Journey to the Spirit Temple

"Just call me Li Ye. I'm currently a knight of the Lion King," Li Ye stated his identity as a knight of the Lion King with great openness.

Before he could finish speaking, Cursed Arm Hassan's expression changed drastically. "What! You're in league with that guy!"

Visible hostility filled Cursed Arm Hassan's eyes. "Lady Serenity! Why are you associating with this person?!"

"What's the difference between them and the Crusaders! They slaughter our people just the same!" Cursed Arm Hassan

"It seems Lord Cursed Arm has met Lord Gawain. Lord Gawain deals with the rejected quite directly," Li Ye called out Cursed Arm Hassan's true name first, taking the initiative.

"The Lion King's Knight of the Round Table—Gawain. I assume Lord Cursed Arm has already witnessed the brilliance of his sun. Tell me, how many people do you have the confidence to save from him?" Li Ye's lips didn't stop moving as he began analyzing the possibility of fighting two opponents.

Both Hassans were masters of stealth. Li Ye could maintain a front-line fight for a short while, but the Noble Phantasms possessed by heroic spirits were enough to overturn the situation in an instant.

Cursed Arm Hassan's Noble Phantasm, Delusional Heartbeat, allowed him to create a secondary existence that mutually influenced the main body by touching the enemy's chest with his right arm, the arm of the malevolent spirit Saei Tono. This manifested as creating a false heart to destroy the enemy's life force.

Simply put, if he touched you, you were as good as dead.

This was the point that made Li Ye most wary. Cursed Arm's threat was too great; a rash battle would only end with his death.

Therefore, avoiding combat as much as possible and engaging with Cursed Arm Hassan was necessary.

"What do you mean, Lord?"

Cursed Arm Hassan's expression was guarded, as if he might disappear into the shadows at any moment.

"The new king who has replaced the Crusaders and occupies this land—the Pure White Lion King is about to hold the Holy Selection, to screen those with holy souls to journey to the future. The fate of most of the rejected is death. You've already witnessed that scene, haven't you?

Of course, if Lord Cursed Arm can defeat Gawain, then it's not a problem."

"Or, you can make a deal with me. I will save the rejected. Miss Serenity can vouch for this."

Li Ye pondered for a moment and realized that Serenity Hassan's situation was a perfect complement to Cursed Arm Hassan's. Serenity Hassan hesitated to make a deal with Lancelot, who was protecting the rejected, precisely because there was no comparison, wasn't there?

Gawain, who slaughtered the rejected, and Lancelot, who preserved them, were undoubtedly the best comparison!

While quietly waiting for the two Hassans to exchange information, Li Ye's brainstorming continued.

In Li Ye's view, the only reason he could persuade the two Hassans was the advantage of having hostages, but this tactic couldn't be used indefinitely.

"Does your objective truly lie in meeting the First Generation Lord?"

At this moment, Cursed Arm Hassan, having finished his conversation, approached Li Ye. The information from Serenity Hassan had changed his perception of Li Ye.

"That's right. This is a fair trade. I wish to visit the First Generation Old Man of the Mountain, and you wish to protect the people of this land. We each get what we need."

"As for whether you believe me, Lord Cursed Arm, you've already made your judgment, haven't you?"

Li Ye confidently met Cursed Arm Hassan's gaze. He couldn't speak for others, but he was confident he could persuade Cursed Arm Hassan, who was a figure from that era in his lifetime.

His love for this land surpassed everything.

"I hope you will keep your promise," Cursed Arm Hassan said slowly, causing Li Ye to smile involuntarily.

"I won't make it difficult for you, Lord Cursed Arm. You can just tell me the location of the temple, and I'll go myself."

"You know a lot about us."

"I've heard a little."

After confirming the deal was made, Cursed Arm Hassan took on the role of guide, leading Li Ye straight towards the barren mountains.

Li Ye quickly realized the harshness of the mountain range.

Barren mountains and rugged peaks, not a blade of grass grew.

"Who's there?" Li Ye sensed something and turned his head simultaneously with Cursed Arm Hassan.

A group of figures in black robes charged down from the hills on both sides, their eyes filled with the craving for food as they looked at Li Ye and the others!

"Refugees?" Li Ye's expression remained unchanged, and he immediately looked at Cursed Arm Hassan beside him.

"Lord, please don't take any lives—"

Bang!

With a series of muffled thuds, the refugees charging towards Li Ye and the others were instantly knocked unconscious.

"They fled into the mountains—" Li Ye looked at the people lying unconscious on the ground, all gaunt and emaciated. It was not difficult to imagine what they had endured.

