Daily life of a cultivation judge Chapter 1466: Trade of favors (2)

When Tang Xiadan was initially brought in, his frame appeared lean, but it was the lean physique of someone whose body had been honed to possess no superfluous muscle, retaining only what suited their stature. This was comparable to Yang Qing’s own build. However, now, upon revealing his torso, Yang Qing was met with a sight verging on emaciation. His skin was stretched taut over his bones, his stomach sunken deep against his back. His entire being seemed like a polished husk, so hollowed out. A lustrous blue-white luminescence permeated his skin, mirroring the small, half-pinky-sized flower bud emerging from his chest. Yet, this polished surface was marred by intricate, tendril-like deep blue veins that webbed across his body like a fibrous root system – which, in essence, they were. All these surfacing veins converged, tracing their path back to the flower bud.

A fragrant, fruity aroma with a cool, invigorating minty undertone radiated from Tang Xiadan’s form. Perhaps influenced by Yang Qing’s earlier meditation, which had caused a slight dip in the room’s temperature as his concentration drew a response from the Frost Crystal Lotus and the Spirit Pearl Peonies on the table, Tang Xiadan’s exposed torso caused the temperature to drop further, though not significantly.

As for his face, it remained unchanged from before, possibly due to his control or the influence not having extended that far. Its appearance stood in stark contrast to the gaunt husk below, creating a disproportional look. The warm, serene smile he wore only amplified this, as if the precarious state of his torso, one gentle breeze away from disintegrating into dust, was of no concern.

"As you can observe, I find myself in rather dire straits," Tang Xiadan remarked, indicating his torso with a wry smile.

"This predicament didn't occur by chance, did it?" Yang Qing inquired, his smile tinged with disbelief as he scrutinized the effects of the Soulfrost Sequoia upon Tang Xiadan. The flower had integrated so profoundly that to deem Tang Xiadan and the flower as a single entity wouldn't be an overstatement. He couldn't help but marvel at how Tang Xiadan had managed to conceal the fluctuations of this fusion so effectively.

Yang Qing mused, casting a subtle upward glance before returning his focus to Tang Xiadan.

"Indeed, it did not," Tang Xiadan confessed, a hint of embarrassment coloring his tone. "That is precisely why I require your assistance, Fellow Daoist," he stated with gravity. "I am prepared to meet any cost for more of these Gentle Yang Pineapples. If I possessed twenty, or even just ten, I believe I could rectify this situation," he added, subtly retracting his earlier demand, perhaps fearing it was too excessive.

"Alternatively, if you have more of the Green Flame Tree Sap you are willing to part with," he tentatively offered, after a moment's pause, observing Yang Qing’s reaction.

Yang Qing, for his part, appeared unresponsive, his gaze fixed pensively on the Soulfrost Sequoia.

"Even eight would suffice," Tang Xiadan pressed, a thinly veiled urgency surfacing in his eyes as Yang Qing remained silent.

Yang Qing finally lifted his head, a broad, amiable smile gracing his features. "Your reasoning was not flawed. Gentle Yang Pineapples could indeed achieve the desired outcome, but it would necessitate a considerable duration due to the nature of their energy and that of this Soulfrost Sequoia," he explained, gesturing gently towards the flower bud. "Given the extreme measures you've taken, your intention was to leverage it to enhance your prospects of breaking through to the Domain Realm, was it not?" His grin widened, making him increasingly resemble Li Gang.

"I did intend to," Tang Xiadan replied, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

Yang Qing let out a low whistle, leaning forward over the table, his expression hinting at something significant.

"Daoist Tang Xiadan," Yang Qing began slowly, "how would you feel about resolving this issue definitively?" He extended both hands, a pure white flame hovering over one, and a deep green flame, appearing as a fusion of liquid and fire, over the other.

*Clap!*

Yang Qing softly brought his hands together, causing the two flames to merge into a single entity – a cyan-white flame exuding an aura of boundless life and harmony.

"How about we settle this matter right now?" Yang Qing inquired softly, raising the flame. "All it would require is an introduction to your friend, the Star Shrouding Sky Crow, and some scattered pieces of information. You mentioned you were a wandering explorer, correct?" he probed.

