Chapter 143: Assign Him Ten (Please Vote for Me)
At this moment, Deng Bingding was watching the performances of various examinees in the Dao Heart Test alongside four other minor deities.
"Among you four, having reached this stage means you’ve endured countless trials—both big and small. You should understand that one of the most crucial aspects of any examination is reading the examiner’s intent, grasping the true purpose behind the test."
"This principle applies equally to us now, as examiners. Only by truly understanding the will of those above can we select worthy talent—those who will one day serve the Top Ten Sects and the Heavenly Court."
"Recently, the upper echelons have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the weaklings they’ve selected. Performance across all evaluations has been declining year after year."
"This reform aims to ensure that those rising from Kunxu’s lower tiers aren’t just lucky, but possess ambition, desire, courage, and the resilience to withstand temptation and pressure—people capable of forging far along the immortal path."
"And in this regard, resisting temptation is the core of today’s test."
Deng Bingding continued, gesturing toward the screen. "In this Dao Heart Test’s illusion, the wealthy face greater wealth—when one level of temptation isn’t enough, another appears from above. You see, no matter who ultimately earns the Foundation Establishment Certificate, each will eventually face such trials."
"That’s why our scoring criteria are clear: the key measure is how much temptation each candidate can resist."
"Should we find someone exceptionally outstanding, reporting them would be no small achievement."
As Deng Bingding finished speaking, Gongcao Minor Deity Huang Zichou stared at the illusion screen, visibly startled. "This year’s exam actually has two poor students?"
The other minor deities turned to look, surprised. After all, seeing poverty in a Foundation Establishment exam was quite rare.
Deng Bingding also glanced over, recognizing the student from her earlier records—Zhang Yu, a freshman from Songyang High School.
"Debt: 700,000. Bank balance: five digits. A mere ant."
That was Deng Bingding’s assessment of Zhang Yu.
Not a mockery, but the result of her internal hierarchy. Just as gods had nine ranks and the Dao path had ten stages, she categorized humans into distinct tiers.
Those without a high school diploma? Dust.
High school graduates with lifelong five- or six-digit savings? Ants.
High school graduates who’ve reached Qi Cultivation peak and have a job? Beasts.
Only those with university degrees and stable employment qualified as “people” in her eyes.
Seeing Zhang Yu’s bank balance, Deng Bingding had already marked her in her mind: failure.
This wasn’t prejudice against the poor—it was experience. After centuries as a deity, she’d observed countless exams and trials.
"Though the wealthy have long surpassed the poor in Martial Energy, physical strength, combat skill, and talisman mastery, they often outperform them in Dao Heart."
That was her hard-earned insight. In her experience, the poor were universally outmatched.
Even if a rare few climbed the ranks, they typically had one trait: low cost of purchase, minimal demands, maximum willingness to work overtime.
Meanwhile, the wealthy—raised from youth in rigorous training—were naturally stronger, more resilient, broader in vision, fiercer in ambition, and far more capable of resisting temptation.
"Those are exactly the ones the upper realms seek."
"As for ants… ah. Why bother cultivating immortality when you have nothing?"
"Only because the company controls the media, relentlessly luring people into the grind, would they even be considered for the Dao path at all."
Just then, the figure on the Light Screen—Zhang Yu—woke up.
The air was incredibly fresh. Each breath felt like countless tiny hands massaging his body, nourishing every fiber of his flesh.
He found himself lying on a mattress so soft it felt like floating. His entire body was wrapped in an unfamiliar, blissful relaxation.
Looking around, he saw a room flooded with sunlight. The furniture was expensive—beautiful, but completely alien to him. Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows lay a sea of swirling clouds, rolling endlessly.
Within the clouds, he saw forests, lakes… even a colossal dragon rising from the mist, breathing fire and smoke into the sky.
All around the clouds stretched endless skyscrapers and pavilions, so dense and vast they seemed to stretch to the horizon.
Huang Zichou remarked, "In the illusion, the wealthy claim they want to honor him, invite him to stay."
