Fireclaw chirped defiantly a couple of times, as if to show that it had lost none of its abilities. Yet, it was reluctant to leave the warmth of Rhett's embrace.
Eventually, it nuzzled its forehead against Rhett's cheek.
After a few seconds of silence, Rhett opened the small box, revealing the bright, pulsating heart of the Fire Phoenix. As its aura spread, not only did Fireclaw immediately fix its gaze on the heart in awe, but even the ancient tree nearby began to sway its branches and leaves, seemingly influenced by the energy.
"Chirp~ Chirp? Chirp!" Fireclaw let out an eager and curious chirp, swallowing hard while staring at the heart, clearly expressing both confusion and an intense desire to consume it.
"Haha, it's for you, my old friend! A tremendous boost! Eat it up, and from now on, we will continue to fight side by side!" Rhett patted Fireclaw on the back of the head and set the box on the ground.
With a couple of chirps of gratitude, Fireclaw cast a thankful glance at Rhett, then hurriedly crouched down and began devouring the Fire Phoenix's heart in large bites.
In less than half an hour, the entire heart, save for a few blood-soaked pieces, was gone, which Fireclaw diligently licked clean.
Then, as if overwhelmed by exhaustion, Fireclaw fell into a deep sleep, slipping into a slumber from which it would not wake for some time.
Rhett didn't attempt to rouse it, as he could sense through their mysterious bond that a tremendous transformation was happening within Fireclaw's body—a change at the very core of its being, one that would lead to an immense upgrade.
This transformation was gradual and gentle, not violent in the least, and even Rhett couldn't predict how long it would take.
He decided to create a stone chair and quietly sat down, closing his eyes and entering his own cultivation.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Rhett suddenly opened his eyes from meditation, a faint flicker of flame flashing briefly before disappearing.
"Hm, this time's cultivation results were beyond my expectations... Both the Profoundness of Explosion and the Profoundness of Heat have seen significant progress. At this rate, reaching mastery shouldn't take too long."
He glanced over at Fireclaw and noticed that it was still asleep, but its body had undergone a drastic transformation compared to three months prior.
First, a fiery red crest resembling a rooster's comb had appeared on its head, and its tail feathers had grown long and ribbon-like, glowing with a brilliant fire-red hue. Its beak had become sharper, and its claws now gleamed like polished metal. While its size hadn't changed drastically, its very essence had undergone a profound shift.
Where once it had been an ordinary Firefeather Eagle, with only low-grade bloodline potential, now it exuded an aura even stronger than that of most saint-level magical beasts. In fact, it carried with it a hint of divinity, powerful and majestic.
Rhett couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. While stunned by the extent of Fireclaw's transformation, he was also genuinely pleased for it.
Judging by the progress, it might take a few more months for the transformation to fully complete.
Rhett set some restrictions, declaring the area off-limits, even to patrolling knights.
Then, standing under the shade of a nearby ancient tree, Rhett habitually extended his spiritual senses to scan the palace, noticing that Reilly was in the council chamber, mentioning his name.
Curious, Rhett leisurely made his way toward the palace.
As he walked, maids and servants bowed, while the knights saluted him respectfully.
Upon reaching the fourth-floor council chamber, he saw a maid pushing in a cart of chilled beer.
Brewed with Blue Tail hops, the beer had a unique flavor. Of course, this was just ordinary beer, with no Blood Source power mixed in.
In fact, the entire palace operated under strict rules. Though lenient with his subordinates, Rhett had never allowed anyone to drink Blood Source-infused beverages during work hours. That wasn't relaxation—it was negligence.
"Good news, Father!" Reilly exclaimed excitedly when he saw Rhett enter the room. Holding a list in his hand, he smiled brightly. "In the past six months, we've discovered two new individuals who have awakened the Saiyan Power!"
The Saiyan Power was the localized name Rhett had given to the power of the God of Love.
The meaning was simple—it symbolized transformation through pain and struggle.
Rhett had considered naming it Uchiha Power or Sharingan Power, but in the end, those names felt too out of place. Saiyan Power had a better ring to it.
