Naked Sword Art

In the Phoenix-Class district, disciples were being introduced to their mentors in groups of three. Since the class structure remained mostly unchanged from the previous year, many disciples were already well acquainted with their mentors. However, for newcomers like Bai Fan and Zhao Pan, who had only just entered the Phoenix-Class, this was an entirely new experience.

"Do you think Long Wang forgot we had to come to class today?" Bai Fan asked.

Standing beside her with arms crossed, Zhao Pan maintained an air of indifference, though she was just as curious about his whereabouts.

"I don't know. I didn't see him at the guild house this morning. I assumed he left for class early again," Zhao Pan replied.

The two stood in silence for a while. Though they were regarded as some of the strongest cultivators of their generation, they weren't particularly close. Zhao Pan was a strict, no-nonsense disciple who looked down on those who disregarded the sect's rules, while Bai Fan was a reserved cultivator, often isolated due to her reputation as an untouchable beauty. Though they were now expected to work together, every attempt at conversation from Bai Fan seemed to bounce off Zhao Pan like a wall.

Once all the Phoenix-Class disciples had entered the hall, it became clear that waiting for Xiao Fang any longer would be pointless.

"Let's go," Zhao Pan said before stepping inside, with Bai Fan reluctantly following behind.

The classroom buzzed with chatter as Phoenix-Class disciples sat in groups of four alongside their Core Court mentors. At the front of the class, Su Lingxi stood at the podium, her presence commanding yet serene. Behind her was a graceful, beautiful Core Court disciple whose gaze felt as soft as falling snow.

'Wow, she's so pretty,' Bai Fan thought.

Even Zhao Pan couldn't help but have a similar thought about the Core Court disciple as soon as she saw her.

"Bai Fan, Zhao Pan, come," Su Lingxi called to them.

As they approached, Bai Fan was the first to speak.

"Elder, we don't know where Long Wang is."

"Ah, that." Su Lingxi smiled knowingly. "Didn't your grandmother tell you? She's taking him to Jade Peak City. It seems they have some business to attend to."

"Ah, so that's it," Bai Fan murmured, finally understanding his absence.

"Bai Fan, Zhao Pan, I've heard quite a bit about the two of you. Let's get along well, shall we?" The Core Court disciple spoke with a voice as smooth as honey—sweet, yet strong and reassuring. They knew little about her, but from their first impression, she exuded a presence they could trust.

Bai Fan and Zhao Pan bowed slightly, responding in unison, "Please take good care of us."

The Core Court disciple offered a soft yet breathtaking smile. If anyone had been paying attention, they would have surely been left speechless by her grace.

Standing tall, their mentor cupped her hands and introduced herself. "My name is Yu Qiuyan, but from now on, you may call me Instructor Yu. You'll both be in my care."

Unexpectedly, both Bai Fan and Zhao Pan felt a sense of reassurance in her words. There was something genuinely comforting about her presence.

"I understand the missing member of my team is a man. It seems he has a bit of a reputation," Yu Qiuyan remarked with a hint of curiosity.

"Ah, he's not really like that—he's probably just busy with something important," Bai Fan quickly responded.

Zhao Pan, however, remained silent. She had been chasing Xiao Fang in the Outer Court precisely because he was a rule-breaking troublemaker.

"He may be a bit of a handful," Su Lingxi added with a weary smile, knowing all too well what kind of man Xiao Fang was. "But I doubt he'll give you too much trouble."

Yu Qiuyan's eyes glimmered with intrigue. "Is that so? Now I'm even more interested. Perhaps we should go pay him a visit."

"What do you mean by that?" Zhao Pan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We should go to Jade Peak City as well, of course. How else would I get to meet him?"

"Instructor Yu, it would take at least two days to get there," Bai Fan pointed out.

Yu Qiuyan smiled mysteriously. "If I said I have the means to get there in less than one, would that change your mind?"

Bai Fan exchanged a glance with Zhao Pan, but Zhao Pan turned toward Su Lingxi instead. The three of them were momentarily uncertain.

Yu Qiuyan clapped her hands together lightly. "Come now, if your teammate gets a vacation, it's only fair that you two get one as well. I can't guarantee you'll be back in time for class tomorrow, but… with Elder Su Lingxi's permission?"

