Filthy Cultivation: I Pierced the Heavens with the Merit System

"Elder, the jade ruler that comes with this spirit-testing stone is broken."

The disciple in charge of the test looked troubled upon hearing this and stammered:

"Although the jade ruler is universal, we don't have any extra spirit-testing stones prepared because this situation has never occurred before. It will probably take some time to get them from elsewhere."

"Oh dear, you're so dense! This one's broken, are all the other spirit-testing stones on the stage broken too?"

Eager to impress the elders, Yu Zhenzhen smiled arrogantly and pointed to the other spirit-testing stones that were being lined up, saying:

"Anyway, with the elders around, no one will dare to say anything if we cut in line. Why not just use these spirit-testing stones on the platform first?"

“I am a cultured person, unlike you.”

Upon hearing this, Li Fuyao glanced at her indifferently, then took out the jade ruler that Ye Wuxin had dropped from her spatial storage and handed it to her.

"I do have a jade ruler that comes with the spirit stone. If this jade ruler is universal, could you please see if this one can be used as a replacement?"

Upon hearing this, the leading elder took the jade ruler and examined it. After confirming that there was nothing unusual, he casually handed it to a disciple standing nearby. The disciple's eyes lit up, and he quickly took it to the stone ball to test it.

Seeing this, the elders standing by asked with some curiosity while waiting:

"Although spirit-testing stones are sold in various treasure pavilions, a single jade ruler is rare. Where did you get this one?"

"Elder Ye forgot to take it back after he finished testing me last time, so I kept it."

Li Fuyao smiled generously and explained:

"I was planning to return it to him when I had time, but a lot of things happened in the meantime and I forgot about it. I just heard from my senior brother that the jade ruler is universal, and that's when I remembered it in a hurry."

"Elder Ye? Could it be that old fellow Ye Wuxin?"

The stern-faced elder, seeing Li Fuyao nod, chuckled as if he had expected this:

"Although Elder Ye is unconventional, his judgment of people has never been wrong. Since he tested your talent and brought you here, did he also give you the Ascension Token?"

"Bring it here for me to see."

Upon hearing this, Li Fuyao, amidst the astonished gazes of Yu Zhenzhen and the others, took out the jade pendant shaped like a small sword.

"How do you have an Ascension Token?!"

Yu Zhenzhen, who had missed out on him because of her lack of composure, was now truly on edge and asked incredulously:

"With your character, what right do you have to receive the Ascension Token?!"

Without any attendants to guide and restrain her, Yu Zhenzhen somewhat lost control and shouted:

"You, did you use connections to get in?!"

"Miss Yu, please don't speak recklessly!"

The slender and elegant female elder, showing no mercy whatsoever, rebuked in a stern voice:

"As everyone knows, the Ascension Order of our sect can only be issued after the person who issues the order has examined the first two stages. And every person who issues the order is a person of upright character recognized by the entire sect, especially Elder Ye."

"Although this young girl's spiritual root attributes seem mixed and her talent is not outstanding, the fact that she can possess the Ascension Token shows that in the eyes of the one who bestowed the token, her character is enough to make up for her lack of talent!"

"Miss Yu has such outstanding talent, yet she couldn't obtain the Ascension Token. She should reflect on her own character instead of bullying others just because she comes from the Yu family, and even doubting Elder Ye's innocence!"

This reprimand was extremely severe.

Just moments ago, Yu Zhenzhen was smug and self-satisfied, but now tears welled up in her eyes. Her small hands were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white from shame, and she hung her head with her face flushed.

Seeing Yu Zhenzhen like this, Li Fuyao couldn't help but feel a little pity, but thinking of her previous actions and repeated provocations, she finally hardened her heart and made a tough decision:

She was, after all, a talented, beautiful, and precious young girl. Although she had teased, mocked, and taken advantage of her before, she still harbored a trace of the instinctive tolerance of an adult soul towards a child.

Especially after seeing countless children's corpses in the apocalypse, this sense of compassion is much greater than before.

Seeing Yu Zhenzhen suffer this blow, she didn't feel the slightest bit of pride. She just hoped that this scolding would help Yu Zhenzhen correct her spoiled nature. If she continued to grow up like this, she would probably suffer even more in the future.

