Liu Meng held the crystal orb in her hand, gazing at the familiar soul flickering within. A faint, indescribable feeling stirred in her chest.
Not long ago, this had been a living person—a righteous cultivator, steadfast in her own path. Yet now, in the blink of an eye, her body was destroyed, leaving only a remnant soul… reduced to nothing more than a commodity to be traded.
Liu Meng stood silently for a moment before carefully drawing Lin Qingwan's soul from the orb and guiding it into her Soul Banner.
Truth be told, she bore no malice toward this righteous cultivator. But within the demonic sect, the law of the jungle reigned—life and death were nothing but fleeting shadows. Only when such a cruel truth stood bare before you, did you truly feel the icy coldness of this world.
Without realizing it, Liu Meng herself had begun to change, growing numb to the vanishing of lives. And yet… if she had the choice, she would still prefer to be a good person.
After all, this woman was the first righteous cultivator she had ever met. A bit slow-witted, perhaps, but not malicious. Better to preserve her soul—who knew if there might be a chance to save her one day?
With that thought, Liu Meng guided Lin Qingwan's spirit into the Soul Banner. The banner trembled lightly, and once again, the familiar painted courtyard surfaced upon its fabric.
Now, however, within the scene stood a young woman dressed in the robes of a noble lady, her expression dazed and lost—it was none other than Lin Qingwan.
But in the very next moment, Liu Meng's expression shifted.
—In the secret realm, her avatar Liu Qi had encountered a problem.
The ancient "Teacher" within the academy had posed a question.
"Tell me, why do we study the Book of Songs?"
The teacher's voice, aged yet authoritative, echoed at the entrance of the silent classroom.
Liu Qi stood frozen in place, racking her brain. She had no idea why one studied the Book of Songs. If her answer failed to satisfy, she would end up like the previous student—expelled on the spot, losing this rare opportunity forever.
Her gaze flickered toward the Soul Banner in her hand.
Wasn't there already a ready-made disciple of the Rites and Poetry Pavilion within? With a name like that, surely it was tied to the Book of Songs!
Though Lin Qingwan's soul was incomplete and her memories fractured, it was worth a try.
Without hesitation, Liu Meng infused her voice into the banner, letting it carry into the painted courtyard.
"I ask you—why do we study the Book of Songs?"
Inside the painting, Lin Qingwan's vacant eyes suddenly lit up for a fleeting moment. Almost instinctively, she raised her head and murmured:
"Through poetry, one may know the rise and fall, discern gain and loss. By reflecting on the emotions of the ancients, one may examine oneself—sincere within, unclouded in thought."
Her voice faded, and the light in her eyes dimmed once more. She returned to her hollow, wandering state, unresponsive to her surroundings.
At that very instant, Liu Qi lifted her head in the classroom and respectfully replied to the teacher:
"To answer, Master: by studying poetry, one may know the rise and fall, discern gain and loss. By reflecting on the emotions of the ancients, one may examine oneself—sincere within, unclouded in thought."
The room fell utterly silent. Even the stern teacher paused, his eyes narrowing in faint surprise. After a moment, he asked:
"Did you think of this yourself… or did someone tell you? Who gave you such an answer?"
Liu Qi lowered her gaze, following the excuse she had already prepared.
"It was… a beautiful elder sister I've only met twice. Truthfully… this student does not fully understand its depth."
The teacher was silent for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh.
"Very well. Fate has its designs. Since you have answered, take your seat."
"Thank you, Master!"
Relief washed over Liu Qi as she bowed and quickly took her place in the empty spot left by the expelled student.
No sooner had she sat down than the teacher's stern voice rang out again.
"Wang Sheng, stand. Recite yesterday's assigned poem—Gathering Plantain Ears."
A boy in the front row rose nervously, his face pale. He opened his mouth but could not utter a single word. Yesterday, he had still been living like a dog in the demonic sect; how could he possibly recite poetry now?
Yet he dared not fabricate, for fear of instant expulsion.
"Hmph! Rotten wood cannot be carved!" the teacher roared. "Without diligence in study, what Dao do you hope to pursue? Begone!"
The boy trembled as though pulled by invisible strings, his body stiff as a puppet's, marching out the door. The instant he crossed the threshold, his figure vanished.
The other sect disciples paled. They, too, had never studied such verses.
The teacher's eyes gleamed with cold anger as he called on another student.
This time, Liu Qi expected the same failure.
But to her surprise, the youth stood with calm composure and began to recite without hesitation:
"Plucking plantain ears, the basket never filled. Alas, my longing, sent upon the Zhou roads…"
Word for word, his recitation was flawless, the cadence and tone sharp and precise.
"Good."
The teacher's sternness softened slightly. With a flick of his finger, a beam of light fell upon the youth's brow.
"One merit point."
Liu Qi's heart jolted. Only then did she realize she had underestimated the challenge.
Among the ten who had entered this secret realm, some were unprepared brutes—but others had clearly studied the Book of Songs in depth.
Being allowed into the classroom was only the first step. To earn the true rewards of the secret realm, one had to impress the teacher more than all the others.
And though Liu Qi knew nothing of the Book of Songs, she held an advantage no one else did—she was merely an avatar.
Beyond this place, her true body and other clones shared her consciousness. What she did not know, Liu Meng could research. And with Lin Qingwan's soul in hand, there was a well of knowledge to draw from.
Still, one thought unsettled her—how had that other youth prepared so precisely?
It was impossible that he just happened to be a poetry enthusiast. He must have known beforehand what this secret realm required.
Could it be tied to Lin Qingwan—the one who first discovered this place?
Because she was a disciple of the Rites and Poetry Pavilion, was the secret realm she unearthed also steeped in poetry?
There was something hidden here. Something Liu Meng would have to investigate.