Evolution Begins With A Big Tree

Chapter 1401, Traveling with Ni Shang

Translator:  Ashish

Translation Checker: Silvain

*Rooooaar…* With a sudden thunderous roar, Yu Zi Yu stretched his gigantic form to its utmost limits, his body continuously unfurling and spilling into the depths of the Void.

He was about to lead the Void Army on their true march of invasion.

And this time, their target was none other than the heart of all Races: Planet Celestus.

It was both the Void’s open provocation to the universe, and a long-prepared stratagem of Yu Zi Yu’s.

Celestus was teeming with countless powerhouses, and a wealth of treasures.

[If luck is on my side…] A faint smile tugged at Yu Zi Yu’s lips, a glimmer of anticipation flickering in his eyes. [However, before the invasion, I’ll need to move my True Body away from Celestus.

Otherwise, if my True Body clashed with the Purple Dragon Form, it would fail to produce the desired effect!?]

As for what effect Yu Zi Yu desired? Naturally, it was the impression of his True Body, the Demon Body, saving the Myriad Races from the catastrophe.

“Then my True Body will go searching for the final stone stele.”

With that thought, his consciousness split in two.

…

Back on Planet Celestus, Yu Zi Yu, wearing the mantle of the ‘Demon Emperor’, bid farewell to the assembled powerhouses.

“Demon Emperor, where are you going?” A sudden question drifted over.

It was Ni Shang of the Phoenix Clan.

“Recently, I’ve sensed an opportunity. Somewhere in the Darkest Reach of the universe, something seems to be calling to me. I intend to investigate.”

As he replied, Yu Zi Yu’s gaze settled upon the distant figure draped in rosy robes, and a veil covering her features.

Her figure alone, graceful, supple, and enchanting, was enough to steal one’s breath.

This was the number one beauty of the universe, as if she had been molded by the Creature himself, pure, natural, flawless.

“I wonder… may I accompany the Demon Emperor?” The unrivaled beauty of the starry sky blinked playfully, a hint of mischief glowing in her eyes as she asked with clear anticipation.

“Uh…” Yu Zi Yu momentarily paused. He was surprised, but he did not immediately refuse.

[Letting the Matriarch of the Phoenix Clan accompany will not pose any problem. It won’t change anything. Besides, it’s just one steel, she should not be able to discern its true significance.] Thinking so, Yu Zi Yu smiled and agreed, “Of course… you may.”

With that, he lifted a hand in invitation.

“Please.”

“Gladly.”

A faint smile graced Ni Shang’s as she lightly kicked the ground with her toes.

And in the very next instant….

*Screeeeech…* A soft, melodious cry echoed as a radiant Phoenix of nine-colors materialized beneath her feet.

The Nine-Colored Divine Phoenix was the manifested form of the Phoenix Clan’s Imperial Artifact, the Iridescent Cloud Robe.

It possessed combat strength rivaling that of a Hegemon.

Of course, compared to a true Hegemon, it still fell short.

After all, Ni Shang’s current strength was far from enough to awaken the Imperial Artifact to its full power.

Still… for traveling, it was more than sufficient.

*Screeeeech…* With a clearer, more resonant cry, the Nine-Colored Phoenix spread its wings and vanished into the horizon, trailing a streak of rainbow light.

Yu Zi Yu watched for a moment, then tapped his foot as well.

*Rooooaar…* A Dragon Roar reverberated through the world as a Dragon manifested beneath him.

This Dragon beneath him was formed from one of his own roots.

Its strength was nothing impressive, but its appearance was quite decent, more than enough to serve as a temporary mount.

And now, Dragon and Phoenix flew side by side through the starry expanse, creating rather harmonious, even picturesque sight.

…

However, what neither Yu Zi Yu nor Ni Shang knew was that the moment they left together, one power after another across the universe fell into uproar.

“The Phoenix Clan’s Matriarch is actually this close to the Demon Emperor?”

“And the two of them… are setting off together to seek a fortuitous chance?”

…

Whispers spread through the crowd, countless experts showing expressions of disbelief.

“Could the two…be planning to become Dao Companions!?”

“If they did, and if the Phoenix Clan and the Demon Court truly joined hands, who in the universe could oppose them?”

“No, it’s not impossible!”

The Phoenix Clan is the noblest of all Races beneath the Heavens. It won’t be surprising if they truly did produce a ‘Demon Empress.’

Besides, Ni Shang has been universally acknowledged as the most beautiful being under the Heavens.]

These kinds of thoughts flashed in the mind of every powerhouse, causing the corner of their eyes to twitch uncontrollably.

This development… was anything but good news for them.

Meanwhile, even the Phoenix Clan itself had descended into panic.

“Ahhh… why is Ni Shang so disobedient?”

“What’s so good about the Demon Emperor? She thinks about him all day long.”

“Haaa…there’s nothing we can do. The Demon Emperor is the strongest being in the cosmos, and while Ni Shang is strong, she is quite immature. It’s understandable that she is blinded by emotions!”

“You’re still defending her!? Do you not see that she’s already smitten!?”

This rare internal debate left the entire Phoenix Clan helpless.

Their Matriarch was perfect in every way, except for being somewhat prideful and arrogant. And when such pride and arrogance encountered a being capable of utterly crushing it, who also reigned supreme in the universe, then…

Things would definitely get complicated.

And this was why the Phoenix Clan felt uneasy about her actively approaching the Demon Emperor.

…

Meanwhile, Yu Zi Yu and Ni Shang remained blissfully unaware of the storm their departure had stirred.

If Yu Zi Yu came to know, he probably wouldn’t be able to stop himself from laughing out loud.

Ni Shang may be the most beautiful being in the cosmos, but he had long since given his heart entirely to cultivation, he had no time for romance.

And besides, though Ni Shang appeared to be approaching him proactively, the mischief hidden in her eyes betrayed her true intentions.

Yu Zi Yu reckoned that the Phoenix Clan’s Matriarch probably just wanted to go out and play. After all, the entire journey so far had been filled with her endless complaints.

“I may be the Phoenix Clan’s Matriarch, but everything is controlled by the Elders… They’re always restricting me. I can’t do this, I can’t do that, *hmph…*”

Her tone grew increasingly petulant, like a girl throwing a tantrum.

Hearing this, Yu Zi Yu finally understood why the Phoenix Clan Elders refused to grant her real authority.

Forget the Phoenix Clan, even in his Demon Court, he wouldn’t dare entrust leadership to someone like her.

How could the head of a great clan behave so willfully?

Fortunately, Ni Shang herself seemed to understand this.

Despite her astonishing power, she had always obeyed the Elders’ arrangements.

In truth, rather than saying she ruled the Phoenix Clan… it was more accurate to say she had already relinquished the clan’s reins to the Elders, content to be a hands-off Matriarch

However, unlike Yu Zi Yu’s freedom, the Phoenix Clan Elders constantly restrained her, so much so that she felt suffocated.

Thus, borrowing the Demon Emperor’s presence, she slipped out to breathe a little.

In the end, the Phoenix Clan was quite large and powerful, and burdened with many rules, far too many for someone like Ni Shang.