Daily life of a cultivation judge
Chapter 1211 - 1211: Ancestor's will

Inside Silver Breath Peak, Yang Qing and company reappeared in front of a maroon courtyard made of azure tranquility mist mahogany wood.

The wide, maroon, two-story building emitted wisps of light blue mist from the wood grain, giving the illusion it was smoldering. At the same time, it gave the structure an ethereal appearance, like some immortal's secluded dwelling.

That azure mist, however, wasn't just for aesthetics. Even without actively breathing it in, Yang Qing could feel his mind clear and sharpen, as his spirit and thoughts got renewed and refreshed.

The mist functioned much like the incense sticks Fan Mei often used in her office to maintain concentration over long hours, only this was a thousand times more effective than the ones in Fan Mei's office.

If Yang Qing had to guess, the azure tranquility mist mahogany used to construct the building had to come from mahogany that had reached the ascendant grade.

"He is inside," Shuyuan calmly announced, pointing toward the courtyard.

"When you're done with your business, could you spare a moment?" asked the artifact spirit.

"It would be my honor," Yang Qing said sincerely as he clasped his fists.

Shuyuan nodded, a glimmer of interest flashing in his eyes, which then vanished just as quickly.

"He is here," he said as a figure stepped out from the front door, dressed in light yellow robes bearing a symbol on the chest: a rolled parchment surrounded by cloudy mist.

The figure was a man who looked to be in his late thirties, slender and tall, with black hair haphazardly tied into a half bun, held in place by a reed. He had a gentle aura that paired well with his warm gaze and soft smile. His eyes glimmered faintly, carrying a sense of profound wisdom.

"Cangfu, Yang Qing has something to discuss with you," Shuyuan announced as the man walked over.

His words seemed to catch the man off guard. His brows rose slightly in surprise. For all the time he has come to know the person, outside of the members of the peak, and maybe the peak masters and the sect master, he rarely mentioned others by their names.

"Yang Qing?" the man echoed in a gentle tone, not bothering to hide his curiosity.

"Mmh," Shuyuan hummed with a nod. "He is a creator. Once you're done, bring him over to my pavilion."

At those words, the confusion on the man's face gradually faded, replaced by a smile of understanding.

"I will, Senior Shuyuan," the man replied softly, cupping his fist in respect.

Shuyuan acknowledged the gesture with a wave of his sleeve before vanishing into a gentle gust of wind, leaving Yang Qing, Bolin, Haishi, and the newcomer behind.

"Senior Shuyuan seems to have taken a liking to you," the man said with a smile.

"Me too," Yang Qing replied, smiling back.

He wasn't just being polite. He really did truly feel a strange sense of kinship with Senior Shuyuan. Not just with him, but with the entire environment of Silver Breath Peak.

From the moment Shuyuan brought him here, he'd felt a deep resonance with the place. It felt almost like a second home. His soul resonated with it, just as it did with Sage Mountain.

Everything about the place stirred his spirit's fascination with the cultivation arts, just like Sage Mountain did. The only difference was that instead of scroll tubings buried in a mysterious mountain, here it was quaint wooden pavilions carrying the scent of countless cultivation arts and techniques, spanning different schools and timelines—all neatly tucked away, releasing the faintest of traces to tempt anyone perceptive enough to notice. It was as if the air itself whispered of mysteries waiting to be unraveled.

"Welcome to Silver Breath Peak, fellow Daoist. I am Xia Cangfu," the man said, cupping his fist in greeting.

The way he addressed Yang Qing was as an acknowledgment of him, not as a cultivator but as a kindred spirit who understood the captivating essence of this peak.

Yang Qing may not have been a member, but Xia Cangfu looked at him like one.

"Many thanks. I am Yang Qing," he replied, returning the gesture and sentiment before introducing Bolin and Haishi.

With the introductions out of the way, Xia Cangfu led them to the back of the courtyard, which—perhaps unsurprisingly—housed an azure tranquility mist mahogany tree. However, since it was only at the monarch grade, Yang Qing guessed it wasn't the one that had produced the wood used to build the courtyard.

With Xia Cangfu's permission, Yang Qing excused both Bolin and Haishi to go meditate beneath the mahogany tree. While its greatest benefits were typically observed when its mist was used to aid in complex or strenuous tasks, which meditation was not, it still offered considerable advantages in that area, which the two spirit beasts would benefit from. Though using the tree for meditation was a bit of an overkill given its vast abilities, it couldn't be helped, even if it was a tad bit extravagant to use it solely for that.

