[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-destiny":3,"chapter-above-destiny-above-the-heavenly-fate-chapter-444":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Above the Heavenly Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2226160,4117,"Chapter 444: Choice","above-the-heavenly-fate-chapter-444",444,"\u003Cp>Instantly, deathly silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Ji Jue handed over the reversed handgun, the originally crowded crowd seemed to stir for a moment, moving backward, as if it wasn't the gun handle pointing at them, but the pitch-black muzzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, even more than the muzzle...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, those distinct faces all stiffened, as if they hadn't reacted yet, or as if they hadn't had time to understand the meaning behind this good news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opportunity, turning point, dawn, redemption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It doesn't matter what you call it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, when such a crucial moment comes before one's eyes, what one feels first in their heart is not luck and ecstasy, but... fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic, unease, wavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those hollow pupils, something emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if this is fake?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After escaping a disaster, they actually received such a surprise; everything was too beautiful to be real, yet it was right before their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But, what if this is real?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment such a thought appeared in their chests, the originally eager impulse suddenly froze and disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a chilling silence remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting used to failure and admitting defeat time and time again, to fleeing and endless displacement, tormented people would repeatedly tell themselves, we just lack the blessing of the Holy Lord, lack the same opportunity, lack the necessary conditions...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even, self-abandonment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, when such an opportunity was handed to them, they realized that from now on, there might be no more excuses for losing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, there would be no more excuses for losing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if there really was the power to kill an angel before them, the precious glimmer of light only illuminated an even more expanded darkness and an even more terrifying future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, even if they could kill an angel, so what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The disparity between the enemy and themselves was still despairingly vast; the resisters, like stray dogs, couldn't even be called a drop in the ocean. After fleeing with their heads in their hands for so long, did they really still have the confidence to hold their weapons and fight such an endless war?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even, did they still have a chance...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To surrender?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, in the crowd, Linka raised her hand without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue ignored her, even as she waved repeatedly and shouted his name, he remained deaf. This was not a place for her to appear, nor did it need her to demonstrate miracles again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those few seconds of delay and silence, Ji Jue remained expressionless throughout, but he wasn't surprised. There were too many people whose guts had been scared out, too many people who wanted to escape reality... even in this dream, they still harbored childish fantasies, unable to face despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the stiff crowd suddenly surged; heads moved, and when some stood stiffly in place, more people squeezed forward without hesitation, shouting, raising their hands, waving constantly, longing to attract Ji Jue's gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And right among them, a hunched, short figure suddenly drilled out, fell to the ground, climbed up again, and moved forward using hands and feet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhausting all his strength, pushing away the people in front, even without any respect or restraint, crossing the original boundary, stumbling and climbing onto the platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the immature face, there was still nosebleed from falling, the stitched arm was clearly not his own, and several fingers were missing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy reached out decisively toward him, almost demanding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll do it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that rough and hoarse tone, there was an insolence lacking upbringing, and an urgency like being burned by a raging fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be me!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if it's not me, it won't work!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That look...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue grinned silently, put the handgun into his hand, not caring about the offense in his tone, even teaching him hand-in-hand to stand firm, set his posture, and personally pulled the hammer back for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really, have you thought it through, kid?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his head and whispered a reminder in the boy's ear: \"You understand what you are doing, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this shot is fired, the Heavenly City will absolutely not tolerate you; even if you lose in the future, luckily escape, or surrender, even if you make the greatest contributions to them, you can only burn in the Border Prison for eternity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, the boy's wrist holding the gun seemed to tremble, imperceptibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But immediately after, the veins popped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why, isn't it them burning in the Border Prison?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy turned his head fiercely, looking at him, questioning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, decisively, he pulled the trigger!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, twice, three times—a breathtaking loud noise suddenly erupted, causing the entire camp to stall suddenly, and in the lingering echo of the roar, besides the click of the empty cylinder, there was only a desperate wail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From within the angel's remains—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small bullet pierced through the indestructible body, just like a red-hot steel needle, easily piercing the dream bubble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, fine cracks spread, diffused, and covered the whole body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ear-piercing wail diffused, one by one the incomplete pupils widened suddenly, and after the last trace of light flowed away, only dead-fish-like emptiness remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The visible collapse began, but immediately after, it was swallowed and covered by wriggling silver light, turning into a statue of death, standing before everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, or it, died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, in the silence, everyone stared blankly at the scene before them, and then, couldn't help but cheer and shout, hoarsely roaring, even hysterically waving their arms, tears and snot flowing together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire camp was nearly boiling; on every face where shock hadn't dissipated, an uncontrollable joy and happiness appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Celebrating and shouting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like sparks spreading into an ocean of fire in the grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the hot torrent of excitement and shouting, Ji Jue lowered his eyes, looking at the boy beside him, who was still holding the empty gun, his stiff fingers tightly locked on the trigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No joy, no happiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just staring dead at the angel's remains, as if waiting for it to climb up again, to fight it to the death once more!