The Primordial War: The Symbol Emperor

Zhu Ming, the Grand Elder of the Vermilion Bird Clan, led a large group of valiant and extraordinary deities toward the palace, especially the four at the very front.

One man was dressed in a golden Taoist robe, and he exuded a kingly aura as he walked. In particular, the lifelike golden dragon on his robe further demonstrated his inviolable majesty.

The other man had one arm bare, wore a tiger skin, had bare feet, and his body was bulging with muscles, yet he still looked fit and athletic.

He had thick eyebrows and fierce eyes, a burly body over two meters tall, and strode with large strides, exuding a fierce and bold aura. His eyes revealed a ruthless look that inspired awe.

Another person was wearing an earth-yellow Taoist robe, on which was also adorned a lifelike Qilin.

His face was dignified, his steps were steady, and every move he made exuded composure. The first impression he gave was that he was absolutely reliable.

The last one had his eyelids lowered, his hands behind his back, and his waist slightly hunched. Although he was middle-aged, his posture was more like that of an elderly person in their seventies.

These individuals possessed incredibly powerful auras, clearly indicating they were supreme experts. It goes without saying that they were the Ancestral Dragon, the White Tiger, the Qilin, and the Black Tortoise.

Only the first batch of supreme beings who created the world possessed such an imperial aura.

As soon as Zhu Ming led this group of self-reliant individuals into the palace, before he could even speak, Bai Hu strode forward and laughed heartily.

"Hahaha! Time changes, all living beings rise and fall, races prosper and eras change. Only Fellow Daoist Vermilion Bird's greed remains unchanged..."

Upon hearing this, Zhuque's face immediately darkened, as if water were about to drip from it. He coldly shouted, "You scoundrel, stop spouting nonsense and tarnishing my reputation!"

She was furious. It was the truth, but how could she say it out loud?

The phoenix and the mermaid were secretly delighted. You were so greedy, you've finally lost face, haven't you?

"Hahaha! This is common knowledge throughout the primordial world. You dare to do it, so are we not allowed to speak out?" The White Tiger laughed loudly again, his words unrestrained and his actions equally aggressive. He walked to the seat closest to the Vermilion Bird, sat down, and grinned widely.

"Fortunately, we made it in time and prevented you from succeeding."

Wei Chen frowned. What was wrong with this guy? Didn't he know that the worst thing a person can do in this world is to tell the truth?

Phoenix suppressed a laugh; it was so satisfying.

Over the years, Suzaku has amassed countless resources and offended numerous powerful forces.

While the Phoenix Clan has done many things like taking resources from others and helping them solve problems, these are only minor incidents, not even one ten-thousandth as serious as the Vermilion Bird's actions.

This wasn't due to a difference in strength, but rather because she had reservations and dared not offend too many powerful forces.

Just like when the Star Clan invited her, she refused all the promised benefits.

Phoenix believes that if the Phoenix Clan wants to prosper, it should not make strong enemies everywhere; steady and solid progress is the key.

This also meant that Phoenix's concession benefited Vermilion Bird.

"We have met Fellow Daoist Zhuque..."

Apart from Qilin, Zulong, and Xuanwu, all the other powerful figures bowed respectfully, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

"Since you're all here, let's sit down and talk," Zhuque said coldly, her face grim.

She looked at the white tiger, her eyes flashing with black flames, secretly calculating that next time the white tiger clan asked her for help, she would definitely charge him several times more.

She naturally understood why Baihu had insulted her so much.

It was all because the ferocious beast clan attacked the white tiger clan and asked for her help, thus taking away a large amount of cultivation resources from the white tiger clan.

Zhuque glanced at the gods in the hall and saw the pleasure in their eyes, which fueled her anger even more.

These deities were either clan leaders or founders of holy dynasties.

During the hundreds of eons that existed in the primordial world, there must have been disasters of varying degrees, including the annihilation of entire clans.

But in the end, they all went to the Vermilion Bird Clan, and the Vermilion Bird helped them solve their problems one by one.

It could be said that the Vermilion Bird Clan had been kind to them, but now? Not only are they not grateful, but they are even blaming the Vermilion Bird Clan.

Zhuque secretly vowed that if she needed her help again, she would demand several times more cultivation resources, otherwise it wouldn't be enough to quell her anger.

It's important to understand that she didn't receive this for nothing. Not only did her clansmen shed blood and exert themselves, but she also sowed a huge hidden danger for the Vermilion Bird Clan.

Doing this kind of thing means taking benefits from one side while offending the other. The amount of benefits taken determines the number of powerful figures offended, and the potential risks are obvious.

Most importantly, if it's a calamity caused by a ferocious beast, then it's fine; killing it won't incur any karmic consequences.

However, most disputes involve power struggles, whether over spiritual treasures or blessed lands. These are the most troublesome to handle, as a single misstep can lead to karmic repercussions.

