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The Lotus Pavilion is quite famous among the literati and scholars of the Imperial City.

First, it has the backing of the Seduction Sect, a legitimate super-grade sect of the Righteous Path. Anyone who enters the Seduction Sect can rightfully be called a "Beauty," and the Sect places great importance on the Lotus Pavilion, seeing it as part of the disciples' cultivation journey. Thus, one can imagine the caliber of the beauties at the Lotus Pavilion.

Second, the courtesans of the Lotus Pavilion are indeed very talented, perhaps even more so than those of the Hanlin Academy. If one's literary work is recognized by the Lotus Pavilion, fame in the Imperial City soon follows.

Naturally, Fairy Eternity didn't care about this; she was just there for the spectacle.

Today is the Lantern Festival, and the Lotus Pavilion is even livelier than usual.

Inside the Lotus Pavilion, there isn't the heavy scent of rouge that one might find in a typical brothel; on the contrary, it more closely resembles a refined haven, like the peach garden of immortals, frequented by gentlemen and ladies.

There are also female cultivators in bright dresses flying in the sky, with long sashes swaying in the wind as they gently play the pipa, exuding a beauty reminiscent of an exotic Buddha Country.

Fairy Eternity also saw many individuals she had defeated in the Rotan Forest.

As for the young masters of the Imperial City, setting cultivation levels aside, they are certainly the most well-rounded in their skills. From a young age, they studied cultivation, Confucianism, and mastered both the literary and martial arts at private schools.

If they did not study the knowledge of Confucianism and learn a few verses of classical poetry, it would be embarrassing to only be able to say "Damn it, awesome" when encountering formidable individuals later in life.

The Lotus Pavilion is a respectable place; it doesn't indulge in the matters of the boudoir, so it is not unusual for women to visit as well.

Meng Jingyu's curiosity was no less than Fairy Eternity's; she looked enviously and curiously at the unique beauties.

"All the sisters are so pretty."

"Really?" Fairy Eternity didn't feel the same and thought the disciples of the Seduction Sect were rather plain. They couldn't rank among the ancient top ten beauties, let alone compare to herself, the foremost of the ancient top ten beauties.

"You, little girl, will surely grow up to be prettier than all of them," said Fairy Eternity sincerely. She often had a knack for judging people accurately, and she was particularly fond of this young girl who had complimented her fighting style as handsome. Fairy Eternity affectionately pinched Meng Jingyu's little nose, prompting a blushing Meng Jingyu to lower her head and hum a soft affirmative.

Just as he walked in, Meng Jingzhou: "..."

Isn't it a bit inappropriate for you, senior Fairy Eternity, to be using Lu Yang's face while speaking such cheesy words? It's a bit unsettling to watch.

In the Spiritual Space, where Lu Yang was sparring with the Invincible Nascent Soul, he temporarily stopped his cultivation, looking at Fairy Eternity with a strange expression.

Do you not understand the notion of gender differences, Fairy?

"Oh, Brother Lu is here too?" Luo Wushuang noticed Lu Yang's arrival at the Lotus Pavilion, his realm having recovered to the early stages of Spirit Transformation.

"Lu Yang is here?"

"The same Lu Yang who showed great power in the Rotan Forest?"

"Where is he?"

The battle in the Rotan Forest had only recently concluded, and the event was fresh in everyone's memories. Even those who hadn't participated had heard about it.

"The upstairs is quite lively," Fairy Eternity remarked, looking up to the highest floor of the Lotus Pavilion, where Luo Wushuang was standing by the railing, greeting her.

"Why not come up, Brother Lu? It is said that the true disciple of the Seduction Sect, Ye Mengyin, is cultivating here on the top floor," coaxed Zhong Yi, once again urging Lu Yang to go upstairs.

Fairy Eternity continued to ignore Zhong Yi, holding Meng Jingyu's little hand as they ascended the stairs.

Meng Jingzhou raised an eyebrow, sensing that Zhong Yi had ulterior motives, but could he dare stop an Immortal from ascending?

"Brother Meng is here as well," greeted Luo Wushuang, who bowed and invited Meng Jingzhou and the others to join him at his table.

Compared to the time in the Rotan Forest, Luo Wushuang was dressed more fastidiously and formally at the Lotus Pavilion, exuding an even more dignified presence.

"What's this all about?" Meng Jingzhou observed the literary and scholarly figures filling the top floor of the Lotus Pavilion, where a female cultivator sat behind a layer of green gauze, playing the mandolin; the music tinkled, as if bathing in the spring breeze.

Luo Wushuang looked perplexed, "Doesn't Brother Meng know? I thought you, too, had come for Ye Mengyin."

Meng Jingzhou did know of Ye Mengyin, a beauty on par with Junior Sister Tao. During the previous Great Daoist Competition, Ye Mengyin represented the mid-stage Golden Core cultivators of the Seduction Sect against Meng Jingzhou.

