The Book of Cause and Effect Appears, and Thirty-Six Tribes Kneel

The Book of Cause and Effect stood before the Northern Darkness Dao Palace.

Black-and-white radiance descended like fine threads, covering the entire Guixu City.

Lan Shuang stood beneath the Book of Cause and Effect, her expression more solemn than ever before.

She could feel the weight of the treasure in her hands.

This was not merely a magical treasure.

It was more like the foundation of Guixu's order.

In the Primordial World, the strong had always made the rules.

The bigger one's fist, the more justified one was.

The higher one's cultivation, the more freely one could seize the spirit mountains of weaker tribes, conscript their people, or even exterminate entire tribes to refine treasures.

After the struggle for supremacy among the three clans intensified, such matters only grew worse.

The Dragon Clan ruled the Four Seas, and all Water Clan members had to obey their commands.

The Phoenix Clan guarded the south, and nearly all feathered tribes had to depend on them.

The Qilin Clan occupied the land, and few among the myriad beast tribes could stay uninvolved.

Those weak tribes had no choice at all.

But Guixu was different.

The Emperor had bestowed the Book of Cause and Effect, clearly not so they could continue preying on the weak.

He intended to establish a different set of rules within Guixu.

Lan Shuang took a deep breath and slowly opened the first page of the Book of Cause and Effect.

In an instant.

A beam of watery light shot into the sky from the Book of Cause and Effect.

The light spread through the air, transforming into an enormous black-and-white water mirror.

Within the water mirror appeared the karmic auras of countless beings in Guixu City.

Clear light flowed around some of them.

Gray mist coiled behind others.

Dense blood qi gathered beneath the feet of some.

A faint glow of Merit shone above the heads of others.

The leaders of the thirty-six tribes stood below, their hearts deeply shaken.

Lady Mingzhu of the Mystic Clam Tribe was the first to speak.

She wore a pale golden gown, pearl light flowing around her. Her aura was gentle, yet she already possessed the cultivation of a Taiyi True Immortal.

"Fellow Daoist Lan Shuang, how exactly does the Emperor intend this treasure to be used?"

Lan Shuang did not answer immediately.

She gazed at the Book of Cause and Effect for a moment before slowly saying, "The Emperor has decreed that all who enter Guixu must be registered."

"Those of unknown origin may not enter the inner city."

"Those burdened with excessive slaughter may not approach the Dao Palace."

"If there are spies from outside, expel them at once."

"Therefore, from today onward, the Register of Ten Thousand Tribes shall be incorporated into the Bureau of Cause and Effect."

"The Bureau of Calamity Avoidance shall be responsible for receiving those newly entering Guixu."

"The Bureau of Cause and Effect shall be responsible for reviewing karma."

"The Bureau of Realm Patrol shall be responsible for patrolling the outer city and its borders."

"The Realm Guard shall be responsible for suppressing private fights within the city."

"Those with merit may be granted Spirit Fields."

"Those with transgressions shall be punished with labor at the borders of Guixu."

"Those steeped in slaughter who refuse to repent shall be expelled from Guixu."

"If they are spies from outside..."

Lan Shuang's voice paused.

Everyone instantly fell silent.

Lan Shuang's gaze swept across them as she said coldly, "Kill them."

As that word fell.

The atmosphere before the entire Northern Darkness Dao Palace suddenly turned grave.

They all understood that this was no ordinary registration.

This was Guixu's first true establishment of law.

Jing Yue, chief of the Cold Whale Tribe, spoke in a low voice. "What if someone committed much slaughter in the outside world, but is willing to abide by Guixu's rules after entering? What then?"

Lan Shuang looked toward the Book of Cause and Effect.

The Book of Cause and Effect turned slightly.

A line of faint words appeared.

"Observe their karma and distinguish good from evil."

"Those who killed to protect their tribe may be shown leniency."

"Those who killed out of greed shall not be pardoned."

"Those who repent and render merit may remain in the outer city."

Lan Shuang's pupils contracted slightly when she saw those words.

She understood.

The Book of Cause and Effect bestowed by the Emperor did not simply distinguish between killing and not killing.

It could see the source of karma.

Some had blood on their hands because they had protected their tribes.

Others had blood on their hands because they had preyed upon the weak.

The two could naturally not be treated as the same.

At that moment, Lan Shuang's awe toward Lu Chen deepened further.

The Emperor had never personally stepped forward to govern Guixu.

Yet with a casually bestowed treasure, he had already laid out Guixu's future rules with perfect clarity.

That was true greatness.

