--- Chapter 34 ---
"Turn me into your kaiju!" The Phoenix said longingly.
Yu Long was 'actually' caught off guard. He didn't expect the residual soul of the Phoenix to have such desire.
Then, again. Yu Long could understand her way of thinking.
To her, [Kaiju Maker] is a new path to live on.
After passing the Phoenix Legacy to Yu Long, the residual soul wouldn't have enough power to survive. She's on her last breath if we use a more common term.
Yu Long sighed and answered, "Even If you want to become my Kaiju, I'm on the level where I can [Crystalize] your residual soul."
"I'm limited to a more organic matter currently."
"I know..." The Phoenix replied calmly. "Your mastery [Kaiju Maker] is based on your soul's strength."
"The more your soul recovers from the exhaustion of reincarnation, the stronger [Kaiju Maker] will be."
"I was once part of the True Primordial Phoenix. Her soul is exceedingly strong, allowing us to revive from ashes through Nirvana."
"Our body changed, but our soul stayed the same."
"That's why by absorbing my soul's essence, your soul will be much stronger than now." The Phoenix added.
"It would also recover a part of your past life's memory."
Yu Long frowned as he asked, "How did you know so much about [Kaiju Maker]? I thought you could only see what I experienced."
"Indeed." The Phoenix nodded her head. "However, your [Kaiju Maker] seemed to have its innate spirit and showed me something incredible."
"It wants me to help you."
"Please, Honored One..."
"You know how desperate I am...."
"Are you sure?" Yu Long asked for the last time. He wanted to see just how determined the residual soul of the Phoenix was.
"100%!" The Phoenix responded in a beat. There is no hint of hesitation.
Yu Long sat down and waved his hand, "Give me the Phoenix's Origin blood first."
"Right away~!" The Phoenix released a small yet excited cry, summoning twenty-two drops of blood from thin air. The scarlet blood contained such a strong vitality and a dense divine aura, making Yu Kong frown slightly.
Yu Long picked the jade bottle with the purified Phoenix's bloodline he got from Feng Baichuan. He compared the two bloods and groaned, "I see what I'm lacking now."
"The Phoenix's Origin Blood doesn't just carry her ability, but also the Original Phoenix God's Essence and condensed Law of Fire, right?"
The Phoenix blinked in surprise, "H-How did you know?"
"Just a casual guess." Yu Long lamented, thinking his purified version was inferior. However, he realized that Feng Baichuan's bloodline had long been diluted over 1,000 years.
It was a miracle the Phoenix Clan could still maintain such a strong vitality until now.
'Just a casual guess? I don't think so.' The Phoenix giggled in amusement.
The Phoenix has witnessed and even experienced what [Kaiju Maker] is capable of, so she couldn't align Yu Long's feat with common sense.
Just an hour ago, the Phoenix was shocked by the young mortal's heaven-defying action.
He broke the curse she placed on the Phoenix Clan's bloodline.
He cracked the restriction placed by the Evil God on his Fire Seed.
He used Light Profound Art and Darkness Profound Art, even training them simultaneously.
And lastly, he was a reincarnated person!
The Phoenix was fascinated like a charming young lady outside her trial ground.
No, Enlightened would be more fitting for the Phoenix's situation.
Yu Long controlled the 22 Drops of True Phoenix Blood with Yume's [Psychic Force] and drew it close to his body.
He adjusted his body and mumbled, "Give me the World Ode of the Phoenix as well."
"I'll absorb the blood while learning it."
"E-Eh? Okay!" The Phoenix summoned a jade slab and gently placed it on Yu Long's lap. "Cultivating the World Ode of the Phoenix might be hard, as it only has the latter parts."
"Don't worry. As long as I know the activation patterns, I can trace the World Ode of the Phoenix back to its origin." Yu Long confidently grinned at the Phoenix.
"I might even get the true complete version of the technique."
"..." The Phoenix.
It seems she was still underestimating Yu Long's prowess.
Wait, a question suddenly struck her mind.
"Are you perhaps getting an inheritance left behind by God and the Devil Race? I've seen you using both profound strengths earlier."
Yu Long patted his chin thoughtfully, "You mean [Art of Ghost] and [Art of Violet Mist]? No, I created them myself because mastering Yin(Darkness) and Yang(Light) sounds cool."
"Also, having both fundamental elements as the base will lay a perfect starting foundation for my future."
"Y-You created them?" The Phoenix was too stunned to speak after that.
Who thought of creating and mastering Orthodox and Unorthodox Paths because it was cool?
The more she talked with the Kaiju Maker himself, the more she questioned her reality.
If only the Phoenix knew Yu Long has a thick list of [Arts Series] in the Yu Clan and the back of his mind. One might wonder just what kind of shocked expression she had.
Yu Long furrowed his brows as he activated [Thought Acceleration] and [Kaiju Maker] at the same time. He absorbed the Phoenix Origin Blood in a matter of a second and sorted the information about the World Ode of the Phoenix.
A scarlet phoenix mark appears on Yu Long's forehead, but Yu Long doesn't pay much attention to it.
Several Profound Arts in his head are compatible with the World Ode of the Phoenix. One is with Wood Attribute, and the other is Wind Attribute.
Now that Yu Long thought about it, Wood Attribute is very rare.
As far as Yu Long knew, only the Elven Race, or its branch called Wood Spirit Race, have an innate affinity with Wood(Plant) Attribute.
