Daily life of a cultivation judge Chapter 1 1: Last Week As A Superior Core Court Judge (1)

A striking black carriage, emblazoned with a golden eagle emblem, made its way down a path that resembled a deep blue marble. The lane's surface gave the sensation of traversing a cuboid ocean.

This extraordinary thoroughfare was crafted from millennium-old serene cyanic moonstone. Its lustrous quality suggested it originated from a high-grade ore. Yet, this moonstone lane, a treasure that any minor sect would readily exchange all their secret cultivation techniques for, was not the most attention-grabbing feature.

It was the colossal black dragon horses that truly commanded notice. Standing at an imposing height of 5 meters, each of their legs was as substantial as the entire body of a fully grown, robust cultivator. The true peril, however, lay in their cultivation realm.

The sheer pressure emanating from them indicated they were beasts at the core formation stage. A mere snort from one of them could obliterate a cultivator at the peak of the qi refining stage. Nevertheless, these formidable creatures were harnessed to pull a carriage. This fact alone spoke volumes about the occupant within.

Onlooking pedestrians exhibited no surprise at this spectacle, as such sights were commonplace within this particular domain. This was the courtyard of the Cultivation Order Courts. Only the officials of the court and individuals with special access privileges were permitted to arrive via carriages or flying swords.

The carriage soon halted before a grand flight of steps leading to a towering, black edifice that seemed to challenge the very heavens, exuding an aura of righteous inviolability.

The coachman, clad in robes of half-red and half-blue, adorned with a rhombus symbol bearing the numeral IV, promptly dismounted. He then proceeded to gently tap on the carriage doors.

"Judge Yang Qing, we have reached the courts building… Judge… Judge… can you hear me? Please tell me you haven't activated the noise cancellation array again," the coachman implored. His previously composed demeanor had vanished, replaced by a frantic knocking that had negligible effect on the carriage.

"Huh… We're already here, that was quick. Hey, Yi Jie, did you use the spatial array again? I've told you it makes me dizzy, and I doubt it's good for the horses either. They look thinner than before," a drowsy, muffled voice emanated from within the carriage.

"I did not utilize any spatial array. Besides, you do not possess the requisite rank to directly employ spatial arrays to the court building's courtyard," Yi Jie retorted, his voice laced with weariness and annoyance.

The carriage doors swung open, revealing a young man with verdant hair and eyes that mirrored its shade. His hair was disheveled, giving the distinct impression he had just awakened from slumber.

"Hahaha, oh yes, apologies Yi Jie, I was engrossed in sle…cultivating. I experienced an epiphany regarding the perfection of my grand lunar gaze. I completely lost track of time. Hahaha," Yang Qing continued with a nervous chuckle, stepping out of the carriage. He attempted to clap Yi Jie on the back, but Yi Jie evaded the gesture using shadow-void steps. His efforts were in vain, however, as Yang Qing managed to make contact, nullifying the steps with effortless ease.

"We face a strenuous day ahead. You surely do not wish to endure Supervisor Lei Weiyuan's reprimands for tardiness yet again, do you?

Even with your promotion ceremony merely a week away, you must diligently fulfill all your duties as a superior core court Judge."

"Yes, yes, I understand," Yang Qing responded, unable to suppress a sigh. He pondered how he had arrived at his current predicament.

He originated from a family of low standing. Fortunately, he possessed exceptional cultivation talent, prompting his clan to invest all available resources in his development.

However, as his standing advanced, his clan's resources became increasingly inadequate to support him.

Given his prodigious talent, numerous paths lay before him: joining a sect, becoming a retainer for a higher-ranked family, serving as a minion to a prince of a minor kingdom, embracing the life of a wandering cultivator in pursuit of treasures and opportunities across the continent, or enlisting with the Cultivation Order Society as an official.

Naturally, he opted for the final choice. All other avenues presented excessive risks, and his freedom would have been severely curtailed. Even as a wandering cultivator, true freedom was elusive; the influence of individuals and collective power often held sway. Therefore, the Cultivation Order Society it was. They wielded considerable power, and he would be spared the peril of risking his life for resources, even finding opportunities to be lax in his duties.

This society was established through the collaborative efforts of a multitude of sects, cultivation clans/families, and royal entities. The southern continent, his current abode, was abundantly blessed with diverse resources, natural treasures, and high-grade mines, alongside a denser and richer qi environment. The central continent was the only other landmass that could rival it in these respects.

The proximity of the Millionfold Treasure Ocean to the continent only intensified the fierce competition among all its inhabitants. Be it sects, clans, royalty, or independent cultivators, everyone scrambled for the alluring treasures, letting greed overshadow their sanity.

Amidst this chaos, forces from the west, east, and even the central continent attempted to seize a portion of the southern continent. This was particularly true as the southern continent's residents were embroiled in their own brutal conflicts, providing ample material for bards for decades.

The invasion by external powers served as a rude awakening, prompting unity against the outsiders and successfully driving them back. However, this victory left a critical question: what next? Returning to their old ways meant eventual demise. Thus, they conceived the idea of establishing a Cultivation Order Society. Families of all tiers, along with sects and kingdoms, pooled their resources to create a society dedicated to maintaining impartiality and order across the continent.

Consequently, Cultivation Order Courts were instituted to mediate and adjudicate disputes within the southern continent, with all coalition members bound by its rulings, regardless of status. To uphold fairness, court members were exclusively selected from minor or unranked families, or even orphans, individuals with little to no inherent authority.

Children exhibiting exceptional talents were either scouted or could voluntarily present themselves for assessment. Leveraging the collective resources of the various sects, clans, and royal families, these individuals received rigorous training, ensuring that only the most gifted individuals passed the stringent entry requirements.

After a millennium, the Cultivation Order Society had solidified its position as a formidable power. The young recruits, gathered from across the continent, had matured into seasoned cultivators, far surpassing the expectations of the original sects, clans, and royalties.

This unforeseen surge in cultivation prowess empowered the Order, setting it firmly on the path to impartiality. Its members were now mature enough for self-sufficiency, reducing their dependence on the sects/clans/royalties, especially those high-ranking ones who harbored ambitions of molding the Order into their private subordinate force.

The Order's reputation and fame as an inviolable powerhouse grew, attracting the greatest talents who sought to test their mettle and foster their growth. This influx of ambitious youngsters, confident in their abilities, aimed to distinguish themselves in this crucible of talent.

Yang Qing, however, was drawn to this place for entirely dissimilar reasons. His logic was that a location teeming with so many formidable cultivators would be the safest haven. With numerous powerful individuals around, he might not need to exert himself, allowing their strength to cover for him. This presented an opportunity to relax and benefit from the resources they would undoubtedly provide. The Cultivation Order Society was renowned for its exceptional treatment of all its members, right down to the trainees.

Thus, at the age of fourteen, he was quick to submit his application for recruitment by the Order, his mind filled with visions of the opulent life that awaited him.