Daily life of a cultivation judge

Song Ba hurriedly cleared his thoughts of the potential undercurrents of the Red Maple Empire. To him, if he was asked, he could only say the Empire brought that fate on themselves by choosing to maintain an ambiguous relationship with the Golden Bamboo Pavilion.

If they outright committed themselves as a true and proper subordinate, instead of an allied partner like they tried to portray then the Pavilion would likely treat them as it did them. Its subsidiaries had no shortage of shops owned by talented cultivators with the top leading ones having already reached at least the middle to the late stages of the palace realm.

The executives who were in charge of the management of the subsidiaries and the branches of the pavilion, the Pavilion had nine executives, and each one of them was a late palace stage expert, and for some, they had once been part of the subsidiaries before they were elevated in stature and provided they managed to reach the peak stage of the palace realm, their status would be elevated further into the ranks of the Golden Elders, which was the position that was just below the three founders of the pavilion.

The Pavilion had seven Golden Elders and among their ranks, four were peak stage palace realm experts, two were at the quasi-domain stage and the leader of the group was a bonafide domain expert.

When it cto its own, as long as one showed promise, the Golden Bamboo Pavilion would pour resources and support said individuals, but only if you were considered one of their own, which the Red Maple Empire wasn't considered as long as they wore the title of 'ally'.

"Is pride really that important if it stifles or risks your growth?" thought Song Ba, unable to understand why the Empire remained insistent on the relationship it had with the pavilion despite the clear disadvantages.

To him, them trying to maintain a sense of independence and freedom was a foolish decision especially when one considered the state of affairs in the Empire. The subsidiaries, with the blessing of the pavilion, constantly stirred up trouble in the Empire, by promoting discord among the noble families.

They weren't the only dagger used, the up-and-coming noble families were another. With secret support from the pavilion via sof its prominent subsidiaries, those families were quickly improving and growing in strength, and it wouldn't be long before they completely catch up to the founding families and maybe even completely replace them.

The reason those founding families were constantly feuding, other than instigation from outside forces, was because of the desperation that those families put them on with the gains they were making. It was why they didn't hesitate to tear each other apart.

When two people are chased by a bear, the one who survives is the one who runs the fastest, and if both their speeds and circumstances are the same, then one of them will try to trip the other to increase their odds of survival. It was the sthing those families were doing.

They knew most of the challenges they faced, either directly or indirectly had something to do with the Golden Bamboo Pavilion, and since they were helpless to do anything about it directly, not unless they found another backer at the level of the Pavilion, they could only tear at each other, in the hopes that one of them with slow down the bear that was after them.

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It was why Song Ba always struggled to understand what the royal family and those families were thinking by desperately struggling to maintain their independence instead of giving in just like how their neighbors the Five Clovers Kingdom did. The Five Clovers Kingdom was a true subordinate of the Zou Clan.

Yes, their circumstances were different, with the Five Clovers Kingdom having been a rank three kingdom, starting down a potential takeover during the expansion reign of the Red Maple Empire, while the Red Maple Empire had a powerful empress to rely on and the inheritance of the long-lived peak palace stage Red maple spirit.

But even if the empire borrowed the nof the Red Maple Spirit, it was not the Red Maple Spirit.

Look at the two nations now, the kingdom that wasn't worth their attention was almost catching up to them, while they stagnated and rotted from within. Whatever independence they were struggling to maintain would be taken away, either by the pavilion or the Five Clover Kingdom, whichever cfirst.

Is it worth it for a false sense of independence?

One must know to adapt to circumstances if they are to survive and Song Ba felt just like his days were numbered, the Red Maple Empire would not be far behind. Maybe he might soon have company as he walked the Yellow River to the afterlife with Chen Zian who was looking hatefully at him being one of them.

He quickly held himself back from chuckling at the twisted sense of fate.

Song Ba tore his attention from Chen Zian as he placed his hand over his heart which seemed to have calmed down slightly. The short sadistic reprieve had given him a much-needed outlet for his fears.

Chen Zian gritted his teeth in pained frustration at the look of disregard Song Ba gave him. He may not be in Song Ba's mind, but he could tell what Song Ba was thinking. A second later he couldn't help but sigh.

"Ultimately we are just too weak. Maybe back then we should have been insistent with Chen Xue. I don't know if he would have reached the domain realm but even reaching the palace realm would have provided a shining light out of that looming darkness, "  thought Chen Zian.

