Daily life of a cultivation judge

"Phew, that was a handful. Mao Mao, who is next?" Yang Qing asked as he stretched his back and spooled himself lazily in his seat looking for a comfortable position, not at all caring about how he'd look in front of those present.

Mao Yunru cocked her eyebrow as she looked at Yang Qing who looked just about ready to sleep before she went on with what she was asked.

"The next cases are; a 3-way conflict between a sect, its core disciple, and a merchant organization who are after the sect because of the huge debts they haven't repaid. Destruction of the furniture in the Earthvine restaurant by 3 cultivators at the core formation realm who refuse to pay and lastly suing of the falling meteor blacksmith shop for selling a defective sky rank sword to a rogue cultivator at the peak of the core formation realm.

Take your pick on which of the remaining we should start with?" Mao Yunru said like a diligent judicial assistant.

"Mmmh the 3-way case sounds like it would be a handful. After the Green fog swamp sect case, I need an easier case not a pile of problems that one is bound to be. I've made my mind up let's deal with the case of the Earthvine restaurant vs the three rogue cultivators," Yang Qing said after giving it some thought whilst still lazily diving into the comfort of his seat.

"Umm judge Yang Qing there is still something we need your help with," Peng Zhen awkwardly said at the side. Cheng Yuan had a puzzled look wondering what Peng Zhen wanted to ask.

"Could Peng be trying to get the number of duels he is to have increased?" Cheng Yuan couldn't help but wonder and increasingly think he was right on the mark.

"What is it, Elder Peng Zhen?" Yang Qing groggily replied with his eyes still closed.

"It's about the Tupelo tree it is still in Inquisitor Feng Xin's custody and our treasures, I don't know if we could get them back. I don't care about the treasures but I was hoping to have the Tupelo tree back. He is a treasured companion who has taken care of us since we were kids, and I was hoping to have it back. It's at a critical stage where it will need constant monitoring and care from us," Peng Zhen couldn't help but ask with some worry in his voice. He was worried about both the Tupelo tree's wellbeing and if the Order would decide to confiscate the tree as an added punishment to the sect.

"Oi Peng, has it already started?" Cheng Yuan couldn't help but hurriedly ask.

"Yes, it should just be about to if it hasn't already. However, things are less optimistic than before. It spent a large reserve of its energy just to keep me and Gui safe. I'm not sure how it will be able to pull through with its remaining reserves," Peng Zhen said with guilt showing on his face.

"Oh, I almost forgot about the tree. Feng Xin .." Yang Qing said as he got up with an interested expression showing on his face. Feng Xin was already making his way toward him even before he was called.

"It's in here and their treasures too. After you finish with them there are also some things I'd like your decision on sooner rather than later," Feng Xin said as he met Yang Qing who had already flashed where Cheng Yuan and Peng Zhen were standing. Wen Chang at the moment was with Gui Bingwen who was patiently filling her in on the details about Peng Zhen's plan and everything that transpired after.

"What an interesting storage pouch. Seems to be a high-grade monarch treasure mmh a storage treasure with life-nurturing capabilities. Feng Xin, you sure struck it big this time. Will you keep it or are you thinking of selling it? Those guys from the beast-taming division will definitely buy it for a hefty sum if you decide to sell," Yang Qing said as he patiently scanned it all over with deep fascination like a kid with a new toy.

"I'm thinking of keeping it. It will help keep ingredients fresher than what normal storage rings can do," Feng Xin replied.

Yang Qing nodded in understanding as he fiddled around with the pouch some more before the Tupelo tree appeared in the middle of them. Peng Zhen and Gui Bingwen couldn't help but have a guilty look when they saw it as Cheng Yuan had a dark look with his fists deeply clenched. The tupelo tree had shrunk in size it was now 70 cm tall with leaves being just around less than 100. It was mostly bare. Even someone not skilled in botany could tell it didn't look too well. Yang Qing threw back the leopard storage pouch to Feng Xin as he moved closer to scrutinize the withered-frail-looking Tupelo tree. He rustled his hands through its leaves as he gently examined its branches and bark with careful attention. He couldn't help but sigh in the end as soon as he finished his examination.

Cheng Yuan's heart and the rest sank once they heard Yang Qing's sigh. They couldn't help but assume the worst-case scenario from that sigh.

"Let's just treat this as fate and it would be a shame to let a unique thing like you disappear just like that. But I'm not doing it for free. If you start producing fruits make sure to save me some," Yang Qing's look quickly turned greedy once he finished his sentence. Feng Xin's eyes equally lit up once he heard the mention of fruits. He couldn't help but lick his lips as he imagined what the fruits of a variant tree like this one would taste like. They were bound to have a unique flavor. However, his brows curved in a frown. Yang Qing was too much like him, they never liked sharing especially the good stuff. To get even leftovers from the gluttonous Yang Qing he would have to trade with something of equal value and when it came to the both of them It was not cultivation resources but something edible.

