Starforce Warriors

As the saying went, times had changed. The era was different now. If a sect was to survive and continue to grow, certain outdated traditions had to be adapted. In ancient times, the leader of the Sword Sect had to be selected from among aristocratic disciples with noble heritage to preserve the purity of elite bloodlines and to maintain the ruling status of noble clans.

Throughout history, the ruling class and the founding ancestors of the Sword Sect absolutely forbade lowly warriors, those too poor to even afford shoes, from ever touching the sacred position of the national religion's leader.

But in the modern world, everything had changed. The belief in bloodline superiority had gradually lost its allure. A person's background was no longer as important as it once was. Most critically, the common people had begun to receive widespread education, producing elites and awakening wisdom. They were no longer as ignorant and easily controlled as they had been in the past.

Now, in the face of unprecedented upheaval, the rise of the Awakened, the mounting challenges to traditional martial arts and the Sword Sect's dangerously unstable position, just one wrong step could lead to total destruction.

So even someone as stubborn as Kojirō, after much contemplation, had been forced to adapt within the bounds of what the rules allowed. He had to make a flexible decision, to allow Ishihara Masami, this once-in-a-generation genius, to legally and legitimately become the head of the Sword Sect. The solution was simple. He would give Ishihara Masami a new identity.

"From this day forward, your name shall be Yamamoto Masami. Forget everything about your past. Your only identity is that of the sole daughter of Yamamoto Jōichirō, president of the Zoro Group."

Kojirō's tone carried an unquestionable authority, a command that allowed no room for refusal. Ishihara Masami froze for a moment. But she was smart and immediately understood the intention of the highest authority within the Sword Sect.

A grand path that led straight to heaven slowly unfolded before her. However, once she processed it, a trace of hesitation appeared on her face. She had been born in a small fishing village in Hokkaido. Her parents were poor fishermen, so impoverished that they could barely afford her school fees at one point. She had an older sister, a younger sister and two younger brothers.

Her entire family had lived for several years on a fishing boat, without even a permanent home. Hunger had been a frequent companion during her childhood. From the moment she was born, Ishihara Masami had endured a life of hardship and suffering. She had endured trials that had left indelible marks on her soul.

But despite it all, Ishihara Masami still loved her parents deeply, along with her brothers, sisters, and older sister. That drifting fishing boat, though always swaying, drafty, and weather-beaten, had always held a warm, orange light that lit up the barren yet blissful memories of her childhood.

From a very young age, Ishihara Masami had helped her parents fish on the boat. Children of the poor matured early. She had even learned to make sushi and seaweed rice rolls by the time she was four years old.

That life where a whole family struggled together on the edge of poverty and depended on one another for survival had continued until one fateful day. She had been discovered by her master, Kitagawa Keiko, during a seaside foraging trip and taken in as a disciple. From that moment on, the living conditions of the entire Ishihara family began to improve rapidly, lifting them out of poverty.

Ishihara Masami had always remained quiet and low-profile in the Sword Sect, almost like a ghost. Humble and discreet, she observed everything that happened within the ancient and noble sect from the sidelines. And in doing so, she learned much.

Ten years ago, she had received her first sword. Eight years ago, she cleaved through a boulder taller than three men on the banks of Silent Lake with a single stroke, leaving its surface smooth as a mirror.

Six years ago, deep in the forests of Mount Hakutou, she had killed a bear and wiped out a pack of wolves all on her own. She had survived for a full month through the harsh winter in those woods with no supplies.

Four years ago, she had killed for the first time. Two years ago, she withstood three moves from her master without defeat. One month ago, her master could no longer withstand three of her strikes.

She had gained so much from the Sword Sect. And yet, the one memory she could never forget... was still that swaying lantern light on the old fishing boat of her childhood.

For a moment, Ishihara Masami stood frozen in place with uncharacteristic hesitation. She didn't respond immediately.

Kitagawa Keiko's expression shifted slightly. She quickly gave her beloved disciple a gentle nudge and smiled. "This child, could it be that she's so happy she's gone silly? Hurry and give your thanks to Senior Kojirō."

Ishihara Masami bit her lip softly. She took a deep breath and finally made her decision. She bowed with utmost respect and said, "Thank you, Senior Kojirō. I understand your intention."