Seeing that Meng Jingzhou truly was unaware, Luo Wushuang explained, "Ye Mengyin has been at the Lotus Pavilion for only half a month and has already become the Courtesan. People are willing to spend a fortune for just a glimpse of her."

"But she is a direct disciple of the Seduction Sect, rumored to have the protection of the esteemed Qianjiao. Such an individual wouldn't lack for Spirit Stones."

"Therefore, Ye Mengyin set a rule: whoever can compose poetry that satisfies her, will be granted an audience and a dance performed just for them."

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The dance of Ye Mengyin is not only extraordinarily beautiful but also greatly beneficial for cultivation.

Luo Wushuang pursed her lips and gestured for Meng Jingzhou to look at the group of seated people, "See, it's already been five days and still, no one has produced a poem to her satisfaction."

"Today is the Festival of Lanterns, and Ye Mengyin has requested that the poems be related to the festival."

Not everyone who came here did so for the dance of Ye Mengyin, many were here to make a name for themselves in the Imperial City.

As they spoke, someone handed over their composed poem to a maid, who then passed it to Ye Mengyin behind the green gauze.

"Full moon, lanterns bright as day, Lantern Festival at the market's gate, Riddles hidden in laughter's sway, Sweet dumplings warm the throat, soft as silk's embrace."

Ye Mengyin read the poem in a soft voice and then continued playing her zither.

There was an uproar of laughter from the crowd; this was nothing more than a mediocre ditty, daring to show its face in the Lotus Pavilion.

The author of the poem fled in a panic.

Swish!

Zhong Yi snapped open his fan with great vigor and looked toward Lu Yang, saying softly with a laugh, "Brother Lu, as a disciple of Daoist Buyu, should be well-versed in poetry, shouldn't you try writing one?"

"After all, Daoist Buyu left behind several famous pieces right here in the Lotus Pavilion."

He was certain that Lu Yang was overflowing with talent in cultivation, but clueless about the scholarly arts of the Confucian cultivator; otherwise, why hadn't his name come up before this?

If Lu Yang's attempt at poetry failed, he would only serve as a source of mockery, becoming a laughingstock.

Fairy Eternity was puzzled, "Since when was I skilled at poetry?"

Zhong Yi was at a loss for words, not expecting Fairy Eternity to admit it so straightforwardly, rendering his plans for provocation useless.

"Since Brother Lu is too timid to try, then allow me to give it a shot?" the person behind Zhong Yi declared, looking at Fairy Eternity with slight contempt.

Only then did Fairy Eternity notice there was someone behind Zhong Yi.

Fairy Eternity pointed at the man, feigning a look of sudden realization, "Oh, I remember you, you were beaten by me in the Luo Heavenly Forest!"

His combat power was average at best, hardly leaving an impression.

Inside the Spiritual Space, Lu Yang could not help but introduce the man's identity to Fairy Eternity, "His name is Yang Changbin; his father is a scholar at the Hanlin Academy, and he himself is a Confucian cultivator. It's said that he wrote characters at three, poems at five, and by ten, he could write essays. His poetry and essays are quite renowned in the Imperial City."

Zhong Yi had brought Yang Changbin along especially to the Lotus Pavilion to write a poem. Seeing Lu Yang was also there, he planned to embarrass Lu Yang with poorly written poetry as a contrast to Yang Changbin's expertise.

Unfortunately for him, Lu Yang saw through his ruse and did not fall for it.

"It's Yang Changbin!"

"Damn, why did he have to come too!"

Yang Changbin's fame was even greater than Lu Yang had imagined; the crowd, seeing him, showed expressions of regret, as if just by his composing a poem, he would win the favor of a dance from Ye Mengyin.

Yang Changbin revealed a self-assured smile, having already thought of a poem related to the festival prompt before arriving.

He had someone fetch ink, brush, paper, and inkstone, wrote down a poem with swift, dragon-like strokes, and had a maid pass it on.

Behind the green gauze, Ye Mengyin once again stopped her zither playing to softly read the poem aloud, finishing with a rare critique.

"What a pity, while the words are beautiful, the overly ornate language has made it rather mediocre."

The crowd burst into laughter; they had all thought, after hearing Ye Mengyin read it, that it was an exemplary poem that would win her favor. Yet, they hadn't expected her to critique it so bluntly.

Yang Changbin, red-faced with anger and embarrassment, turned back, glaring at the crowd furiously, especially at Fairy Eternity, who was laughing the loudest.

"With Brother Lu's laughter so resounding, surely you have some ready work in your mind. Why not produce it for us all to see?"

Fairy Eternity scratched her head and hurriedly went into the Spiritual Space seeking help from her golden benefactor.

"Xiao Yang, can you write poetry?"

Lu Yang hesitated a little, "Writing poetry is quite a challenge for me, but if you're talking about reciting a few lines to make a show, I do have some."