Chapter no.3 The Soul Hall

[ 2 Weeks Later ] 

[Cradle of Shadows - Soul Hall]

In the hallowed depths of the ancient Soul Hall, an eerie aura lingered as if time itself had come to a standstill. The walls were adorned with fourteen imposing statues, each representing a macabre version of the seven deadly sins and virtues. As young students filed into the cavernous hall, their steps echoed with a mix of excitement and trepidation. They were about to face the trials that would determine their future as cultivators.

The first pair of statues embodied the sin of pride and the virtue of humility. The prideful statue was a twisted form of a man with an exaggerated countenance, his head thrown back in haughty laughter. His eyes seemed to glare down at the students with contempt, as though they were insignificant insects. In stark contrast, the humble statue was a woman with her head bowed, her eyes closed, and her hands clasped together in a gesture of piety. Her expression was serene, reflecting a sense of inner peace that transcended earthly desires.

Next in line were the statues of the sin of greed and the virtue of charity. The greedy figure was a grotesque creature with an insatiable mouth, filled with gold coins and precious gems, spilling out onto the floor. Its clawed hands clutched at the treasures, a testament to the never-ending hunger for wealth and power. The charitable statue, however, was a benevolent old man with a gentle smile, distributing food and clothing to the needy, symbolizing the importance of giving without expecting anything in return.

The third pair of statues depicted the sin of envy and the virtue of gratitude. Envy was portrayed as a green-eyed monster, its face contorted with jealousy and bitterness. It seemed as if the statue was coveting the achievements of others, its gaze fixed on the treasures held by the greedy figure. The grateful statue, on the other hand, was a young maiden holding a blooming lotus flower, her eyes filled with gratitude and contentment, appreciating the simple blessings in life.

The sin of wrath and the virtue of patience made up the fourth pair. The wrathful statue was a frightening warrior, his face a snarl of rage and his hands gripping a bloodstained sword. The life-like statue seemed poised to wreak havoc, reminding the students of the consequences of unbridled anger. The patient statue was a meditating monk, sitting in a lotus position, his expression serene despite the chaos surrounding him. He embodied the mastery of emotions and the wisdom that comes with patience.

The fifth pair illustrated the sin of lust and the virtue of chastity. Lust was represented by a seductive siren, her beauty marred by the twisted expression of desire and insatiable hunger. Her lascivious gaze seemed to pull at the very souls of the students, warning them of the perils of indulgence. Chastity was a graceful woman adorned with a veil, her modesty and purity shining like a beacon amidst the darkness.

The statues of the sin of gluttony and the virtue of temperance were the sixth pair. Gluttony was a gargantuan creature with an enormous belly, its mouth agape, ready to devour everything in sight. It was a constant reminder of the dangers of excess and overindulgence. In contrast, temperance was a slender figure, balancing a set of scales, symbolizing the need for balance and moderation in all aspects of life.

The final pair consisted of the sin of sloth and the virtue of diligence. Sloth was a lethargic figure, slumped against the wall, its dull gaze devoid of life or ambition. Its very presence weighed heavily on the students, warning them of the consequences of inaction. Diligence, however, was a focused artisan, diligently working on an intricate carving, her eyes filled with determination and unwavering focus. She exemplified the importance of hard work and perseverance in the pursuit of excellence.

As the students stood in the shadow of these unnerving statues, they couldn't help but feel the weight of the lessons they conveyed. The eerie silence was broken as they obediently gathered before a blind old woman seated in front of a brightly lit pond. The water shimmered with pure spiritual Qi, a testament to the power and wisdom that awaited those who could withstand the trials ahead.

The old woman, known as the Soul Seer, was the proctor of the written test. Her sightless eyes seemed to pierce the souls of the students, assessing their worth and potential. With a wave of her withered hand, scrolls appeared before each student, filled with questions that tested not only their knowledge of cultivation techniques but also their character and resolve.

The students nervously took their seats, each one feeling the suffocating pressure of the exam. The silence in the hall was deafening, punctuated only by the scratching of brushes on parchment. As they began to tackle the questions, the students realized that they were not just ordinary problems. Each question seemed to resonate with the presence of the statues, echoing the sins and virtues that loomed over them. The test was designed to expose their weaknesses, forcing them to confront their darkest fears and desires.

Time seemed to crawl by as the students wrestled with their internal demons, their brushes trembling as they wrote their answers. Sweat trickled down their brows, and their hearts pounded in their chests. The atmosphere in the Soul Hall grew more oppressive with each passing moment, as if the statues themselves were watching and judging their every move.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Soul Seer raised her hand, signaling the end of the written exam. The students exhaled collectively, their bodies and spirits exhausted by the grueling test. As they handed in their scrolls, they could only hope that their efforts were enough to prove their worth to the blind old woman and the haunting figures that dominated the hall.

The Soul Seer's expression remained inscrutable as she collected the scrolls, her sightless eyes never leaving the students. After a few tense moments, she shook her head and declared, "You have all failed."

A wave of disbelief and despair washed over the young cultivators, their faces paling at the old woman's words. Many were outraged by the verdict, but they dared not voice their dissent, as they knew the Soul Seer's wisdom and authority were beyond question.

As the students began to stand up, shoulders slumped and hearts heavy with disappointment, the Soul Seer spoke again. "However," she said, her voice cold and measured, "I shall assign each of you points based on the effort you have demonstrated."

One by one, she called out the names of the students, assigning them points that seemed to have no discernible pattern or rationale. Some received as few as one or two points, while others were granted a handful more. The students exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of the meaning behind these arbitrary scores.

"Xu Tian," the old woman called, her voice echoing through the hall. "Two points."

"Li Mei," she continued, her gaze unflinching. "Five points."