"Ah, yes. He refused."
"Typical reaction—high vigilance, quick to reject."
Another minor deity added, "They can’t detect the illusion, of course. But suddenly being brought to a rich man’s mansion? Of course they’d be on edge."
Huang Zichou said, "But this house offers free Spirit Veins, pills, and nutrient supplements. A poor kid like this would definitely stay and take advantage."
"Wait… he’s asking to lower the Spirit Energy concentration?"
Another deity gasped, "He refuses the nutrient-rich dragon meat and chooses synthetic food?"
"What kind of mindset is this?"
Inside the illusion, Zhang Yu didn’t even glance at the lavish spread before him.
Especially when a servant described the feast as made from powerful beasts—even dragon meat.
The more he heard, the more uneasy he felt. He only asked for synthetic food, which made him feel safe… and secure.
He feared that if he ate even a bite, the host would suddenly demand payment—leaving him bankrupt.
After all, he had just over ten thousand yuan in his pocket, yet he was in Xian Du City’s Upper Tier.
It was like being a low-health player suddenly appearing in the enemy’s jungle—every step filled with dread, terrified he’d spend himself into ruin in a single move.
So he immediately ordered the Spirit Energy level reduced as much as possible. Ideally, turned off.
Hearing the minor deities’ chatter, Deng Bingding spoke up. "You all are too used to the wealthy. You know nothing about people like this."
"He’s scared. That’s all."
"Scared that one more breath, one more bite… and he’ll go broke."
"Go broke from breathing and eating?"
The minor deities paused, taken aback. They hadn’t seen such a thing in ages.
Poverty this extreme? Such people weren’t even meant to interact with them—let alone appear in such a high-end environment.
Deng Bingding continued, "But it’s temporary. The more destitute someone is, the faster they collapse once their desires are finally met."
"Long ago, there was a farmer who climbed to the second tier. He hoarded every coin, refused to eat or wear anything nice—afraid to spend, afraid to use anything."
"Eventually? Ha. Just getting a second-tier citizen’s status was enough to shatter his resolve to pursue the Dao path."
"Can’t be helped. Their lives are too cheap. Too easily satisfied. Stopping them from rising? Far easier than stopping the rich."
Meanwhile, in the illusion, Zhang Yu faced greater temptations.
Inside the pharmacy, top-tier pills were freely available.
In the Spirit Root chamber, three Celestial Spirit Roots awaited—unlimited use.
In the training room, a Huangjin Warrior stood ready as a sparring partner.
Twelve flying swords lay nearby, offered for his use.
Zhang Yu took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the rising tide of desire.
In the office, Huang Zichou sighed. "He’s about to break."
"Even after days in the illusion, he keeps double-checking—‘Is this really free?’"
"Once he confirms it’s truly free… he’ll give in."
"Yep, they’ve signed a contract—everything is free for two months."
As Huang Zichou spoke, he saw Zhang Yu on screen adjust the Spirit Energy level upward.
Inside the illusion, another day passed.
Zhang Yu bit into a dragon rib, the juices bursting in his mouth. A smile slowly spread across his face.
He grabbed a syringe and plunged it into his arm.
Then ordered the High-Grade Spirit Machine to be turned up even higher.
In the office, the minor deities watched, shaking their heads.
"Too easy to corrupt," Huang Zichou said. "Doesn’t he know the cheapest things are always the most expensive?"
"The deeper he sinks, the harder it’ll be to leave."
Deng Bingding remained silent. To her, this was predictable. Ants like this had no vision—easy prey for temptation.
As the days passed, watching Zhang Yu devour meat, inject pills, and play with flying swords and Spirit Roots like a child in a candy store, Deng Bingding knew he was lost.
Then Huang Zichou suddenly exclaimed, "Hey… the kid hasn’t been sterilized? So he’s making it harder on himself?"
Inside the illusion, Zhang Yu collapsed, overwhelmed by over-absorbed Spirit Energy. His meridians were clogged, muscles seized.
