Daily life of a cultivation judge Chapter 1465: Trade of favors (1)

With a slight bow from Tang Xiadan at the request of the three founders, the farewells began. Meng Song and Han Bai extended their apologies and gratitude to Yang Qing, promising a future meeting before departing. Fan Jie, in a turn that was both surprising and unsurprising given his fickle nature, expressed his thanks to Yang Qing for the Silver Ice Tear Guava. The real surprise was not the gratitude itself, but the uncharacteristic politeness with which it was offered before he excused himself, appearing remarkably sincere.

Although Yang Qing felt a surge of surprise and privately considered it a minor victory, he remained grounded. After all, the sincerity of Fan Jie's gratitude was questionable. While Yang Qing possessed a keen eye for authenticity versus affectation, he was not one to overestimate his own judgment. Fan Jie, a seasoned trickster, had a longstanding habit of concealing his true intentions behind a mask of amiability.

Furthermore, it was highly probable that Fan Jie's sudden display of courtesy had less to do with Yang Qing and more to do with their enigmatic guest. Tang Xiadan's gaze was now solely fixed on Yang Qing, having already bid farewell with thanks and apologies to the three founders as they withdrew. Once they had departed, his undivided attention shifted to Yang Qing.

"While I have confidence in the privacy and security of this chamber, along with the precautions implemented by Fan Jie and the others, one can never be too vigilant," Tang Xiadan remarked casually, retrieving a turquoise feather from within his robes. He gently caressed the feather's shaft, which elicited a faint vibration, as if activating some hidden property. Subsequently, the feather's tip coiled into a ball, and after a brief pause, it vibrated once more, emitting a soft, melodious cry from within. Moments later, it transformed, morphing into a crow roughly the size of a sparrow.

The crow was adorned with lustrous turquoise feathers, each tipped with silver-gold streaks that shimmered, evoking the sensation of gazing at stars during the brightest daylight.

It tilted its head, seemingly assessing its surroundings. Its eyes, entirely turquoise down to the sclera, lacked conventional pupils, replaced instead by golden-white stars. After surveying the room and giving Yang Qing a curious glance, it took to the air, flying towards the ceiling before its form simply vanished. While it appeared to have phased through the barrier, Yang Qing knew this was not the case.

"Star Shrouding Sky Crow," Yang Qing observed, his gaze still fixed on the spot where the crow had disappeared. "Esteemed Daoist Tang Xiadan is truly a walking repository of wonders. Your journeys must have been filled with exceptionally fortunate encounters." He offered a smile as he returned his attention to Tang Xiadan, who mirrored his expression.

Yang Qing's words were not mere flattery towards the man who had ensured his safety. He genuinely meant them. The Star Shrouding Sky Crow currently above them was indeed a creature worthy of such praise. In terms of bloodline lineage, it occupied the same tier as Ellie, both spirit beasts positioned just below the mythical races.

In fact, Ellie and the crow possessed comparable abilities. Ellie, as a Cloud Swallowing Kite, could manipulate surrounding clouds not only to enhance her own power, boosting her speed and defenses, but also to achieve a level of concealment so profound that even at the late stage of the Core Formation Realm, she could elude the senses of certain nascent Palace Realm experts with less robust foundations. This capability was destined to grow even more potent as her cultivation progressed.

The Star Shrouding Sky Crow, on the other hand, could achieve the same feat of concealment without reliance on clouds, capable of blending into any and all surroundings. Legend has it that the Star Shrouding Sky Crow earned its name from its unparalleled ability to obscure itself and anything it desired, even from the direct observation of the heavens above.

Its proficiency in concealing itself and its chosen targets was so exceptional that Yang Qing had, on several occasions, overheard Senior Bu Zhou, the Domain Shrouding Water Jade Turtle, express a wish that he had been born a Star Shrouding Sky Crow instead.