Without awaiting a response, he continued. "In all your years of exploration, you must have encountered numerous intriguing discoveries, haven't you?" Yang Qing’s shrewd, merchant-like smile widened as the cyan-white flame flickered in his hands, casting an unsettling glow upon his face.

Had Tang Xiadan not known Yang Qing hailed from the Order, the disconcerting intensity of his smile in the dancing light would have led him to believe Yang Qing was a rogue cultivator dealing in souls.

Tang Xiadan mused, his focus drawn to the flickering flame in Yang Qing’s grasp. He could sense the Soulfrost Sequoia pulsing with an intense longing for it.

Tang Xiadan pondered, shifting his gaze between Yang Qing and the fiery spectacle. His previous statement about the Gentle Yang Pineapples and Silver Ice Tear Guavas possessing exceptionally pure yang and yin energies, respectively, held no falsehood, yet they paled in comparison to the essence within that flame. One was a mere pebble; the other, a colossal mountain range.

Even without direct utilization, the mere energetic fluctuations radiating from it confirmed that Yang Qing’s assertions were far from mere boasts. That solitary flame held the potential to not only resolve his predicament and pull him back from the precipice but also to aid him in his grand objective: coaxing the Soulfrost Sequoia into blooming. From its blossoming, he could derive a pathway to the domain realm, which itself served as a stepping stone. The ultimate goal was a mysterious realm he had chanced upon, a realm he felt inadequately prepared to explore without the strength of a domain realm cultivator.

Simultaneously, any delay was a luxury he could not afford, a pressing reality that had compelled him to resort to an extreme measure like the Soulfrost Sequoia to accelerate his progress. It was an unavoidable choice, considering the origins of that enigmatic realm. It was not an everyday occurrence for someone of his standing to uncover a connection to the illustrious Treasure Coin Palace.

In their prime, there existed entities of such magnitude they could be deemed behemoths; even long after their decline, their lingering influence continued to shape the contemporary landscape. Among these monumental existences, none had left a more indelible mark than the Treasure Coin Palace. This was perhaps inevitable, given that the organization was once reputed to be the wealthiest on the continent, with whispers suggesting its riches rivaled even the legendary Millionsfold Treasure Ocean. Whether this claim held absolute truth was secondary; what truly mattered was the undeniable fact that both the Radiant Sword Sect and the Flowing Valley Sect, considered Holy Lands, owed their very ascensions to the remnant treasures exhumed from ruins and locales associated with the Treasure Coin Palace.

This phenomenon was even more pronounced among the rank-one organizations, with some establishments tracing their entire lineage directly back to the Treasure Coin Palace.

Even venerable and enigmatic factions such as the Dragon Meadow and the Horizon Odyssey Guild were rumored to share certain connections with that esteemed palace.

If any single organization rightfully merited the title of a Dragon Gate, a crucible of transformation, it was undoubtedly the Treasure Coin Palace. And Tang Xiadan, through a potent combination of his Gold Jade Treasure Mouse bloodline and sheer fortune, had stumbled upon a hidden realm intrinsically linked to that very organization. His opportunity for ascension had finally presented itself, and he was resolute in his decision not to let it slip through his fingers. He would dedicate every fiber of his being to seizing it.

he contemplated, his eyes blazing with fervent anticipation. As a Gold Jade Treasure Mouse, nothing ignited his spirit quite like the scent of a hidden treasure, particularly those shrouded in an aura of mystery. The Green Fog Region, his former homeland, represented precisely such a place. All his extensive travels had been undertaken with this singular objective in mind.

Was it not a profound disgrace for a Gold Jade Treasure Mouse, an identity intrinsically defined by the unearthing of treasures, to fail in this endeavor within his own homeland, simply due to a deficiency in personal strength? Tang Xiadan's determination to eradicate this blemish on his reputation intensified with every passing moment.

Tang Xiadan reflected with a hint of self-reproach, his gaze subtly drifting towards the ceiling.