Naked Sword Art

Chapter 520: Seven Stone Heavenly Grade Crystal

Li Anru’s declaration echoed briefly through the courtyard before fading into silence.

No other Profound Realm cultivator stepped forward.

Some hesitated. Others turned away outright. A few glanced at Xiao Fang with wary eyes before choosing safer captains—those who promised merit, glory, and survival.

Xiao Fang didn’t care.

By the time the selection ended, his team consisted of only two people.

Li Roh.

Li Anru.

That was enough.

What he was planning didn’t require numbers.

As the crowd dispersed, Xiao Fang quietly lifted his head and turned his attention to the sky.

Seeing that, Xun Wei asked,

"Is there something in the sky?"

Xiao Hei curiously looked up too, then Li Roh and Li Anru did the same.

"Return to your camps. I’ll call for you when it’s time for us to move."

"Yes, Captain," they replied before leaving.

As soon as they left, Li Lian approached.

"Fang, what are you planning?"

"Who said I was planning something," Xiao Fang smiled.

"Captains, come with me. We’ll discuss our next move," Li Huxin said after dismissing the other soldiers.

Li Lian squinted at him accusingly, but Xiao Fang walked past her as if he didn’t notice it.

The meeting with Li Huxin and the other captains lasted until late into the night. They discussed formations, supply lines, and patrol routes, but Xiao Fang spoke only when necessary and committed to nothing beyond what he intended to give. When it finally ended, Xiao Fang turned his attention back to the sky as soon as he was out.

The sky was calm, clouds drifting lazily beneath the moonlight, but Xiao Fang could sense past that.

Eventually, he found what he was looking for. A faint disturbance, hidden deep within the layers of the sky.

The [ Demon Eye ].

’So you’re still watching us,’ he thought as a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

...

Xiao Fang eventually returned to his tent alone as the camp settled into an uneasy silence. Just as he stopped at the entrance, Xun Wei and Xiao Hei quietly appeared behind him.

"Wei, Xiao Hei," Xiao Fang said, turning slightly. "I’ll be going into seclusion."

"Again?" Xiao Hei complained, her ears twitching.

Xiao Fang nodded. "Mn. But before I do, there’s something I need the two of you to handle."

"What is it?" Xun Wei asked, her expression serious, as though already preparing herself.

Xiao Fang explained the [ Demon Eye ]—a technique used for long-distance surveillance—and how one was currently hovering above the military camp. He then gave them their task: find the cultivator controlling it, follow him without alerting him, and trace him back to his hidden base.

"Do not engage," Xiao Fang added calmly. "Just observe and remember everything."

Xun Wei nodded without hesitation.

Xiao Hei’s playful expression faded, replaced by a sharp glint in her eyes.

"We’ll find him," Xun Wei said.

Xiao Fang nodded once. "Go."

In the next moment, Xun Wei and Xiao Hei flickered and vanished, disappearing as quietly as they had arrived. A heartbeat later, a clone remained in their place, standing guard before Xiao Fang’s tent.

Xiao Fang stepped inside and sat cross-legged on his bed. With a casual wave of his hand, nine Heavenly-Grade Soul Stones appeared before him, dense with refined soul energy, along with two Heavenly-Grade soul crystals resting nearby. One contained the multilayered defensive formations Xun Wei had given him; the other housed a weapon-based attack formation, its aura sharp and restrained.

As much as he wanted to further refine the defensive formation, Xiao Fang knew that for what he intended to do next, a powerful attack formation would be far more useful.

He picked up the crystal, and the moment it touched his hand, he sensed its condition—it was already more than halfway filled. The internal structure was stable, its formation sharp and complete in design, merely lacking the soul energy required to bring it to fruition.

Xiao Fang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Without hesitation, he placed a Heavenly-Grade Soul Stone in his palm and guided its energy into the crystal. Then a second. Then a third. With the final infusion, the formation within surged violently, snapping into place as if awakening from slumber.

The crystal flared brightly before slowly dimming, its energy settling.

"...Three stones," Xiao Fang murmured.

Since it had already been more than halfway filled before he began, he understood what that meant—it was likely a seven-stone Heavenly-Grade soul crystal. The odds of successfully absorbing it on his first attempt was slim. Fortunately, with six Heavenly-Grade Soul Stones remaining, he would likely have enough to learn the Defense formation next if he failed.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Fang heard something coming from several miles away.

’So they’ve already begun,’ he thought.

Thinking with the new information he just gained, he eventually came to a quiet decision.

After finishing his preparations, he took out his Dragon Dynasty Spear, then steeled himself, Xiao Fang cupped the crystal in his lap and began the absorption process.

...

Meanwhile, back in Li Huxin’s military tent, Li Lian remained behind at her father’s request. Once they were alone, he calmly poured himself a cup of tea.

"Lian, sit."

Li Lian remained standing. "What is this about?"

Li Huxin took a slow sip before answering. "I wanted to speak with you about that Xiao Fang fellow. I had hoped he would find a way to distinguish himself from your siblings and attract powerful soldiers to his team. Instead, he gained only two members—one of whom is merely a Refinement Realm cultivator. I’ll admit, I was disappointed."

Li Lian frowned. "I don’t understand. Why are you telling me this?"

"I thought it best that you hear it from me first," Li Huxin replied evenly. "If Xiao Fang fails to accomplish anything of significance in this war, I will not accept him into the family."

"But, Father—!"

"That is final." His tone left no room for argument. "If you truly wish to help him, I suggest convincing him to recruit a few Core Realm cultivators. Though, after the speech he gave, I doubt he’ll find anyone willing."

Li Lian clenched her fists.

She knew better than anyone that Xiao Fang was far from useless. She had hoped her father would eventually recognize that as well, but now it felt as though that hope was slipping away.

"You may go," Li Huxin said. "You’re dismissed."

Li Lian didn’t reply. Nor did Li Huxin see her out.

Their relationship had always been like this, and as she left without another word, Li Huxin merely accepted her silence as he always had.