Naked Sword Art

In the Matriarch's Hall, the Elders convened for their meeting. When it was time to give their reports, Supreme Elder Quan stepped forward.

"We were unable to locate the Cannibal Abnormal Beast," she reported. "Supreme Elder Song and I searched thoroughly, but it evaded us. Unfortunately, Song is currently away on a personal matter, so we'll have to wait a few days before resuming the search."

Matriarch Shi Lan's gaze swept across the gathered Elders.

"Is there anyone here with both the time and the courage to track and eliminate the Cannibal Abnormal Beast?"

Silence filled the hall.

She wasn't surprised. The Elders were occupied with their own assignments, and those with time to spare lacked the confidence to face a creature that even Supreme Elder Quan had struggled against.

"I see," Matriarch Shi said evenly. "Then wait for Supreme Elder Song's return before continuing the search. In the meantime, seal off the entrance to the seventh floor. I don't want anyone else dying until that beast is dealt with."

"Yes, Matriarch," Supreme Elder Quan replied with a bow before stepping back—then suddenly paused.

"Ah, that's right. There's one more thing. My older sister is here. She wishes to speak with you."

Matriarch Shi's brows lifted slightly. "She's here now?"

"That's right. She said she'd wait until our meeting was over before speaking with you."

Supreme Elder Quan's older sister was no ordinary figure—she was the Elected Head of the QiGon Province. If she had come on urgent business, she would not have hesitated to interrupt the meeting. The fact that she chose to wait suggested she had arrived on friendly terms.

"Well, we're finished here anyway," Matriarch Shi said, a subtle gleam of interest in her eyes. "Call her in. The rest of you are dismissed."

In truth, she was eager to speak with Qui Luixian. Since her last visit, not one but two disciples had awakened a spirit attribute—a rare and momentous event she couldn't wait to gloat about.

As the Elders dispersed, the grand doors to the Matriarch's Hall slowly swung open. A woman in elegant yet unpretentious robes stepped inside. Her presence alone commanded the room, exuding a calm yet undeniable authority.

Qui Luixian had the air of someone who had spent decades shaping the political landscape of the QiGon Province, yet there was no arrogance in her gaze as she met Matriarch Shi's eyes.

"Sister," Supreme Elder Quan greeted her with a respectful nod.

"Elder Quan," Luixian acknowledged, then turned to Matriarch Shi. "Matriarch, it hasn't been long since I last saw you, I assume all is well."

Matriarch Shi stood from her seat, descending the steps of her throne to greet her. "Better than well, it seems my luck has been getting better and better these days."

"Is that so?"

Matriarch Shi gestured for her to sit, but Quan Luixian waved it off saying,

"There's no need. Truthfully I only came for one reason, and that's to see for myself whether or not the rumors are true. The two new Spirit Attribute holders, are they here?"

"They're in the sect, but I sent them off on a task. They should be in the Ancestral Training Grounds now. Would you like to go meet them?"

"Yes," Luixian replied. "But I don't need a formal introduction just yet. I only wish to observe them for now."

Matriarch Shi nodded. "That can be arranged."

With a graceful motion, she reached into her sleeve and retrieved what appeared to be a blank scroll. Placing it on the table before her, she formed a peculiar symbol with her hands, then an inscription formation circle appeared around it, followed by an intricate formation appeared next within the circle as if it was being written on its own. As she sent the inscription formation to the scroll, lines of golden lines of Qi began to spread across the paper like veins or a river.

The scroll trembled.

Then, in an instant, the blank surface shifted, revealing a glowing map of the Ancestral Training Grounds around the area where Li Lian and Xun Wei were located.

At first, everything seemed normal, till she realized what floor they were actually on.

Her gaze sharpened.

"The 7th floor…" she murmured.

Supreme Elder Quan, who hadn't left the room, felt her heart quickening when she heard the Matriarch voice.

"Matriarch, the Cannibal Abnormal Beast!—"

Supreme Elder Quan didn't need to finish her sentence for the Matriarch to understand. Li Lian and Xun Wei were in danger.

Without hesitation and without another word, Matriarch Shi Lan's body shifted then disappeared. Heading straight for the 7th floor of the Ancestral Training Ground, Quan Luixian followed close behind her.

The 7th floor was far too vast, it stretched for several kilometers in every direction. Although she knew the chances Li Lian and Xun Wei would encounter the Cannibal Abnormal Beast were slim to none, she didn't want to take any chances.

…

[ 7th floor of the Ancestral Training Ground ]

The moment they arrived, a deafening boom shook the air. A shockwave of flaming Qi roared across the battlefield below, engulfing a massive, 8th-tier beast.

Shi Lan's gaze snapped to the source.

Li Lian hovered in the air, wreathed in Heavenly Fire, her illusory clones mirroring her every movement. Below her, Xun Wei moved like a phantom, her blade flickering like a whisper of wind, severing tendons and limbs before the beasts even registered the pain.

A massive 9th-tier plated bear roared in fury, its body surging with bloodlust as it charged.

Li Lian cracked her flaming whip, sending a column of fire surging toward it.

Xun Wei disappeared.

The plated bear swung wildly, its spiked claws carving through the flames, but its attacks struck nothing but air.

Then—

Slash.

Its legs gave out.

Blood sprayed from four nearly invisible cuts—two on its front legs, two on its rear.

Matriarch Shi Lan's eyes narrowed. "That technique…"

Quan Luixian's gaze followed Xun Wei. "She possesses the [ Stealth ] ability. And she's skillfully combining her spirit attribute with her illusory sword techniques. That other girl… her control over her flames is—"

Quan Luixan and Matriarch Shi Lan continued to watch them fight beast after beast without stop.