[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-118":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},2280668,4461,"Chapter 118: Terrace","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-118",118,"\u003Cp>On the holographic mega-screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The score leaderboard fluctuates in real time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone gasped in shock, leapt to their feet, and stared fixedly at the skyborne mega-screen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who is that team?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve just gained over 400 points!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the vast skyborne leaderboard, the team name blazed with radiant light!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It erupted in brilliant crimson brilliance, tearing through countless other team names as it shot upward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few seconds, it surged into the top hundred!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was shocking was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All other combat teams had five names listed, neatly aligned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Jian’s combat team had only one name!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why does this combat team have only one person?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One person?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is this possible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A combat team with only one person!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did I see that right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless people stared in disbelief at that glaringly prominent team name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s combat team!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More people pulled out their identity devices, checked the team data, and confirmed repeatedly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More and more eyes turned toward Jiang Jian’s ranking!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s really just one person!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is insane!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait! Wait! What did I just see!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just watched his replay footage—the recording shows he alone eliminated over ten combat teams!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jiang Jian’s battle footage spread like wildfire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The joint forum of the two prefectures exploded instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a monster!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So Biantai !”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is he so strong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s terrifyingly strong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over ten combat teams—all eliminated by him alone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Monster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is his spiritual energy cap so terrifying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So strong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he really at the Divine Gift realm?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The terrifying power of his sword light, the deadly restraint of his sword array—it’s suffocating!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he a Level 3 talent? Are you sure he’s not Level 5?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 talent? Impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even more terrifying—he’s a student from Linjiang Prefecture!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the floating terrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Prefect, rarely losing composure, slammed his palm hard onto the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sprang to his feet, staring fixedly at the screen, replaying the battle footage over and over!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Linjiang Prefecture has a chance this time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock still lingered on the Deputy Prefect’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his voice was hoarse, his eyes gleamed with hope!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many prefectural officials noticed the Deputy Prefect’s unusual state and asked: “Deputy Prefect, what’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look for yourselves!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Prefect calmed his expression, swiping his fingers across the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He enlarged Jiang Jian’s battle footage to full screen and replayed it repeatedly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officials all wore expressions of astonishment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s this strong?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he a Level 5 talent from Hanjiang Prefecture?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, Deputy Prefect said he’s our Linjiang Prefecture student!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t recall any Level 5 talents among this year’s new students in Linjiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s a Level 3 talent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 talent?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strong to this degree?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the waterside cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian did not know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his ranking soared, many had already noticed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of water spirits rose and fell, forming a massive wave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t find any more water spirits now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian lifted his head, glancing at the mega-screen map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own crimson glow was too glaring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever he neared others, those representing other combat teams immediately fled ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the other light clusters, similar in strength to his own,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to avoid risk and preserve their rankings,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>also chose to avoid contact, gradually drifting away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stared at the map, his gaze shifting slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spotted a cluster of light points and moved closer again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instant his crimson light cluster began to move,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>those light points seemed startled, scattering wildly far from the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Round Two: top one thousand advance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Real-time ranking matters little—it only affects Round Three assignments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder these people avoid taking risks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Jiang Jian fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply stopped chasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the waterside cliff,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he found a spot rich in spiritual energy, sat down on the ground, and began cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His identity device emitted two consecutive alerts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Special Alert: Water spirits are formed from water vein spiritual energy—pure enough to consume directly, rapidly restoring spiritual energy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Special Alert: Water spirits collected during Round Two count not only toward scores but also serve as rewards for combat teams.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the voice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian raised an eyebrow slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached behind him, grabbed a water spirit at random.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A water spirit—a semi-transparent stream of azure light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a spiritual resource formed from the dissolution of water vein spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its aura was cool and brimming with spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed, no impurities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian sensed it for a moment, then placed the water spirit into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a chilling energy spread through his entire body, permeating every limb and bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surprised Jiang Jian here was that,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the qi generated by the water spirit was extremely gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It directly filled the Shenque acupoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, it replenished three-tenths of his depleted qi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, he had fully activated the Qingshuang Sword Array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sustained for dozens of seconds, it had consumed nearly half his qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This single water spirit,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had restored all his consumed qi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Water spirits collected: 450.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A notification chimed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian erased the holographic screen and resumed his cultivation alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second round’s water spirits, collected as points,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>were meant for students to restore their qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the celestial holographic map,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>white dots grew fewer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light red dots, deep red clusters,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and bright, blazing red clusters like Jiang Jian’s,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>grew increasingly numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some clever students, after estimating, concluded they wouldn’t make the top thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stopped collecting water spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they hid with their existing water spirits, waiting for the second round to end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this way,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they could still take away the water spirits they had gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they wouldn’t enter the top thousand,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they could still harvest many water spirits—no real loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the water spirits of Lingshui Cliff were extremely precious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were rare, potent medicines capable of rapidly restoring qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On trading platforms, their price was astronomically high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three hours passed quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second round, ended!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Top one thousand in points, advance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Others eliminated!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the cold voice rang out,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the celestial holographic screen trembled violently!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All combat squads ranked below one thousand,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>their names dimmed instantly and froze in place!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the top one thousand combat squads,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>blazed brilliantly, continuing to radiate light!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The array’s staircase descended, enveloping Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within mere dozens of seconds,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it returned him to the circular stone steps of Zone 9.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stepped off the staircase and glanced around, raising an eyebrow slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the stone steps above, below, and to either side—sparse and scattered—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>not a single figure could be seen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hundred thousand freshmen, after two brutal rounds,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had been reduced to five thousand!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten zones, each originally with ten thousand,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>now, on average,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>each zone held only a few hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third round: the top one thousand combat squads advance to the top ten!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Preparation time remaining: 300 seconds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1158,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","1e8e62b4d1e5e91de42c8732ad1f13ac0da8a6677c59708f03c49e6fc6c1561b","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-119","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-117",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]