Naked Sword Art

Back at the Black Paradise Sect, Matriarch Shi presided over one of her routine morning meetings in the grand Matriarch's Hall. The Core Court Elders were slowly settling into their seats, exchanging the usual greetings and polite formalities. These meetings typically dealt with sect logistics, minor disputes, and updates on cultivation progress. It was a time for maintaining order—not shaking it.

Supreme Elders, with their vast responsibilities and powerful influence, rarely attended. But when they did, their presence carried weight. They were granted the closest seats to the Matriarch, reserved for only the most revered within the sect.

Matriarch Shi's eyes shifted to one of those seats. "Supreme Elder Song," she greeted with a calm smile. "I heard you paid a visit to Jadepeak City recently. How did it go?"

Supreme Elder Song sat with perfect posture, her hands folded elegantly in her lap. "I went to find someone—a disciple by the name of Long Wang."

A flicker of interest crossed the Matriarch's face. "Long Wang… That name seems to echo through the halls more often these days. What business did you have with him?"

"I was informed he had come into possession of my Phoenix Jade Hairpin. I went to see if he was truly worthy of it."

"And?" Matriarch Shi asked.

"He was not," Song replied without hesitation.

The answer didn't surprise Matriarch Shi. Supreme Elder Song was known for her ruthlessly high standards.

Song didn't stop there. "Matriarch, I've been informed by Supreme Elder Quan that this same disciple is slated to represent our sect in the upcoming provincial tournament. I believe that would be a mistake."

Matriarch Shi leaned back slightly in her seat, her expression unreadable. "We will be discussing the tournament today. You may share your views when the time comes."

Her tone was even, but the tension in the hall subtly thickened.

Then she added with a trace of amusement, "I wouldn't dismiss him so quickly. He did place 9th on the Trial Pod test not long ago."

Supreme Elder Song's brows twitched.

'9th?' She thought. 'Did she misspeak?'

…

When the topic of the provincial tournament finally surfaced, the room stirred.

"We must run background checks on all participants. We can't allow unknowns to represent us. The risk is too great."

"A background check on our disciples will only deter them from participating in the upcoming tournament! Our strongest disciples are not from this province, so they would not want their backgrounds being investigated."

"Our sect's reputation is at stake. If we're sending disciples to represent us on a province-wide level, we must know who they are. Their origins, their loyalties—everything. A hidden threat is worse than an open enemy."

"That's nonsense," another Core Court Elder added, her eyes flashing. "We're cultivators, not bureaucrats. What matters is strength, not paperwork."

"Strength without roots is a risk," another Elder added cautiously. "We've seen it before—rogue disciples with hidden agendas, spies planted by rival sects. Are we really willing to gamble our name on an unknown?"

"Spies? What spies? You speak of conspiracies. When have we ever had a spy from a rival sect?

The discussion quickly devolved into overlapping voices—some defending the integrity of strength and freedom, others demanding transparency and accountability. A few remained silent, watching the back-and-forth like a match between evenly matched beasts.

Thud.

The Matriarch gently tapped her armrest, and the room immediately quieted.

"Supreme Elder Song," she said evenly, "your thoughts?"

Supreme Elder Song answered without delay. "We are cultivators. Strength should come first. But ensuring that those we send don't have questionable origins is a reasonable precaution. Background checks are standard among all the major sects in the country, it wouldn't be unreasonable for us to do the same."

Supreme Elder Quan suddenly spoke up. "What if we hold a tournament within the sect? Those who wish to participate must reveal their full name under a truth-seeking formation. That should be enough to confirm their backgrounds."

"Mn, that should work," Supreme Elder Song agreed.

"Elder Xue, would you be able to provide a truth-seeking formation for us?" Matriarch Shi asked.

"I would," Supreme Elder Xue replied.

"Then it's decided." Matriarch Shi glanced around. "Anyone object?"

The room remained silent.

"Good. Then begin compiling the names of our most promising disciples under the age of twenty-five. Offer a generous incentive to encourage participation. Classes will resume once we've selected the eight best fighters among them."

"Eight? Don't we need ten?" Song asked, puzzled.

"The final two spots have already been claimed—by my disciple and Supreme Elder Yao's," the Matriarch said with a proud smile.

"Your disciple?"

"You've been away, so you wouldn't know. We've recently accepted two Spirit Attribute holders. My disciple is Li Lian, from the Li family clan. Yao Wu's disciple is Xun Wei, from a destroyed clan in the Gao region."

Song's expression tightened at that name.

'Xun Wei… so she's a real person,' Supreme Elder Song thought, recalling Xiao Fang's words.

…

As the meeting in the Matriarch's Hall drew to a close and the elders began filing out, murmuring among themselves, Supreme Elder Quan lingered behind. She approached Supreme Elder Song just as she rose from her seat.

"Song," Quan said with a subtle smile, "are you ready to head to the 7th floor of the Ancestral Training Grounds? That Cannibal Abnormal Beast won't kill itself."

Song gave a faint nod but didn't move. "There's something I need to do first."

Quan raised an eyebrow. "Something more important than completing a task given to us by the Matriarch?"

"Perhaps," Song replied cryptically. "Tell me, what do you know about the disciple named Xun Wei?"

"Xun Wei?" Quan thought for a moment. "Not much, honestly. She's nineteen. Body Core realm. Proficient with a sword… and she holds the [ Nine Winds of the Azure Dragon ] spirit attribute."

Song's eyes lit with interest. "That spirit attribute… it's rare."

"Extremely," Quan nodded. "It's one of the few natural spirit attributes with strong innate affinities for movement, wind-based attacks, and—most importantly—speed. She's sharp. The Matriarch and Yao Wu both seem confident in her."

Song fell silent, thoughts turning behind her eyes.

After a short pause, Quan gave her a side glance. "Actually, there's something I've been meaning to ask you… Did you happen to see Fei Lin during your trip to Jadepeak City?"