Naked Sword Art

Chapter 552: Sword Qi

{“Fang…”}

Xiao Hei’s eyes felt a wave of relief as he patted her head.

Xiao Fang gave a faint nod before shifting his attention toward the second-in-command next.

“I’ll give you one chance,” he said calmly. “Move.”

The second-in-command’s expression darkened instantly as Xiao Fang’s sword Qi made it feel as if they were all submerged in a sea of sharp blades. The Sword Qi was so potent, their minds were playing tricks on them, as if they’d bleed from an unavoidable cut if they even moved an inch.

However, even injured, and even after everything that had happened within the city, the second-in-command was still a Divine Realm cultivator. To be spoken to so casually by someone this young caused killing intent to surge violently within him.

“You think a mere clone can stop us?” he sneered.

The commander’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“…Clone?”

For some reason, that realization only made him more uneasy. Not only was he a Divine Swordsman, but a Divine Swords man that practiced the Illusory Body method. And if his clone could make him feel this level of threat, just what would he feel in front of the real Xiao Fang.

“Relax,” the second-in-command said, noticing the commander’s reaction. “If his real body were here, we’d know.”

Then his head turned just slightly towards the gate behind him.

“But I’m more curious about something else,” he continued coldly. “How long are your friends planning to stay hidden? Did they really think we wouldn’t notice them?”

The moment those words fell, several figures stepped out from concealment.

Xun Wei’s subordinates. Her team of 10.

Their bodies were covered in blood and dust from the battle within the city, yet the resolve in their eyes never wavered. Even facing Divine Realm cultivators, not one of them hesitated.

One of them stepped forward first.

“We’re taking our captain back,” he said firmly. “Even if it costs us our lives.”

A cruel grin spread across all of the second-in-command’s subordinates.

“Good,” one of them replied. “Because none of you are leaving here alive.”

The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.

The killing intent pouring from the two groups were equally suffocating, equally vicious. Both sides were clearly composed of people who had long grown accustomed to killing.

But there was a difference.

Xun Wei’s team consisted of eight Core Realm cultivators and only two at the Profound Realm, while every single member under the second-in-command was at the Profound Realm.

The imbalance was obvious.

At least, it was until the final figure stepped out from the shadows.

Her steps left a trail of flames, the chains that dangled from her wrists rattled threateningly, and her appearance was both dangerously stunningly and beautifully lethal.

At first sight, everyone recognized who she was.

“Li… Li Lian.”

The moment she stepped out from the shadows, the atmosphere shifted once more.

Even the second-in-command’s expression hardened slightly, but it was his subordinates who reacted the strongest. Several of them instinctively staggered back, their eyes widening as memories of her recorded battle resurfaced in their minds.

“No way…”

“Why is she here?”

They had seen what she was capable of. They knew no mortal could stand against her. Yet despite their fear, the second-in-command composed himself.

“Li Lian,” he said evenly. “So you’re here too.”

His gaze narrowed slightly. “But just like your friend, if your real body were here, I doubt I’d stand much of a chance. Do you really think a clone can stop me?”

“Clone or not,” Li Lian replied calmly, “I’m taking Xun Wei back with me.” Her eyes sharpened faintly. “I’d like to see you try and stop me.”

The moment those words fell—

A deafening dragon roar erupted from her body.

ROOOOAR—!

The pressure of the second stage of Dragon Perception exploded outward from Li Lian’s clone, crashing into the battlefield like a tidal wave. The surrounding soldiers felt their hearts tremble as an overwhelming aura descended upon them.

That was when they finally understood. This wasn’t an ordinary clone. It had been created using the strength of her Spirit Attribute.

Beads of sweat formed on several faces almost instantly.

The pressure radiating from the clone alone had already reached the Divine Realm. If her true body had personally arrived instead… They likely would have died before they even understood what happened.

The second-in-command’s expression darkened, but his fighting spirit only rose further.

“You’re too arrogant,” he said coldly.

His aura surged violently.

“If I can’t even defeat your clone…”

A powerful wave of pressure erupted from him as Divine Realm cultivation exploded outward.

“…then I am not Song Ji’an, heir of the Song Family Clan!”

The morale of his subordinates immediately stabilized. The moment they felt their captain’s pressure rise, confidence returned to their eyes.

They trusted him completely.

“Captain, leave the others to us!”

“Captain, once we finish them off, we’ll help you destroy her clone!”

However, the second-in-command remained calm. He didn’t need their assistance.

“Just keep your eyes on Xun Wei, leave Li Lian to me,” he ordered.

The next instant—

His body vanished.

Boom—!

He appeared directly in front of Li Lian, his sword crashing toward her with terrifying force. Li Lian raised her chains effortlessly, blocking the first strike, before immediately shifting backward to avoid the second.

A third strike followed instantly.

Then a fourth.

Then a fifth.

He gave her no room to breathe.

His body flickered continuously across the battlefield, each movement accompanied by violent bursts of Divine Realm pressure as he relentlessly pressed forward.

Li Lian’s expression remained calm as she retreated step by step, blocking, redirecting, and evading with flawless precision while searching for an opening in the second-in-command’s relentless assault. Every clash sent shockwaves tearing through the surrounding trees beyond the city walls, their movements becoming faster and more destructive with each exchange.

Within a single breath, the two of them had already relocated far from the gate, instinctively moving toward a more isolated area where they could fight at full strength without interference.

At the same time, the remaining ten elites surged forward.

“Attack!”

—

Meanwhile, north of the city, the Divine Sword Elder and 3 disciples stopped when they felt something they never expected to feel in this province.

The three disciples turned around when they felt it.

“Elder, this—”

“Sword Qi!”

“How could there be so much of it?”

“I can’t believe we can feel it from this distance.”

“It couldn’t be coming from Xun Wei, could it?”

“No way, it must be an Elder.”

“But who?”

The Elder had similar questions as his disciples, but he suspected it was Xun Wei’s master, Dawanger Wu Yue, Xiao Fang’s grandmother, who came to rescue her.

“Elder, can we go watch?” the disciples asked.

The Elder didn’t need to think about it. If it really was Wu Yue, then this would certainly be a good opportunity for his disciples to learn something and witness a true swordsman fight. Even he would gain some comprehension himself watching someone like Wu Yue fight.

Without delay, the Elder answered,

“Yes, let’s go.”

The four of them didn’t hesitate, this was a good opportunity for all of them so they were quick to return to the Song city.