Daily life of a cultivation judge Chapter 1477: Part of the same trunk (2)

Numerous whispers and rumors had reached Yang Qing's ears, suggesting the tree was likely situated in one of two specific locations: the Dragon Meadow or the Odyssey Horizon Guild.

He could readily comprehend why such notions persisted. These two entities stood as the most ancient organizations on the continent. Their origins were so lost to time that no one could accurately pinpoint when they began, and both were shrouded in an aura of profound mystery.

The exact whereabouts of the Dragon Meadow remained unknown; its existence was all that was certain. The limited knowledge available indicated that if one sought a secure place for safekeeping, the Dragon Meadow offered unparalleled security. Furthermore, there was no restriction on the quantity or type of items that could be stored. This included not only tangible valuable items such as cultivation manuals, pill recipes, artifacts, and natural treasures but also abstract concepts like memories and emotions. These could be stored, provided one could access them, and the only method of access was for them to be revealed to you first.

Beyond their storage services, an extensive trade in goods was also conducted. It was widely believed that even the resplendent White Rose Pavilion could not rival the Dragon Meadow in terms of the rarity of its merchandise. Items unheard of, or even those presumed to be extinct, were likely discoverable within the Dragon Meadow's confines.

As for the Odyssey Horizon Guild, while it did not possess quite the same level of enigma as the Dragon Meadow – to the extent that no concrete building or location associated with it could ever be sighted – the Guild harbored its own unique mysteries. The Dragon Meadow housed rare, unparalleled treasures, whereas the Odyssey Horizon Guild offered rare, unheard-of possibilities.

As a devoted history enthusiast, Yang Qing understood from his own frustrating experiences how arduous it could be to unearth information about the past. One might delve into research only to discover that the available material was scarce, wildly embellished, or so fragmented and disjointed that it offered no coherent picture. Countless sources would need to be meticulously examined just to grasp the periphery of a subject, let alone penetrate to its core substance.

The historical record was riddled with innumerable gaps that seemed to have evaporated into thin air, and reconstructing them was akin to trying to gather smoke and preserve it as if it were a solid object.

However, it was a common saying that the absence of discoverable information did not imply its non-existence. One simply needed to know the correct avenues to explore, and the premier destination for such pursuits was the Grand Library of the Odyssey Horizon Guild, an exclusive sanctuary accessible only to Purple Grade members.

This legendary library was rumored to house every fragment of history since the inception of time, with every record preserved in perfect condition and elaborated in meticulous detail.

The entirety of the continent's history was said to be enshrined within its hallowed walls. This encompassed everything from general knowledge to highly specialized information, including cultivation manuals, intricate recipes, formation formulae, ancient languages, and various other discoveries from bygone eras – all contained within that magnificent library.

Yang Qing harbored the thought of never departing from such a place. Yet, sadly, it necessitated becoming a Purple Grade explorer even to earn the slightest possibility of entry. He wasn't even a White Grade member, which was the most basic rank, let alone Purple Grade. The Guild's determination of rank had minimal correlation with one's cultivation realm and was predominantly based on an individual's discoveries.

The Guild's fundamental objective was to demystify the world's enigmas. Their pursuit involved excavating the past, clarifying the present, and unraveling the future. Consequently, a member's grade was conferred based on the intrinsic value of their uncovered findings or discoveries, bearing little association with their achievements as a cultivator.

Thus, for an individual like Tang Xiadan, despite being an expert in the late-stage Palace Realm, Yang Qing would not experience surprise if it were revealed he held a Gold Grade membership within the Guild, considering the multitude of locations and ancient ruins he had unearthed, which were tied to venerable lineages.

As for his own standing, he was content as a recluse. He would have to ascend to the Soul Formation Realm before he would dare to register with the Guild and endeavor to climb its ranks. The most tantalizing mysteries were invariably the most perilous, and surviving such danger demanded formidable strength.

Therefore, until the moment he possessed sufficient confidence in his abilities to freely traverse the continent in pursuit of secrets and enigmas, that fabled library and the mysteries it guarded would remain relegated to the realm of 'daydreaming fantasies.'

Dragon Meadow. Odyssey Horizon Guild. If the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree still existed, it was highly probable that it rested within one of these two esteemed locations. If not, then the only other conceivable place it might be, assuming it hadn't been obliterated, was...

One of the more persistent rumors suggested that following the disappearance of the Treasure Coin Palace, the tree vanished along with it, returning to its origins. Given its operational characteristics and the strong parallels observed between the Gourd Tree and the Millionsfold Treasure Ocean, it was frequently hypothesized that both entities originated from the same source. If this theory held true, it implied that the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree likely resided at the very bottom of the Millionsfold Treasure Ocean, precisely where the epicenter of the ocean's potent energy was concealed.

If that were the case, it would be practically unattainable, as most rare items from the Millionsfold Treasure Ocean required a fated encounter to even be glimpsed, let alone acquired.

It was widely accepted that obtaining special treasures from the Millionsfold Treasure Ocean depended more on fate than any cultivation skill. A Foundation Establishment cultivator blessed with extraordinary luck stood a superior chance of acquiring a Saint Grade treasure or a natural Dao treasure from this mysterious ocean compared to a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage with only average luck.

The exact reasons remained unknown, all attributed to the unfathomable nature of the Millionsfold Treasure Ocean. Yet, this was the established truth: certain types of treasures were primarily accessible through sheer luck.

Therefore, if the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree resided within, and if it indeed shared the same origin as the Millionsfold Treasure Ocean as speculated, it was only logical that such a treasure would be obtainable mainly through fortunate circumstances.

As for who would be fortunate enough, or the sheer magnitude of luck needed for such a discovery, well, creatures like the Qilin and the Bi Xie were considered mythical races embodying immense luck. Furthermore, mythical races typically enjoyed an extraordinary amount of favor due to their auspicious nature. Applying simple logic, the luck required to be fated with the Origin Treasure Gourd Jade Tree would surpass mere heavenly fortune.

Yang Qing, with his dog-like luck, possessed the same probability of stumbling upon it as a son or daughter of Destiny.

Clearing his mind of distracting thoughts, Yang Qing turned his gaze to Tang Xiadan. "Indeed, I have heard of it. May I inquire why you ask? Has Fellow Daoist encountered something significant related to it?"

There were moments that called for the demeanor of a detached, serene, and unperturbed expert, unfazed even by world-ending calamities, and then there were times when one’s emotions should be openly displayed. This instance clearly demanded the latter, and Yang Qing’s eyes, tone, and expression betrayed none of the excitement churning within him.

Tang Xiadan offered a smile as he slowly withdrew an object from his sleeve. It was a slender, palm-sized, rectangular box with a dark brown hue and an arched top. He slid his index finger along one edge, and as he did, his finger underwent a metamorphosis, transforming from human to something more bestial. It became elongated and slender, covered in radiant silver fur, with a jade-golden fingernail curved into a hook.

Using this modified nail, Tang Xiadan delicately made a small incision at the base of his thumb. Golden blood emerged, which he then used as ink to inscribe characters onto the surface of the box.

He wrote four characters. Yang Qing could not decipher any of them, but he inferred their special nature from the ancient aura that emanated with each stroke. This aura felt remarkably similar to the one Yang Crapong exuded when making adjustments to his nest.

Once the final character was etched, the lid of the container clicked and sprang open.

Yang Qing's eyes widened in astonishment. Even before his vision could process the contents of the box, a powerful dragon's roar inexplicably echoed within his soul, filled with a boundless, ancient, and profound majesty.

he whispered in disbelief, his eyes widening even further, reflecting three gleaming golden coins resting neatly within the container.