[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-20":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},2280570,4461,"Chapter 20: Seeing Frost","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Song Ling likewise tilted her ear, listening to Jiang Jian’s reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian shook his head and said, “I don’t know much about these Divine-Gifted Universities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang glanced at the proctors nearby and said, “I heard that many Divine-Gifted Universities are rushing to Linjiang Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We all have Level 3 Talents; the news has already spread. There’s no need to rush choosing a school.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling nodded and said, “Just now, my teacher sent me a message telling me not to choose a Divine-Gifted University yet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian heard a notification sound and received a message as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his head and looked at his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t noticed before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he counted carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the unread messages, there were nearly a hundred messages—dense and countless!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were congratulatory messages from classmates at Guangling No. 1 High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And kind reminders from school teachers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A message from the Zhao family!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian spotted a message with something unusual about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sender’s name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Zhao Chenshuang of the Zhao family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian raised an eyebrow and opened the message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang’s dull voice came through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, your engagement to my sister was arranged by our elders; any private breach of that promise holds no weight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Further down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a long string of words, as if reciting a script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly insincere flattery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian didn’t bother reading further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, he replied:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Zhao, you keep insisting I return your sister’s freedom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you wish—the Divine Proof Contract has been dissolved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My debt to your Zhao family is settled. We owe each other nothing more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending the message,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian directly dumped Zhao Chenshuang’s message into the trash folder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guangling City, Shenzhao District, Zhao family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a lavish hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of properly dressed Zhao family members sat on either side of a long table, their faces grim beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang sat at the lower left end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted her head, gazing at the large screen showing Jiang Jian, her expression complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message alert rang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All core Zhao family members turned their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fixed their burning gazes on Zhao Chenshuang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang glanced at her identity device and saw Jiang Jian’s reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes bulged with rage, her heart burning with fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Zhao, what did Jiang Jian reply?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A family member beside her asked urgently, “Did he agree to renew the marriage contract with Miss Zhao Jianxue?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang coldly snapped, “Shut up!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The family member’s face darkened but dared not speak further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Insolent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A roar erupted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the reprimand,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang immediately shrank back, fear flashing across her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao family patriarch, seated in the seat of honor, spoke coldly: “Why haven’t you published the message yet?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang bit her lip and reluctantly revealed the message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Zhao, you keep insisting I return your sister’s freedom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you wish—the Divine Proof Contract has been dissolved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My debt to your Zhao family is settled. We owe each other nothing more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s voice echoed through the silent hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao patriarch leapt to his feet and smashed the table before him with one palm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Chenshuang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze was icy and lethal as he glared at her, “You stupid pig!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nearly a million Alliance Coins wasted because of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s not all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A Level 3 ‘Art’ Talent—the top scorer of the entire exam, an unparalleled prodigy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You let him slip away so easily!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Zhao family had a Divine Proof Contract with him!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was an unbreakable Divine Covenant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you hadn’t been so clever and showy, raising the price to eighty thousand Alliance Coins to break the contract...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That Level 3 Talent, the perfect-scoring Jiang Jian, would already be ours!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhao patriarch pounded his knee in regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I shouldn’t have given you forty thousand Alliance Coins to handle this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why so impatient? Why couldn’t you wait until after the Divine-Gifted Exam?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed his head, muttering softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other Zhao family members exchanged glances, sighed, and gradually filed out of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Level 3 Talent cannot be ignored, no matter where you are.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason is simple:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone with a Level 3 Talent has nearly a hundred percent chance of entering the next realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Level 3 Talent receives massive resource support from their Divine-Gifted University and the local prefectural government.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined with their innate Divine Gift,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking through the “Divine-Gifted” realm is as certain as nails on a coffin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Divine-Gifted realm is the first cultivation stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every adult is in the Divine-Gifted realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next realm—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ninety-nine percent of people have never even heard its name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all of Guangling City,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combined, Shenzhao District and Shadow District hold over a million people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only dozens have broken through the “Divine-Gifted” realm’s barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Zhao family...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The chance to flourish, right before our eyes, has slipped away...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang gazed at her father, her expression complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But more than anything,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was grieving her lost Alliance Coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a student of Anhe Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang’s annual cultivation resource expenses exceed 100,000 Alliance Coins!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She has not only spent all that money, but also carries over 100,000 in debt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she secretly stole some funds from the Zhao family treasury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Chenshuang can already foresee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lean life she will face upon returning to Anhe Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine—my Zhao family has deep roots; we control the array business in Guangling City. A little money like this will be earned back soon…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang kept comforting herself inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet on the grand screen in the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the famed Feiguang Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That massive leaderboard never stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reminding Zhao Chenshuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian has a Level 3 talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Chenshuang abandoned all self-delusion, completely giving up, and slumped into her chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mind was filled with only four words, looping endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 talent…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 talent…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Feiguang Stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian picked up his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at the latest message from Zhou Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, don’t accept any university’s invitation for now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yu’s tone was firm—he clearly knew something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whether it’s Anhe Academy or Luoying Academy, they’re ordinary Divine-Granted universities!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They have almost no experience nurturing Level 3 talents!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 talents should attend better Divine-Granted universities!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian paused to think, then replied: “Understood, Teacher Zhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He put down his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief examiners had already stepped onto the ceremony podium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Student Jiang Jian!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Huanghai strode forward, his expression excited. “I’m Li Huanghai, Director of Education Management for Guangling City!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On behalf of the Guangling City government, I thank you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You not only achieved a perfect score, but also earned a rare Level 3 ‘Art’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, Song Ling, and Du Fang have brought great honor to Guangling City!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Huanghai stepped beside Jiang Jian. “Starting next year, Guangling City will receive countless resource allocations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, three of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He actually bent down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And bowed deeply to Jiang Jian, Du Fang, and Song Ling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang hurried forward to support him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Feiguang Stage array roared to life, slowly activating!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spots are finalized!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qualified students, begin selecting your universities!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Number 46, Ji Ming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold mechanical voice echoed across the Feiguang Stage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Starting with me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Ming, called by name, opened his mouth wide, pointing at himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chief examiners looked over and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the ground, array patterns glowed and interwove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually revealing three massive university silhouettes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each Divine-Granted university’s architecture was majestic, splendid, and imposing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anhezhou, Anhe Academy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Linchuanzhou, Linchuan University!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luoyingzhou, Luoying Academy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath each colossal architectural silhouette was a lengthy description of the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Ming looked up, his gaze dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered the message he had received on his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had promised him abundant resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Ming gritted his teeth and said: “I choose Luoying Academy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Feiguang Stage array trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stream of light interwove and flowed into Ji Ming’s identity device!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luoying Academy’s admission letter has been sent to your identity device!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Student Ji Ming, on being admitted to the Divine-Granted University, Luoying Academy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Luoying Academy proctor nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every qualified student was his own achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1407,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 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