Evolution Begins With A Big Tree

Chapter 980, The Return of the Empress

Translator:  Ashish

Translation Checker: Silavin

Time flows like a river, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

During this time, one familiar figure after another returned to Yu Zi Yu’s side.

“Master… It’s been so long…” With a trembling voice, the Zerg Queen, Shalira, slowly bowed, taking the initiative to pay her respects.

“It truly has been a long time, Shalira…” Chuckling gently, Yu Zi Yu carefully studied the girl standing before him.

She was wearing a sleek black bodysuit that outlined her perfect figure. A pair of insect-like wings extended from her back. Her hair, black and long, shimmered with a soft white glow, a mark of her immense Psychic Power.

As for her face, Shalira looked just as she did before, untouched by the passage of time.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear her strength had reached Late-Stage Tier-5, just one step away from achieving the Harmonization Realm.

“Her Psychic Power has fully materialized… At Tier-6, she will likely evolve into a Psychic Lifeform,” Yu Zi Yu mused silently, seeing through the true nature of his disciple.

A Psychic Lifeform, especially one that had shed its physical body to ascend to such a state, was a terrifying existence.

From any perspective, such a being was formidable and could easily stand at the pinnacle of its peers.

Even those of the same tier would have to tread carefully, or risk falling to such an entity.

This fact alone highlighted the exceptional talent of Yu Zi Yu’s disciple.

“Not bad…” Praising her softly, Yu Zi Yu, seated high on the throne of the Demon Palace’s grand hall, waved his hand and instructed, “You may go rest for now.”

However, as if recalling something, Yu Zi Yu added, “The Demon Court’s grand ceremony will be held tomorrow. Make sure to wear formal attire.”

“Understood, Master,” Shalira replied, her laughter clear as a silver bell as she gracefully exited the hall.

This was not the time for reminiscence; many more were awaiting for Yu Zi Yu’s audience.

Over the past ten days, Yu Zi Yu had remained seated on his throne, meeting with one familiar face after another. Shalira was merely one among them.

Just then, as if sensing something, Yu Zi Yu’s gaze sharpened.

Slowly lifting his head, he looked toward the grand hall’s entrance.

There, stepping into view, was an all-too-familiar figure.

A tall and elegant figure, her bare feet stepping lightly on violet flames. With each step, a lotus bloomed beneath her feet, emitting a peculiar resonance that lingered in the air.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that she wore two exquisite earrings—a Dragon and a Serpent—that swayed gently.

“Ling Er…” a soft murmur escaped Yu Zi Yu’s lips as he looked at the figure before him, his expression subtly shifting.

Ling Er—known to the world as the Empress. If Yu Zi Yu was the openly recognized ruler of the Demon Court, then Ling Er, like the queen of the night, silently presided in the shadows.

She was the Princess of Demon Court, Ling Er.

“M… Master…” Her voice trembled with a mix of disbelief and overwhelming emotion.

Over ten years may have passed, but her feelings for her Master had not diminished in the slightest.

On the contrary, they had grown stronger with each passing day.

Now, as she stood quietly, gazing up at the figure clad in snowy white and seated upon the throne, even Ling Er—despite her unparalleled self-control—could not suppress her emotions.

Yet, this surge of feeling only underscored how deeply Yu Zi Yu was rooted in her heart.

After all, to stir such emotions in the Empress—a being who struck fear into the hearts of both the dark world and the mortal world alike—there could only ever be one person: Yu Zi Yu.

“It’s…really…been… a long… time…” Stretching each word, Yu Zi Yu rose from his throne for the first time, stepping toward the figure in the distance.

Among all the familiar faces in his life, Ling Er was undoubtedly the one he could never overlook. Her importance was unparalleled—even Nine Tails could not compare.

After all, Ling Er was the little girl he had watched grow up bit by bit.

“Master… I’ve missed you so much…” Her voice trembled with emotion as Ling Er dashed toward Yu Zi Yu, unable to contain her excitement.

But at that moment, as if guided by fate, Yu Zi Yu noticed two spectral figures entwining around Ling Er.

One resembled a massive Black Snake, as if it had slithered forth from the depths of the Underworld.

The other took the form of a Black Dragon, exuding a terrifying aura.

And now…

*Hissss…*

*Roooaaar…*

Snake’s hisses and Dragon’s roar filled the air, carrying a palpable sense of anger.

For a fleeting moment, it seemed as though they were trying to stop Yu Zi Yu from approaching Ling Er.

“Fate truly works in mysterious ways…” marveling in his heart, a faint smile could not help but flash on Yu Zi Yu’s lips.

After all, he had seen such phantom forms before—he himself possessed something quite similar.

*Roooaaar…*

*Roooaaar…*

Two mighty Dragon Roars erupted, shaking Heaven with their terrifying resonance.

The sound rippled through the clouds, stirring countless waves in its wake.

If one were to glance beyond the Demon Palace at this moment, they would witness an awe-inspiring sight—Phantoms of a colossal Azure Dragon and a massive Purple Dragon, each stretching tens of thousands of meters, coiling around the palace in an intricate dance.

These were the manifestations of power that Yu Zi Yu had cultivated after mastering One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones.

Though these Dragon phantoms were not living beings, they served as vessels for the power of Yu Zi Yu’s Azure Dragon Form and Purple Dragon Form.

And while they were not truly alive, their overwhelming aura rivaled the descent of actual Dragons.

Thus, the Dragon Roars were more than enough to overwhelm the two Spirits lingering around Ling Er.

“Ling Er, it seems you’re still a bit lacking…” Yu Zi Yu’s playful laughter echoed as he noticed the once-proud Dragon and Snake phantoms near Ling Er now withered like frost-bitten plants.

“Can I even compare to Master? Don’t you see what kind of strength you have?” Though momentarily startled, Ling Er’s heart swelled with joy as she laughed.

To her, the stronger Yu Zi Yu was, the happier she became.

Now, without even lifting a finger, Yu Zi Yu’s two Dragon phantoms had frozen her entire body in place.

Such power—how could it not leave her awestruck?

[Clearly, Master’s journey had borne extraordinary results.] As these thoughts crossed her mind, Ling Er suddenly remembered something important.

After a brief pause, she spoke up, “By the way, Master, there’s someone very mysterious who’s been wanting to meet you for a long time…”