Naked Sword Art

[ JadePeak City ]

The marble roads leading to Jadepeak city gleamed under the sun, towering pagodas stretched toward the heavens, and the scent of incense mixed with the faint fragrance of spirit flowers in the air.

As the first light of morning stretched across the horizon, Xiao Fang stood at the edge of Jadepeak City. Even from a far it looked like a sanctuary of wealth and prestige.

Xiao Fang put his blindfold back on, concealing his cultivation completely with it before standing in line to enter through the gate. In a city like this, where high-status clans and powerful sects gathered, drawing unnecessary attention would only invite trouble.

Meanwhile, Xiao Hei made herself comfortable on his back, resting her head peacefully on his shoulder before falling asleep.

Eventually, Xiao Fang walked through the gates, blending into the flow of merchants, scholars, and cultivators.

Inside, the city was brimming with wealth. Every structure radiated elegance—fine jade carvings, golden accents, and spirit formations reinforcing the very foundations of the streets. Even the common folk wore silk robes embroidered with clan insignias.

Xiao Fang moved quietly, keeping a low presence.

His first goal was simple: find a place to rest.

A few blocks in, he found an inn named Jade Serpent Pavilion—a reputable establishment that catered to traveling cultivators. He stepped inside, his presence barely stirring a glance.

"One room for two," he said.

"That will be 25 copper coins," the lady behind the counter replied.

Xiao Fang reached into his spatial pouch then placed the coins on the counter.

The innkeeper, a frail woman with a warm yet curious smile, accepted the payment without question. "Third floor, last room on the left. Meals are served at sunrise and dusk."

As she handed him the key, her eyes lingered on his blindfolded face, hesitation flickering across her expression.

"Will you need help finding your room?" she asked.

"It's alright, I'll manage," Xiao Fang replied, taking the key and heading upstairs.

The innkeeper watched him go, curiosity tugging at her mind. Strange cultivators were not uncommon in this city, but in all her years, she had never seen one wearing a blindfold.

Before she could dwell on it further, another figure approached the counter. His sudden presence caught her off guard.

"How can I help you?" she asked, quickly regaining her composure.

"I need a room," the man said, his voice steady. "Put me next to the one who just checked in."

The man was large, his bulky arms extruded out of his vest, and bear fur draped over his shoulders. It was no secret that the man was a Body Cultivator, and a powerful one at that. Still this wasn't where cultivators could do as they wished.

The frail lady's eyes turned sharp as she looked up at the man who was looking up at the direction Xiao Fang had left. Feeling her sudden surge of Profound Qi, he turned her head to her as she spoke.

"This is not a place where you can cause trouble. If you're here for that then I'll have to ask you to leave."

The muscular man remained calm and indifferent as he looked down at the woman, eventually showing her a badge with some writing on it. A few heads turned upon feeling the lady's profound Qi, but no one could tell what he had shown her to settle down and speak with a respectful tone again. Whatever it was, the body cultivator was no ordinary figure.

"Third floor, last room on the right."

…

The wooden floor creaked slightly beneath Xiao Fang's steps as he made his way up. The room was modest but comfortable, furnished with a soft bed, a tea table, and a window overlooking the bustling streets below.

Although the man that approached the counter after him waited for Xiao Fang to be far enough away, he didn't take into account just how good Xiao Fang's hearing was.

Exhausted, he didn't want to waste any energy thinking about it, but he remained vigilant.

After settling Xiao Hei into bed, Xiao Fang sat cross-legged on the floor, exhaling slowly as he began circulating the Death Qi he had accumulated from the Scavenger Sect.

For the next few hours, he focused solely on cultivating with the [ Death Reaper ] method, feeling his spirit cultivation realm gradually rise with each passing moment.

Before the night was over, Xiao Fang had already made a breakthrough with his [ Death Reaper ] method to the 5th stage of the Refinement realm.

Xiao Fang had way too much Death Qi. He knew even if he was to cultivate it for a week, he'd still have plenty to cultivate with.

As much as he wanted to make another breakthrough, he was far too exhausted to stay awake for much longer. So he made himself comfortable in bed then went to sleep.

Tomorrow, he'd go to the rendezvous point and wait for Chu Piao.

.

.

.

Yu Qiuyan stepped elegantly out of the carriage, her crimson robes flowing behind her like liquid fire. Bai Fan and Zhao Pan followed, their postures straight but their expressions subtly betraying their curiosity.

"We'll begin our search tomorrow," Yu Qiuyan announced, her voice calm yet absolute. "For now, we enjoy ourselves."

Before entering the city, Yu Qiuyan had instructed Bai Fan and Zhao Pan to change out of their traveling robes into something more fitting. Now, dressed in elegant silk robes with golden embroidery, they followed their mentor toward one of the most extravagant establishments in Jadepeak City—the Red Lotus Bathhouse.

The moment they arrived, Bai Fan and Zhao Pan understood why it was the most sought-after bathhouse in the region.

A towering structure of polished jade and scarlet wood stood before them, with intricate golden carvings adorning the entrance. The scent of rare spirit flowers and incense drifted through the air, carried by a soft, warm breeze. Two elegantly dressed attendants stood at the doorway, their beauty rivaling that of celestial maidens, and the moment they saw Yu Qiuyan approaching, they bowed deeply.

"Honored guests, welcome to the Red Lotus Bathhouse," one of them greeted with a melodic voice. "Please, just straight down the hall."