Li Ye had always believed that no one was perfect, and the Perfect Human the Lion King pursued seemed to have nothing to do with him.
A soul that would never be tainted, a soul that would never be swayed by evil.
A human born immaculate, forever unchanged—one eternally pure through endless ages.
The Lion King's words during the first Holy Selection remained vivid in his mind; Li Ye could practically recite them backward.
Yet precisely because of that, he was puzzled that he had been judged to possess a holy soul when he first met the Lion King.
Do I actually have a holy soul that meets her criteria?
Li Ye pinched his chin and slowly turned his gaze toward the sky.
Having left the desert behind, the heavens were a brilliant blue. The lofty halo hung at the center of the sky, like the eye of a god gazing down upon the world.
It was not difficult for Li Ye to see that aside from his outrageously bold words, the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and his holy soul had played a major role in allowing him to survive the Lion King.
It could be said that it was his holy soul that had made the Lion King spare his life and even permit his actions.
Just as Li Ye was distracted by his own questions, a timid voice from nearby interrupted his introspection.
"Um... may I ask what is going on?"
The girl, whose glow was gradually fading, looked at Li Ye with unease.
It was not just the girl. The other Refugees, as well as Sanzang and the others, were looking at Li Ye too.
The reason was what Li Ye had said earlier about where these Refugees would be going next.
Understanding what the girl feared, Li Ye smiled. "Don't be afraid. You passed the Holy Selection and can enter the pure white paradise—Camelot—to live there for a time. Food and safety will no longer be problems there. It is a city of dreams.
As for your companions, they will be settled elsewhere, somewhere equally safe.
One day, you will meet again."
Before the girl and the other Refugees could react, Sanzang, who was deeply concerned about this, asked in confusion,
"They're going to be separated?"
From Sanzang's perspective, Li Ye's actions were extremely strange.
He was clearly saving people, yet he was carrying out this so-called selection and separating them.
"Hm? Of course. All I can do is settle those who were not selected. Those who qualify must go to Camelot; I cannot defy that.
Master Sanzang, rest assured. She will travel to Camelot with us."
Li Ye smiled as he pulled the girl to her feet.
While selecting those who qualified, Li Ye had sensed a peculiar fluctuation from the girl.
It was the girl's soul responding to the Holy Selection—or rather, responding to the Lion King.
At that moment, Li Ye knew that the girl's existence had likely come into the Lion King's view. No matter what Li Ye did, he had to bring this girl back to Camelot.
Even without that, Li Ye would still have taken the girl back to Camelot.
It was part of the duties he had to fulfill as a Knight of the Round Table.
As for where the rejected group would go, Li Ye had already made his choice.
Lancelot's already-established base, territory that belonged to Lancelot.
After the three-day special training ended, Li Ye had even deliberately accompanied Lancelot to his territory.
"I don't intend to force you to come with me. Do you plan to stay here, or leave with me?" Li Ye let the Refugees decide whether to stay or go.
The result was obvious. Not a single one was willing to remain.
Li Ye then had the girl and the others rest by the water for a while.
Still confused, Sanzang came closer. "So, what exactly is this Holy Selection? Why are you selecting something from among them?"
It was Sanzang's first time hearing about the Holy Selection Li Ye spoke of, and it gave her an extremely unpleasant feeling.
Seeing how confused Sanzang was, Li Ye did not hide anything and explained the reason behind the Holy Selection.
After Sanzang finished listening, her expression immediately changed. Just as she was about to say something, Li Ye stopped her.
"Master Sanzang, seeing is believing and hearing is not. The true Holy Selection is far more than this."
Li Ye scratched his head. Though he did not think explaining the Holy Selection to Sanzang had been a mistake, explaining what came next felt like such a hassle.
Stare—
Seeing that Li Ye refused to explain further, Sanzang immediately narrowed her eyes at him. "Idiot disciple, you're hiding something from me. If you were Wukong and the others, I'd have to teach you a lesson."
As she spoke, the Nine-Ringed Vajra Staff in Sanzang's hand quietly transformed into the Ruyi Jingu Bang.
With the slightest swing, the sound of something slicing through the air rang beside Li Ye's ear.
Half an hour later.
Li Ye and Sanzang led the Refugees deeper into the wilderness, continuously heading east along the route Li Ye had taken before.
As time passed, a vast wilderness appeared before Li Ye and the others.
What existed upon that wilderness made the Refugees gasp in shock.
"H-How... how is that possible?"
"Is that a village?"
"People! There are people there!"
Cries of surprise erupted everywhere. Not one Refugee could remain calm after seeing that sight.
Tents upon tents formed a modestly sized camp in the wilderness. People came and went within it, and it brimmed with life.
When Li Ye's group approached the camp, several towering figures blocked their path.
"Whoa—"
After seeing the figures blocking the way clearly, Sanzang could not help but exclaim in amazement.
Li Ye also swept his gaze over the knights before him.
Purification Knights—beings similar to, yet different from, Crusader knights.
Knights transformed by the Madness Enhancement imposed by Agravain, absolutely loyal knights who had taken the Crusaders' place in this world.
Li Ye walked straight past the towering Purification Knights and surveyed the modest camp, but did not see any familiar figures.
"Lancelot isn't here?"
Seeing that Lancelot was not in the camp, Li Ye called the Refugees inside and casually grabbed a knight stationed there, telling him to take them in.
"Um... can't I stay here?"
The girl's timid voice rang out.
Hearing that, Li Ye glanced at her. Her undisguised yearning was fixed firmly upon the camp and the Refugees who were being received.
"No. If you stay here, you will only bring disaster upon them."
Li Ye did not comfort the girl. Instead, he bluntly laid the truth before her.
The girl immediately lowered her head with a sorrowful expression and said nothing more.
Li Ye suddenly noticed Sanzang opening her mouth as if she wanted to speak, and hurriedly said, "Master Sanzang, there really isn't a problem—"
"Idiot disciple, you're not even as good as Wuneng. Isn't what you said terribly hurtful?
As a young high monk, I simply can't stand watching this!"
Sanzang said angrily.
"Ah—"
Seeing Sanzang looking so upset, Li Ye could not help scratching his head, but he did not argue further.
Once the handover of the Refugees was complete, Li Ye, having failed to see Lancelot, decisively led Sanzang and the others away.
They officially set out for the Holy City.
Several hours later, the sun set beyond the western mountains.
At last, Li Ye and the others saw their destination.
"Woooow—"
Sanzang, gazing into the distance, stood with her mouth wide open. Aleka and the girl beside her wore equally astonished expressions.
A pure white city appeared at the end of the horizon.
The pure white paradise—
The City of Chalk—Camelot!
At the same time.
Within the City of Chalk—Camelot.
The pure white King turned to look out the window. Her pale golden vertical pupils seemed to cross endless distances as they met those similar eyes.
"My King?"
Agravain, who had been delivering his report, could not help but freeze.