Evolution Begins With A Big Tree

Chapter 1176, The Wall of Sighs

Translator:  Ashish

Translation Checker: Silvain

When it came to surrender, Yu Zi Yu had always welcomed all who came.

However, most of those who sought refuge with him were rarely entrusted with important roles.

After all, the current Yu Zi Yu commanded more subordinates than he could count.

More importantly, he had at his disposal the myriad creatures of the Nine Realms.

So, to put it bluntly, Yu Zi Yu had no shortage of loyal followers.

Those who surrendered were, more often than not, just a means to bolster his forces and at critical times, to serve as cannon fodder.

Just like the remnants of the Centaur Clan who had chosen to pledge allegiance to the Demon Court.

Now, the majority of the Centaur Forces had been dispatched to the Elemental Clan’s territory, to assist in their extermination.

Of course, for them, this was also an opportunity. Should they earn military merit for the Demon Court, Yu Zi Yu would not be opposed to nurturing them in earnest.

…

Now, slowly lifting his gaze, Yu Zi Yu focused his attention on the nearby figures standing in the grand hall, fear and trepidation plastered on their faces.

At this moment, the corner of Yu Zi Yu’s lips curved slightly.

“Nethrûdor… Netherbeast… and a Young Nether Dragon…” With each mention, the hearts of those standing in the hall couldn’t help but pound harder.

And then, led by the three figured, they all simultaneously dropped to their knees and cried out,

“Greetings, Your Excellency…”

“Greetings, Your Excellency…”

In unison, dozens of figures knelt and bowed, prostrating themselves in reverence.

These were the last remnants of the Netherborns.

Not everyone among them could be considered the last embers of the Netherborns.

Only the Royal Lineage of the Netherborns, were deemed worthy by the Nether Divine Armor, and were then taken away.

And these leftovers were although prodigies in their own right, where some were so talented that they even rivaled the core prodigies of the Netherborns’ Royal Lineage, ultimately bore impure bloodlines.

Left behind in the Netherworld, they were simply waiting to die.

It was only because of Yu Zi Yu’s ‘compassion’ that they were allowed to live.

Had it been a true Angel, these Dark Beings would have already been purged without mercy.

At this moment, raising an eyebrow slightly, Yu Zi Yu began to scrutinize them one by one.

The three he had just named were the most gifted among the Netherborns remnants.

One was already a Half-Step Overlord. The other two had reached the peak of Tier-5.

In terms of pure strength, they were already on par with the upper echelon of the Demon Court.

Moreover, due to being cast aside by the Nether Divine Armor, the three harbored deep resentment toward the Netherborns.

Even now, Yu Zi Yu could still glimpse that trace of indescribable venom in Nethrûdor’s eyes…

However, that hatred was not aimed at Yu Zi Yu; it was directed toward his own race.

When they surrendered, it was this one who struck the fiercest blows—wiping out the entire Royal Line of the Netherborns who failed to escape, and presenting their heads to Yu Zi Yu as a tribute.

He was, without question, the strongest among the Netherborns’ defectors: A Half-Step Overlord.

Though he had only recently stepped into this realm and his aura was still somewhat unstable, his strength was unquestionable.

After all, to survive the tempest Yu Zi Yu had stirred and escape again and again… such ability was far from ordinary.

“Nethrûdor…” With a soft chuckle, Yu Zi Yu’s gaze finally rested upon the figure standing at the very center of the hall.

Nethrûdor was also known as the ‘Noble Son of the Netherborns.’

According to legend, he had once been an Elf during his lifetime. But after death, his corpse mutated and he became part of the Netherborns, a prodigy among them.

Yu Zi Yu had no reason to doubt this tale, for Nethrûdor truly possessed an unearthly beauty. Though a man, his features were more delicate than most women’s, and his presence carried an alluring, sinister charm.

Between his brows was a crimson red mark.

