[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-120":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},2280670,4461,"Chapter 120: Flame of Karma [Thank You, Myself, Lost in the Novel]","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-120",120,"\u003Cp>Seeing Jiang Jian here, he broke free in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu couldn’t help but feel his heart sink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qingshuang Sword Array had already formed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of transparent sword qi spiraled down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They instantly shredded another girl’s life-protection barrier into fragments!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sword array scroll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining hundred or so transparent sword qi split into two waves, changing direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One portion shot rapidly toward Liu Tiezhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other portion, accompanied by piercing sword shrieks rising and falling, slammed toward Shan Ye on the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transparent sword qi drew nearer; Shan Ye’s face turned pale, yet she did not dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had just expended most of her Qi to unleash a cursed killing technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, she had nearly lost all capacity to counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, let’s make a deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye stood on the cliff as continuous transparent sword qi struck; the cracks on her life-protection barrier multiplied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian asked: “What deal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye lifted her identity device, blinked her eyes: “Actually, I placed a bet on you—one million Alliance Coins—on your combat team making the top ten.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her life-protection barrier dissolved into light and shattered!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xingtai Array descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The money I bet on the Shangui Team is already gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye stood within the array, gazing down at Jiang Jian: “Let me win it back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled and gently raised the hilt of Hanguang Sword toward Shan Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qingshuang Array diagram dissolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu had many tricks and endured the most transparent sword qi, holding out until now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His life-protection barrier was still intact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He staggered up to Jiang Jian, pale-faced but smiling: “Jiang Jian, guess how much I bet on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You placed a bet too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian reversed Hanguang Sword, brushed his dark robe sleeve, and steadied Liu Tiezhu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu smirked: “Three million Alliance Coins—on both of you as the two academy champions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian paused slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your soul defense is a weakness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu whispered, “That’s extremely fatal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Among Hanjiang’s top combat teams, each has members skilled in soul control.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must eliminate such members immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Otherwise, you’ll be dragged down relentlessly, left in a completely passive position.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve observed—Hanjiang’s top prodigy teams coordinate exceptionally well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Especially teams with fifth-tier talents—among first-year freshmen, they’re nearly invincible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wear this for now; return it to me after the Dao Discourse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold voice echoed within the scenario array!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Monitoring Warning: Do not delay time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those who deliberately delay will be immediately eliminated!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Countdown remaining: 10 seconds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Countdown remaining: 9 seconds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Asshole.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu cursed, pressed his identity device, and selected surrender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Xingtai Array rose, removing them from the scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time until next match: 60 seconds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prompt sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third round’s rules were brutally harsh: a relentless wheel battle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thousand teams: winners continue matching, losers are eliminated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the top ten are decided!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the top ten, other combat teams are ranked by time of elimination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a piece of tech equipment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian took the emerald jade pendant; a gentle aura swirled around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a glance,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the pendant, light flowed, encircling over a hundred emerald light dots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each emerald dot was a micro-array, constantly emitting faint light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This pendant’s value is incalculable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the hundred micro-arrays,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian instantly judged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The emerald jade pendant was priceless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was undoubtedly among the most elite tech equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Liu Tiezhu had not explained the pendant’s function in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Match successful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Preparation time remaining: 60 seconds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the edge of the scenario, the dividing array suddenly dissolved!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A battle team, battered and wounded, stood behind the array, staring at Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This combat team had only four members left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cruelty of the third round lay here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a combat team won a battle,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But some members’ life-protection barriers shattered and were expelled from Linshui Cliff,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the third round, the remaining members of the team had only two choices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One: continue matching, outnumbered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two: surrender immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Jiang Jian alone, someone immediately grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The opposing team also barely won!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re down to just one person!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other team members also smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On Linshui Cliff, every extra moment stayed raised their ranking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At final settlement, they’d gain more spiritual resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something’s off!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The team leader studied Jiang Jian closely, his expression darkening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His clothes are spotless, and his Qi seems fully replenished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He doesn’t look like a sole survivor after all teammates were eliminated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One team member thought for a moment and agreed: “That’s right—if he were alone, he’d have surrendered immediately. Why keep matching?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another team member stared at Jiang Jian, frowning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seconds later, he suddenly remembered something, his face turning pale: “Damn! This is the solo team from the last round—the one everyone’s talking about!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others all froze in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The countdown has ended!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stream of five-colored light slashed through the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four members of the sparring team froze in place, utterly unnerving!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every one of them burst into fine petals of flower rain, exploding violently!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Talent Move: “Dark Scent” — Flying Petals!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The life-preserving light barriers shattered one after another!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining four members of the sparring team were immediately eliminated!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“60 seconds remaining until next match.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The notification echoed from their identity devices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stood calmly, walking to the edge of the separating array, waiting in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matching system had only four targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four adjacent sparring zones to the east, south, west, and north.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cliff of Lining Water was divided into multiple zones by numerous arrays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time a battle began,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the separating arrays dissolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two adjacent zones merged into one large zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the holographic giant screen, the two small displays merged as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all separating arrays vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cliff of Lining Water became the sole arena!