Daily life of a cultivation judge
Chapter 1194 - 1194: Because that is what it takes to transform dream to reality (2)

His only option was to leave, both to silence doubts and to pave the way for his Dao heart.

Most within the Li clan were content with their place in life, serving as workers for the Azure Bamboo Sword Sect. While he saw nothing wrong with that, especially given how well the sect treated his family and how hands-off they were with almost everything, it wasn't the life he envisioned for himself.

He yearned for more.

It wasn't that he wanted to usurp the Azure Bamboo Sword Sect's position or elevate his clan to join the other founding sects. He simply wanted the chance to be like them, and break the mold and be a pioneer in something, like how those fourteen sects ended up creating the Yue State, and developed it into what it was today.

He wanted something similar, though not as exact. He didn't want to create a nation, but he did hope to achieve something that was just as grand

For him, that "something" was reaching the Domain Realm.

To him, there was no greater pioneering than that. No one in his entire clan's history had ever stepped into that illustrious realm, not even those from the fourteen founding sects. It was a realm that many could only dream of, while others didn't even dare to.

Almost every cultivator, when they took that first step, when they felt the world shift around them after their first breakthrough or first brush with cultivation, likely shared the same thought in that moment:

I want to reach the peak.

Of course, as with life, when its harsh realities set in, not many maintain that ambition or even dare to entertain it. Some fall into despair, while others grow content with their circumstances.

Li Gang, however, had never forgotten his goal from the moment he first broke through to the Iron Body Refinement Realm. From that distinct moment, all he wanted to do in that moment was reach the domain realm and see, truly see, what the world looked like in that realm.

It was an ambition he had faithfully clung to this day and one he valued just as much as his own life. That was why he was willing to do whatever it took to reach it, and hence why he left his clan. He knew that if he stayed, the environment would eventually rub off on him, and his Dao heart would begin to rust.

Because of how long the Li clan had served as a subordinate to the Azure Bamboo Sword Sect, years of that relationship had slowly shaped the culture and mindset of the clan. To them, the Azure Bamboo Sword Sect represented the absolute peak of what their clan could ever hope to become. For some, they didn't even dare to imagine reaching that level themselves.

That way of thinking had become a mental shackle, and it was why, in over 20,000 years, not once had the Li clan produced a middle-stage Palace Realm expert. It wasn't because they lacked the resources—they had them. Nor was it because the Azure Bamboo Sword Sect was holding them back—they weren't.

In fact, the way Li Gang saw it, given their actions and the support they gave the Li clan, they seemed even more invested than the clan itself when it came to producing more experts. Li Gang guessed their enthusiasm stemmed from a desire for the clan to become strong enough to manage the sect's territory independently, freeing the sect to fully dedicate itself to cultivation.

But alas, no matter the support, the clan had never quite managed to take that leap. It wasn't due to a lack of talent or resources—it was a matter of mentality. The Azure Bamboo Sword Sect had cast a long shadow over them, one that the clan had unknowingly shackled itself with.

And just as Li Gang had come to that realization, so had others in the clan, like his grandmother, who chose to stay and work to overcome those limits from within. Li Gang, on the other hand, chose to leave—to reforge himself through the tempering trials of the outside world and break free from those invisible chains.

His choice to join the Vast Blue Merchant Company had been precisely for that reason.

When he joined, he did so with his eyes wide open. He already knew what awaited him, given his background, and that was exactly why he chose it. He needed its hostile environment to temper himself and strengthen his Dao heart. And as an added bonus, the company also possessed the resources to help him reach the Domain Realm, provided he had the talent for it.

If he achieved his goal and broke through to the Domain Realm, he fully intended to resign from the merchant company. But not without repaying them threefold and raising worthy successors to settle what he owed.

After that, he'd leave, roam the continent for a while as he supported his clan, before eventually returning to spend his twilight years doting on his descendants.

But if the Vast Blue adopted its current stance, then he had no qualms about altering those plans and venturing out on his own.

In fact, some part of him felt excited by the idea. So long as he broke through to the Palace Realm, starting over by himself was more than doable. With Yang Qing's four auction services, he was confident he could absolutely make it work.

"He read me well," Li Gang murmured with a slight chuckle, pausing mid-step as he turned back for one last look at the Black Medallion Tower. Its towering figure stretched so high into the sky, he couldn't even see its peak.

He gazed at it for a few moments, then finally turned and left.

Back when they struck their deal and Yang Qing offered his services, the judge had said he'd be there for four of his auctions.

The way he said it, and the meaningful smile that accompanied it, made it clear to Li Gang that the judge had likely seen right through him and knew exactly the right price to offer.

Even without Yang Qing's token, Li Gang had already resolved that the moment he broke through to the Palace Realm, so long as the Vast Blue remained obstinate in its stance, he would leave and start his own shop.

He already had the skill and experience to operate in that world, and with the strength of the Palace Realm behind him, he could hold his own. On top of that, he had built enough connections to lay the groundwork.

It would definitely take time to build credibility, but Li Gang was confident that, given enough of it, he'd succeed.

But Yang Qing's offer completely shifted it from something he could do eventually to something he could do immediately. His offer was like giving wings to a tiger, and Li Gang knew he would have no choice but to bite.

"Truly well played," Li Gang said once more as he flew off into the horizon, feeling lighter and freer than he had in a very long time.

The worst thing for a merchant was to be seen through, as it affected how negotiations would go. But in this case, Li Gang didn't mind it at all.

Many years later, when he'd be drinking with his Domain Realm friends or resting in a wicker chair with his descendants at his feet, soaking in his tales, they would all ask him this:

Why is your organization called Four Auctions when you have over a thousand auction houses dealing in countless auctions?

He would smile mysteriously, eyes blurring with nostalgia, and tell them:

"Because that is what it takes to transform a dream into reality."