I Can Extract Divine Power

Just then, Amber’s voice transmitted into Shen Bai’s mind.

"Master, I have a bad feeling about this."

It was rare for Shen Bai to hear Amber sound so serious. His interest piqued, he asked, "What’s wrong?"

Amber’s tone was full of confusion. "When that woman appeared, I sensed a powerful Qi around her. A Courtesan shouldn’t be that powerful."

Shen Bai stroked his chin, lost in thought.

’If she’s really from the Era of Ten Thousand Cities and was exceptionally talented, even a pig would have become incredibly powerful after living this long.’

Although Amber sensed something was amiss, Shen Bai suppressed his thoughts and continued to watch.

At that moment, after displaying the envelope, the Turtle Eunuch unsealed it in front of everyone and read the contents of the letter aloud.

"Reality and illusion, what is real? What is illusion?"

After reading this, the Turtle Eunuch placed the letter back down and stood aside with his hands at his sides, looking as though he had no intention of saying anything more.

’So that’s the riddle? Interesting,’ Shen Bai thought. ’By the sound of it, whoever provides an answer that pleases the Courtesan gets to enter her room. But what kind of answer is the right one?’

As he pondered this, maids began to place paper and brushes on everyone’s tables.

A sheet of paper and a brush were also placed before Shen Bai.

Seeing this, he immediately understood the procedure.

’We’re probably supposed to write our answers on the paper for the Courtesan to review. This ensures fairness. Otherwise, if the first few people gave answers she liked, those who came after could simply imitate them or even embellish their ideas.’

Shen Bai thought for a moment, then wrote down a single line.

"Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving."

The answer was simple. In truth, it was something Shen Bai had written without much thought.

He felt that for such abstruse questions, any answer was just bullshit. It reminded him of some of the bizarre, ambiguous questions he had seen online in his past life, which always felt like people making a fuss about nothing.

As for whether his answer would pass, he figured he would write it first and see what happened.

The Courtesan hadn’t invited a single person into her room for many years, so it surely wouldn’t be this simple.

Even if his answer wasn’t chosen, there were other methods.

Like sneaking in, for example.

With that thought, Shen Bai placed the paper on his table and waited patiently.

The common folk around him all wore expressions of deep concentration.

Their expressions seemed practiced. Clearly, they had been through this routine many times before.

Time trickled by. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn...

Everyone put down their brushes, having finished writing their answers.

Just then, the Turtle Eunuch came forward and, with the help of a few maids, collected all the papers and placed them on the table where the Courtesan’s Guqin sat.

There were many sheets of paper, forming a thick stack.

As if it were no trouble at all, the Courtesan extended a slender, pale finger and tapped lightly.

The thick stack of papers before her instantly floated into the air, as if scattered by a gust of wind.

An invisible flame appeared, and most of the papers turned to ash within it.

As these papers were incinerated, many of the commoners’ faces showed looks of disappointment.

Shen Bai took in all their expressions and thought to himself, ’I see. The papers that get burned are the ones that didn’t pass. That’s why they’re so disappointed.’

In the air, more papers were incinerated by the flame one after another.

Though a large pile of ash fell to the floor, no one found it dirty.

As time passed, all the papers were burned away until only a single sheet remained, hovering in midair.

"’Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. Sir, please join me in my room.’"

The Courtesan’s autumn-water eyes gazed at Shen Bai, her voice soft and gentle.

Row after row of eyes turned in unison to land on Shen Bai.

Those gazes were filled with envy, surprise, and resentment.

Shen Bai hadn’t expected that the answer he’d written so casually would actually be chosen by the Courtesan.

But he was silent for only a moment before he understood what was happening.

’There’s no way an answer I came up with on the spot would be chosen.’

’So, she must have chosen me on purpose.’

’In that case, I might be able to uncover some clues.’

Ordinary people love the idea of winning the lottery, even fantasizing daily that a stunningly beautiful woman will suddenly fall for them.

But that is, and always will be, just a fantasy.

Shen Bai was not one for fantasies. He knew he couldn’t handle a windfall this massive.

It was obvious she had invited him to her room for a reason related to him specifically.

As for the exact reason, Shen Bai didn’t know yet.

Perhaps everything would become clear once he entered her room.

After saying this, the Courtesan slowly rose to her feet. Without another word, she walked up the stairs and into her room on the second floor.

Every step seemed to land on the hearts of the men below, leaving them captivated.

A maid slowly approached Shen Bai, bowed slightly, and said, "Sir, please follow me to the second floor. The Courtesan is waiting for you."

Shen Bai didn’t stand on ceremony. He waved his hand and said, "I can go by myself."

Then, under the envious stares of the crowd, he walked up the stairs to the second floor and arrived at the door to her room.

The door had been shut tight after the Courtesan went inside.

But as soon as Shen Bai placed his hand on it, the door swung open.

On the first floor, the commoners were already being led away by the Turtle Eunuch. Shen Bai gave them a passing glance before paying them no more mind and stepping into the room.