--- Chapter 36 ---
After releasing the curse of the Phoenix Clan, everyone enjoyed the barbeque of wild bovine meats.
"T-This is..."
Yuyan has an awkward expression on her face.
Although she wished the best for Yu Long, his actions sometimes are questionable.
Why so?
In the Phoenix Clan's open yard, a large iron pan was 'directly' used to sear several cuts of meat.
You might think there is a large fire beneath the iron pan, but no. There is no single spark.
Yuyan looked at the red rock below the iron pan and mumbled, "Using Evil God's Fire Seed as the heat source to roast some meats..."
"Master even added some weakening arrays, so the Fire of Law within the Fire Seed didn't burn everything."
"I don't know if I should be impressed or not."
"I couldn't imagine anyone to have such a 'creative' idea besides Master himself." She giggled amusingly.
Yu Long gobbled a plate full of roasted meat. He glanced at Yuyan and commented, "What are you staring at? Sit down and enjoy a meal with everyone."
"Then, pardon my intrusion." Yuyan won't be awkward and sits beside Yu Long.
As Yu Long enjoyed his food, he sometimes observed Yu Yan's body and marveled at her beauty. He also discovered her energy level was at the peak of the Mortal Realm.
The peak of the Mortal Realm is the 10th Level of the Sovereign Profound Realm. It was unbelievable, but recalling the power of Phoenix God's residual soul to survive this long, Yu Long thought it was normal.
"Yuyan, I believe since you have transformed into human form. You also developed profound veins, no?"
"My other kaiju haven't unlocked their humanoid transformation yet."
"Yes," Yuyan answered honestly. "It is all Thanks to the Master's help."
"Stop with the flattery." Yu Long rolled his eyes.
Yuyan smiled and added, "My Cultivation is at the peak of Mortal Realm."
"It could be higher by accumulating more natural energy, but Master doesn't seem to show much interest in cultivation base..."
"That's where you are wrong." Yu Long denied while wiping his mouth.
"I'm very interested in the Cultivation Path of this world."
"I don't aggressively increase my cultivation base because I like to grasp every realm's fundamentals and purpose. Given my research, I already discovered the secret behind Elementary and Nascent Profound Realm."
"How perceptive." Yuyan nodded in understanding. "The people of this era are really lacking compared to you, Master."
"The foundation is trash."
"And their understanding is shallower than muddy puddles..."
"Like I said, stop with the flattery." Yu Long sighed, flicking the bird kaiju's forehead.
Yuyan didn't dodge and wholeheartedly accepted the flick.
"Ahn... Thanks for the punishment, Master~!"
"..." Yu Long stared at her blankly.
"Get the hell out of here..."
"Yes, Master~!"
...
Yuyan walked around the Phoenix Clan and stalked Yu Long's companions.
She started with Xia Qingyue and was immediately baffled.
Xia Qingyue sat down not far from Yu Long, enjoying her barbeque with him. She has a happy expression on her face, definitely having a feeling for the Master.
"To think Blue Pole Star would give birth to a gifted young girl with two cheat-like innate talents."
"Nine Profound Exquisite Body."
"And Heart of Snow Glazed Glass."
Yuyan chuckled, "No wonder Master said there is another person who could cultivate the modified World Ode of the Phoenix."
"With Nine Profound Exquisite Body, she could cultivate any profound words without backlash."
Yuyan changed her target to Lily, seeing the bright-looking maid from afar.
Lily flipped barbequed meats over the iron pan and shared them with the Phoenix Clan's members. Sometimes, she'd taste the barbeque herself and put on a delightful look.
Yuyan's eyes blinked as she discovered unknown draconic bloodlines from Lily's body.
She tilted her head and frowned, "What are these bloodlines?"
"They are called Altered Bloodlines." Someone commented casually behind Yuyan.
Yuyan's pupils constricted as she turned around and saw Hong Guan leaning on a tree with a plate in her hand.
"Altered Bloodline? I've never heard such a term before." The Phoenix retorted.
Hong Guan retorted, "Of course, it didn't exist before. Young Master Yu Long discovered them a while ago."
"You're kidding..." Yuyan doubtfully stared at the crimson-haired woman.
Hong Guan closed her eyes and activated [Yin Dragon's Bloodline] in her body. The darkness enveloped her slowly, shocking the Phoenix.
Retracting the darkness back, Hong Guan opened her eyes and added, "Altered Bloodline is just one of many things Young Master Yu Long discovered."
"Since you are a Young Master's servant just like me, I don't mind telling you early."
"Beside Altered Bloodline... Young Master Yu Long also developed profound patterns, aspects, and incarnations."
"These fields of profound ways are new."
"You won't get any similar for the next six years when the Young Master's plan is ripe enough."
Yuyan listened to Hong Guan's explanation and was speechless the whole time.
After acknowledging that Yuyan underestimated her Master's prowess, another reality check smacked her face.
Let's not even talk about the profound aspects and incarnations first.
The discovery of profound patterns is enough to shock Yuyan to the very core. God and Devil Races waged a war against each other to understand the Primal Chaos, but seven-year-old Yu Long discovered this secret more than them.
