--- Chapter 36 ---
Hong Guan walked into the dining room and saw Chu Yueli bowing in front of Cang Yue, which caused the atmosphere to become quite awkward.
"Welcome back," Hayate answered with a smile. "I see that you are healthy, mother."
"Yes, I live quite lavishly for a few months here." Hong Guan answered with a gentle tone.
Since Hong Guan's identity was Hayate's adopted mother, she had to maintain her character in front of others when she acted. She also realized Hayate's demeanor was somewhat different than usual.
No one in the dining room realized it until Hong Guan arrived, but Hayate's golden eyes shone rather coldly compared to his usual self.
Hong Guan frowned inside because her young master had never shown this side of him.
"Well, why don't you sit down on the chair and enjoy the breakfast with us?" Hayate added while tapping his finger on the table.
Hong Guan nodded and replied naturally, "Fufu~, I'll gladly take your offer."
They have a hearty breakfast with each other, which lasts for an hour until other fairies of Frozen Cloud Asgard come to fetch Chu Yueli and Xia Qingyue.
Hayate has to give Xia Qingyue a farewell kiss, or something horrible will happen later.
He waved his hand at the Frozen Cloud Asgard's group and sensed Cang Yue's jealousy behind his back.
"Do you also want one?" He asked while staring at Cang Yue's eyes. "We are engaged, so it should be fine, right?"
"Mhm." Cang Yue nodded and slowly hugged him.
Hong Guan covered her mouth cunningly and diverted her gaze away because Hayate's eyes met contact with hers.
Hayate kissed Cang Yue's lips and hugged her tightly, making her melt into his embrace.
Cang Yue felt like she was in heaven and closed her eyes peacefully, enjoying every second of this moment. Hayate's gentle touch calmed her heart.
"Are you okay now?" Hayate chuckled a little.
"Mmhm, I'm okay now." Cang Yue purred while snuggling into Hayate's embrace.
Hayate patted her head and commented, "Cang Yue, you wanted to visit the arena first, no?"
"Why don't you take Xiao Xun'er with you because I have something to talk about with my mother?" He added naturally.
"Sure." Cang Yue beamed and pulled Little Ghost with her.
As they disappeared from the front gate, Hayate's expression suddenly became solemn. Hong Guan frowned at her young master's reaction because something serious must have happened.
"I'll explain in my room," Hayate said while walking to his room.
Hong Guan followed Hayate into his room and noticed several profound energy barricades inside, realizing just how risky the topic he wanted to talk about with her was.
"Before we talk about the matter, I want to say more than three squads got annihilated."
"Their bones and remains used to provoke me," Hayate clenched his hand slightly. "I know you adored Ghost because you raised every single of them by yourself, Guan."
"I'm sorry."
Hong Guan's eyes widened by this news because Ghost shouldn't have a problem running away from an impossible-to-beat powerful enemy.
Anger swelled inside Hong Guan's heart, yet Hayate seemed more angered by this accident than herself.
Hayate sighed and explained Dullahan to Hong Guan, telling her everything about the Kaiju's power, characteristics, and slyness.
"Dullahan is a smart creature." He stated solemnly.
"It's been ten... No, 14 years since I created him."
"With a strength around the Divine Origin Realm, I'm sure no one on this planet could defeat him."
Hayate stared at his loyal servant and said, "Dullahan's target is Me."
"That's why I'll fight him by myself."
Hong Guan opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but she knew Hayate had made up his mind about this matter.
He is carrying all the pressure alone.
"What about Jasm-?" Hong Guan asked, but Hayate shook his head immediately in denial.
"I can't let her fight, Guan," Hayate answered wryly with a chuckle.
"It's not just about my pride, but also for her well-being."
Since Hayate has made a soul pact with Jasmine, he couldn't let her get injured. They have to be a good partner, and he knew Absolute God Slaying Poison is not just a mere poison.
If Jasmine used profound energy for even a second, Absolute God Slaying Poison would immediately affect her, increasing the time she needed to recover completely.
Hayate sealed the Sky Poison Realm, which means Jasmine couldn't get out of his inner world until he finished this matter.
"Don't worry, Guan." Hayate smiled slightly at her.
