The Vermilion Bird Spirit was a spirit of inheritance so exalted that even the Vermilion Bird Supreme treated it with the respect due an elder. Yet at this moment, it chose to surrender!
There was no struggle to shatter jade and stone alike, no furious denunciation recounting the sect's past glory.
It chose instead to bow its head and surrender.
The sight sent the Dao hearts of the Heaven-Calculating Dao Heir and the others, raised on the ideals of the Immortal Dynasty's nobility, churning like overturned seas.
"The Vermilion Bird Holy Land has surprised me."
"Quite a surprise."
Jiang Ding thought for a moment, then asked, "Elder, has the Vermilion Bird Holy Land surrendered to the gods and the Demon Race before?"
"History has seen it happen."
"We did what we had to survive."
The Vermilion Bird Spirit asked, "Does that disgust you?"
"No."
"I could not do it myself, but for a civilization, survival matters more than anything."
Jiang Ding shook his head slightly, without prejudice.
"I'm only curious. If the Vermilion Bird Holy Land knew so well when to yield, why was it still destroyed in the end?"
"It seems not even a trace of it remained."
"Sword Heir,"
"that is hardly strange."
The Vermilion Bird Spirit smiled faintly. "However low one bows, there will always be a victor who has no regard for it. Who is bound to show much respect to a defeated weakling?"
"Whether they kill or accept us, either is ordinary."
"The Vermilion Bird Holy Land was just as cold and merciless toward those it defeated. There is nothing strange about it."
"Also, I believe I heard you say that the Phoenix Clan will rule the Vermilion Bird Star Domain in the future?"
The Vermilion Bird Spirit waited for his answer.
"That's right."
Jiang