Daily life of a cultivation judge

As Yang Qing said those words it was like the courtroom had been plunged into an abyss as the four cultivators stood rooted in fear.

Yang Qing couldn't help but sigh when he saw their dumbfounded looks. What they did was a case of a newborn calf not being afraid of the tiger or greed blinding them to the dangers around them.

All they could see was them having one of their own use the inheritance enlightenment blood crystals to break through to the palace realm and move to safety in the Deer Mountain Kingdom.

But what they did, assuming they didn't end up dying from having prolonged contact with the crystals was put a bull's eye on their collective backs which would follow them everywhere regardless of whether they got into the Deer Mountain Kingdom or not.

In fact such a thing would have doomed the Deer Mountain Kingdom which was already in a precarious position even further.

"You've lived here for so long, how could you not have realized the danger of what you were doing," Yang Qing muttered still in disbelief.

"Who from the Deer Mountain Kingdom made that offer to you?" asked Yang Qing.

After a brief pause from shock, Hua Ying answered,

"His name was Jia Shun, he said he was the Imperial Secretary of the Deer Mountain Kingdom. I have seen images of him before so I believe it was him.."

After a slight hesitation, Hua Ying added,

"He was also the one who informed us of places we could find the crystals.."

"The Imperial Secretary? You're sure?" asked Yang Qing with a frown.

"Yes, I am sure it was him.." answered Hua Ying with a look of confusion and wariness on her face when she saw Yang Qing's consternation.

"Seems like you know the Imperial Secretary?" said Li Yao when he saw Yang Qing's look.

"I only met the person for a day, but from my impression of him, he is not one to do such a thing as making such a suggestion is tantamount to risking the safety of the Kingdom, which is something he would never do even if the King commanded him to do so, he would likely not do it.." said Yang Qing.

The Imperial Secretary went as far as divulging the condition of the king's grandfather without the King's knowledge or permission, all so that the kingdom could not descend into further turmoil.

Such an act though well-meaning, at a different angle, could be considered a betrayal as the Imperial Secretary divulged something vital and sensitive concerning the King, and he did so behind his back and without his express permission.

Yang Qing could tell the Imperial Secretary had an internal struggle on the matter, but he still did it because of his dedication to his kingdom.

Would such a person tell a bunch of strangers to go harvest inheritance enlightenment blood crystals knowing full well such a thing would likely invite disaster to their kingdom?

Yang Qing didn't think so. He felt the four organizations were likely duped by someone pretending to be the Imperial Secretary.

Considering both organizations lacked a palace realm expert, any palace realm expert with decent beguiling and transformation techniques would easily trick them without them even knowing.

"Sorry to say this, but I think you were misled. I don't know the Imperial Secretary too much but I am certain he would not give you such information for you to make use of.

Whoever did, I can only assume did so in the hopes that the ensuing consequences that you would invite, would drag the Deer Mountain Kingdom into said troubles..." Yang Qing said as he drummed his index finger at the table with gears turning in his mind.

"It is actually a good plan, really when you think about it. They feed you the information under the guise of the Imperial Secretary, you make use of said information and maybe successfully break through into the palace realm.

Regardless of whether the Imperial Secretary made the offer or not, the Deer Mountain Kingdom would not reject having another palace realm expert within their ranks and since it is taboo to pry into each other's secrets, they would likely not ask how you actually managed to breakthrough into the palace realm.

After successfully being integrated into the kingdom, you would likely be given territory at the fringing on the body, the frontier territories.

When calamity strikes because of what you did, and indeed it may, you will be the first to bear the brunt of it from the border before it spreads to the rest of the kingdom.

Your chances of survival is likely to be low because whoever set this whole thing into motion will likely want to cover their own tracks and involvement.

If you don't die to the vengeful spirit beasts, you will likely die at their hands, through underhanded means of course, or a legitimate one like say being accused of inviting calamity to their kingdom.

The perfect scapegoat and poisonous dagger to use against the kingdom and no one would be the wiser that this was someone's well-crafted plan.." said Yang Qing as he clasped his hands together.

"As occupants of this place, surely you know about the graveyard's torch, right?" asked Yang Qing bringing the four cultivators out of their stupor.

"W..we h..have.." answered Ling Qi in a stuttering voice.

"Considering what you did, I'm guessing what you know is particularly limited.." said Yang Qing with his gaze falling on the four.

"Graveyard's torch.. the resting grounds of spirit beasts who hope to nurture the next generation, hence the name torch.."

Yang Qing paused as he leaned forward.

"Consider this information a gift so next time, if there is a next time for you all, remember to act with propriety.

When a spirit beast dies, the norm is for them to be cannibalized by another spirit beast. It can either be willingly or unwillingly. It's their way of life as they do grow stronger by cannibalizing each other, after all.

However, not all of them go through this route. Some when they reach the end of their tether either through old age or a fatal injury they can't heal, go to a place, a special place that has the blessing of the land.

Usually, the spirit beasts who go there are those without close relationships, recluses so to speak, though even those with close relationships have been known to go to such a place.

That place serves as their resting place. When they reach there, they slowly disintegrate their bodies along with their wisdom pearls.

All their attainments, and everything that made them, them, is released into that place so it could serve as a foundation for the next generation of spirit beasts..."

Yang Qing opened his palm and within and around it, there was a swirl of mystical lights and fog that combined to form a hallowed ground. It was green, silent carrying the weight of remnant wills.

Spirit beasts of all kinds appeared within that hallowed ground, with a tranquil look to them they disintegrated into tiny mots of light which combined with other mots of light as if guided by an otherworldly force, they combined to form pristine red crystals that had ethereal lights swirling within it.

"Those spirit beasts give back,they give everything they have ever achieved and gained; their attainments, their bodies and souls. That act garners them the respect and acknowledgment of the world itself, which in respect for their actions, provides the force required to store their sacrifice for eternity until it meets the fated person as a respect of their will.

That embodied will is these blood crystals. They are no different from dao natural treasures as they have been baptized by it upon receiving the acknowledgment and respect of the world.

If you gather a sufficient amount, you can indeed use them to break through to the palace realm as they are known to induce enlightenment in cultivators.

However, despite those crystals being usable even by humans, they are not ours to take, and in doing so, we spit on the sacrifice of those spirit beasts.

Spirit beasts more often than not don't see eye to eye and are ruthless against each other, but when it comes to the graveyard torch, their thoughts and attitudes are one. It is a place of honor and respect.

They will never fight in that place, no matter how deep the hatred. Every feral instinct they have is instantly quelled from the moment they step into that place.

You taking those crystals is no different than desecrating the heritage of every spirit beast around the world. You can imagine what they will do to you when they find out.

I reckon the two spirit beasts you fought against must have already caught the scent.

Other than the potential risk of annihilation.."

Yang Qing paused as he held his chin as one of the crystals in the swirling image on his palm suddenly enlarged from pea-

sized to the size of a mango seed.

"Not just anyone can handle these crystals. These crystals contain the embodied will of those spirit beasts, and if anyone other than a spirit beast tries to use it or steal it, those wills form a traceless curse that slowly consumes the life force of all who get into contact with it.

It's called the curse of the graveyard torch. It's silent just like that hallowed ground, and you would never realize you were cursed up until your death and when you die, your bodies will turn into these crystals.."

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