Chapter 1470 - 530: Quarreling Lovers
The Phoenix Clan has always been less fruitful due to low fertility.
Moreover, purebred phoenixes typically lay only one egg at a time, and those are prone to early death.
Take Fire Phoenix’s second brother for example, although he has three children, they were not born to his main wife but to his two Bird Clan concubines.
To encourage reproduction, purebred phoenixes are generally allowed to have multiple spouses. Couples like Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix, who are monogamous, are rare in Jiunie Mountain.
Back then, it was because Ice Phoenix succeeded in giving birth to several little phoenixes at once that the Old Clan Leader agreed to Fire Phoenix’s request not to take concubines.
"Moreover, the Phoenix Clan has a rule: the strongest male and female of the same generation in the clan must marry, for this maximizes the chance of producing powerful offspring. Rui dared to propose marrying you because of this law."
Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix were the strongest of their generation too, which led to their union.
They were lucky, being childhood sweethearts and deeply in love.
In terms of strength, Illusion Phoenix Little Wuya and Rui, who advanced to Intermediate Array Master, were undeniably the strongest young phoenixes in the clan, and both were cousins. If Little Wuya hadn’t been lost outside since childhood, this marriage might have been arranged long ago.
If Rui hadn’t committed all those cruel deeds, or if Little Wuya had lived in Jiunie all along, or if she had never met Little Zhiyo, then all would have been smooth sailing, but now...
At this point, Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix regretfully looked at Little Zhiyo in Little Wuya’s arms.
"Little Wuya, we’re not insisting you marry Rui, but at the moment, there’s no other choice. Furthermore, your beloved... it can’t even transform into human form."
For all spiritually aware beasts and birds, transforming into human form is the initial test of their strength.
If Little Zhiyo remains in beast form, what happiness is there for Little Wuya with him?
Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix’s words pierced Little Zhiyo’s heart.
Remaining in beast form is not something Little Zhiyo overlooked.
Especially after seeing Little Wuya he hatched transform into human form, Little Zhiyo felt very aggrieved.
But he didn’t want to embarrass his leader and Little Wuya, so he pretended nothing was wrong.
This time, though, he was truly hurt.
Silent, Little Zhiyo crawled out from Little Wuya’s embrace and walked out of the treehouse.
"Father, Mother, I don’t care about the rules of the Phoenix Clan, all I know is, even if every man in the world died, I would never marry Rui. I only love Little Zhiyo, no matter what he is, I love him. From now on, none of you are allowed to speak ill of Little Zhiyo before me, or I would rather leave Jiunie." Seeing Little Zhiyo’s hurt expression, Little Wuya’s heart was aching too; she couldn’t believe those hurtful words came from her parents.
Maybe Little Zhiyo isn’t as strong as Intermediate Array Master Rui, but in her eyes, Little Zhiyo has always been the best.
After speaking, she gritted her teeth, red-eyed, and ran after Little Zhiyo.
Watching their daughter’s retreating figure, Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix were momentarily speechless.
The banquet suddenly grew quiet, leaving everyone looking awkward and unsure of what to do.
"You two, as for Little Zhiyo and Little Wuya, I suggest leaving them to handle it themselves. But I assure you, Little Zhiyo is no inferior beast; he will undoubtedly transform into human form one day, it just takes time and effort."
No one understood Little Wuya and Little Zhiyo’s feelings better than Ye Lingyue.
Discovering Little Zhiyo in Hong Meng Heaven and then hatching Little Wuya, these little creatures have long surpassed the concept of a Beast Pet for her, they are closer than family.
Ye Lingyue’s promise was not contradicted by Fire Phoenix and Ice Phoenix, although they still had reservations about Little Zhiyo and Little Wuya as a couple.
After all, throughout Ancient Nine Provinces, no spiritual beast has a lineage higher than the Phoenix Clan, unless Little Zhiyo’s existence transcends the Ancient Nine Provinces Continent.
Outside the treehouse, darkness had already fallen.
Little Zhiyo, feeling gloomy, dashed away.
He leapt a few times before landing on the ground from the tree.
The ground beneath his feet was soft, damp soil; though the sky was dark, it was not entirely pitch black.
Jiunie Mountain hosts a kind of Night Light Tree, which emits light at night, making Jiunie Mountain appear bathed in illumination.
The treehouses, under the Night Light Tree, looked like little mushrooms.
All around were melodious chirps from unknown birds and insects singing in harmony.
Stepping through Jiunie Mountain, Little Zhiyo felt as if he were in an Immortal Realm.
Reluctantly, Little Zhiyo acknowledged that Little Wuya’s homeland was a mortal paradise; she should remain here.
Indeed, he shouldn’t have come here.
Just as Little Wuya’s parents said, he can’t even transform into a human form; Little Wuya would find no happiness with him.
Why can’t I transform?
Little Zhiyo stood frustrated by a pond, still appearing as a baby beast under the Night Light Tree.
He actually can become tall and mighty, but so what, he still can’t transform into a human, always remaining livestock.
Angry, Little Zhiyo shattered his reflection in the pond with his paw.
He felt very discouraged.
He thought he had no face to meet Little Wuya anymore.
He might as well leave Jiunie Mountain and not disturb Little Wuya and her family reunion.
He didn’t even deserve to see the leader, whose strength had been improving, and he had only been a burden.
Even the powers of berserk and ghost beast were acquired inexplicably.
The more Little Zhiyo thought about it, the more frustrated he became and decided to leave Jiunie Mountain.
Maybe with time, Little Wuya would forget him.
Little Zhiyo tucked his tail between his legs and walked towards the Ancient Wood Forest.
Until he reached the edge of the Ancient Wood Forest, he heard footsteps coming from behind.
"Stop right there!"
Behind him, Little Wuya panted, unable to believe Little Zhiyo would leave without a word.
Little Zhiyo remained silent, keeping his head down, continuing forward.
Seeing Little Zhiyo ignoring her, Little Wuya became anxious.
"Go then, leave if that’s what you want. After you leave, I’ll marry Rui and make you regret it deeply."
Little Zhiyo’s heart ached, she’d asked him to leave, she indeed found him distasteful.
Little Zhiyo quickened his pace.
"You’re really leaving!"
Watching Little Zhiyo genuinely walking away, Little Wuya panicked.
Little Zhiyo hesitated, stopped, and turned back, seeing Little Wuya’s tearful eyes, shimmering with tearful glints, he softened, unwilling to leave.
He opened his mouth, about to speak.
"Don’t talk, I don’t want to hear your voice."
Little Wuya seethed with anger; she quarreled with her parents for Little Zhiyo, yet he’s resolved to leave!