Daily life of a cultivation judge Chapter 1464: Is he crazy?

A hushed silence descended in the moments following Yang Qing’s offer, a silence he had anticipated. Not everyone possessed his inclination to eat first and question later, and even then, his suspicions arose more from habit than deliberate caution. Consider the exquisite wine they were savoring; Yang Qing knew more about Fan Jie and the other founders of the Vast Blue Sect than he did about the enigmatic individual who had supplied him with that very wine and its accompanying gourd, crafted from a prestigious Saint Grade material.

Yang Qing and this benefactor had never met. Still, a hopeful part of him entertained the notion that the figure might have been an ancestor from his Yang Clan, showing favor to a promising descendant. After all the hardships he had endured for the Dao, Yang Qing felt he deserved some form of compensation, and that wine and gourd seemed a fitting reward.

Alternatively, if the benefactor wasn't a Yang Clan ancestor, perhaps they were a senior from his Order. After all, a Gold Grade Formation Master and several individuals from the Spirit Council had been present in the Deer Mountain Range at the time, orchestrating the creation of a vast formation array intended to encompass the entire region. It was plausible that the mysterious figure was one of them.

Yet, even if they were a complete stranger with no ties to Yang Qing, he still would have accepted the wine without hesitation. While naturally prone to paranoia, much like Feng Xin, he lacked the self-control to refuse a superior offering, especially one that tasted as divine as it did.

However, this leniency couldn't be assumed for all cultivators, particularly merchants with a background in rogue cultivation. For such individuals, that platter of fruits might as well have been a veiled act of aggression. Those seemingly innocuous fruits presented a danger as potent as a drawn, poisoned dagger.

Had Yang Qing not been affiliated with the Order, or had he not established a modicum of rapport with Han Bai and Meng Song, he wouldn't have been surprised if they had all subtly emanated killing intent, their bodies coiled and ready to strike at the slightest misstep from him.

This sentiment, 'Trust nothing, believe even less,' was a guiding principle for many cultivators, especially those who walked the solitary path of rogue cultivation.

Fortunately, the awkward quiet didn't persist; one of their company broke the tension by reaching for a Silver Ice Tear Guava.

"Since Judge Yang Qing has so graciously offered, it would be rude of me to refuse," Fan Jie stated, his appreciation evident as he turned the guava in his hand. He then took a small bite. "The gentle yin Qi within this is exceptionally refined, and its potency is surprisingly substantial for its size. This single piece," he indicated a chunk the size of his thumb, "is more than sufficient to propel a Core Formation expert from the early stages to the peak of cultivation, with residual Qi remaining. You mentioned you cultivated it yourself?" he inquired, his gaze shifting from the fruit to Yang Qing.

"Indeed, I did," Yang Qing replied with a smile.

"Your talent for cultivation is remarkable, Judge Yang Qing. Truly befitting an esteemed member of the Order," Fan Jie commented, his attention returning to the guava. However, as he looked away, his eyes briefly scanned Yang Qing's outer robe. "A genuine surprise," he murmured, almost to himself, while continuing to savor the guava.

"Thank you for your commendation," Yang Qing responded with a smile, fully aware that Fan Jie's last remark was likely a veiled barb. This, however, did not bother Yang Qing, as Fan Jie's behavior was precisely what he had anticipated. In a gathering of reserved individuals, it took an audacious person, unconcerned with appearances, to shatter the ice, and Fan Jie fit that description perfectly. It was this very characteristic that emboldened Yang Qing to present the fruit platter and extend his offer.

With Fan Jie taking the initiative, Han Bai and Meng Song found themselves with little choice but to follow suit. They offered their thanks to Yang Qing before reaching for the platter. Whether influenced by Fan Jie's lead, the pressure of the situation, or another reason entirely, both Meng Song and Han Bai selected the Silver Ice Tear Guavas.

If a single option had to be selected, Yang Qing would have presumed they would choose the Gentle Yang Pineapples over the Silver Ice Tear Guavas, considering their current predicament. This was because the latter was more suitable for those with a clear and viable path forward, whereas the former offered rejuvenating properties that, while not extending lifespan significantly, could revitalize a declining body. The Gentle Yang Qi could rejuvenate everything it touched, from one's Qi and organs to their skin, bones, and blood, ensuring their body remained in optimal condition until their very last breath without any loss of strength due to advanced age.