Forced to flee into the barren mountains due to the Crusaders' atrocities, they had struggled to survive until now.

"Lord Li Ye, we cannot travel together for the rest of the way."

Cursed Arm Hassan looked at the famished refugees. "I will tell you the location of the temple."

Li Ye nodded. "Thank you, Lord Cursed Arm. I'll leave this horse for you to take them back."

With that, Li Ye dismounted and left the black horse he had obtained from the Crusaders for Cursed Arm Hassan. He then took the temple coordinates and set off alone.

An hour later.

Li Ye gazed at the crisscrossing mountains and the constant strong winds. At the end of it all stood a magnificent Wall of Light.

"Is that—the end of the world?"

This scene was something Li Ye had never expected.

It was undoubtedly a spectacle comparable to the heavenly halo, a real end of the world.

Before Li Ye could even sigh in wonder.

Shadows surged from below the cliff, kicking up a gale!

"Wyverns?"

Leaning against the rocks, Li Ye watched the three emerald wyverns circling overhead. Their scarlet eyes fixed on him, as if he were a delicious prey.

ROAR ROAR!!

Deafening roars erupted as the three wyverns dove in unison, unleashing torrents of fire from their gaping maws!

The heat, enough to melt metal, was about to engulf Li Ye in an instant!

Bzzzt!

After a humming sound, the raging flames vanished completely.

Li Ye stomped his feet, launching himself upward like a cannonball, instantly closing the distance to one of the wyverns' faces!

Screech—

A decisive, sharp sword strike from below tore it asunder!

The existence of the Lines of Death rendered the wyvern's tough scales useless before Li Ye.

As Li Ye instantly killed one emerald wyvern, the other two immediately scattered, with one even turning to flee!

But Li Ye was even faster!

Using the falling corpse of the first wyvern as a springboard, he quickly approached the one trying to escape. His sword point sank into the Lines of Death, severing it at the root, sending it plummeting to the ground!

'One more!'

Li Ye's gaze was like lightning. Just as he was about to turn, a tremendous force struck him from the side, the impact like a head-on collision with a truck, sending him flying into the air!

Losing his footing, Li Ye could only fall back to the ground. But the next wave of attacks was already upon him!

Raging flames surged from behind, the intense heat engulfing Li Ye, and the subsequent impact sent him plummeting rapidly!

The fireballs landed among the mountains, exploding like blooming flowers, revealing Li Ye's form.

Crimson magic swirled around him, forming a protective layer that blocked all the heat.

Before Li Ye could react, the pursuing wyvern slammed directly into him!

BOOM!!

The sheer kinetic energy from the high-speed collision of a colossal mass weighing several tons far surpassed any attack Li Ye had ever faced!

The magical defense around Li Ye instantly shattered, leaving him to face the impact with his bare body!

Flames erupted, and in this zero-distance collision, the wyvern unleashed another torrent of fire, which washed over Li Ye like a tide!

This time, Li Ye had no magic to block the metal-melting heat!

Screech—

Crimson magic exploded, and a terrifying Red Dragon aura swept out in all directions like a raging storm.

"ROAR!!"

Sensing Li Ye's change, the emerald wyvern was startled and instinctively retreated.

"Too late!"

Crack.

With mere grip strength, he crushed the scales and thrust his arm like a spear straight into the wyvern's abdomen!

The tide of battle had instantly turned!

RUMBLE!

The massive body, weighing several tons, was slammed violently into the mountainside, sending碎石 flying and cracks spreading from beneath the wyvern.

Li Ye didn't let up, punching the wyvern again and again. In mere seconds, he had beaten it into a bloody pulp!

"Submit to me, or die!"

Li Ye stomped on the wyvern's head, forcing it deep into the ground, and stared down at it from above.

The Dragon Blood granted by the Lion King was far beyond what these low-level sub-dragons could resist. Li Ye's close-range release of dragon might made this emerald wyvern tremble in fear.

Ultimately, the emerald wyvern submitted, lowering its head to Li Ye.

Whoosh.

As Li Ye stood on its back, the wyvern flapped its wings, whipping up a gale, and carried Li Ye into the sky!

A gust of wind swept across Li Ye's face, blowing his black hair backward.

"Hahahaha!"

Li Ye's unrestrained laughter echoed through the mountains as he soared away.

—

"Temple of Azrael—"

Several hours after parting ways with Cursed Arm Hassan and the others, Li Ye, who had been traveling at full speed with the wyvern's assistance, finally saw the Temple of Azrael.

The ancient and majestic temple was nestled amidst the mountains. The moment Li Ye stepped within its boundaries.

A bone-chilling coldness instantly enveloped him!