Ninth class citizen

Chapter 344 All for Evolution

"Time?" Nan Rong scoffed. "You've lived for over a billion years. A little over a thousand years is nothing to you. Besides, as I've already said, you can go back first. I can do just fine here."

“This plane of existence is very important,” Tian Li said calmly. “Time is also important. Marriage is the best way to get you into a high position in the shortest amount of time, so you can execute your plan without any distractions.”

“But if I can reach the eighth-level gene optimization master as soon as possible, with your support, I can be promoted to a first-class citizen in a few years, right?” Nan Rong said cautiously. “So you don’t need to wrong yourself and tie yourself to me.”

Tian Li glanced at her, his gaze icy and piercing, as if he could see right through her little scheme.

“There’s no need to waste time,” he said. “As long as it can accelerate the evolution of the plane, minor matters are not worth worrying about.”

"You call marriage a trivial matter?" Nan Rong looked up in surprise.

"It's just a formality." Tian Li said dismissively, "I don't care, and you don't need to think about it too much—how to use this identity to achieve your ultimate goal is what you should be considering."

Looking into his indifferent, emotionless eyes, Nan Rong suddenly felt that what this man said was probably not a lie.

That makes sense. To him, the beings in countless planes are nothing more than ants and weeds. How could a god high above have any worldly feelings towards them?

The same principle applies in reverse; the difference lies in the fact that ants and weeds don't even have the right to refuse.

On the contrary, is promoting the evolution of the plane really that important to him?

Otherwise, he wouldn't have even made this formal suggestion.

And what is so special about this Qian 9999 plane that I am in? Why is it worth the Dean personally descending here for the first time?

Nan Rong felt she had to ask a few more questions, otherwise the doubts piling up in her heart would eventually burst her apart.

"Wouldn't it be better to let each plane of existence naturally follow its own path of evolution?" she asked earnestly.
"Why go to such great lengths to intervene manually? I initially thought it was just a game you started out of boredom, but now it doesn't seem like that. Otherwise, why would you be in such a hurry?"

The air suddenly fell silent. Tian Li remained silent, his gaze seemingly fixed on her, but his pupils did not reflect her image; only the endless flow of stars swirled within.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "These are not questions you should be considering right now."

"In other words, there are indeed reasons why we have to do this, and you will tell me later?" Nan Rong quickly replied.

"Perhaps that day will come," Tian Li said calmly, "but it will definitely be after this plane has completed its evolution."

For some reason, Nan Rong seemed to see a very faint hint of helplessness flash in the Great Demon King's cold and indifferent eyes.

Even a powerful demon king with unparalleled strength who can do whatever he wants can have feelings of helplessness.
I must be seeing things!
Fortunately, this person has made it clear that it's just a marriage of convenience to complete an evolutionary mission.

That makes sense. An old person who has lived for hundreds of millions of years like this couldn't possibly still have any worldly desires. Even if they did, the object of those desires wouldn't be themselves.

At this moment, Nan Rong couldn't help but think of Ji Zhong, and a faint bitterness welled up in her heart.

From the Star Alliance to the Corona War. Three whole years, from getting to know each other, supporting each other through thick and thin, to the final separation of life and death, it all seems like a lifetime ago now.

He had no memory of his past and continued living his normal life, becoming Melissa's fiancé.

If it were just forgetting, she might try again, but Melissa will be back soon. Ji Zhong and Melissa are both good people. If they could be together, they would be very happy.

She herself also has her own path to walk.

Those romantic relationships are just trivial matters in life.

Despite this, she still couldn't change the strong sense of resistance she felt inside.

“I understand.” She heard her own voice, low but firm: “The Dean’s plan is very thorough. But as you said before, I am the one who drives the evolution of this plane, and you are just an assistant.”

"So?" Tian Li turned slightly to the side, releasing a faint aura of pressure once again, his displeasure evident in his words.

“I still think that marriage isn’t the only quick fix. Since you don’t want to go back in the short term, why don’t we try both approaches simultaneously?”

"Having returned victorious this time, your prestige is unprecedented both within the Federation and throughout the entire plane, making the establishment of the Star Alliance effortless. As for me, I will complete my certification as an eighth-tier gene optimizer as soon as possible to enhance my strength and elevate my status."

“That’s not appropriate.” Tian Li interrupted her calmly: “Even if I did that, it would still take a considerable amount of time for you to gain a voice in the Star Alliance. When implementing subsequent plans, you would also face various obstacles. But if you were the First Lady of the Delin Federation, or even the wife of the Star Alliance President, it would be completely different.”

“Those are all difficulties that can be overcome—are you really in such a hurry that you can’t even wait a little longer?” Nan Rong asked, looking up.

"Yes," Tian Li admitted without hesitation. "Any other questions?"

"This so-called marriage of convenience will become invalid after the evolution mission in this plane is completed, right?"

"Otherwise what?" Tian Li asked in a calm voice, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

That's fine. It's just a temporary measure for the evolutionary mission, so there's no need to dwell on it any longer.

However, it wouldn't be Nan Rong's style to simply agree without asking for any benefits in return.

"I heard that students who complete the dimensional evolution mission can receive rewards from the academy," Nan Rong said. "Can they choose their own rewards?"

Tian Li glanced down at her, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

"Is this what you want?" he said, opening his right palm.

A wisp of pale golden mist suddenly appeared in the slender, jade-colored palm. The mist rose, swirled, and coalesced, finally transforming into a turquoise stone the size of a chicken egg.

The stone was crystal clear, with a layer of milky white mist-like clouds appearing on its surface, sometimes flashing and sometimes disappearing, as if it were breathing on its own.

A breathing, emerald-green stone?
Nan Rong tried to cover it with her spiritual power, but found that it contained an extremely special power, which was powerful yet restrained, and full of vitality.

Her heart skipped a beat, and her eyes suddenly lit up: "This is... the Five Realms Exquisite Stone?"

"Not bad." Tian Li nodded. "Isn't this what you're looking for?"

It's confirmed once again; that old man really is a peeping tom.

Nan Rong secretly rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face became even brighter:
"Dear Dean, I will do my best to complete the mission. May I ask if I could receive the reward in advance?"