The Book of Cause and Effect stood before the Northern Darkness Dao Palace.
Black-and-white radiance descended like countless fine threads, covering the entirety of Abyss 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 magic treasure.
It was more like the foundation of Abyss's order.
In the Primordial World, the strong had always made the rules.
The biggest fist was right.
The highest cultivation allowed one to seize the Spirit Mountains of weaker tribes at will, conscript their people, or even wipe out entire tribes to refine treasures.
After the Three-Clan Hegemony grew increasingly fierce, this situation became even more extreme.
The Dragon Clan ruled the Four Seas, and every Water Clan had to obey its commands.
The Phoenix Clan guarded the south, and nearly all Feather Clans had to submit to them.
The Qilin Clan occupied the land, and few among the countless beast tribes could remain uninvolved.
Those weak tribes had no choice at all.
But Abyss 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 another set of rules within Abyss.
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 waterlight shot into the sky from the Book of Cause and Effect.
The light spread through the air, forming an enormous black-and-white water mirror.
Within the water mirror appeared the karmic auras of countless living beings in Abyss City.
Clear light flowed around some.
Gray mist coiled behind others.
Blood aura gathered heavily beneath some feet.
A faint glimmer of Merit shone above others' heads.
The leaders of the thirty-six tribes stood below, their hearts 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 and warm, 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 stared at the Book of Cause and Effect for a moment before slowly saying, "The Emperor has decreed that all who enter Abyss must be registered."
"Those of unknown origin may not enter the inner city."
"Those burdened by excessive slaughter may not approach the Dao Palace."
"If there are spies from outside, expel them immediately."
"Therefore, from this day onward, the Register of Ten Thousand Tribes will be incorporated into the Bureau of Cause and Effect."
"The Bureau of Calamity Avoidance will be responsible for receiving those newly entering Abyss."
"The Bureau of Cause and Effect will be responsible for examining cause and effect."
"The Bureau of Realm Patrol will be responsible for patrolling the outer city and its borders."
"The Realm Guard will be responsible for suppressing private fights within the city."
"Those with merit may be granted Spirit Fields."
"Those with offenses will be punished by laboring at Abyss's borders."
"Those burdened by grave slaughter who refuse to repent will be expelled from Abyss."
"If they are spies from the outside world..."
Lan Shuang's voice paused.
Everyone instantly fell silent.
Lan Shuang swept her gaze across the crowd and said coldly, "Execute them."
As that word fell.
The atmosphere before the Northern Darkness Dao Palace suddenly grew heavy.
They all understood that this was no ordinary registration.
This was Abyss'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 obey the rules after entering Abyss?"
Lan Shuang looked toward the Book of Cause and Effect.
The Book of Cause and Effect stirred slightly.
A line of faint words emerged.
"Examine their cause and effect, distinguish their good from their evil."
"Those who killed to protect their tribe may be shown leniency."
"Those who killed out of greed will not be forgiven."
"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 those who had killed and those who had not.
It could see the origin of cause and effect.
Some people had blood on their hands to protect their tribes.
Others had blood on their hands to prey upon the weak.
The two naturally could not be treated as the same.
At that moment, Lan Shuang's awe of Lu Chen deepened further.
The Emperor had never personally appeared to manage Abyss.
Yet a treasure casually bestowed by him had already laid down Abyss's future rules with perfect clarity.
That was what true power was.
Not suppressing all beings through might.
But establishing order for all tribes.
Lady Mingzhu's eyes flickered.
She suddenly stepped forward and bowed to the Book of Cause and Effect.
"The Mystic Clam Tribe is willing to be the first recorded in the Book of Cause and Effect."
As soon as she said this, everyone turned to look.
Among the thirty-six tribes, the Mystic Clam Tribe was considered relatively prosperous.
Their tribe produced spirit clams, Mystic Water Pearls, and water jade. After entering Abyss, 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 lifeblood essence flew out and fell into the Book of Cause and Effect.
Buzz!
Within the water mirror, a karmic scene slowly unfolded.
It showed the Mystic Clam Tribe living deep in the Northern Sea long ago.
They disliked conflict and mainly 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 Clan tribes.
They had also killed pursuing enemies during their escape.
On the Book of Cause and Effect, clear light outweighed blood aura.
At last, a line of words appeared.
"The Mystic Clam Tribe may enter the inner city."
"Lady Mingzhu has merit in protecting her tribe and may hold the deputy seal of the Abyss 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 oversee the Abyss Treasury.
After all, as more and more tribes entered Abyss, the spirit materials, treasures, medicinal pills, and ores contributed by the various tribes were also 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 recognized the talents of the Mystic Clam Tribe?
Thoughts raced through Lan Shuang's mind before she solemnly said, "Since the Book of Cause and Effect has revealed this, from today onward, Lady Mingzhu shall join the Treasury Bureau and temporarily hold the deputy seal of the Abyss Treasury."
Lady Mingzhu hurriedly kowtowed.
"Thank you, Emperor, for your trust."
Although Lu Chen was not here, those words still entered his awareness.
He was a little bewildered.
Wait.
When did I ever trust you?
The Book of Cause and Effect moved on its own.
But on second thought, the Mystic Clam Tribe excelled at storing spirit 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 also stepped forward one after another.