"Two new awakeners? Where are they?" Rhett's spirits lifted as he eagerly asked.
"I've arranged for them to stay in the royal city. Should I bring them to the palace?" Reilly inquired.
"Quickly, quickly! I want to meet them." Rhett waved his hand, urging him to act swiftly.
"Understood, Father!" Reilly issued a quick command to one of the knights, who immediately ran off.
Before long, at the royal training ground—a space designed specifically for Saiyan Power awakeners—Rhett and Reilly stood before six individuals of varying builds, all awakened to the Saiyan Power.
Among them were four men and two women, all of whom had awakened their Saiyan Power after losing a loved one.
"Your Majesty!" The six stood in line, respectfully addressing Rhett.
Though they had all experienced heart-wrenching loss, their hearts had since steadied. After Rhett personally avenged each of them, they had felt their burdens lifted and willingly joined his ranks.
In fact, they had heard that they were being trained as future royal guards—a great honor that motivated each of them to remain diligent.
Rhett nodded solemnly, his expression commanding. "It is cause for celebration—our ranks of Saiyan Power awakeners have grown by two more. Allow me to explain the uniqueness of this power."
A year and a half had passed since Rhett first witnessed Blackstar's awakening of the Saiyan Power. During that time, he had frequently consulted with Hypast and communicated with Blackstar.
He had also spent considerable time studying the awakeners he had recruited, gaining a clearer understanding of Saiyan Power.
The two newcomers were a man and a woman. The man was short and lean, with gray hair and black eyes, while the woman had a voluptuous figure, with blue hair and green eyes. Unlike the others, they appeared visibly nervous.
Rhett smiled, reassuring them not to be anxious, before beginning his explanation:
"Saiyan Power is a mysterious force in the world, one that cannot be sought through ordinary means. Under normal circumstances, no matter who you are, this power cannot be attained through standard cultivation—not even by saint-level individuals."
"It can only be awakened through witnessing the death of a loved one and reaching an extreme state of emotion. In that moment, the mind becomes clouded, and in a state of partial or total unconsciousness, the Saiyan Power awakens. You are both fortunate to be among those who have experienced this."
"Once awakened, this power requires no foundation as a knight or a mage. Even an ordinary person can awaken it. Dinan here is a prime example."
"There are advantages and disadvantages to this power, but personally, I believe the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks."
"To begin with, after awakening Saiyan Power, you will no longer have the opportunity to become a knight or a mage. Your mental energy will fuse tightly with your body, changing its nature. This means you won't be able to cultivate battle qi or engage in meditation."
"However, your entire body will undergo a transformation of a different sort. Your energy, stamina, and recovery from injuries will increase dramatically. In every action you take, you'll be able to unleash power far beyond that of others at the same level."
"Of course, there are also drawbacks. The process of cultivation will be more grueling than for mages, and even compared to knights, you'll have to endure more physically taxing exercises. It will be a test of your will."
"Moreover, during combat, your stamina will no longer just be simple physical stamina. It will be intertwined with your mental and blood energy. While these will recover together, they will also be consumed together, making desperate situations even more perilous for you."
Rhett's words left the group deep in thought.
The two newcomers, as well as the four earlier recruits, carefully considered the implications of his explanation.
At the end, Rhett cleared his throat and paused for a moment before continuing:
"There's one final aspect, and this is what gives Saiyan Power an edge over regular knights and mages—Destiny Weapons."
The two newcomers were perplexed. Destiny Weapons? What could those be?
Reilly noticed their confusion and, with a knowing smile, said, "Dinan, Yake, why don't you show them your Destiny Weapons?"
Rhett nodded lightly. "Yes, since you two have already awakened your Destiny Weapons, go ahead and demonstrate."
"At your command, Your Majesty!"
Two burly men in black form-fitting attire jogged to a clearing about fifty meters away, taking deep breaths before silently focusing their energy.
After a few minutes, the two shouted in unison. From their arms, black light radiated, swirling around them and exuding a mysterious aura.
