Naked Sword Art

Chapter 516: Team Division

The assembly ground lay at the heart of Li Huxin’s military camp—a vast open courtyard. As the Sky Pavilion hovered over the clouds far above.

"Woah~ I can see everything from up here," Xiao Hei said in awe, peering over the edge.

"Me too," Xun Wei added, her earlier tension gone now that the pavilion had stopped moving.

From this height, the entire camp spread out beneath them like a living map—rows of tents, marching formations, clusters of cultivators gathering in neat ranks. Wherever they focused their gaze, the view seemed to sharpen and draw closer, as though distance itself had been folded away.

It was one of the Sky Pavilion’s many quirks: not just a means of flight, but a vantage point that magnified the world below, turning the battlefield into something that could be observed, measured... and controlled, with the cover of the clouds.

The area was already packed. Hundreds of cultivators stood in ordered ranks.

Refinement Realm made up the overwhelming majority—young, sharp-eyed, brimming with ambition but lacking true battlefield experience.

Behind them stood a smaller number of Core Realm cultivators, their auras steadier, expressions more restrained. And scattered throughout the formation were a mere handful of Profound Realm experts—each one watched carefully by those around them.

At the front, General Li Huxin stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

Beside him were his children.

Five sons. Three daughters.

Li Lian stood among them, posture calm.

Li Huxin stepped forward, his voice carrying effortlessly across the courtyard.

"This war will not be fought as one mass," he said evenly. "Cultivators are not mortal soldiers. Strength without structure leads to chaos—and chaos leads to friendly fire."

His gaze swept across the ranks.

"You will be divided by realm and assigned to captains. Each captain may take no more than ten members under their direct command."

A murmur immediately rose.

Some soldiers straightened in anticipation. Others exchanged looks, already calculating their chances.

"The captains," Li Huxin continued, "will be my sons and daughters."

At once, voices grew louder.

...

"Of course I’ll follow the eldest young master."

"Li Chengyuan is known for his leadership."

"But isn’t Li Lian the most talented?"

"Li Lian is a direct disciple of Matriarch Shi Lan—joining her team would guarantee merit."

"But she’s the youngest, isn’t she?"

"Fame doesn’t mean battlefield strength."

...

Li Lian ignored the whispers completely.

Li Huxin raised a hand, silencing the crowd.

"The Refinement Realm cultivators will choose first."

Hope flickered across many faces.

One by one, soldiers stepped forward, cupping their fists respectfully toward the captains.

"I wish to serve under Young Master Li Chengyuan!"

"I request to join Lady Li Qing’s team!"

"I—"

Rejection.

Again and again.

Each captain assessed silently, shaking their heads, declining without explanation. Ten-member limits were strict, and none were willing to waste a slot on untested Refinement Realm cultivators.

...

Meanwhile, high above the clouds aboard the translucent Sky Pavilion, Xun Wei slowly worked up the courage to leave the center and step closer to the edge—mirroring Xiao Hei’s fearless curiosity. Even so, the unease never fully left her chest. Unlike Xiao Fang or Xiao Hei, a fall from this height would be fatal for her.

’This pavilion is burning through my Qi too quickly,’ Xiao Fang thought.

Still, he wasn’t worried. If he devoted himself fully to recovery, he could replenish his Qi faster than the pavilion consumed it. As long as he needed to, he could keep the Sky Pavilion operating indefinitely.

Looking down through the translucent floor, the entire military camp came into view—every formation, every tent, every gathered soldier. Despite being thousands of meters above the ground, the formation embedded within the pavilion magnified the scene below, making it feel as though he were observing from only a few dozen meters away.

"Fang, bring us down a bit," Xiao Hei said as she stretched her hand down toward the drifting clouds beneath them. "I can almost touch it!"

Xun Wei, however, barely reacted. Her attention was fixed on the ground far below.

"Fang," she said quietly, her brows knitting, "it looks like they’re starting without you."

Hearing her voice, Xiao Fang paused his inspection of the newly formed pavilion and followed her gaze downward. After a brief moment, he calmly lifted his hands and retied his blindfold, his expression composed.

"Then it’s time we join them."