Yu Long didn't count his and Lily's [Grass Dragon's Bloodline and Aspect] as it was self-created by him.
"Phoenix, you didn't mind if I modified the World Ode of the Phoenix slightly, right?"
"Err... What?" The Phoenix was confused.
"Haha, I take that as a yes." Yu Long's laugh echoed in the confined space.
He closed his eyes and pulled out some parts of [Art of Wood] and [Art of Wind] to improve the World Ode of the Phoenix.
Yu Long breathed in, converting his vitality into Wood Element and Wind Element with the help of [Grass and Gale Dragons' Altered Bloodline].
Wood and Wind Energy generated slowly, flowing in Yu Long's profound veins. After that, a spark appeared on its abdomen and was magnified by the Wood-Wind Energy, becoming bigger and bigger.
Yu Long could feel a new aspect growing inside him.
No, it's not just one, but three aspects!
[Wood Phoenix Aspect]
[Wind Phoenix Aspect]
[True Phoenix Aspect]
Yu Long also could combine these aspects and created [Ascended Phoenix Aspect].
"And done..." Yu Long clasped his hand, spreading ashes everywhere.
The ashes combusted, and a gust of wind carried its force upward, causing the fiery bird to appear.
"..." The Phoenix.
Unbelievable.
He successfully modified the Profound Art tailor-made by Phoenix for her bloodline!
Numbness is all the Phoenix could feel at the moment. Yes, too many shocks in less than two hours.
"Next step, your Origin Energy and Soul." Yu Long opened his eyes, revealing a majestic pair of golden eyes.
Unlike his usual golden eyes, there are fiery feelings in them now.
"At the same, I'll also begin your transformation into a Kaiju."
"Finally, I can't wait!" The Phoenix immediately forgot her disbelief in Yu Long's action and approached him with her spirit body hurriedly.
Their heads met with each other, releasing a dim golden light.
The Phoenix's Origin Energy and Soul transferred to Yu Long gradually as her spirit body became fainter each second.
"After my revival, our status will be different." The Phoenix smiled at him.
"So, please take care of me well."
"Dear Master..."
Yu Long, immersed in the sensation of [Kaiju Maker], becomes more powerful. It's also easier to control now with less energy consumption and mental toll.
Entering the inner world, Yu Long was 'instantly' greeted by his first and second kaiju.
"NYUU!" Woby jiggled its body like usual.
"My Lord." Yume respectfully welcomed him.
Yu Long smiled at them and said, "It seems we are going to make another comrade earlier than I expected."
"Nyuu!" Woby was excited.
Tell me it's slime.
Tell me it's slime!
"No, Woby. It's not a slime." Yu Long helplessly responded. "I don't want to disgrace the Phoenix by turning her into a slime..."
"Although it would be hilarious."
"Phoenix, so Fire, and Bird... Uh." Yume has a bad taste in her mouth.
"As an insect-based Kaiju, I have natural opposition against the Phoenix, but if My Lord said so. There is nothing I could do."
"I haven't even started the process..." Yu Long stared at his kaiju with a stunned expression.
"Nyuu..." Woby waved its water tentacle and waited from afar. As a water-based kaiju, it finally realizes the Phoenix's threat.
Too late, Little Guy.
Yu Long shook his head and created a small whirlwind, crystallizing the residual soul of the Phoenix.
A deep, scarlet-colored sphere appeared in Yu Long's hand.
It might be a residual soul, but it's much more potent than any essence sphere he had.
The Phoenix is a sacred creature.
A low-leveled essence sphere won't bring the kaiju's potential out.
What Yu Long needed was the best of the best. Yes, essence spheres with similar origins and compatible power.
"Yume, take some from the 5th pile."
"And two from the 8th pile."
"The best grade you could find."
"Okay, my lord." Yume used her [Psychic Force] and brought several essence spheres for Yu Long.
Yu Long sorted the essence spheres one by one before finalizing ten essence spheres from rare or maybe only one he had in the stash.
These essence spheres are so rare that Yu Long didn't think he could get them more anytime soon.
"Well, let's see what kind of Kaiju you'd be, Phoenix!" Yu Long shouted in anticipation.
The eleven spheres merged slowly and caused a storm in the inner world, shaking the clouds away. Yume created a shield around Yu Long, Woby, and herself.
A bright green light erupted, followed by a cry of a Phoenix.
Yu Long looked up and saw a massive emerald crystal-like egg appear from the merge of high-quality essence spheres.
The emerald egg cracked, releasing a brighter green ray.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
An explosion occurred and washed the cloud away.
A silhouette of a great bird gradually merged. Its body is over twenty meters with a wingspan of thrice that.
Two pairs of wings unfurled from its back, and one set is much bigger than the other.
Emerald-like feathers covered its body, making the creature look utterly beautiful. Its jade-like tail separated into three long waves, swaying hypnotically.
Its beak is a deeper shade of emerald, spewing golden-green flame.
Above it is a pair of gentle yet profound yellowish-scarlet eyes.
At the top of its head is a majestic nine-pronged crown of gorgeous pure emerald.
CAW!!
Phoenix's cry blasted heaven and earth.
A new ruler of the sky has been born!
Yu Long sighed in relief, "Welcome back, Phoenix."
"No, it's awkward to call you that..."
"From now on, you're Yuyan!"