Then, the black light quickly coalesced and separated from their bodies, forming two black tridents in their hands. The air around them stirred as a fierce wind rose, their aura imposing.
"The weapon… it came from their bodies?" The two newcomers were dumbfounded, their mouths agape as they struggled to process what they were witnessing.
One of them asked, "Your Majesty, how are these tridents different from ordinary weapons?"
Rhett turned his gaze to the tridents, his expression serious as he slowly explained:
"So far, I've discovered two types of Destiny Weapons: the white arrow and the black trident. The black trident's ability specifically targets the body. If a knight is struck and bleeds, their body will suffer corrosion, making their wounds unable to heal and preventing their battle qi from flowing properly. When the strength between opponents is roughly equal, the black trident can be a knight's worst enemy, giving its wielder a natural advantage."
"Hiss!"
The two newcomers exchanged a glance. Both of them had once been knights, and they could fully comprehend just how terrifying this black trident was.
"This black trident, which I've named the Spear of Destruction, obliterates a knight's sharp edge. The other weapon, the white arrow, I've named the Soul Destruction Arrow."
"Soul Destruction Arrow? Does that mean... it targets mages?" the man asked in surprise.
Rhett nodded solemnly. "To be precise, it targets mental energy. If a mage's spell collides with the Soul Destruction Arrow, their mental energy will be instantly dispersed. If a person is struck by the arrow—whether they are a mage or a knight—their mind will be thrown into a daze. While the direct damage isn't as overwhelming as the Spear of Destruction, its side effects can be even more devastating."
The two newcomers stood in a daze, processing the information with wide eyes.
After a brief moment, joy began to bloom in their eyes.
They had never imagined that the power they had awakened was so formidable, making them natural counters to other transcendents.
The man shook his head, patting his face as if to snap himself out of disbelief. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and he quickly asked:
"Your Majesty, is Saiyan Power truly this powerful? Why haven't we heard of it before? Don't knights and mages have countermeasures against it?"
Rhett smiled faintly at the question. "The origins of Saiyan Power remain a mystery, even to me. But this power is not without its weaknesses—whether knights or mages, once they've mastered the Profoundness, they will be able to effectively counter Saiyan Power."
"I see, mastering the Profoundness is the key to resisting Saiyan Power…" The man pondered to himself, coming to a realization.
But how many people in the world had mastered the Profoundness? They were mostly saint-level or beyond, weren't they?
In other words, before reaching saint-level, Saiyan Power would give its wielders a significant advantage over knights and mages...
Clang! Clang!
Just as the two newcomers were digesting Rhett's words, two finely wrapped packages appeared out of thin air, hitting the ground with a sound like rocks colliding.
The newcomers looked on in confusion.
Rhett smiled and said, "These are gifts for you, as well as essential items for your future—Blood Source Stones. Saiyan Power can only be cultivated through diligent training and by consuming these Blood Source Stones. As long as you train hard, you will have an unlimited supply of them!"
Over the past two years, Blood Source Stones had become widely known and were no longer a mysterious resource. Nearly every transcendent had used them at some point, so they were quite familiar with their properties.
However, due to their high value, they weren't something that lower-level transcendents could access easily. The two newcomers were overjoyed by this display of generosity from the king and immediately bowed in gratitude.
Rhett gave them further instructions, offering detailed advice and precautions before leaving the training ground.
As they walked along the broad gemstone-paved avenue, Reilly, following his father, was contemplating which matter to report next.
After all, he had many responsibilities, from overseeing transcendent hunters to managing the transcendent ranches and the situations in various major cities—none of which were trivial.
But before Reilly could speak, Rhett brought up a subject of his own:
"How are things with the Hunter's Guild these days? I haven't asked about it in half a year. Give me an update."
Reilly's expression shifted slightly as he nodded. "I've compiled the information. Currently, the Transcendent Hunter's Guild is spread across every major city in the Green Kingdom, and we are in the process of establishing guilds in the smaller towns as well. So far, there are 13,000 registered transcendent hunters across the kingdom… However, since the guild is still relatively new, not many hunters have undergone the ranking process yet. There doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm for it…"