He held a folding fan in one hand, and was dressed in a long robe of black silk.

If not for the aura of death that clung to his entire being, Yu Zi Yu might not have believed this man to be one of the ‘grotesque Netherfolk.’

As the beings of death, the Netherborns were, for the most part, hideous in form.

Some were even rotting, their bodies exuding the stench of decaying flesh.

Compared to them, Nethrûdor was indeed… an anomaly.

And anomalies, by their very nature… were always rejected.

This was the true reason why Nethrûdor was the first to betray his race—why he had struck so ruthlessly against them.

“What treasures do you have here… anything worthy of my attention?” Yu Zi Yu asked softly, a glimmer of intrigue flashing in his eyes as he looked at the alluring black-robed figure before him.

“Your Excellency…” With a calm and respectful tone, Nethrûdor stepped forward and replied, “Though the Netherborns are far from prosperous, we do possess some rare treasures. A few, I daresay, may catch your eye.”

Maintaining neither a humble or arrogant attitude, Nethrûdor gave a slight smile and continued, “The Wall of Sighs, a Tier-7 Divine Artifact. It was once the boundary wall between the Outer and Inner Realms of the Netherworld… But its true strength lies in defense. It can withstand even the attacks of a Tier-7 Hegemon. It is, without a doubt, a wall so formidable that even gods can do nothing but sigh before it, helpless.

Unfortunately… this wall serves as the final barrier between the living and the dead. And its greatest weakness… is the very thing the Netherworld lacks—’light, brimming with hope’…

In other words… were it not for the fear of your pure Light and the power of  Purification, Your Excellency, this wall alone could hold off even the invasion of a Hegemon.”

Hearing this, Yu Zi Yu’s gaze drifted into the distance.

Far on the horizon, he could already see a towering, jet-black wall, standing proud and immovable.

Mottled with bloodstains, it was brimming with an ancient and timeworn aura.

However, despite the ages, it remained unmarred, as if it was destined to endure for all eternity.

“A High-Grade Tier-7 Artifact… and one famed for its defense, no less…” Yu Zi Yu couldn’t help but murmured, his heart stirred.

As a matter of fact, if Nethrûdor’s words were true, and this Artifact’s only weakness lay in the power of Light and Purification… then its value in Yu Zi Yu’s eyes would only rise to a whole new level.

After all, in his Seraph Form, Yu Zi Yu commanded the purest form of Light.

And in his Azure Dragon Form, he wielded the most terrifying Purification force known to the realms.

Should any other powerhouse try to wield those two forces against him, Yu Zi Yu could simply seize control over them.

And once those natural counters were removed from the equation… the full power of this wall would be unleashed.

As these thoughts flashed in Yu Zi Yu’s mind, Yu Zi Yu slowly raised his right hand—and summoned a streak of crackling lightning.

*Zzzzzzt… zzzzzzt…* Thunder roared like a chorus of a thousand birds, echoing through the Heavens and across the land.

Looking toward the source, a lightning spear over 10,000 meters long materialized—piercing through the clouds like a heavenly lance.

It was created by the projection of the Divine Lightning Tree from the Tenth Realm, a strike imbued with the power of a Tier-7 Hegemon.

And now—

“Go.” Chuckling softly, Yu Zi Yu launched the lightning spear.

*Booooom….* With a deafening boom, the spear shot through the sky like a silver dragon, hurtling toward the colossal black wall.

And right at that moment, seemingly sensing the impending attack…

*Boooom, boooom, boooom…* The ground began to quake, and then, a towering wall began to rise, causing Yu Zi Yu’s eyes to narrow.

From a height of 1,000 meters, it instantly climbed to 10,000 meters, standing firm in the path of the oncoming lightning spear.

*Booooooooom…* The impact sounded like the collapse of Heaven itself.

However, what astonished Yu Zi Yu was that this ancient and immense wall… merely rippled like water, as if it had absorbed the boundless lightning.