Su Lingxi chuckled. "I have no objections. Quiyan makes a valid point—you should take this opportunity to bond with your teammate."

Bai Fan sighed but eventually relented. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt."

Zhao Pan shrugged. "Why not."

"Then it's settled." Yu Qiuyan's smile deepened. "If you've never been to Jade Peak City before, I can assure you—it'll be quite the experience."

Bai Fan and Zhao Pan weren't entirely sure what to expect, but they knew one thing was for sure: this trip was going to be anything but ordinary.

"Pack your things. We leave in an hour."

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Outside the Black Paradise Sect, Xiao Fang stood at the rendezvous point as Xiao Hei arrived. Without hesitation, she leaped onto his back, nuzzling against him as if preparing for a nap.

"You ready?" Xiao Fang asked.

"Mhm~" Xiao Hei mumbled sleepily.

She loathed going to class—sleeping in bed or sleeping with Xiao Fang was all she ever truly wanted to do.

"Sleepy girl," Xiao Fang sighed.

In the next instant, his body shifted and vanished. With the power of his Profound Body Realm and the speed-enhancing abilities of his [ Speed ] blue-rank beast core, few could ever hope to keep up with him—perhaps only cultivators like Chu Piao with speed-type movement techniques.

Then—Crackle!

Lightning surged around Xiao Fang's body, turning his hair stark white as his aura crackled with electric energy. The moment he activated [ True Immortal Lightning Tribulation ], his speed skyrocketed, reaching a level where almost no one could hope to keep up. He was gone in a flash.

The carriage carrying Xiao Fang's [ Solid Clone ] had been traveling for half a day alongside Supreme Elder Song, yet in mere minutes, Xiao Fang had already surpassed them.

Supreme Elder Song's eyes fluttered open as she sensed a powerful cultivator's presence streak past them—only for it to vanish just as quickly as it appeared.

'Strange,' she thought.

They were still a day away from Jadepeak City, yet she was already sensing unusual disturbances.

Meanwhile, back at the sect, Bai Fan and Zhao Pan had gathered their essentials and met up with Yu Qiuyan. A carriage was already prepared for them, but something was off—there were no horses or beasts attached to it, and the carriage itself seemed almost ethereal, as if woven from Qi.

"All set?" Yu Qiuyan asked.

"Yeah, but how are we supposed to travel with nothing pulling it?" Bai Fan questioned.

Yu Qiuyan's lips curled into a playful smile.

"You'll see. Come inside and enjoy the ride."

Not long after they stepped inside, the carriage began to rise.

"What?! What is this thing?!" Bai Fan exclaimed, her voice laced with panic.

"Here. We. Go!" Yu Qiuyan said, her excitement palpable.

In the next instant, the carriage shot into the sky, soaring just above the treetops.

Even Zhao Pan, usually composed, felt a wave of unease wash over her. She had never traveled at such an incredible speed—let alone while flying. Even for a cultivator, this was beyond the ordinary.

Before long, they passed over Supreme Elder Song's carriage. Though it wasn't as fast as the mysterious force that had passed her earlier, she refused to sit idly by this time.

Stepping out of her carriage, she scanned the surroundings, searching for the source of the disturbance. At first, she found nothing. But the moment her gaze lifted and settled on the carriage soaring above her, her jaw nearly dropped.

She knew Jadepeak City was home to many fascinating cultivators and strange occurrences, but she had never expected to see a flying carriage of all things.

Returning back into the carriage, she couldn't help but look at Xiao Fang with a strange expression.

'Just what exactly is this boy doing in a place like that.'

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.

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As Xiao Fang soared across the land with Xiao Hei resting soundly on his back, the towering peak of Jadepeak City finally came into view. The sight before him was nothing short of breathtaking. Nestled atop the mighty mountain, the city stood proudly, surrounded by a magnificent jade wall that shimmered under the sunlight. The radiant hues of green and gold reflected off its surface, making the entire city look as if it were carved from a precious gem. Even from a distance, the sheer brilliance of the walls exuded an aura of majesty and power.

Xiao Fang had visited the Jadepeak city a few times with his grandfather when he was little, but he had never seen it with his own eyes. Its beauty was beyond words.

"What a thing it is to have eyes," Xiao Fang said as he kept his blindfold raised.