The First Generation Old Man of the Mountain had long dwelled in a secluded valley. Not even the successive Hassans and followers knew what the First Generation truly looked like, nor could they prove that the First Generation really existed. They only knew the legend of a legendary assassin who would appear when the current Hassan strayed down the wrong path and sever their head.
But Li Ye knew that the First Generation Old Man of the Mountain truly existed.
The First Generation Old Man of the Mountain was the origin of the Assassin class and had deep ties to Azrael, the Angel of Death. No one could rival him in his understanding of death!
If he obtained the Assassin's legacy and death itself, Li Ye believed his Eyes of Death Perception and killing techniques could advance even further.
That was why Li Ye wanted to find the Refugees. He intended to use them to locate the Old Man of the Mountain Order and, through them, meet the First Generation Old Man of the Mountain!
And according to legend, anyone who confronted the Old Man of the Mountain would be killed by their own fate.
Li Ye was also gambling that after meeting the Old Man of the Mountain, he would surely survive. His destiny would not end here!
"That's impossible!!"
Without a second thought, Serenity Hassan decisively refused.
It was not only a matter of her own doctrine; more importantly, she did not even know whether the First Generation existed.
"Miss Serenity, as long as you take me to the Temple of Azrael, I can protect the people you wish to protect. They will never suffer this kind of treatment again in the future—" Li Ye did not waste words as he pointed at the Ansari Family.
Hearing that, Serenity Hassan's gaze swept over the Ansari Family. Their weathered faces, as though they had gone days without food or water, and their emaciated, miserable appearance left her silent.
On this land, the Crusaders had destroyed most places fit for habitation. Too many people had been displaced and forced to endure hardship.
"What do you mean by that?"
Serenity Hassan was not swayed by Li Ye's words. Instead, she spotted the flaw. "You said the Crusaders have already been destroyed, so what do the people of this land need protection from in the future? They can provide for themselves."
"Of course, it is to protect them from the Lion King's calamity. In the Lion King's future, there is no place for people like them. Not everyone possesses a pure soul, but I can deceive the Lion King and give them a path to survive."
"What!!"
Serenity Hassan had not forgotten that the man before her claimed to be one of the Lion King's knights. She demanded furiously, "Then what are you people fighting for?!"
She had no way to verify whether the Crusaders had been destroyed, but there was no way she would bring Li Ye into the village based on his word alone!
"For humanity's salvation!"
Li Ye raised his greatsword high, his expression fanatical. Sometimes, if one kept talking, one would start believing the words oneself.
"Therefore! Hassan-i Sabbah is necessary! Miss Serenity, why won't you trust me? Why do you think there is still room to argue with me?!"
Boom!!
Crimson magical energy erupted. A terrifying aura, like a Dragon Kind awakening, surged into the sky. His black hair whipped wildly as Li Ye's gem-like Mystic Eyes transformed into vertical pupils, staring straight at Serenity Hassan!!
Cold. Merciless.
That was Serenity Hassan's sole impression of Li Ye at that moment. The faintly crazed humanity he had shown before was gone, replaced by the presence of a complete Non-human!
This was the first time Li Ye had gone all out since receiving the Lion King's blessing. He unleashed every ounce of his magical energy without holding back. Dragon Blood boiled within him, and his Non-human side utterly overwhelmed his humanity, bringing forth his strongest form!
"For the last time, Miss Serenity, will you abandon the Ansari Family and the other people living on this land, or will you agree to this deal?!"
Li Ye felt the surging magical energy within him circulate freely, perfectly integrated as one. Incomparably powerful vitality resided within this body, and attributes such as strength had all increased!
At this moment, he was confident he could withstand the poisonous gas and capture Serenity Hassan alive!
Silence. More than ten seconds of silence.
In the end, Li Ye still did not receive Serenity Hassan's answer. He only saw her figure shift slightly.
Before that—
Thud!
The crimson magical energy surrounding Li Ye abruptly contracted. Li Ye shot forward, closing in on Serenity Hassan in an instant!
Whoosh—
Pale purple mist rushed toward him as Serenity Hassan's slender figure prepared to vanish within it.
Slash!
The blade cut through the air and sank into the Lines of Death. The instant Serenity Hassan released her poison gas, Li Ye killed that cloud of poison!
"What!"