"I have a plan."
"It's not perfect, but better than nothing."
"The important part is how I should execute it."
He grasped Hong Guan's hand and added, "I won't let Dullahan become a hindrance to my conquest."
"He's just one rough step for me to reach a higher realm."
Hong Guan shook her head and hugged Hayate into her soft bosom. "If possible, please don't be too reckless and kill yourself." She warned with a shaky tone.
"I won't." Hayate kissed Hong Guan's lips, pushing her onto the table.
"Young master~." Hong Guan licked her lips.
"We can't, you know."
"I'm sure Princess Cang Yue will return shortly."
Hayate chuckled and replied, "I instructed Little Ghost to keep her in check for a moment."
"We have plenty of time for now."
"It's been a few months," Hong Guan gently caressed Hayate's body from top to the bottom. "I see that you've never really relaxed."
"Then, like usual?"
"Yes, obviously," Hayate replied casually.
--- An hour later ---
Hong Guan breathed heavily, and her clothes tattered around Hayate's room.
She moved her gaze to Hayate, whose body was exposed to the brim, revealing his refined muscle and god-like physique.
There were a lot of guys who bragged about their muscular bodies to Hong Guan, but only Hayate possessed the most remarkable body so far. It's not even a comparison, to be honest.
If only Hayate didn't wear his baggy clothes all the time, it would be understandable that he became a chick magnet. Well, his aura was enough to make one stare in amazement already.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Hayate asked while lying on the bed.
Hong Guan giggled and replied, "Nothing~."
"Hmm?"
She suddenly felt a weird sensation all over her body. A burst of energy appeared inside her body, which wrapped her with brilliant white flame.
Another burst of energy happened, and Hong Guan coughed a little, making a silhouette of an azure dragon appear inside her stomach.
Hong Guan gasped a little because two forces seemed to merge inside her body, forming a unique two-colored energy pool.
"3rd Stage..." She watched her hand radiate a more refined profound energy.
"I've finally reached the 3rd stage of the Emperor Profound Realm."
"Congratulations," Hayate commented casually.
"You've obtained Phoenix and Dragon God's blood."
"No, Draconix is probably the proper name for it now."
He smirked and added, "Even though one usually cannot mix two different divine types of blood easily, through me, you were able to gain a perfect hybrid."
Hayate grasped Hong Guan's creamy back and infused his primordial energy into her body, causing the hybrid blood to activate indirectly.
"I'll share my World Ode of the Phoenix version with you." He whispered to her ears.
"It's compatible with your current profound art, so no backlash for you."
"Are you ready?"
Hong Guan nodded and replied, "Mm."
Hayate recited the World Ode of The Phoenix] fundamental technique to Hong Guan and instructed her to follow his profound energy movement.
Hong Guan sensed her profound energy flowed like running water yet contained the fierce heat of a flame. Her entire body was warm, and a pair of white phoenix wings appeared on her back.
A delicate white silvery dragon scales covered Hong Guan's neck and stomach area, slowly fusing into a beautiful armor for her.
Hong Guan raised her arm slightly and observed the pearly white scales with a surprised gaze.
"This is..." She whispered in awe.
"Bloodline activation," Hayate commented calmly.
"When I created your profound art, I said something, right?"
Hong Guan pondered briefly and replied, "It's incomplete and can become better."
"Yes, with my World Ode of the Phoenix, I can finish the last part of your technique." Hayate stopped infusing Hong Guan's body with his primordial energy.
Even though not much, Hong Guan's body skillfully was purified by the most primal energy of this universe, which caused her hybrid bloodline to gain a chance to evolve even more.
"Revolving Heavenly Flame Mantra." Hong Guan chanted the completed profound art. Her heart was set ablaze with golden flame, yet nothing harmed her.
A tiny ember was cultivated for four years straight by Hong Guan without a single break. Every day she would feed her profound energy into the ember, making it grow into a revolving flame.
After four years, a tiny golden sun floated firmly within Hong Guan's body.
Not only does the Revolving Havenly Flame Mantra give her the capability to manipulate flame freely, but she also could merge Fire/Flame Profound Beast's core with herself, summoning them as her flame beasts.
She could also fuse with the flame beast, increasing her strength according to the core quality.
