Daily life of a cultivation judge

"To put it more callously, only those the Order can afford to lose are put into the programme, however having said that, we still have to do all we can to increase their odds of survival and longevity, and one of those ways is to have a palace realm cultivator from the Order watch out for them, and the best candidates for that would be the judges who other than good combat acumen, have good judgment on them…" said Assistant Shi.

Yang Qing ended up raising his gait a little bit from the statement he had made. It didn't matter whether you were a mortal or a cultivator, words had a powerful effect despite the cultivation realm or station in life.

Assistant Shi's statement helped raise Yang Qing's self-importance.

"Is this how sect masters feel and clan patriarchs," smugly thought Yang Qing. However, water was immediately poured on his swelling mood.

"That being said ideally we would have preferred the roaming inquisitors to handle it since they are mostly outside so they know the lay of the land and have much more adaptability built from their experience outside. But with how much they have on their plate, and also the risk factor of them implicating the informants, it's safer to have judges," added Assistant Shi.

"Was there a need to add that part," Yang Qing grievously thought as he withered back into his shell.

"You will be in charge of 24 informants widely spread about throughout the continent and you will need to maintain contact with all of them at least once a year. 

To help aid you in the matter, among your new privileges one of them is the use of spatial runes leading to all the Order branches around the continent.

I don't have to tell you this but you obviously can't meet with them at any of those branches and it is also ill-advised to meet them within their own grounds to avoid drawing eyes.

Please have these," Assistant Shi said as he handed Yang Qing three things. One of them was a white jade talisman, the other was a green jade key that had a black claw symbol at the bottom and the last one was a crystal feather.

"Within the talisman, you will find the list of the 24 organizations that will now be part of the intelligence network under your supervision. You are to conduct yearly meetings with the Order informants and record everything they have to share, could be rumors, could be something actionable, whatever it is make sure to have it recorded in thorough detail and you will drop it off at the External logistics booth number 4.

In addition, should the informant need any help you are to immediately render aid even if it is at the expense of blowing their cover, however, if it risks your life to the point where your survival is in doubt you are encouraged to ignore the call for help.

I know it's rather cruel, but every person within the programme is told of that fact beforehand and they still choose to do what they do," said Assistant Shi when he saw the grim look on Yang Qing.

"I understand," Yang Qing heavily said.

In his mind he knew those chosen for the programme, this was like another opportunity for them especially after failing to make it into the Order. They get the chance at reinventing themselves. Yes, there were inherent risks, but there were gains to the affair too such as getting the chance to establish something big. 

Within his list of 24 organizations, Yang Qing saw one kingdom in there, which even though was a newly promoted rank 4 kingdom, it was still a kingdom and the ruler of that kingdom was once someone who had failed to get into the Order and had no parents or background to speak off. He had no talent or power, and if things had remained constant for him, he would have likely died an unremembered, unremarkable death. Another statistic and nobody that showed the southern continent wasn't safe to those without ability and backing. But now here he was, a king of a young kingdom that has only been around for 300 years. Even though in the grand scheme of things he could still easily die and was just a stronger ant, he was a strong ant that managed to create something that would have otherwise been an impossibility for him. 

To them, no matter what happens, they would have done the unimaginable. However, even though Yang Qing's mind could rationalize it and see how it could be a benefit for them, it was still hard to swallow when he thought no matter how much that king has contributed to the Order in terms of the information they have provided when it came down to either the king, his kingdom or Yang Qing's safety, Yang Qing's safety would take priority without a second thought. 

"Such is the cruelty of life, we all have a value attached to us which at times dictates whether we live or die. It applies to them just as much as it applies to us. 

Within the list, I've given you, even among them there are differences. There are those you will give more attention to than the others because of their potential value. 

As cultivators we either aim to increase our value or grow strong enough to subvert its existence in our lives. 

Personally, I hope someone among them reaches that point," said Assistant Shi with a gleam in his eye.

"Now, the last two objects; the jade green key and the crystal feather, both of them are your identity markers," Assistant Shi said as he pointed to the two objects in Yang Qing's hand.

Yang Qing got a contrasted feel to them. The jade key was smooth and cold to the touch and had a soft squishy feel to it like it was easily malleable like clay, while the feather had a gentle warmness to it and was as hard as a top-tier monarch-grade artifact. Yang Qing wasn't sure if he could break it even if he fully exerted himself in it.