Serenity Hassan watched the poison gas dissipate. Before she could react, Li Ye grabbed her figure just as she was about to conceal herself and violently slammed her against a stone pillar behind her!
Li Ye knew full well that Serenity Hassan's ability to conceal her presence was exceptionally formidable. Therefore, he would never give her another chance to vanish!
"Miss Serenity! The world has changed far beyond your imagination!"
Li Ye gripped Serenity Hassan's face tightly and smashed her against the stone pillar again and again. Even as poison entered his body through contact with his palm, he felt no fear!
His Dragon Blood grew ever more impassioned, ever more fervent.
The moment that trivial poison entered his body, it was devoured completely by his Dragon Blood!
The changes brought about by fully awakening his Dragon Blood did not stop there. Li Ye could feel his mental structure shifting, making him view this world with greater coldness and madness!
This feeling was incredibly exhilarating!
Boom!
As Serenity Hassan resisted, Li Ye twisted and hurled her away. She crashed through several stone pillars before barely coming to a stop!
"Miss Serenity! Even someone like me is only the weakest knight under the Lion King! The other Knights of the Round Table are far stronger than I am! They carry out massacres, while how many people can you save time and time again?!"
Li Ye strode forward. Wherever he passed, Lines of Death were severed and the stone forest collapsed!
Serenity Hassan's figure vanished into the stone forest. Now that Li Ye had moved away from the Ansari Family, she finally brought out her true abilities to deal with him!
Poison gas nearly thirty meters in diameter spread through the stone forest!
"Useless!"
Li Ye casually swung down his blade. After a single ringing cry, everything was cleared away.
The moment the poison gas died, Li Ye once more caught sight of Serenity Hassan. The Lines of Death guided the direction he needed to advance!
Li Ye truly could not match Serenity Hassan in speed, but his explosive power surpassed hers!
His charging figure was like a crimson bolt of lightning, racing through the stone forest. In an instant, he caught up to Serenity Hassan, and the moment they met, an incomparably fierce clash erupted!
Every attack from Li Ye, who resembled a Dragon Kind transformed into human form, was difficult for Serenity Hassan to withstand. Yet Serenity Hassan's extraordinary agility made it difficult for Li Ye to land a decisive blow!
After several exchanges, Serenity Hassan still managed to widen the distance, avoiding a direct confrontation with Li Ye.
"Miss Serenity!"
Li Ye did not continue his pursuit. Instead, he stared into the eyes behind that bone-white mask, his tone resolute. "I must meet the First Generation. For that, I have shown all my sincerity—my identity, my strength, my terms. Miss Serenity, what else do you find lacking?"
In the distance, Serenity Hassan's body remained tense. It was not only the Red Dragon aura Li Ye was now emitting, but also those strange Mystic Eyes that made her feel the terror of death close at hand!
"Or perhaps you and I can travel together and see what this land is about to suffer."
Seeing that Serenity Hassan still had no intention of agreeing, Li Ye understood that this could not continue. A fight to the death would only shift his alignment, and then he truly would be unable to meet the First Generation Old Man of the Mountain.
Since that was the case, in keeping with the principle that hearing was false while seeing was believing, Li Ye decided to let Serenity Hassan witness the actions of Gawain and the others.
At that time, his terms would become convincing.
Even if that conviction was false.
"Of course, Miss Serenity, you may choose not to come. I can slowly find your village while bringing the Ansari Family with me. The Temple of Azrael should be in the mountains beyond the Eastern Village, correct?"
Faced with Li Ye's naked threat, even Serenity Hassan could not help but be moved. She no longer had the confidence to save the Ansari Family from Li Ye. "I hope you will not deceive me—"
"Of course—"
Seeing Serenity Hassan finally relent, Li Ye calmed the Dragon Blood within him, and his humanity returned once more.
Damn, I'm exhausted!
At that moment, Li Ye only felt a lack of magical energy and excessive physical exhaustion. It seemed that the cost of activating his Dragon Blood was doubled magical energy consumption. Once conversion from the Great Source could no longer keep up, his life force would begin to be consumed to generate magical energy.
But it was still within Li Ye's tolerance.
After confirming Serenity Hassan's intentions, Li Ye turned toward the trembling Ansari Family in the distance and called out, "Mr. Ansari! Please come with me!"
As long as the Ansari Family remained by Li Ye's side, he did not need to worry about Serenity Hassan leaving.