Kojirō nodded in satisfaction, then continued, "Good. From this moment on, you are the sole candidate to become the sixth-generation Sect Leader of the Sword Sect. Once you complete the true Sect Leader's trial, you may inherit the position. That means, in the near future, you will become the most honored figure in all of Jiepeng's martial world."

"Yes," Masami replied firmly. "I will give it my all. I will not let Senior Kojirō or Master down."

She bowed again, lower this time, making her stance clear. As she lowered her head, her gaze had already grown much firmer. Her beautiful eyes now blazed with intense determination, burning like molten magma from within the volcano of Mount Hakutou.

Kojirō nodded once more and was just about to speak again, when suddenly, he sensed something. His expression changed dramatically. Utter shock rose on his face as he turned toward the entrance of the Sword Mound cemetery.

His sudden reaction startled both Kitagawa Keiko and Ishihara Masami. They instinctively turned to look in the same direction. What they saw left them both stunned.

A young man dressed in a white tracksuit had leisurely strolled in at some point. He stood soundlessly at the entrance, casually examining the entire cemetery with a curious look in his eyes.

A tourist?

That was Ishihara Masami's first thought. But she dismissed it immediately. Silent Lake was the location of the Sword Sect's mountain gate, and was guarded with utmost strictness. It was outwardly calm but inwardly tight. It was only open to visitors on a few select days each month. And today was not one of those days.

What's more, even on those open days, a sacred place like the Sword Mound, where the strongest Sword Saints of the sect's history were buried, was absolutely off-limits to any tourist, no exceptions. So how had this slightly chubby young man managed to get here?

While Ishihara Masami was still puzzled, Kojirō reacted immediately. His rasping voice, like the grinding of rotted wood, rang out in an unmistakable cry of shock, "Li Qingchen!"

"You know me?" Li Xiaofei stepped into the cemetery with an easy, casual air, as though he were simply sightseeing in an abandoned domain.

He had already searched every other part of Silent Lake. The ancient and solemn aura of the Sword Sect's main gate had left him somewhat impressed. But to his disappointment, he hadn't found even a single clue related to Eden. There was not even the faintest trace of the energy from beyond the stars.

"Of course I know you." Kojirō's murky eyes grew sharp, and his voice took on a tone of solemn respect. "You are the martial legend of Great Xia, a being nearly akin to an immortal. Your divine powers surpass the limits of human understanding. That Oniba and Takano died at your hands... it was an honor for them."

"Heh." Li Xiaofei let out a soft chuckle.

There was no attempt to conceal the mockery in his tone. Jiepeng people really were quite amusing. You could kill their closest friends or dearest comrades, and yet, if you showed overwhelming strength, they would still greet you politely no matter how much hatred and resentment they held inside. It was as if doing so somehow demonstrated their own magnanimity and virtue.

They feared power, not morality. It was obvious that Jiepeng's intelligence network had already passed along every detail from the Jinshi City bilateral exchange to the Sword Sect. The fact that this antique of a man, who seemed like he had been dug up from a grave, had recognized him immediately meant he had likely been researching Li Xiaofei for quite some time.

"I wonder, what brings Your Excellency to Silent Lake today?" Kojirō asked cautiously.

In truth, he was extremely tense. Because, according to the intelligence reports, someone of Li Qingchen's level of strength was entirely beyond what the current Sword Sect could handle.

Li Xiaofei didn't respond. He closed his eyes slightly, focusing his senses and quietly probing everything within the cemetery. Every grave here, though not deeply buried, still held faint residual energy within their coffins. It was energy that hadn't fully dissipated.

This energy signature was identical to the one Oniba Henzō had released at his peak. However, it was only the remnants of the dead. There was no trace of vitality. Other than that, Li Xiaofei still couldn't sense even the slightest hint of any energy related to the forces beyond this world. That left him somewhat disappointed.

Have I misjudged? Did Angrus perhaps never truly make deep contact or infiltrate the Sword Sect?

Opening his eyes again, Li Xiaofei let his gaze sweep casually across the three figures, Kojirō, Kitagawa Keiko, and finally... his eyes landed on Ishihara Masami.