"!"
Li Ye, walking at the front, suddenly halted. He felt a gaze from the distant sky that made his heart tremble, meeting his own across the void!
Li Ye was incomparably familiar with that gaze.
The Lion King...?
Li Ye stared at the magnificent Holy City of Camelot in the distance. The central Tower of End seemed to emit a faint radiance, enveloping all of Camelot.
Li Ye had never expected the Lion King to cast her gaze upon him during this return.
What caught her attention?
Li Ye glanced at Sanzang. If the reason was not him, then it could only be Sanzang.
Without dwelling on the matter, Li Ye led Sanzang and the others to Camelot's gates at last.
A considerable number of Refugees had already gathered outside Camelot, leaving Sanzang puzzled. "Why haven't they entered the city?"
"They have not yet undergone the Holy Selection, so they cannot enter Camelot."
Li Ye did not look at the Refugees and instead walked straight toward the main gate, strictly guarded by the Purification Knights.
As Li Ye approached, the Purification Knights, who stood like statues, reacted as well.
"Open the gate."
Li Ye did not waste words with the Purification Knights and decisively gave the order.
The heavy gates slowly opened.
At some point, the sun had risen.
Camelot's interior and the outside world seemed like parallel lines that did not interfere with each other. Dusk and noon coexisted.
It seems Gawain is still here...
Li Ye narrowed his eyes at the Tower of End.
"Why did it suddenly become bright?"
Sanzang raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sudden sunlight, asking in surprise.
It was not just Sanzang. Aleka and the young girl reacted much the same way, unable to open their eyes under the harsh sunlight.
This was Li Ye's first time entering Camelot after the Lion King had deployed the Holy Lance.
After the previous Holy Selection ended, the Lion King had thrown Li Ye outside and sent him to gather intelligence.
As a result, Li Ye had not even been able to enter Camelot.
After entering Camelot, Li Ye had intended to head straight for the Tower of End, where the Lion King was. But when he looked at the young girl beside him, he hesitated.
"What was your name again?"
At Li Ye's question, Aleka beside him could not help raising an eyebrow.
"Sir, my name is Nina Mills... Am I going to stay here from now on?"
Nina Mills looked at Li Ye with alarm. Camelot clearly inspired not only awe in her, but fear as well.
"Nina, relax. There will not be any major problems in the days ahead."
Li Ye looked around at the clusters of vacant buildings and the Purification Knights patrolling the streets.
Since this was only Li Ye's second time in Camelot, he was practically unfamiliar with the place. Aside from the Tower of End, he knew nothing about Camelot.
With an idea in mind, Li Ye pulled over another Purification Knight and had him take Nina to the residence of those who had previously passed the Holy Selection.
"Rest assured, Master Sanzang!"
Li Ye gave her a thumbs-up.
After settling Nina down, Li Ye and the others had no more worries and headed straight for the central Tower of End.
A few minutes later.
The Tower of End was right before them. Just as Li Ye was about to climb the steps, he abruptly stopped and looked up.
A petite figure descended from the sky.
She wore heavy armor, and her crimson horned helmet radiated murderous intent.
Clack, clack.
The horned helmet rapidly unfolded and contracted, revealing Mordred's valiant little face.
Just as Mordred bared her fangs in a grin and prepared to say something—
She clearly saw Li Ye's face.
"You..."
Meeting Li Ye again, even Mordred, the Rebel Knight, could not help freezing.
To be honest, no matter how Li Ye changed, it should have been irrelevant to Mordred. But this was a change she could not ignore.
His physique had not changed much, and his hair color did not matter. But those eyes, and that Dragon's Might—
"Father King?"
Mordred unconsciously murmured.
"Not quite."
Seeing that Mordred had mistaken him for someone else, Li Ye smiled and drew her attention back. "Lord Mordred, have you come to welcome me?"
"Huh? So you're an idiot like Gawain after all!"
Mordred recovered from her shock upon hearing that, and her mouth immediately turned down.
Her face was full of disgust.
Mordred then swept her gaze over Sanzang and Aleka, instantly raising an eyebrow. "Why did you bring a Servant back?"
The frail Aleka seemed to have been ignored by Mordred. At this moment, Mordred's eyes held only Li Ye and Sanzang, who was also a Servant.
"We met on the road. Lord Mordred, rest assured for now. Sanzang was permitted by the King to enter Camelot. Think about it—if the King had not allowed it, how could Sanzang have entered Camelot?"
Li Ye smiled and patiently explained.
"Are you a knight too?!"
Sanzang was continuously examining Mordred's armor, her eyes shining.
"Of course. And what about you?"
After casually answering Sanzang, Mordred looked at Li Ye.
Li Ye's changes were the only thing Mordred wanted to understand right now.
"Me? Changes caused by the King's Dragon Blood."
Li Ye pinched a strand of his pale hair and could not help sighing.
Earlier, beside the water source in the wilderness, Li Ye had used the water's reflection to see his own face. Though he had prepared himself mentally, it had still given him a tremendous shock.
The whitening of his hair was still within Li Ye's ability to accept. What truly shocked him was the change in his features.
The subtle changes to his brows and eyes had nearly made Li Ye fail to recognize himself. For a moment, he had almost thought he was seeing the Lion King—
Hearing Li Ye's answer, Mordred still wore a dark expression and even began grinding her teeth.
"Enough, Lord Mordred. I have an important matter to report to the King. We can talk again later."
Li Ye smiled as he passed Mordred, leading Sanzang and Aleka up the Tower of End.
How could Mordred let Li Ye go so easily? She hurriedly followed him.
Li Ye's explanation was nowhere near enough to convince Mordred.
As Mordred questioned him all the way, Li Ye patiently answered. As for whether she believed him, Li Ye had no idea.
"Oh? Lord Li Ye?"
Just as they were about to enter the main hall, Li Ye's group encountered the Sun Knight, Gawain, standing outside its doors.
Gawain examined Li Ye in great surprise.
With Li Ye's tremendous changes, it was difficult for any of the Knights of the Round Table to remain calm upon seeing him.
"Lord Gawain, are you not going in?"
"Only Agravain, as the adjutant, may formally meet the King. We can only await orders here."
Gawain shook his head and was about to dissuade Li Ye from entering the main hall to meet the Lion King.
But Li Ye spoke before him. "Lord Gawain, I have obtained intelligence that will interest you as well. Let us meet the King together."
The doors opened the next moment.
"King—"
The moment he stepped into the main hall, Li Ye felt an astonishing pressure crush down upon him.
And this was merely the Lion King's gaze!
"Lord Li Ye?"
Agravain, beneath the Lion King's throne, could not help speaking when he saw Li Ye's current appearance.
Li Ye's change was simply too great, great enough to leave Agravain astonished.
An inexplicable sense of danger even rose in his heart.
Li Ye did not know what Agravain was thinking. The instant he entered the main hall, all of Li Ye's attention had been seized by the Lion King.
Her golden, sand-like hair was pinned up. Unlike Mordred's youthful, valiant features, the Lion King bore a more mature demeanor.
Her cold eyes watched Li Ye.
"Lord Li Ye, what have you gained?"
Before you continue