Yuyan felt her Phoenix Legacy wasn't that great anymore. After all, Yu Long has thousands of Profound Arts with exceptional development.
'The only worth I have is being a good pet and servant...' Yuyan ridiculed herself.
Hong Guan noticed Yuyan's expression and commented, "Don't make that face."
"Young Master isn't the type of a person that sees the people close to him with numbers. He likes our company but can't convey it well."
"I see..." Yuyan sighed in relief.
But then, Yuyan realized that only she knew about Yu Long's past life.
Wait, she actually has an advantage over other servants!
What Yu Long needed was a good listener. He must feel frustrated with no one to convey his feelings.
Yuyan stared at Yu Long's back and vowed, 'Don't worry, Master! Yuyan will be a good kaiju and servant for you~!'
Yu Long felt a chill on his spine and grumbled. Something horrible was about to happen, but he didn't know what it was.
...
The day continues gradually as Yu Long shares the World Ode of the Phoenix with the Phoenix Clan.
It was the interpreted version that Yu Long fixed with his understanding of fire-based profound arts. It alone is stronger than the World Ode of the Phoenix that the Divine Phoenix Empire had.
Besides that, Yu Long does more research on [Phoenix Aspects] and cultivates diligently.
They stayed in the Phoenix Clan for two more weeks before a group of Shadow Agents from the Shadow Realm came to protect this place.
The Phoenix Clan is still too weak, but Yu Long was confident they could become strong in a few years. When the original plot started, Yu Long would have another army of elites under his control.
Today is the day Yu Long and his companions returned to the Yu Clan.
They have gained enough in this journey.
Even Xia Qingyue, who wanted to go and go on this journey, was satisfied by the place Yu Long chose. She couldn't help but wonder how he knew about this remote location.
She encountered many bizarre things on this journey and liked them.
On top of all, Xia Qingyue finally found a clue about the 'Realm of Gods' her mother talked about that day.
"Sister Yan, you're telling the truth about the Realm of God, right?" Xia Qingyue confirmed again.
A wry smile appeared on Yuyan's beautiful face as this was the thousandth time Xia Qingyue asked this question. This seemingly innocent, cute, and charming young lady has such a deep interest in the Realm of Gods.
"Yes. I'm telling the truth."
"You should be able to tell if I lied or not." Yuyan narrowed her eyes, poking Xia Qingyue about the Heart of Snow Glazed Glass.
Xia Qingyue smiled and returned, "I just want to hear your answer."
Yu Long received a bow from the Phoenix Clan's members as they stared at him with teary red eyes.
"Thank you for everything, Benefactor Yu!" Feng Baichuan cupped his hand firmly. "Without you, we will continue to suffer for years."
"You've given us great hope."
"From now on, the Phoenix Clan will be yours. We will try our best to satisfy your orders."
"Well..." Yu Long smiled at them.
"Train well. Give me a surprise the next time we meet."
"YES!" The Phoenix Clan responded with determination. Even the young kids gazed at Yu Long with admiration.
"Then, see you later." Yu Long waved his hand and disappeared with a gust of wind.
On the horizon, Yuyan returned to her Kaiju Form. And everyone rode her back.
Yuyan spread her wide emerald-like feathered wings, making Xia Qingyue and Lily's eyes shine.
"Woah, so sparkly." Xia Qingyue touched one of the feathers gently.
Meanwhile, Lily rubbed the feather and mumbled, "I wonder how much this would be worth in the market..."
"Lily, your greediness is showing." Yu Long gave the maid a questionable gaze.
"It's Young Master's fault." Lily pouted, placing her hands on the hip.
"How could it be my fault?" Yu Long was 'actually' taken aback by her response.
The maid scrunched her nose and added, "It's because you didn't pay me enough."
"..." Xia Qingyue.
"..." Hong Guan.
"..." Yu Long.
"Uh, but Master gave you several good things, no? Like Altered Bloodlines and Profound Aspects." Yuyan commented.
"That's true..." Lily nodded solemnly.
"However!"
"Those things won't allow me to buy new clothes."
The corner of Yu Long's mouth twitched as he said, "Then, you should ask my mother for a raise, not me."
"She was the one who employed you."
"...Wait, you're a fucking Shadow's Maiden. The Shadow Realm should give you enough money!"
"Ack." Lily froze awkwardly.
She rocked her head away and whistled, "H-Hehe, That doesn't count."
"Don't count your head!" Yu Long flicked Lily's forehead.
"Wuu, wuu... Young Master is bullying me again."
"You deserve it, Lily." Xia Qingyue remarked.
"Yes, you deserve it." Hong Guan agrees with Xia Qingyue.
"Anyway." Yu Long patted Yuyan's back.
"Yuyan, show me how fast you are."
"Right away, Master~!"
Yuyan stretched her wings and flapped them, driving past the clouds.
A beautiful green cloud sliced the horizon, creating a beautiful aurora.
...
...
One year later.
Drifting River City, Yu Clan.
A golden-eyed youth woke up drowsily.
He yawned and saw four beautiful ladies on his bed.
"Haha, any man would be jealous..." He chuckled.
"Well, I'm living a good life."