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jiang Jian continued to win here,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the surrounding separating arrays dissolved continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The zone he occupied grew larger and larger!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the holographic giant screen,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the screen tracking Jiang Jian also expanded enormously!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More and more people watched Jiang Jian constantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Hanjiang Forum,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the thread titled “A Single-Person Sparring Team” had gone completely viral!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tens of thousands of comments flooded the screen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Total views reached tens of millions!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>this was a regional forum, not the Divine Grant University forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most common folk showed great interest in single-person sparring teams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Match successful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Preparation time remaining: 60 seconds!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the vast arena, silence reigned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stood on the cliff, gazing into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hundred meters away,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a fully assembled sparring team stared back at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These members, men and women alike, radiated a chilling aura, their spiritual essence dense and profound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each held at least one Level 3 Divine Grant weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>countless spectators watched with tense excitement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanjiang Prefecture, Level 4 top-tier sparring team!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All five members possessed Level 4 Talents!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was Linjiang Prefecture’s sparring team — Jiang Jian’s team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though only one person,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>during the second round,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian had demonstrated terrifying dominance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time to get serious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s gaze turned icy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his mind stirred,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>67% of his Divine Grant spiritual essence trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It surged violently around him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath his dark-black and gold-threaded robes, Jiang Jian gripped his sword hilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Terrifying spiritual energy flooded in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade ignited with blazing white light, roaring and flickering!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The countdown ended!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian leapt from the cliff, sword in hand, slashing toward the sparring team!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A terrifyingly brilliant white sword light slashed down!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword qi stretched dozens of meters, carrying an irresistible, majestic might, shattering rivers and trees along its path as it roared toward the team!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the blade even arrived, gale-force winds surged!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind howled, the sword qi cutting through like a blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every shattered stone and broken log along the way turned to dust!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What move is this?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this Divine Grant Level?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is insane!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Level 4 sparring team had not underestimated Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had discussed many tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they had no time to react — staring at the sword light descending from the cliff, their pupils shrank violently, faces filled with utter shock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their hair and clothes whipped wildly in the gale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blazing white sword light stretched across the sky — slow-seeming, yet impossibly fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, it was upon them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening explosion echoed across the cliff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murderous sword light slammed down, crushing every defense, crushing the team members’ desperate gazes as it descended!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two life-preserving light barriers shattered instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three, gritting their teeth, activated their last cards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With all their strength, they barely held back the sword light!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive, deep crater appeared where the sparring team had stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trees and rocks vanished, reduced to dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within a radius of dozens of meters, only charred earth remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 4 sparring team.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that all you’ve got?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his body landed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of his dark-black sleeves, spiritual energy surged violently; he turned and slashed again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the sword blade’s glow was weaker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But along its edge clung frost-white karmic flames!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its true power was even greater than the massive sword light just now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of monster!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Level-4 squad leader’s face turned pale; he dodged left and right, yet still took the full blow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The life-preserving barrier shattered instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flower Fall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian flipped his hand and plunged Han Guang into the ground, then formed hand seals with both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two squad members were fleeing at top speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above their heads, a rain of petals drifted down!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The delicate petals exploded violently!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For this “Flower Fall” technique, Jiang Jian poured in thirty percent of his spiritual energy!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its power was terrifying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The petal rain scattered, cascading across the sky!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both of their life-preserving barriers shattered completely!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Level-4 elite combat squad was eliminated in full!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the formation platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Prefect leapt to his feet, eyes filled with shock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian is still hiding his true strength!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the officials of Linjiang Prefecture rose to their feet, staring fixedly at Jiang Jian’s screen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prodigy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Jiang Jian has the potential to be invincible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is our prefecture’s peerless prodigy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He alone wiped out the entire Level-4 squad of Hanjiang Prefecture!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Invincible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s only a Level-3 talent? Impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian’s talent is that frost-white flame—it’s at least Level-5!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could the city-county detection array be malfunctioning!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those bastards down there dared to cheat on the detection array!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This must be thoroughly investigated!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prefecture officials were all stunned, yet brimming with intense excitement!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within Linjiang Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, a Level-5 talent had appeared once more!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High above the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The holographic screen spanning hundreds of meters suddenly trembled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s screen expanded wildly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It rose to the very top, aligned with the other two large screens!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless spectators, seeing the match result, were utterly horrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They replayed the battle footage over and over again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across both prefectures, nearly every forum had exploded in chaos!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanjiang Prefecture forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thread titled “A Solo Combat Squad” had become even more popular!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of thousands of comments flooded the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Total views had surpassed one hundred million!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1934,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c9b49372fbbc3d6514ea2a5948cbbe64dc1dad98965d8bc91d5a330724668d08","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-121","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-119",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]