Not suppressing all beings through might.

But establishing order for the myriad tribes.

Lady Mingzhu's gaze shifted slightly.

She suddenly stepped forward and bowed to the Book of Cause and Effect.

"The Mystic Clam Tribe is willing to be the first to enter its records into the Book of Cause and Effect."

As soon as she spoke, everyone turned to look at her.

Among the thirty-six tribes, the Mystic Clam Tribe was considered relatively prosperous.

Their tribe produced spirit clams, Mystic Water Pearls, and water jade in abundance. Since entering Guixu, they had also contributed considerable resources.

Lady Mingzhu's declaration carried great significance.

Lan Shuang nodded.

"Granted."

The Book of Cause and Effect automatically turned to a page.

Lady Mingzhu raised her hand, and a drop of her vital essence blood flew out and landed in the Book of Cause and Effect.

Buzz!

Within the water mirror, a scene of karma slowly unfolded.

It showed the Mystic Clam Tribe living deep in the Northern Sea in the past.

They disliked conflict and mostly survived by nurturing spirit pearls and purifying seawater.

Later, the Dragon Clan conscripted the small tribes of the Northern Sea, demanding that the Mystic Clam Tribe offer ten thousand Blackwater Spirit Pearls every thousand years.

The Mystic Clam Tribe could not bear the burden and could only flee as an entire tribe.

Along the way, they had sheltered two even weaker Water Clans.

They had also slain pursuers during their escape.

On the Book of Cause and Effect, clear light outweighed blood qi.

At last, a line of words appeared.

"The Mystic Clam Tribe may enter the inner city."

"Lady Mingzhu has rendered merit in protecting her tribe and may hold the deputy seal of the Guixu Treasury."

Lady Mingzhu froze.

She had not expected the Book of Cause and Effect to directly assign her a position.

Lan Shuang was also somewhat surprised.

She had originally been considering who should take charge of the Guixu Treasury.

After all, as more and more tribes entered the realm, the spirit materials, treasures, pills, and ores contributed by each tribe were steadily increasing.

Without anyone to manage them, trouble would arise sooner or later.

She had not expected the Book of Cause and Effect to choose Lady Mingzhu directly.

Did this mean the Emperor had long since taken notice of the Mystic Clam Tribe's talents?

The thought flashed through Lan Shuang's mind, and she immediately said solemnly, "Since the Book of Cause and Effect has revealed this, from today onward, Lady Mingzhu shall enter the Treasury Bureau and temporarily hold the deputy seal of the Guixu Treasury."

Lady Mingzhu hurriedly kowtowed.

"Thank you, Emperor, for your trust."

Although Lu Chen was not there, those words still reached his senses.

He was a little dumbfounded.

Wait.

When did I ever say I trusted you?

The Book of Cause and Effect moved on its own.

But on second thought, the Mystic Clam Tribe was skilled at storing spiritual treasures and nurturing spirit pearls. Having them manage the treasury did seem quite reasonable.

So Lu Chen could not be bothered to interfere.

As long as he did not have to manage the accounts himself.

With the Mystic Clam Tribe taking the lead, the other tribes stepped forward one after another.

The Cold Whale Tribe, Ice-Scaled Tribe, Water Ape Tribe, Merfolk Tribe, a small Mystic Armor Tribe, and the remaining Yaksha.

The karma of each tribe was revealed.

Most of the tribes had fled to Guixu only after being conscripted, plundered, and hunted by the three clans.

Though they had committed violence, it had mostly been in self-defense.

The Book of Cause and Effect permitted all of them to remain in Guixu.

But not every tribe was able to pass.

When it was the Redfin Tribe's turn, the Book of Cause and Effect suddenly trembled.

Within the water mirror appeared scenes of the Redfin Tribe ambushing other small refugee tribes and stealing their spiritual herbs.

In the scenes, they had even deliberately exposed hunted small tribes to the Dragon Clan in exchange for more time to escape.

The Redfin Tribe chief's expression changed drastically.

"No!"

"This is slander!"

"My Redfin Tribe was also hunted by the Dragon Clan before fleeing into Guixu. Why does the Book of Cause and Effect only look at my tribe's wrongdoings?"

Lan Shuang's expression was icy.

"The Book of Cause and Effect reveals the past. How could it slander you?"

A vicious glint flashed in the Redfin Tribe chief's eyes.

He suddenly sprang into action, actually trying to pounce directly at the Book of Cause and Effect.

"This thing cannot remain!"

Boom!

The moment he moved, a black-and-white radiance descended from the Book of Cause and Effect.

