Starforce Warriors

Chapter 440: Three Grass Sword

The tombstone remained still.

Li Xiaofei knocked again, cheerfully saying, “It’s me, Little Li! You know, the handsome guy who pulled a sword out of your behind.”

This time, there was movement. The soil on either side of the tombstone churned like muddy water as the gravestone began to slowly sink into the ground.

Li Xiaofei quickly grabbed it with both hands and tugged. “Hey, no need to hide! Let’s have a proper chat.”

As he spoke, he poured a bottle of fine liquor over the grave and lit some ceremonial paper money. “Come on, isn’t our friendship that transcended life and death and our bond that spanned yin and yang worth a conversation in broad daylight?”

The tombstone struggled a few more times but ultimately stopped sinking. Instead, it rose back out of the ground.

“You little punk, you only ever come looking for me when it’s trouble,” Liu Shaji’s voice grumbled from below. “I gave you three Saint-killing chances, and you’ve wasted them all like they’re nothing. Do you know how many years it took me to save up that energy? You drained me completely!”

“What could I do?” Li Xiaofei sighed. “Great Xia is in a tumultuous time. Major crises just keep coming my way, and I have to step up. It’s not my fault I’m so righteous and selfless.”

“Was showing off and chasing girls at the Tan family also for the sake of Great Xia?” Liu Shaji huffed angrily, his indignation so fierce that even the grass on the grave seemed to quiver.

Li Xiaofei’s expression didn’t falter as he declared righteously, “The Tan family is a part of Great Xia. How could I stand by and let scheming villains bully them?”

“I swear...” Liu Shaji grew even angrier. “They could’ve handled it themselves, but no, you had to step in and show off. You really go all out for girls, huh?”

“Handle it themselves? What do you mean?” Li Xiaofei asked, puzzled.

Liu Shaji suddenly fell silent for a moment before shifting the subject. “So, you’re here to ask for a few more chances for me to step in and help, right?”

Li Xiaofei nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly, exactly! Senior, you’re truly the hero among spirits, with a ghostly eye for insight!”

“You’ve really mastered the art of flattery,” Liu Shaji said, exasperated. “I’ve spent years accumulating my essence, and you’ve burned through it all. I can’t even make a move for a while now. But you can always ask someone else.”

“Ask someone else?” Li Xiaofei blinked in confusion. “Who?”

Liu Shaji replied, “Look around. This cemetery is full of powerful souls. Stop milking just me for help. Go find someone else.”

Li Xiaofei glanced around at the countless tombstones surrounding him, a realization dawning. He said, “That’s an option?”

“Of course it is,” Liu Shaji said. “Most of the spirits resting here are titans who once walked the path to enlightenment. Pick anyone; their strength is on par with mine, if not greater.”

Li Xiaofei’s gaze swept over the graveyard again, taking in the countless names etched into the tombstones. He then asked, “Any recommendations, Senior?”

Liu Shaji paused briefly before replying, “Knock on the door of Your Grace Li Lan’s tomb. She shares a connection with you.”

“What kind of connection?” Li Xiaofei tried to press further.

“You’ll know when you try,” Liu Shaji said, leaving no room for further questions.

His tombstone hastily sank back into the ground, burying itself in the soil to escape any more conversation.

Li Xiaofei chuckled and thoughtfully burned a little more paper money, sprinkling some liquor over the grave before turning to look for Li Lan’s tombstone.

It didn’t take long to find. Beneath a towering ancient tree, Li Xiaofei stood before a tombstone bearing the name Li Lan.

Like the others, it bore no titles or inscriptions, just a simple name. What set it apart was the surrounding space. Unlike the tightly clustered graves around it, Li Lan’s tomb stood alone, surrounded by an open area.

Tender yellow-green grass sprouted around it, along with vibrant wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze. If the other graves could be compared to shared housing, then Li Lan’s was undoubtedly a villa.

Standing before the tombstone, Li Xiaofei bowed deeply in respect.