Aside from her Vermilion Bird Clan, there really wasn't any other force in the prehistoric world willing to do such a thing.

If she hadn't known that the great calamity was imminent, she wouldn't have been willing to do something so risky and ultimately unprofitable.

Even if you're careful, you'll inevitably get involved in some karma, but for the Vermilion Bird Clan, it's not a big problem.

If it's a matter of cause and effect between heaven and earth, no matter how great the benefits offered, the Vermilion Bird wouldn't dare accept them.

Because once you incur a debt of karma with Heaven and Earth, you must repay it immediately.

If it's a private cause and effect, the binding force of such cause and effect is not strong, provided that you are stronger than the other party.

Given the strength of the Vermilion Bird Clan, they can certainly withstand it.

Both of these causal approaches have their own drawbacks.

To resolve the karmic entanglement between heaven and earth, one only needs to survive a great calamity or a massive calamity.

Although the Great Calamity is a devastating disaster, it is also a kind of rebirth and a transcendence.

Private karma, on the other hand, allows you to demand repayment from the other party, with no time limit. The downside is that once you die, everything is gone.

As for not wanting to repay the karmic debt and directly killing the other party, that's impossible.

If this were done, then the Heavenly Dao would intervene, transforming it into a cause-and-effect relationship between Heaven and Earth. The amount of cause-and-effect owed to the other party, and the extent of their fortune, would all be settled by the Heavenly Dao.

Knowing this, Suzaku has always used his superior strength to mediate the conflict between the two sides, without directly killing anyone.

She wanted to make a killing before the great calamity arrived.

With this in mind, Zhuque felt that she had collected too few cultivation resources before.

Without her help, these forces would likely have either suffered a blow to their foundations or been left all alone, so she was truly indebted to them.

Not only did they not appreciate it, but they even dared to complain about her.

The more Zhuque thought about it, the angrier she became. She glanced at the assembled gods again and sneered, "You were the ones who came to me willingly, and you even offered a price. It was a mutually agreeable arrangement. Not only are you ungrateful, but you're also blaming me!"

"To help you overcome your calamities, I have borne immense karma and hidden dangers." Zhuque coldly looked at the gods and said indifferently, "Tell me, have I ever disappointed you after taking your cultivation resources?"

Upon hearing this, all the gods in the hall were embarrassed. Compared to the help of the Vermilion Bird, the resources they had given up were simply too good to pass up.

If it weren't for Suzaku's help, how could they be standing here?

Now that Suzaku had asked them this, they were momentarily speechless.

"Since that's the case, if you ever face any disaster in the future, please don't seek help from my Vermilion Bird Clan," the Vermilion Bird said coldly.

Want to avert disaster without spending resources? Where in the world can you find such a good deal?

“Fellow Daoist Zhuque, please don’t misunderstand, I have absolutely no intention of blaming anyone,” a middle-aged man with golden hair stepped forward to explain.

"Yes! We are grateful beyond measure, how could we dare to complain?"

The gods all stood up and explained that without the help of the Vermilion Bird Clan, they felt that their future days would definitely not be easy.

No matter what they do, they will be constrained. Because everyone in the primordial world is extraordinary, and one careless move could easily lead to being tricked by others, incurring karmic debts, and bringing about annihilation.

Although they were reluctant to part with those cultivation resources, compared to the great support of the Vermilion Bird Clan, they were willing to give up everything.

"I was just saying it casually, I didn't mean anything by it, you won't take it seriously, will you?" Baihu said with a wry smile.

"Hmph..." Suzaku snorted coldly, "Is such a thing something you can just say casually?"

"Alright, alright! I apologize to you, can we let this matter go now?" White Tiger said with an awkward smile.

He secretly transmitted his voice to Zhuque, saying, "For the sake of our years of friendship, please give me some face."

Zhuque showed no sign of backing down, her face remaining as cold as ice.

"You greedy fool." At this moment, how could the White Tiger not understand the Vermilion Bird's meaning? He gritted his teeth and transmitted his voice: "A piece of top-grade innate Geng metal, and two pieces of top-grade innate spiritual materials."

"Deal." Zhuque's expression softened.

"After this matter is over, please introduce me to Fellow Daoist Chenhuang, and remember to say a few kind words to him," the White Tiger continued to transmit his voice.

"What do you want with him?" Zhuque asked, puzzled. This introduction and flattery must mean he wants something.

"Yes, I do have something I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Chenhuang for help with," said the White Tiger.

"Alright!" Suzaku replied, and then said no more.

The two had a close relationship, not only because their tribes were allies, but also because they were kindred spirits.

Despite the difference in gender, they are both forthright and ruthless individuals, and have joined forces many times to fight enemies. Zhuque is quite happy to help with this small favor.