"Zhang Wei," she pronounced, as the named student's heart skipped a beat. "Three points."

The students' confusion grew with each name and point assignment. What did these points signify? Was this some kind of cruel joke or an additional test of their resolve? As they pondered, one particularly bold student couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.

"Excuse me, Soul Seer, but what is the meaning of this system?" he questioned, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and indignation.

The old proctor's lips curled into a thin smile. The air in the hall seemed to thicken, and before anyone could react, the questioning student exploded in a shower of blood and gore. The gruesome sight sent shockwaves through the remaining students, their eyes wide with horror and disbelief. Some could barely suppress the urge to vomit, while others struggled to hold back tears.

The Soul Seer, unfazed by the gruesome scene, continued her task of examining the papers and assigning points. She called out names like Yuzhen, Shuyan, Ling'er, and Zhongli, each time with the same inscrutable smile on her face. The students could not understand the reason for her actions or the purpose of the points. It seemed as though the old woman was toying with them, pushing them to their limits both mentally and emotionally.

The atmosphere in the Soul Hall had shifted dramatically. No longer were the students focused on the weight of the statues or the oppressive silence. Now, the only thing on their minds was the unpredictable and terrifying nature of the blind old woman before them. As they watched their peers receive points, they could only hope that they would not meet the same gruesome fate as the one who had dared to question the Soul Seer's methods.

The Soul Seer chuckled darkly, the sound reverberating through the hall. "Ah, the competition hasn't even started, and one of your classmates is dead. What do you think? Is this an advantage or disadvantage?"

As the Soul Seer waved her hand, flames erupted above her, revealing floating bags in the air. Some of the bags were black, while others were gold.

"Students, these are your supply bags. Within them, you'll find food, water, and a randomly selected weapon. But you have to win a bag by answering my previous question. With your classmate dead, was this an advantage or a disadvantage?"

The blind old woman scanned the room as the students exchanged uneasy glances, aware that their answers could mean the difference between life and death in this strange competition.

Yuzhen, was the first to speak up. "I would say that his death is an advantage," she said confidently. The Soul Seer nodded, encouraging her to elaborate. "Well, our dear classmate acted out with extreme emotions and could not control himself. He would have been a liability, likely acting on emotions rather than reason," Yuzhen explained.

The Soul Seer smiled and threw a black bag towards Yuzhen. Inside the bag, she found food, water, and a randomly selected weapon. The other students watched with envy as Yuzhen opened her bag and examined her weapon.

The Soul Seer then turned to Shuyan, a woman a few rows from Yuzhen. "What is your answer?" she asked. "I would say it is a disadvantage," Shuyan replied. The Soul Seer nodded, waiting for her to elaborate. "That man, while he acted out on emotion, would have given us a numbers advantage in contrast to the other classes," she explained.

However, the Soul Seer didn't give Shuyan a prize, causing everyone's eyes to widen. The bags weren't given out based on their answers, but instead, the old woman had her criteria for who would receive the valuable resources. The students quickly realized that they would have to be more strategic in their answers if they wanted to survive this competition.

"Now you!" The Soul Seer's words caused Ling'er to scramble as she asked her question. "I would say it was an advantage because..." Ling'er began, but before she could finish, the old woman raised a hand, silencing her abruptly. 

"You," The Soul Seer exclaimed while pointing at Zhongli.

"I would say that his death isn't an advantage or disadvantage," he said calmly.

The Soul Seer's eyes seemed to light up with intrigue as she asked Zhongli to elaborate. "We could see that the man couldn't control his emotions, but we didn't know if he could bring another advantage in this trail,like having the skill to cook or make medicine. His role, while disadvantageous from the surface level, doesn't define if he had another use. He could have given the class advantages and disadvantages," Zhongli explained.

His words appeared to resonate with the Soul Seer as she picked up a golden bag and threw it at Zhongli. "Good, your answer was well-liked by the judges," she said, sending shivers down the spines of the students who realized they were being watched and judged by unseen forces.

As the competition continued, the students grew more desperate and creative in their answers, hoping to earn a coveted supply bag. The tension in the room remained palpable, with each student acutely aware of the high stakes and the unpredictable nature of the Soul Seer.

The students exchanged nervous glances, understanding that they were still in the test. Anger and despair filled their hearts as they realized the gravity of their situation.

"What about you?" The Soul Seer's words hung heavily in the air as she addressed a girl sitting behind Zhongli. "What about you?" The girl hesitated for a moment before responding, "Hmm, I would say a disadvantage." The Soul Seer nodded, "Elaborate." The girl took a deep breath before saying, "Well, I didn't have a chance to pop his cherry from him."

The girl's answer threw everyone off guard. The students looked at each other in confusion as the Soul Seer paused before throwing her a golden bag. "Your answer was well-liked by the judges," the Soul Seer said.

And just like that, the students began to provide more and more unexpected elaborations to the question. A few received normal black bags, while the majority got golden ones. The Soul Seer seemed pleased with their answers and proceeded to the next phase of the competition.

"Hmm, it appears everyone performed admirably in that test. Now, let us proceed to the main scenario," the Soul Seer said before pausing, her voice becoming more serious. "The next trial will be one of survival. Good luck to you all." With a snap of her fingers, the statues lining the walls began to glow with an ethereal light. They started chanting in an ancient, mysterious language that resonated throughout the hall, sending shivers down the students' spines.

As the chant reached a crescendo, the statues suddenly exploded in a brilliant white light, temporarily blinding everyone present. As the students' vision slowly returned, they found themselves transported to various locations on the island, now faced with the harsh reality of their new trial. They knew that they would need to rely on their wits, courage, and strength to overcome the challenges that lay ahead, all while striving to survive the dangerous island and prove their worth in this brutal test.