--- Chapter 30 ---
Hayate, Chu Yuechan, and Little Ghost walked out of the cave after finishing the Dragon God trials.
Warm sunlight grazed their faces, which caused Hayate to sigh in relief.
"It's easier than I expected." He commented while stretching his body.
Hayate reached peak Sky Profound Realm after absorbing Dragon God's blood, marrow, and soul. He was obviously more powerful than his cultivation realm showed.
Even Chu Yuechan, who reached the fourth stage of Emperor Profound Realm, was weaker than him.
Yet, Little Ghost actually gained the most surprising changes out of them. Her body has undergone a tremendous change after absorbing Dragon God's blood.
Little Ghost reached the 7th stage of Earth Profound Realm, and her body became more mature with silky long black hair that covered a faint azure tattoo across her back.
She's still a few centimeters shorter than Hayate, and her facial features are comparable to Jasmine's beauty now, but no one can see her eyes.
Hayate doesn't know what Little Ghost had gone through in the third trial, but it was obviously changing something within her.
"Then, I'll excuse myself." Chu Yuechan said while staring at Hayate.
Hayate stared at Chu Yuechan and watched her slowly fly away from them. Her figure is like a lonely bird in a vast sky.
He sighed and threw a spatial ring at Chu Yuechan.
Chu Yuechan frowned and saw a blinking light abruptly reaching her, which she caught with her hand instinctively.
"What's this?" She muttered while observing the ring.
"It's a spatial ring with useful items inside," Hayate stated from afar. "If you really want to get me those three items, at least you shouldn't die early."
Even though they were separated miles away, Chu Yuechan somehow could still hear Hayate's voice.
Chu Yuechan formed a wry smile and replied, "I won't die easily."
Hayate shook his head and walked from the Dragon God cave with a tired look.
"Little Ghost, how long have we been in that cave?" He asked casually.
"69 days." Little Ghost responded immediately.
Hayate chuckled because of the funny numbers and wondered if the perverted Dragon God had something to do with it.
"Well, we have to return quickly." He summoned Emerald Phoenix from his inner world.
CIAO!
A beautiful cry escaped Emerald Phoenix, and they quickly flew away from the Wasteland of Death. A brilliant verdant light stretched in the sky.
Chu Yuechan watched the brilliant light and whispered, "I'll find you soon."
"When I'm stronger, If I can't protect you, I can at least become a meat shield for you."
--- Blue Wind Imperial City ---
Cang Yue was meditating on the training ground. A thin sword remained on her lap and released a faint serene atmosphere.
She breathed in and out smoothly, causing her profound energy to gather around the thin sword.
"Hmm?" Cang Yue opened her eyes because someone was observing her.
A young man in a blue robe peeked from a small hole near the training ground's entrance. He was around Hayate's age with a somewhat perverted look on his face,
Cang Yue sighed in disdain because this guy was one of those people.
"What are you doing here?" She questioned calmly.
"This training ground is prohibited for anyone to enter."
The young man actually was caught off guard because he didn't expect Cang Yue to notice him.
He tried to form a word to reply to her question, but nothing came out of his mouth.
A few seconds later.
"M-My name is Yun Che. I fell in love at first sight when seeing you, Senior."
Cang Yue gripped the handle of her sword and released a roaring breeze with her profound energy, causing a shadow blade to appear in the sky.
"What did you say?" A cold voice escaped Cang Yue's mouth.
"You fell in love at first sight when seeing me?"
Cang Yue pointed her sword at the young man and indifferently continued, "It seems that the Blue Wind Profound Palace needs to know that I have a fiance."
"I'm sick of being a good princess."
Yun Che drew a heavy sword, which Cang Yue recognized from Sky Weapon Pavilion, but it didn't mean anything to her.
Cang Yue released her 4th stage of Earth Profound Realm cultivation and said, "I'll say this once."
"Go away from my sight, or you'll lose your arm here."
"I-I can be better than that fiance of yours!" Yun Che declared bravely.
