[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-114":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Ascending to Divinity",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2280664,4461,"Chapter 114: On the Dao","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-114",114,"\u003Cp>Zhang Jian rose to his feet, cleared his throat, and said, “The Two Prefectures’ Dao Discourse is not merely a grand event for the Divine Gift University.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is a festive day for the two prefectures, for two billion living beings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The academic exchange between the two prefectures draws immense attention and captivates countless eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each discourse sees prodigies soaring to new heights, rising swiftly to become the brightest stars in the prefectures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But many more are crushed, their spirits withered, abandoning cultivation entirely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, Zhang Jian’s gaze turned solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our First Academy is the Linjiang Prefecture’s first-year face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most of you possess Level Three talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope that, regardless of the outcome this discourse, you all gain something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter what,” Zhang Jian said gravely, “remember this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For public and private reasons alike.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivation is the true path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On a small scale, the higher your spiritual energy, the longer you live.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jian asked, “After entering the Divine Gift University, you receive subsidies and become wealthy—don’t you want to live longer, enjoy more years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jian asked, “Once you get into the Divine Grant University and receive the subsidy resources, you all become rich—don’t you want to live longer, enjoy more years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of students burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jian chuckled twice, then said, “On a grand scale…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On a grand scale, it has little to do with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jian clicked his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Disembark!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Whale Ray vessel descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The towering hatch slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>thick spiritual energy from the water veins, carrying a cool breeze, swept into the cabin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the hatch’s soundproofing gone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a deafening roar erupted from every direction, overwhelming and unrelenting!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the waterside cliff, countless array seats filled the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of thousands of living beings had already taken their seats, ready to watch the discourse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each seat required payment in Alliance Coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through these seats alone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the array departments of both prefectures had already recouped their costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had also seized the opportunity to add extra services, reaping enormous profits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the array seats activated their screens, they blocked outside views.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether dining, cleaning, betting, or other services—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as long as the guest requested it, it was fulfilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond these ordinary seats,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>luxurious, exquisite array pavilions hung suspended in the sky!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These pavilions stood shoulder to shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below them, transparent arrays supported them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>keeping them afloat above the waterside cliff, across the entire sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting at the pavilion entrance, sipping tea while gazing downward,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a holographic screen stretching hundreds of meters loomed nearly within reach, crystal clear!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is the premier viewing venue—extremely expensive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Descending the gangway, Liu Tiezhu looked up at the floating pavilions above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye, Yin Yin, and another girl disembarked from the Whale Ray vessel in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian did not join them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he walked aside, scanning the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a vast airfield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The airfield was enormous—larger than Linjiang Prefecture’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stretching before him, countless aircraft of all sizes were parked in organized zones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around the airfield, numerous semi-transparent pathway arrays were distributed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paid spectators could easily locate their pathway arrays by seat number and reach their seats directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students from both prefectures’ Divine Gift Universities also had competition numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have registered for: Team Combat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your competition number: Zone 9, No. 7113.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian opened his identity device, found his number, and walked straight toward Zone 9’s pathway array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him on the airfield,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>aircraft continued to land one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students arriving for the discourse grew ever more numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First-year freshmen numbered one hundred thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with second- and third-year students,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the total number of participants reached several hundred thousand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Identity verified!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Proceeding to Zone 9. Please wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian approached the array pathway; a mechanical voice spoke, and surrounding screens sealed shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heading to Zone 9, please wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian approached the array staircase; a mechanical voice sounded, and the surrounding light screens instantly closed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the array pathway began moving, racing swiftly toward the waterside cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>hundreds of array pathways crossed left and right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each pathway carried a combat team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Arrived at Zone 9. Wait for combat to begin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pathway descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stepped out of the array pathway onto a vast circular stone staircase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the closest point to the waterside cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The circular staircase of Zone 9 was already filled with students ascending and descending.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These students formed groups of five, standing together, whispering among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Jiang Jian alone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>many turned to him in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, several Linjiang Prefecture students recognized Jiang Jian—expressions turned even more astonished!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian from Linjiang Academy!? How is he alone?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are his teammates not here yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that’s impossible—the array pathway only activates when the entire team enters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did the array malfunction?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Linjiang Prefecture students stared, bewildered, murmuring among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one imagined\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>that Jiang Jian’s combat team consisted of only one person!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly noisy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian sat cross-legged on the ground, cultivating in silence, ignoring all glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Two Prefectures’ Dao Discourse begins with the first-year class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The team combat, the most significant segment, leads the way!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two prefectures, one hundred thousand freshmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divided into ten zones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each zone holds ten thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hundred thousand freshmen gradually entered the circular staircases, finding their assigned zones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ready at all times to enter the waterside cliff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred thousand new students entered the circular stone steps one by one, finding their assigned zones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Always and everywhere, be ready to enter the Cliff of Lingshui!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this very moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of divine-granted universities in the Two Prefectures, second-year and third-year students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And on all sides of the Cliff of Linshui, over a million spectators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even twenty billion lifeforms within the Two Prefectures watching the live broadcast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless gazes converged upon the one hundred thousand new students on the circular stone steps!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Linshui Grand Array activated!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The holographic mega-screen spanning the sky blazed to life with a roar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Streams of array light surged and interwove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive leaderboard suddenly appeared!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Discourse Leaderboard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On it were twenty thousand names.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each name represented a combat team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demon-Slaying Team, Hanjiang Team, ClassDismiss Team, Cultivation Team, Ghost-Killer Team, Invincible Team, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chaotic team names emerged one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside each team name, five faintly glowing names appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These five names were the members of the combat team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>above the Cliff of Linshui,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the holographic mega-screen rapidly split apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few seconds, it became ten thousand smaller screens!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each screen clearly displayed a complete combat arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the one hundred thousand new students all took their positions,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the hour hand pointed to nine o’clock sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>GONG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shocking bell tone echoed across the Cliff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Two Prefectures Discourse Competition: First-Year Team Combat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Round One!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty thousand teams randomly paired.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Half eliminated, half advanced!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold voice rang out clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s identity device flashed urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enter the Xingti Array and proceed to your combat arena within 60 seconds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enter the Xingti Array and proceed to your combat arena within 59 seconds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time gradually shortened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian ceased his cultivation and opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students from Zone 9 on the circular stone steps began entering the Xingti Array one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian did not rush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he opened his identity device and logged into the Linjiang Betting Platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The betting deadline was also down to one minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Team Name: Jiang Jian’s Combat Team.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Betting Option: Two Prefectures Academic Champions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bet Amount: 3,000,000 Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Odds: 10x maximum.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Confirm bet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mechanical voice sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian did not hesitate—he immediately tapped confirm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bet successful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The numbers in his citizen account fluctuated rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, 3 million Alliance Coins vanished!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1290,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","362d3f2992e22030c9ed7f8ed9e01f27b5d7ce9d3e054ca88749af793f2558f2","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-115","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-113",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]