Conversely, Gentle Yin Qi refreshed and renewed the soul while restoring depleted spiritual essence. With prolonged consumption, it would strengthen the soul over time, facilitating easier comprehension of soul arts, improving concentration for extended meditation sessions, and enabling prolonged seclusion when contemplating the Dao or striving to overcome a bottleneck. Those who stood to benefit the most were individuals who still possessed room for improvement or the luxury of actually utilizing its advantages.

Whether it was Han Bai, Meng Song, or Fan Jie, could they truly still improve? Yang Qing had come to understand that genuine impossibilities were rare, especially within the world of cultivation. If a fruit existed that could grant someone without any cultivation three Dantians, or an ocean that continuously yielded hundreds of Saint Grade treasures, it was evident that anything was achievable. Han Bai and Meng Song might have reached the limits of their potential, and Fan Jie was so gravely injured that, despite the treasure concealing his cultivation base, Yang Qing could detect the faint odor of death surrounding him. Even though their circumstances appeared immutable, who could definitively say that no treasure existed capable of instantly reversing their fortunes?

That being said, while the possibility lingered, what were the odds of such a miracle befalling them? Yang Qing was willing to wager: not high. Therefore, the choice made by Han Bai and the others to opt for the Silver Ice Tear Guavas genuinely astonished him.

Had the Vast Blue Sect been in a stable position, free from the threat of raids, perhaps their choice of the Silver Ice Tear Guavas would have been understandable. After all, while the fruit couldn't aid them in advancing their realms, it would allow them to deepen their understanding of their cultivation manuals and other disciplines in which they excelled, thereby passing that refined knowledge down and enriching the legacy and inheritance of the Vast Blue Sect.

Yang Qing had witnessed and read of similar instances where members of sects, clans, and other organizations nearing the end of their lifespans utilized treasures that enabled them to crystallize and consolidate the understanding accumulated throughout their lives, which they then passed on to bolster the foundations of their sect or clan. Alternatively, those gifted in teaching and guidance would dedicate their remaining years to refining their insights and discoveries, imbuing them into their disciples or junior clan members.

The cultivation insights of an early-stage Domain expert regarding a low-tier Blue Grade cultivation manual were arguably more valuable than direct access to a low-tier Gold Grade cultivation manual. This was because a low-tier Blue Grade art could produce powerful experts, just as a Gold Grade manual could, provided it was cultivated correctly.

If the Vast Blue Sect possessed ample time or a reliable means to guarantee their safety even after their founders were gone, then perhaps Han Bai and the others could have spent their remaining years nurturing members and solidifying their legacy. However, they lacked such a luxury. Their immediate priority was to stall for time and fend off their enemies, buying every available second.

Their strength was the sole resource they possessed to keep the predators at bay, and it needed to be preserved for as long as possible. In such a context, the Gentle Yang Pineapples were the superior choice. This was, in fact, one of the primary reasons Yang Qing had brought them out initially. The Silver Ice Tear Guava was intended as a test for Tang Xiadan, while the Gentle Yang Pineapple represented his indirect assistance to Han Bai and Meng Song.

Yang Qing's wandering thoughts ceased as Tang Xiadan finally made his selection. To Yang Qing's surprise, Tang Xiadan deviated from the expected path, reaching for the Gentle Yang Pineapple closest to him.

"Thank you for your generosity, Fellow Daoist," Tang Xiadan expressed, offering a grateful smile and nod to Yang Qing before proceeding to take a bite.

Yang Qing’s thoughts were abruptly halted as his Peerless Yin Yang Jade Nature Physique responded with an even greater fervor than before. The instant Tang Xiadan took a bite of the Gentle Yang Pineapple, it was as if a beacon had been lit. Yang Qing's left pupil flared golden, whilst his right turned a deep blue, tinged with a subtle white hue.

A genuine shock coursed through Yang Qing as he finally grasped the profound secret concealed behind the supreme yin qi he had previously detected. He affirmed this realization, still utterly astounded by the revelation before his eyes.

His surprise was apparently evident enough that he couldn't entirely conceal it, as Tang Xiadan offered him a smile. "It seems the secret is out, Fellow Daoist. This simplifies matters." He then cast a glance towards Fan Jie, seated to his left, and then to Han Bai and Meng Song, seated to his right, before offering a respectful bow to both parties. "Fellow Daoists, would you kindly grant us a few moments of privacy? Fellow Daoist Yang Qing and I have matters to discuss."