Yes, Hayate used his ability as a reference to create a brand new profound art for Hong Guan years ago, proving how important she was to him.
With the Hayate Version of the [World Ode of the Phoenix] added into [Revolving Heavenly Flame Mantra] and Primordial Energy, Hong Guan actually was able to reach the Sovereign realm without much problem now.
Hayate brought a Kaiju Core from his inner world and placed it in Hong Guan's hand. "Use this when the time is right." He instructed her.
"It's one of the most powerful fire-type Kaiju cores and is suitable for your profound art."
Hayate watched Hong Guan's confused face and added, "Beside me, only two more people could use it."
"Hong Guan, if Dullahan changed his target, I want you to run away immediately to Silver Lake City."
"Bring, Qingyue, Chu Yueli, and Cang Yue with you."
Hong Guan lowered her face and observed the beautiful golden sphere on her palm. "Okay, young master." She replied calmly.
Hayate kissed her again and commented, "I won't die easily."
--- Wasteland of Death ---
A day has passed since Dullahan arrived and annihilated everything on the Wasteland of Death, causing the place to be more befitting of its name.
Hayate arrived on the land with a calm look on his face.
He walked past the searing black flame and casually entered the Wasteland of the Death.
Even though they were hundreds of kilometers away, Hayate and Dullahan could sense each other. Well, they slightly were connected by one frail string.
Hayate breathed and gradually activated [Mystic Art of Body Cultivation]. His entire body was emitting the breath of life faintly, raging with everlasting vigor inside.
'This is a suicide move.' Jasmine commented from his inner world.
'I don't know what your plan was since you have cut our connection for a few hours, but you'll die at this rate, you annoying jerk.'
'You'll die and regret everything, Hayate.' She continued with a soft tone.
Hayate smiled and replied, "Jasmine, you finally called me by my name."
'Are you laughing at me!' Jasmine responded with an angered expression.
"No," He shook his head a little. "I'm not laughing at you."
"You see, you never called me by name for months."
"Princess Jasmine, we are partners."
"Our position is equal, but I can't let an injured girl fight an enemy who could cause greater harm to you."
Hayate picked a small vial from his spatial ring that contained a processed and watered-down version of Absolute God Slaying Poison.
Jasmine, who could see outside and notice the vial, trembled violently. 'You, what are you doing with that poison!' She yelled with a worried tone.
'HAYATE-!'
Hayate cut the connection with his inner world and moved his gaze to Dullahan again.
He blinked once, and the headless knight arrived in front of him.
"Kekeke, you finally here!" Dullahan laughed excitedly.
"How are you, Dullahan?" Hayate asked casually.
"Well, give me a moment."
He began to stretch his body for a moment and picked a sterile needle to inject the watered-down and processed Absolute God Slaying Poison [Miyabi Orochi ver. 30], into his veins.
'Hayate, remember to use this extreme method only in life and death situations." Coach Mei's words echoed within Hayate's ears.
'Unlike me, you don't have a special body of the Fuma Clan.'
'However, As my only successor, I have to teach you this technique.'
Hayate's golden eyes darkened and caused him to get Hemolacria a little because his blood flow increased at an abnormal rate.
He used Hercules's core and increased his physical strength again.
Dullahan watched his former master turn into a 2 meters tall monster with a burly physique and wild goldish black hair.
"Hercules!" Dullahan commented excitedly.
However, Hayate's body suddenly compressed into a slender form. He's around 1,8 meters now, with weird bloodstained marking all over his body.
"Ah... It's more painful than I thought." Hayate groaned in pain a little.
"Well, Dullahan."
"Do you still remember my name?"
Dullahan waved his spear to him and said, "Hayate Kurogami."
Hayate nodded and replied, "Correct."
"Yet, you seemed to forget my other title/name."
"That's weird, I created you before that moment, after all."
He also grasped a spear from his inventory and continued, "Whatever, I'll make you remember it now."
"I, Hayate Kurogami."
"The 42nd generation of Fuma Kotaro."
"The only disciple of 41st generation, Mei Nakiri."
Hayate's entire body emitted a killing intent and stated, "I'm here to kill you, the former mistake I made."