Chapter 8: The Wealthy Fatty

The next day, as the first light of dawn broke, the crowd on the stone steps was panting, struggling to climb upward. Suddenly, Wei Qing's familiar voice rang out.

"The first stage of the assessment is over! All those who reached the 1,000th step or higher have passed the first stage; those below the 1,000th step are eliminated!"

As his voice faded, those on the 1,000th step and above erupted in cheers, having cleared one-third of the trials. Those below the 1,000th mark wore expressions of gloom; a few, stuck in the 990s, pounded the ground in frustration, cursing their own lack of effort.

"Those at the 1,000th step or higher, start heading down to wait for the second stage. As you descend, you will receive a feedback of spiritual energy; the duration of this feedback depends on the number of steps you climbed. Those below the 1,000th step, return to wherever you came from!"

Following Wei Qing’s words, the crowd began to descend, preparing for the next round.

Suddenly, a cry of surprise rang out: "I’ve broken through! Hahaha! I’ve been stuck at the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining for two months!"

"Hahaha! Me too!"

Such scenes occurred repeatedly, while those below the 1,000th step could only look on with envy.

At the 3,001st step, Yun Yi sat down to regulate his breathing and absorb the feedback of spiritual energy. At the 2,999th step, Qian Mo glared at the fellow two steps above him, grinding his teeth in frustration, unable to cross that 3,000-step threshold no matter how hard he tried.

Half an hour later, Yun Yi finished his meditation and looked down at the steps, finding them already empty.

Yun Yi smiled and shook his head, saying helplessly, "What an interesting fellow."

Throughout the climb, Qian Mo’s speed hadn't been any slower than his own, but the way Qian Mo had been gritting his teeth and chasing him from behind had made him seem quite intriguing.

At the 1,001st step:

"Fellow Daoist! Fellow Daoist! Don't go yet!"

A chubby boy blocked Qian Mo's path.

Qian Mo was already in a foul mood, and meeting an obstruction made it worse. He glared at the chubby boy and demanded, "What is it?"

Qian Duo Duo scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "Um... Fellow Daoist, could you please carry me down? I... I’m a bit afraid of heights! I won't trouble you for nothing! I'll pay! I'll pay!"

Qian Mo looked up at the chubby boy, forcing the words through his teeth: "Are you sick in the head?"

Without another word, Qian Mo ignored the boy and walked away with a dark expression.

"Hey!" Qian Duo Duo sighed. He peeked over the edge of the steps, and his legs instantly turned to jelly. Cold sweat poured down, and his plump frame slumped onto the ground, looking utterly miserable.

On the stairs, Lei Ling’er, having waited for Yun Yi to descend, was beaming, chattering away about her own experience climbing the stairs while Yun Yi listened and answered with a smile.

"Sigh..."

"Brother Yun, look, there’s a chubby boy sitting on the ground ahead!" Lei Ling’er exclaimed upon seeing the figure.

Yun Yi had seen him too, and with a frown, he walked over with Lei Ling’er.

"Fellow Daoist, what is wrong?" Lei Ling’er asked gently, looking at Qian Duo Duo’s pale lips.

Hearing this, Qian Duo Duo opened his eyes and said weakly, "Fellow Daoist! Could you carry me down a stretch? It’s too high, I’m scared!"

"Uh..." Yun Yi was taken aback. A cultivator who was afraid of heights?

Lei Ling’er gestured to the bottom and whispered to Yun Yi, "Brother Yun, help him out! There are already so many people down there."

Yun Yi gave a wry smile, crouched down to hoist Qian Duo Duo onto his back, and began to head down the stairs.

Feeling the broad shoulders, Qian Duo Duo burst into tears, sobbing, "Benefactor! You truly are my benefactor!"

...

When Yun Yi arrived at the bottom carrying Qian Duo Duo, it drew the attention of many, but Yun Yi just smiled it off, setting the boy down in an open area to prepare for the second test.

"Benefactor! Please, take this as a token of my gratitude!"

To the astonishment of Yun Yi and Lei Ling’er, Qian Duo Duo pulled a gold card from the ring on his finger and shoved it into Yun Yi’s hand.

"?"

Just as Yun Yi was about to refuse, Qian Duo Duo whispered the amount to him. Upon hearing the figure, Yun Yi silently tucked the card away, leaving Lei Ling’er full of questions.

"Congratulations to the disciples who passed the first stage! We will now begin the second stage—the Talent Assessment!"

"Line up and come one by one!"

Once Wei Qing finished, a massive spirit crystal and a crystal orb appeared at the front of Yingtian Square, and the test began at random.

Seeing the massive crystal and the orb, Yun Yi looked puzzled. Seeing that Yun Yi had noticed something, Qian Duo Duo hesitated before speaking.

"Benefactor..."

Hearing the title, Yun Yi was torn between laughter and frustration. He smiled and said, "My name is Yun Yi, and his name is Lei Ling’er—just call us by our names."

"Uh... Boss, my name is Qian Duo Duo. The crystal in front of Elder Wei is for testing talent."

"It can measure the grade of one's spirit roots and their elemental affinity," Qian Duo Duo pointed to the crystal orb and continued, "That orb is for testing one's comprehension. The higher the comprehension, the more stars appear inside the orb, and on the crystal as well—up to seven stars."

Hearing the explanation, Yun Yi grew thoughtful. On one hand, this chubby boy was quite knowledgeable. On the other, Yun Yi wondered if his inability to cultivate previously meant his talent was exceptionally poor, or if it was because he was not from this world—for he had known since childhood that when he was reborn into this world, he had reverted to the state of an infant from his previous life.

As time passed, the crowd thinned. Suddenly, a gasp rang out, and Yun Yi looked up.

On the large crystal, five dazzling stars appeared, accompanied by a swirling white wind, while four stars shone on the crystal orb beside it.

Wei Qing drew a sharp breath, glanced at the other elders, and said slowly, "Very good! Qian Mo, five-star talent, Wind Spirit Root! Four-star comprehension!"

A commotion rippled through the crowd, everyone casting strange looks at the smug-looking Qian Mo.

The testing continued. Soon, it was Lei Ling’er’s turn.

"Go on," Yun Yi said with an encouraging look.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Lei Ling’er slowly placed her hand on the crystal. Suddenly, a flash of lightning surged within, and five stars instantly lit up, though only three stars appeared on the orb.

"Hahaha! Excellent! Excellent! A Lightning Spirit Root, no less! There are quite a few good seedlings in this batch!"

Wei Qing was delighted, looking at Lei Ling’er with a hunger for talent.

After Lei Ling’er, Qian Duo Duo went up, and he did not disappoint.

"Qian Duo Duo, three-star talent, no elemental spirit root, five-star comprehension!"

The crowd let out a collective sigh of regret. No matter how high the comprehension, it was useless if the talent wasn't there!

In the world of cultivation, talent was everything. What good was high comprehension? If he were at the Golden Core stage, he could kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator—was comprehension useful then?

Wei Qing glanced at Qian Duo Duo, his eyes filled with speculation, before turning to call out the next name:

"Next, Yun Yi!"