"I'll have to use that," Feng Xin thought to himself with a reluctant expression.

"Seems like Feng Xin has something of equal value to trade. His harvest in the green fog region must be bountiful to have something that would be able to match fruit from a tupelo tree which seems to have traces of the imperial pearl tree. A tree so precious that holy lands would shed all pretense and fight over it. The traces are slim but even those slim traces are enough to ensure that this tree will atleast reach the domain rank and it will be the strongest among its peers even at that rank. Heheheh Feng Xin I'll make sure to bleed you dry of everything that you got, just you wait," Yang Qing said as he threw a sideway glance at Feng Xin like a fat lamb he would skim.

"Now let's start before things get even more perilous than they are now," Yang Qing thought as he shook his head free of distracting thoughts.

"Drop of the resplendence of spring,"

Yang Qing's voice echoed around the room like an edict before a horrific level of energy was released from his body. However, luckily all that energy was concentrated within a few centimeters of his right hand which was pointed toward the crown of the tupelo tree. A multitude of different colors was produced and concentrated on his index finger as Yang Qing's hair turned deep green. Sounds of birds chirping, insects buzzing, animals running about in a carefree manner, water flowing, the earth moving, the wind rustling, flowers blossoming and plants growing filled the whole room. The voices all seem to come from the light coming from Yang Qing's index finger. The produced multitude of lights produced by that finger had started blending in together. There was orange, yellow, blue, and green which were all encompassed by a deep purple color that combined them together. The lights congealed together into a palm-sized ball that was further compressed till it was the size of a tiny water droplet. With every compression, the amount of energy Yang Qing released would increase till his robes fluttered and the air around him seemed to tremble and quake. The light at the tip of his index finger finally condensed into a green water droplet with hints of purple in it. The tiny droplet fell on the Tupelo tree. Even though it was tiny the droplet seemed to house a world within it.

The moment the droplet touched the Tupelo tree it was like spring had arrived. Its leaves started sprouting faster than the eyes could see. They were even larger and more defined than before. The glowing lustre that the Tupelo tree had lost came back brighter and gentler with a hint of warmness to it. Phantasms of blackbirds, skylarks, robins, and tree swallows all appeared flying around the tupelo tree singing in cheer. Flowers soon blossomed and bees buzzed around all matching the atmosphere created by the singing birds.

Every single person present even Yi Jie and the rest felt their bodies restored not only that even their mental seas felt refreshed.

CRACK

The bark of the tupelo tree broke like glass as a new smoother white bark that seemed like it could even reflect sunlight appeared. Within minutes the tree that looked like it was on death's door looked like a young tree full of life and vibrance.

"Don't forget my fruits. You now have more than enough energy reserves to pass through your trial." Yang Qing said as he waved his right hand with all the phantasms disappearing with his wave as everything went to normal. The tupelo tree shook its branches as its way of agreeing.

Cheng Yuan and the rest were too shocked at what just happened they all just wondered if Yang Qing was even fit to be called a human. They had endless gratitude but were also filled with an equal deep sense of dread. Like one a rabbit would have when faced with a seasoned lion.

The tupelo tree glowed with a yellow brilliance which flashed and shrunk as it flew toward Cheng Yuan. The light then transformed into a yellow leaf that was pinned on his robe.

"That's convenient, atleast now we won't have to worry about how you'll safely get back the tree to your sect. Feng Xin transfer their treasures into this storage ring. Elder Peng Zhen, you'll bring it back when you come for your duel. Oh yeah, I almost forgot about the blue-grade cultivation art," Yang Qing said as he scrimmaged through his storage ring and produced a smooth grey jade.

Peng Zhen instantly recognized it as a onetime use jade. He inserted his spiritual sense into the jade and all the information of the blue-grade cultivation art was transmitted into his head. The name of the cultivation art was the brilliant rush fist technique. Though it was a fist technique it had its own movement technique, palm techniques, and even body and spirit refinement techniques as part of the art. It had five major levels before one could completely master it. In its complete mastery, one's fist would be as fast as light with the force that could blast everything within a 1000-mile radius. Peng Zhen couldn't help but marvel at its intricacies and complexity.

He gave Yang Qing an even deeper bow than before. He may have not seen any blue-grade cultivation arts but he knew this art was definitely top tier even among blue-grade cultivation arts.

"Practice it well," Yang Qing politely smiled as he shooed them from the courtroom. Mao Yunru looked at Yang Qing as if there was something weighing on her mind. Yang Qing had been uncharacteristic of him throughout this whole case and she couldn't guess why despite thinking hard about it.

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