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the pitch-black pupils, only deeper hatred and resentment burned silently like firewood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue couldn't help but smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gently stroking his hair, he patted his shoulder one last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning and leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly a piece of fine jade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began to look forward to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, inside the chicken-foot house, the old codger's workshop was unceremoniously occupied by Ji Jue, who took it as his own, even picking and choosing, starting to dislike the internal composition and finding it not smooth to use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's enough for you!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dachai rolled his eyes, watching Ji Jue unceremoniously rummaging through his bottles and jars, and hurriedly tucked the treasures he had saved up during this time into his bosom, hiding them deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the furnace was too big to hide, so he had to let him use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's just...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the furnace, in the molten iron melted from the angel's remains, wails came one after another, faces constantly rising and falling, fusing with each other, turning into strange shapes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Living Spirit Refining?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed at it unceremoniously, teasing and mocking, \"Oh my, so familiar, really can't tell... I remember this is the Association's taboo, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Funny thing, a Nirvana talking to me about taboos.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue sneered without looking back: \"I kill the Federation's ministers and generals, I kill emperors and princes, but I know, I am a good person...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't talk nonsense, why do you put such big labels on people when you see them!\" Bao Dachai started to be stubborn again, refusing to admit it, and counter-accusing: \"Whether I am Nirvana is one thing, but this hand of yours, tsk tsk tsk, damn, even in the Abyss, you wouldn't be this familiar, right? Oh, it's just that there is no Supreme Good in this Yellow Millet, otherwise, add a little blessing, and maybe the Great Evil could descend in person...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then go report me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue rolled his eyes, puffed out his chest, straightened his collar, and asked curiously: \"Excuse me, are you going to report the Association's current Chief Craftsman, Heavenly Work Craftsman, the one appointed by Old President Delong and President Gustav as the new generation pillar of the Association, for being involved with the Abyss?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a good thing you didn't pull up the banners of Ye Xian and Tian Lu, otherwise I wouldn't have enough seats here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dachai curled his lips, \"If Yan Jian Tian Yuan had one-tenth of your hypocrisy, he wouldn't have run to the Abyss; unfortunately, you don't have one-tenth of his openness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tian Lu? Yan Jian Tian Yuan? Who are they, not familiar, sounds like two dogs on the side of the road.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grass...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dachai was dumbfounded, couldn't help but want to give a thumbs up; truly a student of Ye Xian, he had a hand in betraying his master and destroying his ancestors: \"I hope you dare to say that to their faces.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then the question comes—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue smiled slightly, turned his head and asked: \"How do you know I haven't said it to their faces?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dachai's expression twitched once, then again, not wanting to speak anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being so old, suddenly realizing for the first time that everyone is an Ember, but among craftsmen, everyone's moral level also has a high and low...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching this dog thing Ji Jue picking and choosing in this workshop constructed by his own dream, doing whatever he wanted, throwing out all kinds of messy skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only felt that the Association's Punishment Team hadn't gone to the coast to knock on the door yet, it was truly absurd!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way, Ji Jue also wanted to use something normal, but in this dream, there were no relevant documents and underlying rules at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Operating directly with both hands could achieve effects through transformation, but involving alchemy skills of soul operation, if you want to say simple, rough, fast, and effective, often the Abyss side has a little more proportion...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise kill this old codger next to him first, and see if he can explode some Strange Tale Alchemy gold coins?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alchemy is something that has compatibility. Ji Jue knew with his heels that his compatibility with Strange Tale Alchemy was absolutely low enough to make people cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three elements, three Supreme Goods, he didn't touch a single one!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hiss, it's too evil.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dachai leaned over, staring at the phantom light gradually taking shape in the black flame and blood fire, shaking his head: \"Such a frantic thing, who do you intend to give it to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm, not sure yet.\" Ji Jue shrugged, \"Speaking of which, I did see a pretty good young man just now; he's a bit young, but the future is promising.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Future is promising?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dachai rolled his eyes; is it your turn to say others have a promising future? You are also a little kid!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... the current Ji Jue, I'm afraid that wherever he goes, it's hard to be treated as an ordinary craftsman. Whether it's the Heavenly Work in his hand, the bones under his feet, or the background he relies on...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the Association holds a banquet, he can move his seat to the front tables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the young man he mentioned...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought for a moment, tapped his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That kid, I remember him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is he famous?\" Ji Jue asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In terms of being unlikeable? That's for sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dachai shook his head: \"Doesn't obey management, doesn't listen to others, often fights with people, turns his face at every turn, like a hedgehog.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first everyone pitied him, later no one cared, letting him fend for himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue lowered his eyes and stared at the furnace fire, waiting for the final purification to complete. \u003C\u002Fp>",1983,"2026-06-17T22:31:55.254Z","2026-06-18T03:18:02.290Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","ec9992a9e4dc94b923358a6608e210de87ab05cd88dafcfe58d22ff69a9cabf5","above-the-heavenly-fate-chapter-445","above-the-heavenly-fate-chapter-443",461,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-heavenly-fate-cover.jpg"]