The fact that this sentiment came from a spirit beast renowned for its exceptional concealment abilities, one who could likely evade even an early-stage Soul Formation expert while at the peak of the Domain Realm, served as ample testament to the Star Shrouding Sky Crow's prowess. This made Yang Qing all the more intrigued by it. After all, such praise originated not only from a spirit beast with similar inherent skills but also from one possessing a deeply cautious disposition, favoring evasion of danger above all else. These two factors lent significant weight to Senior Bu Zhou's commendation, and Yang Qing, sharing a similar spirit of timidity, soon found himself echoing the same sentiment, lamenting why he too had not been blessed with a bloodline connected to the Star Shrouding Sky Crow.

How different Yang Qing's life might have unfolded. His tenure at the Institute would have been substantially less arduous, given that the Star Shrouding Sky Crow possessed abilities extending beyond mere concealment. A significant aspect of its prowess stemmed from its innate capacity to perceive others and completely circumvent their abilities. After all, this spirit beast did not rely solely on avoidance and evasion for its stealth; it also employed deception, manipulation, and counter-measures. Those star-like eyes could penetrate not only spiritual senses, spells, treasures, formations, and any other detection methods but also discern vulnerabilities for flawless evasion. It remained hidden before you even considered searching for it, possessing an acute sense of danger and the foresight to prepare accordingly.

How many treacherous traps and pitfalls devised by the Instructors could Yang Qing have navigated successfully with the bloodline of a Star Shrouding Sky Crow?

In truth, influenced by the impassioned declarations and mournful tales shared by Senior Bu Zhou, the Star Shrouding Sky Crow might very well be the sole spirit beast with whom Yang Qing would contemplate forging a Binding Soul Pact.

However, its remarkable skill in concealment made locating one a formidable challenge. Not even the Order possessed such a creature. At least, that was Yang Qing's belief. The alternative theory suggested the Order was deliberately withholding this information, perhaps due to their telepathic abilities, which would have allowed them to discern his intentions the moment he acquired a Star Shrouding Sky Crow.

Yang Qing firmly dismissed the alternative theory, refusing to entertain it as his attention was drawn back to the individual before him.

The Star Shrouding Sky Crow hovering above was not the genuine creature but a manifestation of its abilities, brought forth through a specific art utilizing a feather from a true Star Shrouding Sky Crow. If Yang Qing's assessment was correct, judging by the creature's lifelike presence, even to someone whose Dao was the Supreme Dao of Life, Tang Xiadan must have employed the blood essence of a Star Shrouding Sky Crow to anchor the spell via the feather as a conduit. This likely contributed to its remarkable semblance of life. Alternatively, Tang Xiadan might have been in contact with a living Star Shrouding Sky Crow that had imprinted its will onto the feather. This implied that while Yang Qing might not have possessed one, Tang Xiadan had certainly established some form of connection or relationship, allowing a Star Shrouding Sky Crow to willingly offer its feather and infuse it with its intent.

All these factors pointed towards an individual of extraordinary complexity. The deep blue-white flower bud gradually unfurling from the center of his chest, its roots delving not just into his heart but extending into his very soul, served as further definitive proof that Tang Xiadan was far from ordinary.

With a smile directed at Yang Qing's earlier remark, Tang Xiadan stated, "Regarding fortuitous encounters, Daoist Yang Qing, I believe you have the advantage over me. After all, the Green Flame Tree sap you presented earlier surpasses mine in both rarity and value."

Yang Qing offered a smile, shaking his head as he proceeded to replenish their cups. "I surmise the reason for your visit pertains to that Soulfrost Sequoia, which is not only draining your soul but also your physical being," he remarked, gesturing towards Tang Xiadan's chest with his wine cup. "I can understand why Han Bai and the others left the Gentle Yang Pineapples for you," he added casually before taking a sip.

"It appears you've indeed seen through everything," Tang Xiadan replied, a hint of resignation in his smile as he took a sip of his wine. He then placed his cup down, his gaze and demeanor shifting to a more serious tone. He loosened his robes, allowing them to slide from his shoulders, exposing his entire torso. As he did so, it was as if an illusion were being dispelled.