Sensing what was about to happen next, Xun Wei quickly retreated to the center of the pavilion. As she expected, the Sky Pavilion shuddered softly, then it began to descend much faster than she would have liked.

...

Meanwhile in the main courtyard, murmurs from the soldiers in the Refinement realm grew uneasy.

Whispers of panic spread.

If a soldier was rejected by all captains, they would be forced into reserve units—support roles far from merit, far from recognition.

The captains stood in a line looking forward at the soldier with a powerful gaze, intimidating the weak, and encouraging the brave to step forward. None from the group of refinement realm cultivators had been accepted yet.

Li Lian declined another request.

She could tell that they didn’t see her as her sibling’s equals, they looked down on her because she was the youngest, only approaching her because they believed it was the only chance they had to get accepted into a team.

Li Lian sighed.

’Should I do something to show them I’m not weak?’ Li Lian thought. ’What would Xiao Fang do?’

Just as the thought crossed her mind, a soft footstep sounded beside her.

Li Lian turned, surprised that someone would step so casually up to the line of captains—and when she saw who it was, her breath caught.

"Fang, you made it."

Her emerald eyes lit up the moment she saw him.

Xiao Fang’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"My beautiful wife is looking even more stunning tonight. Who would’ve thought a call to war would bring out this side of you."

"Oh Fang, do you have to compliment me as soon as you see me," she smirked blushingly. "You know, if any other blindfolded man said that to me, I’d call it nonsense."

"My eyes are always on you," he replied calmly. "Even when you’re out of sight."

She leaned in just enough for only him to hear. "Then you better hurry up and see me properly," she said with a teasing smile. "I didn’t dress up for nothing."

Xiao Fang turned his head to her just a bit.

"Careful now. Once I start, you won’t be able to stop me."

"What makes you think I’d stop you? But I should warn you, if things get heated, you might get burned."

Xiao Fang laughed. "Superficial burns can’t compare to the fire I will ignite inside of you."

Li Lian turned and looked at Xiao Fang with playful eagerness, as a spank of flame flashed through her eyes.

"Is that a challenge?"

Xiao Fang turned his head towards her a bit more.

"It’s a declaration of war."

Li Lian laughed beautifully, but before she could reply, a small black cat suddenly leapt up onto his shoulder.

Li Lian blinked, but recognized the cat immediately.

"Xiao Hei. Do you wanna tell Fang what kind of stunt you pulled earlier, or should I?" Li Lian said accusingly.

But she simply stuck her tongue out with her usual smugness before looking away.

Li Lian sighed. But before she could explain, another voice filled the gap.

"We didn’t miss too much, did we?"

Appearing behind Xiao Fang like a ghost. Li Lian smiled at Xun Wei when she saw her.

"You made it just in time," Li Lian replied warmly.

Unexpectedly, Li Lian heard Ancestor Li Xianyu’s voice echo from deep within her soul sea.

"Junior."

"Yes, Ancestor?" Li Lian replied instinctively. Then she remembered. "Ah—that’s right. You wanted to meet Xiao Fang. I was about to introduce you."

"There’s no need," Li Xianyu said calmly. "I have already met him once before."

Li Lian froze. "You have? When?"

"During the Inner Court examination," Li Xianyu replied. "He took the special trial. I was the one who evaluated his abilities and assessed his potential."

"I heard he was placed directly into the Phoenix Class," Li Lian said slowly. "He must have left quite an impression on you."

Li Xianyu gave a faint hum. "It isn’t every day one encounters someone who possesses an Immortal-Grade Spirit Attribute."

Li Lian stiffened.

She hadn’t expected her ancestor to have already uncovered one of Xiao Fang’s secrets.

"Ancestor... how did you—"

"Very little escapes my perception, child," Li Xianyu interrupted gently.

Truthfully, she wouldn’t have known if she hadn’t inspected his body’s constitution while he was unconscious in her Immortal Soul Pagoda.

Li Lian swallowed. "Have you told anyone else?"

"No," Li Xianyu replied. "I assumed it was already known."

"It isn’t," Li Lian said quickly. "And I believe he’d prefer to keep it that way."

There was a brief pause.

"Then his secret is safe with me," Li Xianyu said. "You have my word."