..

Yang Qing unaware of the thoughts and non-verbal exchange between the two continued with his verdict.

"Shen Mu.."

Shen Mu straightened up his body as his eyes flickered with worry. He wasn't the only one who seemed on edge at the mention of his name, his mother, Tan Lanfen wore a look of worry as her index fingers moved back and forth like they were chiseling something.

"The court having found your cooperation and testimony satisfactory, we will thus honor the deal agreed upon before in exchange for your full cooperation.

For your crimes, you will serve a life sentence, completely under the watch and authority of the Order until you breathe your last..."

Shen Mu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he heard that. Even if the deal was already agreed upon before the proceedings even started, he couldn't deny that spart of him was slightly worried that the Order would renege on the deal and throw sterrifying sentence on him that would end with him dying painfully.."

"In addition, just like Song Ba, you are forever bound to a blood debt duel owed for Chen Xue's life. Even if you didn't know of his identity beforehand nor did you strike the blow that ended his life, you're still culpable in his death having hired the assassins for the job.

His blood is on your hands, the sas Song Ba and the Hidden Fog Assassins who did the deed.

From now till the last day of your lifespan, should anyone from the Chen family claim that debt, the Order will honor and uphold it.."

"I understand and accept, and thank the court for its magnanimity.." Shen Mu solemnly said as he cupped his fist.

He had expected as much when it cto the blood debt. Even before the Order, such was the way of life for cultivators. Whatever blood you spilled, you had to anticipate that there would be someone coming to collect the price for it at spoint in time.

That being said, he felt conflicted about it. He felt regret for his part in it yes, but if someone from the Chen Clan cto collect, despite what reservations he felt about the whole thing, he would fight with everything he had to preserve his life. The thought of killing another person from that clan made his heart feel heavy, especially if his father was the one who requested it.

Sneaking a glance at Chen Gutian, spart of him hoped he would forever remain confused he was in rather than gain clarity and with it, a thirst for vengeance. He had enough blood on his hands, and with how bad things were for Chen Gutian, the weight of taking his life too was a burden he didn't want.

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As he was lost in his thoughts, Tan Lafen had thanked the court too for sparing her son's life and requested to have stwith him before he was sent to Requiem, to which Yang Qing acquiesced but her twith Shen Mu would only be under the presence of a domain expert from the Order. With all things considered it would likely be someone from the special inquisitors who were experts at anticipating and sniffing out hidden measures.

With almost all of the sentences given, he was left with Chen Zholan and the distraught and confused Chen Gutian. Seeing Chen Gutian's state, Yang Qing opted to hand Chen Zholan his sentence.

Even though Chen Zholan looked better than Chen Gutian, mentally, it wasn't by much, as one could see the fear in him as he looked around him, looking for help or mercy. The Chen Clan elders had drawn a clear line from him, Chen Zian wanted to kill him, and the court was overbearing.

It was like everyone and everything around him was judging him as the culprit of the whole thing which prompted him to keep muttering,

"It wasn't my fault..."

"Chen Zholan for the crof harboring and nurturing pill slaves and human cauldrons, just like the rest you shall be sentenced to the Chaos Yang River Of Redemption, where you will undergo its cleansing for 247 years, and should you survive it, just like what I told them, your debt will be considered to have been paid in full..." said Yang Qing, though Chen Zholan didn't seem all too excited at the prospect, still wearing the slook of fear and nervousness.

"However.." Yang Qing added as his gaze fell on Chen Zian.

"The court will temporarily hold off on enacting the sentence because of the challenge issued earlier.

The court approves Chen Clan Leader Chen Zian's request to settle the blood debt owed by you Chen Zholan for your part in the murder of Chen Xue.

Should you survive the blood debt challenge, only then will the sentence given cinto effect..." announced Yang Qing.

"Clan leader, having issued the challenge, as per our rules, with you being the collector, you have the right to decide on the time, but that tcan not exceed seven days because of his impending sentence. Were he given a life sentence we would have accommodated the tfryou required, but because of the terms of his sentence, you have a week to prepare for the fight.

If you exceed that, without proper cause, his sentence will take effect on the eighth day.

When would you like to have the challenge?"

Without pause or thought, Chen Zian answered,

"Immediately, Judge Yang Qing.."