Naked Sword Art-Chapter 379: Spirit Attribute

"You are too weak."

In the next moment, the warped space around the beast shifted violently as the dragon opened its maw and swallowed Xiao Fang whole.

Agony. It felt as if every cell in Xiao Fang's body was being unraveled, shredded into dust by an impossible force.

And then—he woke.

Drenched in sweat, Xiao Fang sat upright, his heart pounding. It had only been a sliver of the dragon's true strength—just a taste—but it was enough to leave an impression. An overwhelming, suffocating immensity.

Xiao Fang exhaled and wiped the sweat from his brow. That power would have to wait.

Turning his thoughts away from the dragon, Xiao Fang shifted his focus to his other Spirit Attribute: [ True Immortal Lightning Tribulation ].

Returning to that void, the only source of light came from behind him: the towering double doors of the Lightning Tribulation Gates.

Xiao Fang was welcomed by a familiar gate, and its carvings hadn't changed—mystical beasts, celestial landscapes, stars and storms etched in lifelike detail. The beauty was overwhelming, but his eyes quickly found the characters once more, hidden in plain sight.

[ Lightning Tribulation ]

Even now, they pulsed with an ancient weight, like the gate itself had been watching him this whole time.

Last time, he had opened the gate—and blacked out the moment he entered. This time he was determined to make it much further.

He walked up to the doors and placed his palm flat against the center. It was warm—alive, even. Lightning sparked beneath the surface, curling along the cracks of the ancient wood.

He braced himself and pushed.

A slow, groaning creak echoed through the void as the doors parted once again. That same harsh, white-blue light flooded through the crack, blinding for a moment. The sea of lightning remained—writhing, unrelenting, stretching out before him like a storm given form.

And far beyond it, the second gate shimmered—larger, more distant, and far more threatening.

Xiao Fang narrowed his eyes.

He didn't care how much pain he had to endure. As long as he remained conscious, he was committed to reaching the other side.

He stepped forward.

The moment his foot crossed the threshold, his body was engulfed in searing light. Arcs of lightning surged through his limbs, burning with cosmic force. His eyes shot wide open as he gritted his teeth—not just from pain, but from sheer determination.

Then his knees buckled.

Xiao Fang collapsed to the ground, landing on all fours.

"AGHHHH!!" he screamed.

The pain was overwhelming. But who was he? No pain could break a Divine Swordsman. Their pride, their will—unshakable. Xiao Fang had grown up surrounded by suffering. As long as he was still breathing, nothing could stop him.

Raw, unyielding strength surged through his veins, and with a guttural growl, he forced himself to stand.

But just as quickly, he dropped back down.

His body couldn't handle it. Not yet. The pain wasn't just physical—it was spiritual. It dug into his very soul, threatening to tear him apart from the inside. His biggest struggle now wasn't walking—it was staying conscious.

Realizing that brute force wouldn't get him through this, Xiao Fang abandoned the idea of charging to the next gate. For now, he needed to adapt—to grow used to the agony.

He clenched his jaw and forced his body into a lotus position. Thunder crashed around him as lightning rained down.

"You want to temper me?" he shouted in his mind. "Then do it. Do your worst. I will not be defeated!"

As if in response, the lightning intensified.

But something shifted.

Xiao Fang stopped resisting the pain. He began to accept it. He let the lightning flow through him, not as an enemy—but as a guide. His breathing was ragged at first, then steadier. Inhale. Exhale. Deeper. Slower.

His body was being reforged.

He could feel his meridians stretching open, his Qi sharpening like a blade. The lightning wasn't just punishment—it was purification. Every bolt burned away weakness. Every strike refined his essence. Xiao Fang could feel it clearly now, the lightning wasn't testing him, it was improving him.

…

Outside, in the waking world, Xiao Hei stirred. Her eyes snapped open as a faint, crackling sound echoed through the room. Her gaze sharpened.

Xiao Fang was glowing—bathed in blue-white light. Arcs of lightning danced around his seated form, flickering like living spirits. His body was locked in a lotus position, tense but unwavering.

Then she saw it—his aura was different.

That small burst that had woken her earlier… it wasn't just a noise. It was a breakthrough.

Xiao Fang had advanced to the 4th stage of the Profound Body Realm. And even now, his power continued to climb.

Inside the storm, the pain still clawed at him, but after several long hours of meditation, Xiao Fang reached his limit. His body had grown stronger, tougher, more resilient—but his dantian was straining. One more minute, and he risked doing irreparable damage.

Finally leaving that space, Xiao Fang collapsed backward, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as he fought to recover. His body felt different—stronger, tougher, refined. If he could endure that storm a few more times, he was certain he'd eventually ascend to the Divine Realm.

But for now, all he needed was rest. How long it would take to fully recover, he didn't know—but he hoped it wouldn't be long. Deep down, he was already yearning to return back to the lightning storm.

Before Xiao Fang could drift off to sleep, he felt the soft warmth of the morning sun creeping through the window. Just as his eyes began to close, a knock echoed from the door.

"Xiao Hei, can you get that?" he muttered.

Xiao Hei got up without complaint and opened the door—only to be greeted by the sight of a half-dressed, beautiful young woman standing shyly on the other side.

"Ah, um… I heard there was a Dual Cultivator here," the girl said, fidgeting with the hem of her robe. "I was wondering if maybe I could be of some assistance… to his training?"

Xiao Hei blinked at her. "You want to sleep with him?"

The girl blushed furiously. "Ahh… I—I mean… I just want to help with whatever he needs…"

In truth, her Elders had sent her to 'assist' Xiao Fang, hoping to make him feel more welcome. But deep down, it wasn't just an obligation. There wasn't a girl in the clan who hadn't fantasized about lying with a Dual Cultivator at least once. With their sect forbidding Dual Cultivators from cultivating other methods, they had no need to cultivate with anyone outside of their clan, so tales of their seductive prowess, and erotic techniques had become the stuff of myth and desire. Most Dual Cultivators only mingled with their own kind, making this feel more like a chance of a lifetime for her.

Xiao Hei rolled her eyes and sent a quick spirit transmission to Xiao Fang, asking what he wanted to do.

"Send her away," he replied flatly. "I need rest."

Without another word, Xiao Hei closed the door gently but firmly.

Outside, the girl stared at the shut door in confusion and embarrassment.

"Did… did I say something wrong?" she whispered.

Watching from a distance with a few other Elders, Luo Biya let out a soft sigh and shook her head.

"I told you it wouldn't work," she said.

The next knock came not long after, and once again, Xiao Hei opened the door. There she saw Luo Biya.

"Do you want to sleep with him too?" she asked bluntly.