The Redfin Tribe chief was frozen in midair.

The next instant.

The Realm Guard rushed out.

Dozens of Sea Spirit Clan cultivators formed an array and suppressed him to the ground.

Lan Shuang said coldly, "The Redfin Tribe is steeped in slaughter and refuses to repent."

"Expel them from Guixu."

The Redfin Tribe members turned deathly pale.

Several young members hurriedly knelt.

"We did not participate in the chief's deeds!"

"Please show mercy, Emperor!"

The Book of Cause and Effect turned once more.

Several karmic threads separated.

After seeing them, Lan Shuang slowly said, "Those who did not participate in the slaughter may remain in the outer city and labor for a thousand years to atone for their tribe's transgressions."

"Those who participated shall be expelled."

The Redfin Tribe chief roared in fury.

"Lan Shuang! How dare you!"

"We are both refugee clans. What right do you have to drive us out?"

Lan Shuang looked at him, her voice calm.

"By the Book of Cause and Effect bestowed by the Emperor."

"By Guixu's rules."

"By the lives of other weak clans that you have taken."

She raised a hand and swept it through the air.

The Realm Guard directly dragged the Redfin Tribe's chieftain and several heavily bloodstained offenders out of Guixu Outer City.

A dead silence fell before the Northern Darkness Dao Palace.

The leaders of the thirty-six clans were deeply shaken.

They finally understood that Guixu was truly different from the outside world.

Here, it did not matter who cried the most pitifully.

Nor did it matter whose fists were harder.

The Book of Cause and Effect revealed everything.

Merit was merit.

Fault was fault.

Blood debt was blood debt.

Being weak did not mean one was innocent.

Being strong did not grant one the right to slaughter at will.

An elderly Cold Whale Tribe elder suddenly dropped to his knees, his voice trembling.

"The Emperor has established causality, giving the ten thousand tribes a path to survival."

"My Cold Whale Tribe is willing to guard Guixu's northern gate for generations."

As those words fell, the other clans harbored the same thought.

If even a Guixu like this was not worth following, then what place in the Primordial World was?

Lan Shuang looked at the kneeling crowd, her heart equally stirred.

She raised the Book of Cause and Effect high, her voice spreading throughout Guixu City.

"From this day forth, the Bureau of Cause and Effect is established."

"All who enter Guixu shall undergo Causality Illumination and be recorded in the Register of Ten Thousand Tribes."

"Those with merit shall be rewarded."

"Those with faults shall be punished."

"Those burdened by blood debt who refuse to repent shall be expelled."

"Foreign enemy spies shall be executed."

"This is the Emperor's decree!"

The entire Guixu City shook with a roar.

Countless living beings fell to their knees and kowtowed.

"We obey the Emperor's decree!"

Lu Chen listened to the earthshaking cries from the depths of Guixu, his feelings complicated.

He had clearly only wanted to make a registry.

How had it turned into the Emperor's decree?

However, after seeing the Book of Cause and Effect begin operating, the aura within the Guixu Inner Realm had clearly become much purer, and friction between the clans swiftly declined.

Lu Chen felt that perhaps this was not such a bad thing after all.

At the very least, no one would be randomly killing and fighting inside his tortoise shell from now on.

That was nice too.

He closed his eyes again, preparing to continue cultivating the Chaos Shell-Shedding Method.

But he did not know.

After the Redfin Tribe's chieftain was expelled from Guixu, he did not leave the Northern Sea.

He led several tribesmen and stared in Guixu's direction with venomous hatred written across his face.

"Lan Shuang."

"Mysterious Abyss Emperor."

"If you will not let me live, then I will not let you live in peace either."

Several days later.

A jade slip recording Guixu's acceptance of the thirty-six clans was delivered to the Blackwater Dragon Palace.

After reading it, the Blackwater Dragon King's expression completely darkened.

"Sheltering refugee clans from the Northern Sea."

"Establishing the Bureau of Cause and Effect without authorization."

"And even daring to expel the Redfin Tribe, which is affiliated with the Dragon Clan."

"This Guixu Black Tortoise is truly becoming more and more like a force of his own."

Ao Zheng stood below and could not help saying, "Father King, I told you long ago that this Black Tortoise is no ordinary great power."

The Blackwater Dragon King sneered.

"The more extraordinary he is, the more he deserves investigation."

"Ao Zheng, you have been injured. It is not suitable for you to go again."

"Transmit my order."

"Have Third Prince Ao Lie lead a squad of elites into the Northern Sea."

"I want to see just what is hidden within that Guixu."