Now, all the students were finally willing to believe that the person who had once dissected the academy’s martial arts curriculum, proposed numerous innovative theories, and introduced new cultivation methods was indeed Li Xiaofei, just as Li Junjie had claimed.
Back then, everyone thought Li Xiaofei was merely trying to show off, using his status as a big shot to force Li Junjie to yield credit to him.
It took a moment, but then someone spoke, “I’m sorry.”
Then, the apologies came one after another. Li Xiaofei, of course, didn’t mind. In his eyes, these students from White Deer Academy were nothing more than a group of kids. Why bother holding grudges against them? Li Xiaofei had far more important matters to attend to.
The peaks were steep, and the vegetation was lush in the back mountains of White Deer Academy. This was likely the most densely forested area in all of Xiajing City.
Li Xiaofei followed the winding mountain path upward until he arrived at the entrance to the Cemetery of the Ancestors. Here lay countless powerful figures buried in the sands of time. This was the only source of strength he could think of to help Great Xia in its current predicament.
“What a pity,” he muttered.
“I couldn’t fulfill Senior Li Lan’s request. I couldn’t find that old friend from the Asking Sword Sect. I don’t have a good explanation for this.”
Li Xiaofei stepped into the cemetery. He saw many familiar names etched onto the gravestones.
Liu Shaji. Li Lan. Hua Xiangrong. Liang Feixue. Chen Sheng. He paused before Liu Shaji’s gravestone.
He lightly tapped the gravestone.
“It’s me! The handsome guy who helped pull the sword out of your butt! I’m back!” Li Xiaofei greeted warmly.
The gravestone trembled slightly, as if it was startled. Then, the soil beneath it began to churn. The gravestone quickly started sinking into the earth as it attempted to retreat. Li Xiaofei, unfazed, grabbed it firmly and yanked it back out of the ground.
“Don’t be like that!” He poured a cup of wine in front of the gravestone, lit incense, and scattered paper money. “Brother Liu, why do you always try to hide when you see me? Has our friendship lost its unshakable bond?”
“What friendship?” Liu Shaji’s voice echoed faintly from within the gravestone. “Our fates have ended. Please stop disturbing my rest.”
“Oh, come on! You’re acting like we didn’t have any connection,” Li Xiaofei replied.
Liu Shaji grumbled, “Don’t make it sound so... suggestive. It’s like you’re implying we had some improper relationship.”
“I’m just stating the facts,” Li Xiaofei declared matter-of-factly. “Back then, I helped pull out the sword you had stuck in your butt. You only managed to pull your pants up afterward.”
Liu Shaji fell silent.
“Fine, you win.” The gravestone trembled, shaking off the dirt that had clung to it. “Go on, tell me—what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?”
“This time, the trouble is pretty serious,” Li Xiaofei admitted.
He explained everything about Eden, the current crisis facing Great Xia, and the importance of the Stellar Holy War. “Great Xia is on the brink of destruction. The Stellar Holy War is critical. I need your help, big brother. Please, think of something!”
Liu Shaji replied, “I can’t help you. I’m a dead man, remember?”
“Are you really just going to—”
“I know you’re in a hurry, but calm down for a moment,” Liu Shaji interrupted. “We’re aware of what’s happening in Xiajing City. Go find Lady Li Lan. She’ll tell you what to do.”
The gravestone fell silent.
Li Xiaofei sighed, stood up, and headed deeper into the cemetery. He felt a little embarrassed about meeting Li Lan. After all, he hadn’t fulfilled her request, and he’d already used up the three green hairs she’d given him.
Originally, he’d hoped Liu Shaji might offer some advice, but it seemed even after being dead for so long, Liu Shaji remained unreliable. Following his memory, Li Xiaofei continued walking along the familiar path. Before long, he arrived at Li Lan’s grave. But as soon as he saw the scene before him, he froze slightly.
A woman dressed in a long, azure robe was seated cross-legged before Li Lan’s grave. The woman was elegant and graceful as she gave off an ethereal, otherworldly aura that seemed like that of a transcendent immortal.
Li Xiaofei found the figure strangely familiar, but he couldn’t immediately recall where he had seen her before.
“Special Envoy Li, we meet again,” the woman said softly.
She rose and turned to face him. Her clear and refined features bore a gentle and serene smile.
“It’s you... How are you here?” Li Xiaofei asked, utterly surprised.
The woman before him was none other than Nan Hua, the White Cloud Dancer from the slums of Haijing City. She was also a member of the Dragon Group. When Li Xiaofei had gone to Haijing City as a special envoy, Nan Hua had been his contact. He never would have expected to see her here, of all places.
“Senior Li Lan sent someone to bring me here,” Nan Hua explained.
The White Cloud Dancer standing before him now no longer gave off the flirtatious and charming air she had back then. She seemed much more ethereal, like an immortal from the clouds.
The fact that Senior Li Lan had specifically sent someone to bring her here left Li Xiaofei both astonished and intrigued.
Could Nan Hua be the reincarnation of the person from the Asking Sword Sect that Senior Li Lan was looking for? No, that didn’t seem right.
Senior Li Lan had once mentioned that the reincarnated soul of the Asking Sword Sect would have a peculiar reaction when encountering someone with the Dual Sacred Body of Blade and Sword physique, since it was related to Ding Hao.
However, during all his interactions with Nan Hua, Li Xiaofei had never noticed any special reactions from her.
Puzzled, he approached Li Lan’s gravestone. This time, he didn’t need to say a word. The illusory figure of Li Lan manifested directly from the gravestone.
“Senior,” Li Xiaofei greeted her respectfully, stepping forward to bow.
Li Lan’s spectral gaze fell on him with a hint of appreciation and satisfaction. “You’ve done well.”
Taking the opportunity, Li Xiaofei voiced the doubts in his heart.
Li Lan nodded. “You’re correct. Nan Hua is indeed the person I was looking for. However, she hasn’t awakened yet and remains unaware of her past life’s memories. For now, she is cultivating by my side.”
Li Xiaofei exhaled in relief. Even if he didn’t fully understand how, it seemed he had inadvertently completed Li Lan’s task.
“I already know why you’ve come up the mountain.” Li Lan, as the decisive former leader of the Asking Sword Sect, got straight to the point without wasting words like Liu Shaji. “Since Eden’s forces have arrived, it’s time for those who slumber in the Cemetery of the Ancestors to awaken. This time, we will not sit idly by.”
“Really?” Li Xiaofei’s heart leapt with joy.
If these slumbering Saints were willing to act, Great Xia’s crisis would undoubtedly be resolved. He knew all too well the terrifying and unparalleled strength of those buried in the sands of time.
“However, we cannot act directly,” Li Lan continued. “If we do, it will alert the Reapers lurking outside the solar system. It would disrupt the Four Symbols’ plans and create unnecessary complications.”
Li Xiaofei’s emotions took a sudden nosedive.
Cautiously, he asked, “Then how does Senior intend to intervene?”
Li Lan replied, “We will select inheritors and imbue them with our power to fight in our stead. Your task now is to find suitable candidates capable of bearing our strength.”
Inheritors? How am I supposed to find and choose them?