Children who have it too easy will become spoiled and arrogant; it's good to temper their arrogance a little.

Bai Suifeng listened silently to his younger sister's thoughts. The smugness he felt at seeing someone he disliked get the short end of the stick faded considerably. While reflecting on his own behavior, he couldn't help but feel more curious and sorry for Li Fuyao.

Did my sister grow up in a place called the Apocalypse in her past life?

That place has many children's corpses; it certainly isn't a pleasant place. Given my sister's personality, what did she go through there to come to my side?

Is it related to that guy called the system?

He looked at his younger sister's round and cute back of the head, his mind filled with questions. His thick, long eyelashes drooped and then lifted, revealing the tenderness in his eyes.

Unfortunately, he was standing behind Li Fuyao at the moment, and Li Fuyao's mind was not only on the elders, but she also didn't have eyes in the back of her head.

Therefore, she was completely unaware of her brother's deep affection for her.

Li Fuyao paid little attention to the red-haired girl whose face turned as red as a pig's liver. She simply raised her hands and presented the Ascension Token to the elder in a humble yet assertive manner.

The dignified elder reached out and took the document, carefully examining the information inside with the other elders. Then, he looked at Li Fuyao with some curiosity and asked:

"Elder Ye must have told you that it can be used to skip the first two stages of the Ascension Tournament, right?"

"The test of one's character is quite difficult, and a person's character can change with experience. So you were able to pass Elder Ye's test before, but you may not be able to now. Since you already have this item, why are you still taking this risk?"

"Recently, there have been rumors that my brother and I are disciples of some reclusive family, but I am not. I think these rumors are too ostentatious and I don't want to cause trouble."

Li Fuyao calmly delivered her lines, which were seven parts truth and three parts falsehood, and honestly explained:

"I was rescued by Senior Sister Qingqing, Elder Ye's eldest disciple. You can find out all this with just a few questions. I don't need the Ascension Token for two reasons: first, because of that well-known bet, and second, to prove myself."

"I want to show them that I can make my own way in the world!"

As for who she wants to see these things for, and to whom she wants to prove something.

Li Fuyao didn't say it explicitly, and the elders didn't ask directly either; everyone had their own answer in their hearts.

They scoffed at Li Fuyao's claims about her background.

What a joke! What kind of siblings from the mountains could have such talent?

Moreover, even setting aside talent, just looking at their appearance, these two siblings are not the kind of people that ordinary people could have.

Everyone assumed that Li Fuyao was deliberately keeping a low profile because of certain family training requirements. While they were even more certain of the siblings' extraordinary identities, they also admired the girl's courage and resourcefulness in the face of difficulties.

This was exactly what Li Fuyao wanted.

She had already thought of this: using lies to conceal their identities and attract attention in a high-profile manner would greatly improve the safety of herself and Bai Suifeng, preventing those who were hunting them from easily taking action even if they found them. However, it was still not a safe option.

No one likes a child who lies, let alone an old man like Ye Wuxin with his straightforward personality.

If his lies were exposed, he wouldn't be able to get past Ye Wuxin alone.

But what if what she said was the truth, and all those rumors about her background were just wild guesses?

She can't possibly manipulate other people's thoughts, right?

She never told outsiders that she was a disciple of a reclusive family. As for the source of her identity and confidence, what's wrong with a little hero who has made great contributions being a little proud?

It's no wonder people are making wild guesses.

Just then, the leading elder laughed:

"Although you have mixed spiritual roots, you have a good temperament. Young people should have a lot of drive!"

He nodded approvingly at Li Fuyao, his attitude much more amiable than before, and said earnestly:

"For us cultivators, spiritual roots and talents are certainly important, but without good character to restrain and support them, even the best genius will inevitably lead to a dead end."

"Little girl, with your brother's lightning-attribute heavenly spiritual root, even if you are not talented, you will be protected. No matter what your background is, you must stick to your original intention and not go astray!"

Seeing Li Fuyao obediently agree, the elder nodded with satisfaction. Just as he was about to say something more to the embarrassed and indignant Yu Zhenzhen, he heard the disciple who had taken the jade ruler excitedly report:

"Elder, the spirit-testing stone is repaired!"