Using the mahogany tree for meditation was like using a sharp sword forged by a blue-grade craftsman to fell a tree that a regular mortal axe could have handled. Yes, the sword would get the job done, but it would be overkill for something so simple.

Still, Yang Qing had no other choice. He couldn't let his two companions roam freely around the peak, nor would they want it either, given the warning they had received and the unfamiliar settings, and having them hover aimlessly nearby wasn't an option either. They might as well make the most of their time here, and meditating beneath that tree was the best way to do so.

"So, you wanted to see me. Could I ask what it's about?" Xia Cangfu asked, getting to the heart of things now that it was just the two of them.

They were both seated on cultivation mats, with a low table between them. Two green clay cups rested on the table, and a slender bamboo stalk—still bearing a few leafy branches—sat between them like a centerpiece.

Xia Cangfu plucked one of the bamboo stalks' upper branches and poured its contents into both their cups. What came out looked like water. It was crystal clear, like melted snow, and carried a faint, crisp scent reminiscent of fresh mountain springs.

Yang Qing's eyes lit up as he reached for his cup. He might never have seen or tasted Dawn Cloud Peach, nor even heard of it, but this drink.... this, he definitely recognized. It was 10,000-year-old mountain spring bamboo juice.

Just like the mist rising from the mahogany tree a few meters away from them, this juice had an effect on the soul. Where the mist invigorated and sharpened the mind, the bamboo juice did the opposite, it relaxed it.

Drinking mountain spring bamboo juice felt like your soul was receiving the most exquisite massage and acupuncture treatment, leaving it in a state of deep relaxation. If one wished to experience what heavenly relaxation truly felt like, this was one of the best ways to do it. The older the juice, the better the results usually were.

And the taste wasn't bad either. It was a delicate blend of chilled citrus, mint, and cane juice, creating a perfectly cold, mellow drink that was easier on the soul and the tongue.

Too bad it cost an arm and a leg, given how long mountain spring bamboo took to mature, and then even longer to form its juice. It was a rare novelty.

Yang Qing had planted a few in his abode, hoping that his essence might shorten the time gap. And while it had helped to some extent, it wasn't nearly enough. It had been seven years since he planted them, and though they had grown considerably and were no longer just shoots, it would still take at least twenty more years to produce even a single cup's worth of juice.

He was a patient man, but even he couldn't wait that long.

His only hope of speeding up the process was if his essence underwent a qualitative leap, which, put simply, meant breaking through to the middle or late stages of the Palace Realm… or ideally, to the Domain Realm. He had a hunch that, by then, his essence would be strong enough to wipe out that twenty-year wait entirely.

But that was all speculation. He'd only know for sure once he actually reached that level, and who knew how long that would take?

Domain Realm, Yang Qing silently murmured, a deep longing stirring in his heart. His eyes flickered with a faint gleam as he caught Xia Cangfu's reflection in the surface of his bamboo juice.

He couldn't sense his cultivation realm either. Which could only mean one thing—Xia Cangfu was most definitely in the Domain Realm.

Yet another fact that added to the growing doubts he had about the Xia Clan and the way things had played out for them.

After taking his sip, Yang Qing opened up.

"The reason I am here is because one of your clan members came to see me. Her name is Xia Fang. She requested that I find out the current status of her clan.

While I do have news of what happened, and its current state. I don't know how to explain it to her, given that I don't understand certain aspects of it, which is why I am here. I was hoping for some clarity on it, and given the history, there is no better place to find the answers I seek than here."

He paused briefly, then added, "And I won't deny… after learning about your founder, part of me became curious. I can't help but admire his achievements, not only as a cultivator, but also as a creator too."

"Xia Fang, huh…" Xia Cangfu murmured, with a trace of melancholy in his tone and gaze. He let out a soft sigh. "What is she like?"

"Talented. Brave, in a way. But also lost… and afraid. Which, given the circumstances, is understandable," Yang Qing said, then followed up with additional details about her cultivation realm.

"It's a pity, what happened to that child," Xia Cangfu said with a sympathetic sigh, swirling the bamboo juice in his cup before setting it down.

"As regrettable as her experience is… it couldn't be helped," he continued, his voice growing solemn. "The founder's will had to be upheld above all else."