The Cold Whale Tribe, Ice-Scaled Tribe, Water Ape Tribe, Merfolk Tribe, the small Black Shell tribe, and the remnants of the Yaksha.
The cause and effect of each tribe was revealed.
Most tribes had fled to Abyss only after being conscripted, plundered, and hunted by the three clans.
Though they had committed slaughter, it had mostly been for self-preservation.
The Book of Cause and Effect allowed them all to remain in Abyss.
But not every tribe could pass.
When it came to the Redfin Tribe, 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 spirit herbs.
In those scenes, they had even deliberately exposed small tribes being hunted to the Dragon Clan in exchange for more time to flee.
The Redfin Tribe's chief turned pale.
"No!"
"This is slander!"
"My Redfin Tribe was also hunted by the Dragon Clan before fleeing into Abyss. Why does the Book of Cause and Effect look only at my tribe's crimes?"
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 lunge directly at the Book of Cause and Effect.
"This thing cannot be allowed to remain!"
Boom!
The moment he moved, a beam of black-and-white radiance descended from the Book of Cause and Effect.
The Redfin Tribe chief was frozen in midair.
The next moment.
The Realm Guard rushed out.
Several dozen Sea Spirit Clan cultivators formed an array and suppressed him to the ground.
Lan Shuang said coldly, "The Redfin Tribe bears grave slaughter and refuses to repent."
"Expel them from Abyss."
The Redfin Tribe members turned deathly pale.
Several younger members hurriedly fell to their knees.
"We did not participate in the chief's deeds!"
"Please show mercy, Emperor!"
The Book of Cause and Effect turned again.
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 offenses."
"Those who participated will be expelled."
The Redfin Tribe chief roared.
"Lan Shuang! How dare you!"
"We're both refugee tribes. What right do you have to drive me out?"
Lan Shuang looked at him, her voice calm.
"By the Book of Cause and Effect bestowed by the Emperor."
"By Abyss's rules."
"By the fact that you have killed members of other weak tribes."
She raised a hand and waved.
The Realm Guard directly dragged the Redfin Tribe chieftain and several others burdened with grave blood debts out of Abyss Outer City.
A dead silence fell before the Northern Darkness Dao Palace.
The leaders of the thirty-six tribes were shaken to the core.
They finally understood that Abyss truly differed 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 debts were blood debts.
Being weak did not mean one was innocent.
Being strong did not grant one the right to kill at will.
An elderly Cold Whale Tribe elder suddenly fell to his knees, his voice trembling.
"The Emperor establishes cause and effect, granting the ten thousand tribes a path to survival."
"My Cold Whale Tribe is willing to guard Abyss's northern gate for generations."
As those words fell, the other tribes found the same thought arising in their hearts.
If even a Abyss like this was not worth following, then where else in the Primordial World was?
Lan Shuang looked at the kneeling crowd, her own heart surging.
She raised the Book of Cause and Effect high, her voice carrying throughout Abyss City.
"From this day forth, the Bureau of Cause and Effect is established."
"All who enter Abyss shall undergo Causality Illumination and be entered into the Register of Ten Thousand Tribes."
"Those with merit shall be rewarded."
"Those with faults shall be punished."
"Those burdened with blood debts who refuse to repent shall be expelled."
"Enemy spies shall be executed."
"This is the Emperor's decree!"
The entire Abyss City shook with a tremendous roar.
Countless living beings knelt and kowtowed.
"We respectfully obey the Emperor's decree!"
Lu Chen listened to the earthshaking cries from the depths of Abyss, his feelings complicated.
He had clearly only wanted to set up a registry.
How had it become the Emperor's decree?
Yet after seeing the Book of Cause and Effect in operation, the aura within the Inner Realm of the Abyss had clearly become far more pure, and friction between the tribes had swiftly decreased.
Lu Chen felt that perhaps this was not such a bad thing after all.
At the very least, no one would be slaughtering and fighting recklessly inside his turtle shell anymore.
That was quite good too.
He closed his eyes again, preparing to continue cultivating the Chaos Shell-Shedding Method.
But he did not know.
After the Redfin Tribe chieftain was expelled from Abyss, he did not leave the Northern Sea.
He led several tribesmen and stared toward Abyss with venomous resentment written across his face.
"Lan Shuang."
"Mysterious Abyss Emperor."
"If you refuse to let me live, then I will not let you live in peace either."
Several days later.
A jade slip recording Abyss's acceptance of the thirty-six tribes was delivered to the Blackwater Dragon Palace.
After reading it, the Blackwater Dragon King's expression darkened completely.
"Sheltering refugee tribes from the Northern Sea."
"Privately establishing a Bureau of Cause and Effect."
"And daring to expel the Redfin Tribe, which depends on the Dragon Clan."
"This Abyss Black Tortoise is truly becoming more and more like a power of his own."
Ao Zheng stood below and could not help saying, "Father, I told you long ago that the Black Tortoise is no ordinary great expert."
The Blackwater Dragon King sneered.
"The more extraordinary he is, the more he deserves investigation."
"Ao Zheng, you are wounded. It is not suitable for you to go again."
"Convey my order."
"Have Third Prince Ao Lie lead a team of elites into the Northern Sea."
"I want to see just what Abyss is hiding."