Daily life of a cultivation judge Chapter 1476: Part of the same trunk (1)

Yang Qing remained uncertain if 'six' referred to six individuals or if it encompassed the leadership and history of the Treasure Coin Palace along with their respective races. The historical accounts he had perused lacked clarity on this distinction, although some passages hinted that individuals, rather than entire races, were the more probable interpretation.

However, did such a distinction truly matter? Whether it was an entire race or a single individual, Yang Qing perceived no difference in the terrifying implications. Both scenarios pointed to the same alarming reality: six formidable races, either collectively or individually, had united to forge an organization.

Such a formidable alliance was more than capable of striking fear, potentially even into the hearts of other mythical races.

The mere presence of one such entity was daunting enough; the combined might of six, bolstered by the existence of an equally prodigious treasure like the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree, presented an unimaginable threat.

If such extreme measures and external manipulation were required to manifest an Ancestral Dragon Spiritual Vein, it was no wonder the feat had never been successfully replicated since.

In the current era, where could one possibly find six members of mythical races? Especially when merely glimpsing a mythical creature was an arduous task, and the only one found resembled Yang Shitong. Relying on such a roguish, corpulent, and ill-tempered avian being would be far less effective than attempting the endeavor independently.

Yet, even if, through some miraculous stroke of fortune, one managed to locate the elusive mythical race members, securing six of them would not guarantee the successful creation of the Ancestral Dragon Spiritual Vein due to the other critical component.

Since the downfall of the Treasure Coin Palace, the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree had vanished without a trace. Not a single leaf had ever been documented in any cultivator's possession. Indeed, it was a common practice for cultivators and their organizations to hoard valuable items for myriad reasons, security and maintaining an ultimate trump card being paramount. Consequently, the more precious an artifact, the greater the lengths to which secrecy would be maintained, often extending to concealing it even from their own ranks, with knowledge restricted to a select few key figures.

In a world rife with danger and avarice, such caution was a prudent habit. But!

There exists a threshold for treasures, beyond which secrecy becomes not only impractical but entirely pointless. Consider, for instance, the Ten Thousand Dao Jade Leaf Tree and, by extension, the entirety of the Jade Leaf Empire and its accompanying Academy.

Given the tree's unparalleled marvel, attempting to conceal its existence would be akin to siphoning water with a sieve. Information would inevitably leak. While the precise mechanisms and nature of the tree might remain unknown, the inhabitants of the Jade Leaf Empire would undoubtedly sense the presence of a wondrous artifact, indicated by clear signs such as its association with longevity.

In a world where sects, clans, kingdoms, empires, pavilions, halls, and manors crumbled and were replaced with bewildering regularity, the cycle repeating endlessly, any organization persisting for ten millennia would undoubtedly arouse suspicion among cultivators regarding the source of its enduring stability. This suspicion would only intensify with the passage of further centuries.

'What kind of secret allows them to endure?' This was the prevailing thought among most cultivators. If the answer pointed to reliance on a powerful individual, they would inevitably question: how many such figures did they possess? What was their true strength? How was it acquired? And how was this power continuously maintained?

Whether a sect chose a path of seclusion or active engagement, its sustained existence for a significant duration would inevitably attract the scrutiny of countless observant eyes, all seeking to unravel the enigma of its survival. While certain fundamental secrets might be guarded, inadvertent revelations were inevitable, as numerous motivated individuals within the cultivation world were relentlessly driven to unearth any mystery.

All treasures possessed an aura that drew attention, and the more extraordinary the treasure, the more pronounced this anomaly became. Take the Jade Leaf Empire, for example. Aside from the Dragon Meadow and the Odyssey Horizon Guild, it stood as one of the most ancient organizations currently in existence. Its longevity even surpassed that of the Two Holy Lands, with prevalent rumors suggesting an age of no less than five hundred thousand years.

Now, had the presence of the Ten Thousand Dao Jade Leaf Tree not been publicly acknowledged, these immense years alone would have been sufficient proof of their possession of something truly extraordinary. Survival for half a million years is simply not possible without a potent source of support.What then, about the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree? It was whispered that this tree spawned Saint Grade treasures by the thousands. If an organization possessed such an item, could they possibly keep it a secret under any circumstances? Yang Qing’s response was clear: There would have been undeniable signs. While the tree itself might be concealed, its profound influence on its surroundings or its possessor could not be fully hidden. Consequently, considering the current circumstances and observable evidence, it was improbable that the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree had an owner. If, by some chance, it did, that owner was either not present on this continent, had vanished into the most unfathomable depths of the void, or had sought refuge in some equally remote location. But just how many such locations truly existed? The Bestial Churning Sea, for instance, was notoriously perilous; even Domain experts faced mortal danger upon its shores, yet cultivators flocked there daily. More than that, they dared to probe the most treacherous core regions within its abyssal depths. Was a similar situation not observed with the Millionsfold Treasure Ocean? This place presented an even greater peril than the Bestial Churning Sea, posing a lethal threat not only to Domain experts but also to those in the Nascent Soul Realm, yet still, cultivators plunged into its waters in droves. The void itself was arguably the most terrifying realm imaginable, yet without fail, cultivators still braved its dangers. Therefore, as the situation presented itself, there were indeed places where one could conceivably hide the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree. However, this did not render the possibility of its existence or ownership entirely impossible.