"I swore that I could defeat him in the future."
Yun Che remembered a promise to his grandfather months ago to get a beautiful wife and admitted how amazing it would be to have Cang Yue.
Cang Yue, the blue wind princess, was obviously more powerful than him. However, if he showed something more worthy than her fiance, she should have opened her heart a little to him.
Yun Che gripped Overlord's Colossal Sword and prepared himself to receive Cang Yue's attack.
"You? Stronger than him in the future?" Cang Yue's eyes shone in cold green light.
"Dream on."
Cang Yue doesn't even perform a slash and launches an air sword at Yun Che.
An invisible sword quickly passed through the distance between them, and Yun Che raised his heavy sword.
BOOM!
COUGH!
Yun Che coughed a mouthful of blood because Cang Yue wasn't holding her strength back. His peak Nascent Profound Realm strength cannot even handle it.
The Overlord's Colossal Sword is why Yun Che could survive her attack. It's Earth Profound Weapon with a renowned reputation within Sky Weapon Pavilion.
Nevertheless, Yun Che still received heavy damage from Cang Yue's attack. He gritted his teeth and raised his gaze to match Cang Yue's eyes.
"What an idiot," Hayate commented while landing on the training ground. "Do you think injuring yourself will make my big sister impressed?"
"What a funny guy."
"I-It's you!" Yun Che's eyes widened in shock.
"Hayate, you finally returned." Cang Yue released her sword and hugged him.
"I've been waiting for two months, you know."
Cang Yue pouted adorably, which caused Hayate to chuckle because he actually was trapped in Dragon God's trial.
"I'm back," Hayate replied with a smile.
Cang Yue's demeanor changed 180 degrees when Hayate appeared, and Yun Che couldn't help but be jealous inside.
Yun Che was suspicious that Hayate stole his silver pendant and sky poison pearl, but he couldn't find any clue or evidence about those treasures. He also disliked when Hayate hugged his little aunt.
Since Hayate saved Xiao Lingxi from Xiao Sect's young master months ago, she sometimes daydreamed about him, making Yun Che frustrated.
Of course, Xiao Lingxi was still Yun Che's little aunt, and she hadn't changed a bit. Even after knowing that he wasn't from Xiao Clan and got adopted by Xiao Lie.
"Xiao Che, what do you think you were doing," Hayate commented while looking at Yun Che.
"To think you would chase over my big sister's skirt."
"How shameless can you be?"
"Y-You're her fiance?" Yun Che tried his best to look tough.
After all, He was injured internally and physically by Cang Yue's attack.
Cang Yue blinked her eyes slightly and hopefully stared at Hayate, knowing they weren't officially engaged to each other.
Hayate rejected the proposal in the past because they weren't even close and were basically strangers, but Cang Yue has become close to him over the years.
There is hope inside Cang Yue to witness Hayate saying yes to Yun Che's question. It would be a dream come true for her.
"Yes, I'm her fiance," Hayate answered immediately.
Yun Che gritted his teeth and boldly declared, "Mark my words... I, Yun Che, will show that I'm more worthy than you in the future!"
"Sure, just hope no one on my side knows your words," Hayate responded naturally.
"Especially Qingyue..." He continued with a whisper.
Hayate didn't take Yun Che's word seriously because he isn't a genuine threat to him, but Xia Qingyue won't let Yun Che, who spouted nonsense at her beloved brother, live so effortlessly.
Yun Che frowned and dragged Overlord's Colossal Sword out of the training ground, leaving Cang Yue and Hayate alone there.
Cang Yue buried her face in Hayate's clothes and hid her blush from him. 'Is this real?' She solemnly thought while squealing in happiness.
"H-Hayate, are we really?" Cang Yue sheepishly asked while peeking up.
"I don't think you would like a fiance with many women on his side, big sister." Hayate shook his head.
"What? NO!" Cang Yue suddenly raised her gaze.
"It's okay."