“Senior Li Lan, forgive me for disturbing you.” He began. “This junior is heading to the southern region of Great Xia to undertake a Dragon Group mission. My strength is insufficient, so, under the guidance of Senior Liu Shaji, I’ve come to seek your protection.”

There was no response.

Li Xiaofei gently knocked on the tombstone. Suddenly, the tombstone trembled slightly as a gust of wind swept through. Wildflowers shuddered, and the grass bowed low. It felt as though a soul slumbering deep within the world had finally been stirred awake.

In that instant, Li Xiaofei was gripped by an overwhelming sense of terror. It wasn’t a pressure that came from raw strength. It was a suffocating spiritual force, an impact that seemed to crush the very essence of his soul. When the wind stilled, a figure appeared before the tombstone.

It was a phantom clad in a blue swordsman’s robe, its posture tall and straight. The figure’s face bore a refined, almost otherworldly beauty, with an air of nobility and authority befitting a leader. Sharp, striking features gave the appearance of a man at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that this was a woman dressed in men’s clothing. A peerless swordmaster.

This is Senior Li Lan?

Curiosity filled Li Xiaofei’s heart. He didn’t know Li Lan’s true identity, but anyone interred in this cemetery was undoubtedly extraordinary. His intuition also told him that Li Lan’s rank, strength, and cultivation surpassed even that of Liu Shaji.

After all, Liu Shaji had used the honorific Your Grace to address her. It was a title reserved for only the most exalted of figures.

“There’s a trace of him on you.” The female swordmaster said, her gaze fixed firmly on Li Xiaofei.

Li Xiaofei froze for a moment, puzzled.

“The aura of the Dual Saint Body of Blade and Sword,” she continued calmly.

Li Xiaofei quickly explained, “Yes, Senior. This junior has successfully cultivated the Dual Saint Body of Blade and Sword.”

“What year is it now?” she asked again.

“2523 AD,” Li Xiaofei replied.

The female swordmaster paused, silently calculating something. After a moment, she nodded slightly. “So, the time has come.”

Li Xiaofei’s expression was filled with curiosity and confusion.

“I am Ding Hao’s wife. We once trained together at the Asking Sword Sect. The fact that you’ve cultivated the Dual Saint Body of Blade and Sword means you share a connection with my husband and me. As such, I will grant you three swords. In times of great need, you may call upon them.”

She raised her hand and made a light sweeping motion. Three blades of wild grass lifted from the ground, floating gently toward Li Xiaofei. They landed on the back of his neck and transformed into what appeared to be three strands of hair, embedding themselves seamlessly into his skin.

Li Xiaofei instinctively reached back to touch them. It felt surreal. Though they looked identical to ordinary hairs, they had a distinct texture, and he could clearly tell them apart.

“Thank you, Senior,” Li Xiaofei said with a respectful bow. He hesitated before asking, “These three swords... how powerful are they?”

Li Lan smiled faintly, her expression radiating the confidence of someone who looked down upon the world.

“No one in this realm can withstand them.”

Li Xiaofei was overjoyed. These swords were no less valuable than the three saint-killing chances he had previously consumed from Liu Shaji. Perhaps they were even more powerful.

“You must do something for me as well,” Li Lan said. “There is an old acquaintance of mine from the Asking Sword Sect who has been reincarnated on Earth in the southeastern region of Great Xia. She practices a demonic cultivation technique but shares a resonance with the Dual Saint Body of Blade and Sword. Once you find her, tell her to come to White Deer Academy and seek me out. Tell her that the Great Saint Immortal Phoenix deeply wishes to see her.”

“I will do my utmost,” Li Xiaofei replied earnestly.

“The time has come at last,” Li Lan murmured, her gaze turning toward the stars. A surge of immense battle intent radiated from her ethereal form.

Moments later, her spirit dissipated into the wind, vanishing entirely. Her tombstone remained as it was. Li Xiaofei couldn’t determine whether Li Lan had returned to her resting place within the tomb or left the Cemetery of the Ancestors altogether. He bowed deeply to the grave, then turned and left.

As he exited the cemetery, a sudden thought crossed his mind. His face immediately turned pale.

Damn.

He had overlooked something crucial.