Chapter 1028: Did I break the rules?

Seeing Qian Duoduo nonchalantly slip past the first disciple's sneak attack, everyone was stunned.

They didn't see what Qian Duoduo did at all; that person simply brushed past him sideways, with no intention of attacking.

Meanwhile, Qian Duoduo himself was secretly pleased, inwardly exclaiming that his idea had indeed been correct.

He stepped forward and continued on; after just a few steps, the next disciple's sneak attack arrived as expected.

Qian Duoduo had also long been prepared; at some point a hundred‑capacity bag appeared in his hand.

The hundred‑capacity bag is a low‑grade storage treasure, not particularly valuable, but because it is cheap, many low‑level cultivators and merchants like to use it to store things.

Facing the Dao Yi Shengdi disciple who leapt out again, Qian Duoduo unhesitatingly thrust the hundred‑capacity bag forward.

Seeing this, the Dao Yi Shengdi disciple's eyes flashed with a strange hue, then he calmly snatched the hundred‑capacity bag.

From an outsider's perspective, the two seemed merely to have brushed past each other.

Seeing the same result again, the many Heavenly Pride were completely dumbfounded—what does this mean?

"What did he just hand over?"

But there were still sharp‑eyed people who, upon seeing Qian Duoduo produce the hundred‑capacity bag, looked suspicious.

"What did this guy just take? Could it be that because of that thing, the Dao Yi Shengdi disciple didn't attack?"

Hearing this, the Heavenly Pride furrowed their brows and stared fixedly at Qian Duoduo's hands.

This time, the Heavenly Pride finally saw clearly—it was a hundred‑capacity bag.

They had thought it was some mighty treasure, but damn, it was just a hundred‑capacity bag—what could possibly fit inside it?

"He... he bribed them, senior—I'm reporting it, Qian Duoduo bribed the assessment; he's cheating."

"Right, he's cheating—that's unfair."

"Huh???"

No wonder those senior sect brothers from the holy land didn't move against him earlier—this guy actually used spirit stones to bribe the assessment.

Facing the clamor of the Heavenly Pride, the more than ten stewards above in the sky exchanged bewildered glances.

Using spirit stones...

"What should we do now?"

"Well... it probably doesn't count as a violation, after all the peak master only said we can't harm lives."

But.............

Damn, even spirit stones are being used—this assessment seems to have gone off track.

But they themselves just said that as long as no lives are hurt, any means can be used—now if...

After thinking, the lead steward cleared his throat and said.

"Cough, it's not a violation."

"Even this doesn't count?"

Hearing that, the Heavenly Pride were utterly stunned—even after all this, it's still not a violation?

However, watching Qian Duoduo stroll leisurely all the way, already far ahead, the Heavenly Pride, after their shock, instantly made up their minds.

"Fine, fine, fine, you Dao Yi Shengdi are playing like this, huh?"

Damn, who doesn't have a few spirit stones on them?

Since Qian Duoduo can use spirit stones to clear the way, why can't they? Anyway, the stewards said it's not a violation.

Thinking this, the Heavenly Pride felt reassured, each full of confidence as they climbed the stone steps.

Qian Duoduo can do it, so why can't they? Besides, spirit stones can clear the way—doesn't that make things much simpler?

As expected, with spirit stones, these Dao Yi Shengdi disciples likewise didn't attack, simply taking the hundred‑capacity bags the Heavenly Pride handed over in silence.

"If I'd known we could do this, I wouldn't have suffered so much earlier."

"Who could have imagined this?"

"Cut the chatter, let's all reach the summit at once."

The Heavenly Pride had found a way, their mood naturally great, but just as they were chatting and laughing, suddenly one of them was kicked flying away.

"Huh???"

Seeing this, the other Heavenly Pride nearby were stunned—what's going on? Weren't they supposed not to attack after receiving spirit stones? Why strike again?

They gave a strange look to the holy land senior brother who had struck, seeing him expressionlessly flip the spirit stone in his hand.

"One spirit stone? Or a low‑grade one? Are you trying to send a beggar away?"

Disdainfully, he tossed the spirit stone aside and didn't want it.

"We are disciples of Dao Yi Shengdi, we pay attention to decorum in the courtyard; having taken payment, we naturally handle things properly—so I don't want this low‑grade spirit stone."

Seeing this, the Heavenly Pride's expressions turned complex—was it because the amount was too little?

But upon looking at that low‑grade spirit stone, everyone again felt there was no problem.

"A low‑grade spirit stone—are you looking down on the holy land senior brothers?"

"This guy must have a screw loose."

"I think so too."

"Who uses a low‑grade spirit stone to bribe, especially a holy land senior brother?"

"No wonder the senior brother's face darkened just now."

"At a time like this, still thinking about saving money—sigh..."

"This guy does things in a shady way."

However, no one paid it much mind; they just secretly resolved that when they acted, they had to be generous—no pinching pennies now.

Under the spirit‑stone‑cleared path, the pass rate of the first round was simply heaven‑defying.

After everyone had passed, the more than ten stewards in charge of this assessment wore extraordinarily colorful expressions.

"How many passed?"

This..............

"Speak up."

"All."

Huh???

In the first round of assessment, damn it, not a single person was eliminated; upon hearing this, the lead steward was stunned.

A 100% pass rate... this... this is probably a bit too much.

However, the Heavenly Prides did all successfully reach the summit; the rules had been announced in advance, so the stewards couldn't really say anything.

Having passed the first round of assessment, all the Heavenly Prides were overjoyed, standing on the mountain peak.

This is merely the outermost mountain peak of Dao Yi Shengdi, not any one of the thirty-seven main peaks.

And passing the first round doesn't mean one can become a disciple of Dao Yi Shengdi.

The stewards slowly descended before the Heavenly Prides and then spoke.

"Congratulations, everyone; the next assessment is perseverance. Cultivation is like rowing against the current; without steadfast perseverance, one cannot achieve anything."

"Testing perseverance?"

"I don't know how it will be tested."

The Heavenly Prides didn't find this strange either; other sects also value perseverance when recruiting disciples.

After all, talent alone is far from enough; any strong person, even with heaven-defying talent, has grown step by step through countless trials.

Wanting to ascend to heaven in a single step is completely impossible in the world of cultivation.

Even some strong people have mediocre talent, but relying on this unyielding perseverance, they can still reach high positions.

Surpassing many Heavenly Prides with outstanding talent shows the importance of perseverance.

As the stewards' words faded, three figures flew over from afar; seeing these three figures, the Heavenly Prides present instantly erupted.

"Is this... a Holy Land Elder?"

"No, look, isn't that Master Fan Zu?"

"Is Master Fan Zu personally overseeing this mountain-opening disciple recruitment?"

"I'm not seeing things, am I?"