Daily life of a cultivation judge

"Now that you are all here, I can continue. As I was saying I am here to enforce a case made against your sect by one of your outer sect disciples Ma Qi.

He hopes to cut ties with the Striding Falcon Sect as its outer disciple. The grounds for cutting the ties is the mistreatment of the sect towards its outer disciples. The misrepresentation of your sect, the dire conditions provided by the sect towards its outer sect disciple that harms them rather than nurture them.

He has accused the Striding Falcon Sect of endangering the lives of its sect members more specifically the outer sect disciples with the harsh conditions that not only stifle their improvement and growth as cultivators but harm their lives.

As such he no longer wants to be a member of your sect.." Yang Qing calmly said as he used the ascendant grade artifact given by the Judicial Review Committee to state the facts of the case.

His voice not only echoed around the sect but thanks to the artifact that worked in conjunction with the other branches within a 500,000 kilometer radius of the region was able to spread Yang Qing's voice and image to those areas.

"Don't you think the Order is overstepping its bounds? This is interfering with the sect's internal matters besides, like the sect master said, is this proper?

You only heard his side of the story, how do you know what he said was the true picture of the circumstance within our sect? After all, he is only an outer sect disciple. Neither the sect master nor any of the high-ranking figures seemed to have been present when such an accusation was being filed.

It's just the Order and an unfilial outer sect disciple..." said Chief Elder Wei Shen.

"Like I said the circumstances surrounding the case made it unfavorable to do so, besides the verdict wasn't made solely on his testimony. We have a week's worth of recording of the happenings in the outer sect right here.." Yang Qing said as he took out the recording talisman that had been handed to Ma Qi when he first filed the case.

The sect master and the chief elder both managed to mask their emotions well when Yang Qing revealed the talisman, but the other elders had different degrees of emotions showing on their faces, with the primary being shock and wariness.

Without wasting any words, Yang Qing inserted his spiritual essence into the talisman which let out a gentle white mist that transformed into images that were then broadcasted around the sect and every other region within the 500,000-kilometer radius of the sect, with the help of the artifact.

Everything Ma Qi had mentioned during his earlier deliberation on his experiences was perfectly corroborated by the video recording being played.

The disintegrating sulfur desert laceflower which numbered in the hundreds had turned the accommodation area of the outersect disciples into a desert wasteland. The soil was cake yellow there was a mirage forming around the area, and one could see the dried burnt skin of some outer sect disciples who were slowly wasting away in its heat, while at the edge of the area, there were mounds of alchemy and artifact wastes slowly being ground away by the plants.

The harrowing state of their accommodations was highlighted if they were even fit to be called that. They were so dilapidated that it was no different than sleeping outside. Some were just a few bamboo poles, and a thatch of grass stringed together while the better-looking ones were bamboo poles mixed in with what looked to be dung and banana leaves for roofing.

Inside was just as cramped as Ma Qi had said, there were three sharing a room and sometimes it was even five to six and the one that had many occupants seemed to be as a way to protect themselves from other outer sect disciples.

There were muggings and infighting among them, there were others whose sanity had already left them as they walked or sat aimlessly in the dry heat, one could hear muffled sobs and maddened yells coming out from those accommodations.

There were disciples walking around with heavy injuries using leaves and torn garments as a form of treatment. There were even some who passed out as they were walking. Their fellow disciples ignored them as they lifelessly went their way, while those who did stop only did so to check if the passed-out disciple had anything good on him.

This was a place that wreaked of despair and desperation.

Ma Qi who was watching it couldn't help but silently tear up as he clenched his fists.

Everything from how they were treated at the missions hall, to the food they ate, to the competitions they were forced to have just to have one lousy cultivation lesson that would do more damage than good, to the groveling of the disciples, and how they were continuously being broken was all recorded.

He made sure to capture everything he could. Luckily for him, the talisman had a concealment and autonomous feature so he was able to make the recordings without risk of being discovered.

"With what we have seen, do you still think your presence was needed so we could make an informed decision on the matter?" Yang Qing calmly asked as his gaze fell on the eight cultivators whose hearts shook slightly when they saw the coldness within it.

"What do you know? just because you have a recording you automatically assume you have the full picture of the situation?" yelled one of the elders before he flinched back in fear.

"Forgive Elder Jiayi, he sometimes loses himself, please don't take offense. Apologize, elder.." said Chief Elder Wei Shen as he motioned for the elder who had a sudden outburst.

It was a young-looking elder who had red hair. He looked to be in his late twenties and had a tenth-stage core formation cultivation base.

"I am sorry for my earlier outburst.." he humbly said as he lowered his head though it was nothing more than lip service. So Yang Qing didn't even bother to acknowledge it.

"While the elder is at fault for the outburst, his statement isn't. To the outside world, it may seem like we are mistreating our disciples but we are doing it all for their benefit.."

"How so?" Yang Qing cooly asked.

"You obviously know the history of the sect. It started from nothing and it was only through the tireless sacrifices of our predecessors did it manage to reach the heights it reached today.

The disciples joining today, don't know anything about that, all they are doing is chasing the glory of the Striding Falcon Sect that destroyed the Stormcloud Empire.

Character more often than not is what determines the heights a cultivator will reach or the achievements they will have in their lives. 

It was a character that united this sect together and fought even against all odds and defeated the Stormcloud Empire.

Honor, an unwavering will was shown back then and it was only them, the sect founder's disciple showed the same tenacity and character which was why many were willing to lay down their lives for her even when some were not members of the sect.

The grounds of the outersect disciples, the things they are enduring now is to help them build that character.

Adversity bonds people and it also draws out the true measure of a person. It is our hope to build that tenacity, indomitable spirit, and sense of togetherness that brought this sect to where it is, and for that, they need to endure. 

They need to show they have what it takes to shoulder the weight that comes with being a member of this sect.

Clearly, disciple Ma Qi didn't have that tenacity.." the Chief Elder said with a sigh of disappointment.

Yang Qing was completely overtaken by the impassioned speech before he shook his head with a tired smile.

"I can't tell if you're joking or if you truly believe what you're saying. If it's the latter then I fear for the disciples of your sect.

Sect Master Pan Xue, do you think the same?"

The sect master stood silently with his hands behind his back.

"Figures.." Yang Qing said in response to the silence.

"If your plans are meant to foster character and a sense of worth, why does this treatment only fall to those with no background while those that do enjoy a favorable treatment from the onset?

There's a lack of fairness to it. If it's as you say then the same measure should have been adopted across all the board, it shouldn't just be applied to one group and even so, what I'm seeing here is already beyond what counts as a test.

How many disciples may never get to realize their fullest potential because of your so-called test? They've been repetitively broken over and over again till there is nothing left.

Leaving them to fend for themselves, denying them even the most basic of tools for surviving a test. 

A test only serves its purpose if you have empowered those taking it with the basic tools on how to overcome it. Denying them even the barest of minimums, then that test is no longer a test but a show of brutality and torture.

I doubt even fiendish organizations treat their disciples the way you treat yours. I wonder if there has ever been a disciple who has even passed your so-called test. I am genuinely curious.."

"How we conduct our tests is ours to decide not for others. Is the Order planning to insert its will into how sects like ours conduct ourselves? Isn't it overstepping on the autonomous charter?" 

"It is not since it's one of your own who has initiated the case and the evidence provided supports the claim and if that isn't enough, then I have these.." Yang Qing said as he took out four cuboid talismans.

"Your case triggered the Organization Coordination Accord and as such I sought the opinion of four reputable rank 3 organizations to weigh in on the matter.." Yang Qing slowly said as he triggered the four talismans that created the projections of four people to instantly appear.