combusted into flames while she was away. What was next?

Approaching that same door, she discovered it was already open.

Inviting themselves in, they followed the noise till they found themselves in the training gym.

"This..." Xue Li said in surprise when she saw the scene.

Four White Jade guild members, rallying up all the present Nameless guild members to one wall.

"What’s going on here," Xue Jinghua asked.

"Supreme Elder Xue," the White Jade guild girls greeted her respectfully, cursing inwardly at the timing of her arrival.

"Elder, is there something we can help you with?" one of the white Jade guild girls asked politely.

"Is Long Wang here?" Xue Jinghua asked straightforwardly. "I came to speak with him."

"Ah—he’s not here at the moment," the same girl replied.

"Might I ask what you girls are doing here then?" Xue Jinghua asked.

The White Jade girls all looked at each other till Chen Li spoke up with her hands cupped.

"Supreme Elder, we have business with the members of this guild, we politely ask that you don’t get involved with our trivial Inner Court affairs."

It was true that it was improper for a Supreme Elder to interfere in the squabbles of inner court disciples, even if this was blatant bullying, that was the way of the world; the strong bullies the weak.

"I see." Supreme Elder Xue nodded. Then looking at the Nameless Guild girls lined up on the wall, she said, "In that case, could one of you pass along a message for when Long Wang arrives?" she asked, looking at the Nameless Guild girls lined up on the wall.

The White Jade Guild girls all looked at them intimidatingly as if to tell them to respond to Supreme Elder Xue without making a commotion.

So Yuan Fei spoke up and asked,

"O-Of course. W-what would you like me to t-tell him?"

Before Supreme Elder Xue could reply, her gaze locked onto Yuan Fei’s guild tag, then her expression shifted.

With a wave of her sleeve, divine sense enveloped the room. Then, after making a particular hand symbol, her vision shifted, allowing her to see all subtle formations in the room with more clarity. The moment she did, there it was—hovering in front of a specific wall.

A large concealment formation.

Subtle, elegant, and skillfully crafted.

Seeing in the direction Supreme Elder Xue was looking, the nameless guild girls all got excited.

"You see, we told you we weren’t lying, the [ Solid Clone ] technique really is there on that wall."

Chen Li and the other White Jade guild girls studied the Supreme Elder’s expression till they became convinced that she was really seeing something. But Chen Li still wanted to ask,

"Elder, is the technique really there?"

Supreme Elder Xue couldn’t see what the concealment formation was hiding without breaking it, but the formation was unmistakingly there.

Not only that, but she could see that the formation extended outward, tying directly to the guild tag worn by all the Nameless guild members. Whatever was being hidden here, it was clear: only those wearing the guild tags could see it.

"There is in fact something hidden here on this wall."

"Elder, please tell us how we can see it too," one White Jade guild member asked.

However, Xue Jinghua scoffed.

"As you said, this is a matter between inner court disciples. It’s not my place to get involved. If you wish to find out, I suggest asking Long Wang himself."

Returning her attention back to the wall, Supreme Elder Xue studied the work closely.

Then—slowly—a satisfied smile curved her lips.

Turning back toward Yuan Fei, she finally spoke.

"When you see Long Wang," she said calmly, "Tell him I said he passed."

With that, Xue Li and Supreme Elder Xue Jinghua left.

"Shit what do we do?"

"We’re never gonna learn the technique now."

Chen Li pondered on it. She knew how formations worked. So she knew there had to be a way to see it if the Nameless guild members could, she just didn’t know what was giving them that ability.

"Chen Li, we should leave before their Elders arrive."

Chen Li gave that girl a scornful look. She was too committed to getting what she came for.

"Strip them," Chen Li finally said.

"Strip those girls, take everything off them."

The White Jade girls looked at each other, confused.

"Now!" Chen Li ordered.

Besides Yan Mei, neither Ruo Shi, nor Yuan Fei were strong enough to be put into a class, so naturally, they felt powerless against the Phoenix and Dragon-Class disciples.

Meanwhile, standing outside of the guildhouse. Li Lian’s brows tightened when she saw how brand new the guild looked.

"It hasn’t even been a day since I burned this place down, but they already fixed it and made it look better than before... why does it feel like I actually did him a favor," Li Lian thought angrily.