"I'm okay with it. You're handsome and strong, after all."
She rocked him back and forth and continued, "Even if you have a thousand wives, I'm fine with it."
"Woah, stop," Hayate put on a wry expression. "That's too much, even for me."
He picked up an engagement ring Cang Wanhe sent to him in the past and placed it on Cang Yue's finger. "Big Sister, do you want to become my fiancee?" He asked gently.
"Yes." Cang Yue beamed and glanced at the engagement ring that her late mother possessed. Her father must have sent it to Hayate.
"Let's tell Uncle Wanhe, first-."
Hayate was about to say a few more things, but Cang Yue unexpectedly pushed him to the ground and kissed him passionately.
"Mmhm... I've been waiting for this." Cang Yue breathed heavily.
Hayate sighed inside and swiftly rotated their position. "We are just getting engaged, so let's progress slowly." He replied calmly.
"Big sister. No, Cang Yue." He softly added while caressing her hair. "Are you okay with that?"
Cang Yue watched Hayate's golden eyes and mumbled, "Mhm."
--- A few weeks later ---
Hayate formally engaged with Cang Yue and received the qualification to become an emperor.
Since Cang Wanhe gave them his blessing, no one could oppose their relationship, even other princes.
Even though some people tried to provoke Hayate because of his unknown background, he casually slapped them with the Silver Lake City's Lord badge he got from Hong Guan.
In the end, Hayate has to reveal his identity to the public and make a sensation in Blue Wind Imperial City. The news might have spread to all people in the Blue Wind Empire.
The only faction that didn't know about this was Frozen Cloud Asgard because they were closed from any information.
--- Blue Wind Imperial Palace ---
Hayate sat with Cang Yue in the garden and saw the skies silently.
"The past weeks were very tiring," Hayate commented while releasing a yawn.
"Well, big sister can't help you with that." Cang Yue giggled because so many people challenged Hayate.
She patted her lap a few times and added, "However, I can help you with this."
Hayate rested his head on Cang Yue's lap pillow and entered his inner world.
"Hmph." Jasmine pouted and swayed her head away.
"What?" Hayate tilted his head.
Jasmine glanced at him and said, "Nothing."
.
.
Hayate shrugged his shoulders and picked Dragon God's raw sphere.
He pondered what he should do with this for a moment because Dragon God's core alone matched peak A-Grade kaiju Core or even higher.
A bright yellow core entered Hayate's sight and caused him to smile a little.
"To Think, I'd use one of my past lives' masterpieces on this."
"A disaster and masterpiece in one core."
"Mountain Emperor."
An enormous creature with a body over 440.397 meters appeared from the bright yellow core.
Mountain Emperor has a snake-like face, with bright red eyes, numerous fangs, and many hook-like sharp spines along its body.
Those spikes spread out along its long body, with a small cluster near the tip of its tail and a pair of red barbs on the end that can rattle like rattlesnakes.
Not only that, but the Mountain Emperor also has a pair of large clawed forearms that could destroy a mountain effortlessly.
This Kaiju could shift the tectonic plates in Hayate's last world and cause a massive earthquake.
Mountain Emperor is a living disaster because of the destruction it could achieve. Fortunately, this Kaiju doesn't have a violent nature and is always happy to help Hayate.
"Let's see if you can reach the realm beyond S-Grade." He smiled while looking at the Mountain King.
Mountain Emperor released a roar, and Hayate began to fuse it with Dragon God's raw sphere.
Jasmine witnessed Hayate's action and saw an enormous silhouette covering the entire inner world.
It was so massive that she could only see some sharp claws, azure scales, and a golden barbed tail.
Hayate's eyes widened because he could feel a connection with the new Mountain Emperor.
"Azure Dragon Emperor." He noticed a pair of azure eyes looking at him.
ROAR!
An excited cry came from Azure Dragon Emperor.
"I haven't named you, huh." Hayate's smile turned into a wide grin.
"Then, Shah Long would be your name from now on."