"Sir, you’ve absorbed too much Spirit Energy. Your meridians are blocked, your muscles are paralyzed."
Zhang Yu lay motionless, his mind racing: I’m a poor man who just got rich. I can’t even handle the air in a rich man’s house.
Then—something soft and slippery touched him.
A girl had leaned in, her mouth gently sucking his fingertip. Her tongue, agile as a serpent, curled around his skin.
Something… warm… strange… like a drug seeping in.
"Ah…?" Zhang Yu gasped.
A woman’s voice whispered, "Stay relaxed, sir. Let me help release the blocked Spirit Energy."
As her tongue moved, he felt a strange sensation—like warmth spreading through his nerves. His body grew light, floating, untethered.
She continued, "As a cultivation sparring partner, I’ve just absorbed your excess Spirit Energy, established a Martial Energy cycle, and completed your internal circulation for you."
In the office, Huang Zichou shook his head. "No hope left. He’s completely broken now. That high schooler’s useless—should’ve been sterilized."
"Let him keep sinking. When he can’t live without these things, and the two-month free period ends… just offer him the same house, same items, free again. Or throw in a few extras. He might even agree to quit the Foundation Establishment Exam."
"Even if he refuses at first, add more incentives—enough to sway him."
Huang Zichou glanced at Zhang Yu’s file. "After all, he’s just a freshman. No real commitment. Poverty makes it even easier to break."
"I’d say he won’t last past one or two hundred million in temptation."
Meanwhile, Deng Bingding had already lost interest in the poor boy’s performance. Her gaze shifted to other examinees—particularly the senior students.
In Foundation Establishment exams, seniors were the real contenders. Freshmen were just background characters.
Especially Ye Lingshao and Yun Jing—Xian Du City’s elite, born into noble families, unimaginably wealthy, and gifted beyond measure. She had her eyes on them. If their results were outstanding, reporting them would be a personal achievement.
"Yun Jing has resisted temptation up to one billion."
Deng Bingding nodded slightly.
"Ye Lingshao is also impressive—faced with twelve billion in assets, yet still refuses to give up the Foundation Establishment Certificate. Still determined to walk the immortal path."
Huang Zichou added, "They both know the difference between a high schooler with and without the Certificate is life-changing."
"Anyone wanting to go further in the Dao path, or enter a sect instead of a company after university—this certificate is the golden ticket."
"And they’re taking this exam for the last time. Naturally more resilient than freshmen."
At that moment, another minor deity chuckled, watching Zhang Yu’s illusion. "This kid might not make it. He’s going to crack."
Inside the illusion, Zhang Yu entered a previously unvisited room.
Six figures stood before him—beautiful, each different in form: petite, curvy, tall, some with beastly features… all exquisitely crafted.
The girl beside them explained, "This is Linglü. Her body has been enhanced—using her activates your entire musculature, perfecting your cultivation."
"This is Yunxiao. She can absorb and neutralize toxins from your body, eliminating side effects of pills."
"This is Xianluo. She secretes calming hormones—her touch and tongue can relieve your mental stress."
"Master, if you agree to quit the Foundation Establishment Exam, we’ll all be yours. Forever."
Hearing those words, Zhang Yu felt the familiar chill—felt the Ritual’s pull. He waved his hand fiercely.
"Get lost!"
"Stay out of my Dao Heart!"
"I will never give up the Foundation Establishment Certificate—even if I die!"
In the office, Huang Zichou stared in disbelief. "I can understand rejecting temptation. But this? So fast, so decisive?"
"Teenagers have fire in their blood. Their vitality is strong. He hasn’t been sterilized—should be at the peak of desire. And yet he refuses—no hesitation?"
Another minor deity said, "I get it now. Is he castrated? That’s why he doesn’t need sterilization? Or maybe he’s just not attracted to women?"
Huang Zichou waved his hand. "Simple. Let’s assign him ten male furnace partners. Then we’ll know for sure."
(End of Chapter)
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