[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-25":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},2280575,4461,"Chapter 25: Soul Lock","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-25",25,"\u003Cp>Beep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Linjiang network connected!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The identity device suddenly emitted a prompt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian opened his identity device and pulled up the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the Whale Ray vessel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It can actually connect to Linjiang Fu’s trading network.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Anhezhou network had already auto-connected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the higher-tier Linjiang Fu network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just seconds ago, it had already connected successfully!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are so many things on Linjiang Fu’s trading platform...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian browsed the vast Linjiang network, his gaze brightening slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Linjiang network was divided into five sections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first section was the government forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forum was the official platform of the Linjiang Fu government, built with top-tier servers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could simultaneously accommodate one billion citizens, allowing free discussion and posting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second major section was the most important trading platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linjiang Fu’s trading platform allowed buying and selling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It even permitted barter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything imaginable was available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talent orbs...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian found the talent trading section and clicked into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are so many!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The platform displayed countless talent orbs for sale!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as you had Alliance Coins, you could buy any talent you desired!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The highest talent available is only Level 3.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 4 talents seem not to be permitted for sale.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian scrolled the screen and selected Level 3 talents in the filter settings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 orb, Technique: Flying Back and Forth Technique, price: 1,600,000 Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flying Back and Forth Technique: Uses Qi to control weapons or conjure blades of Qi to kill enemies from a thousand meters away, comes with a corresponding cultivation method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 orb, Technique: Soul Lock Spell, price: 1,800,000 Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soul Lock Spell: A mental attack technique; when cast, it strikes the opponent’s spirit-soul, causing either mental confusion or brain death, comes with a corresponding cultivation method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 orb, Martial: Thunderbody Cultivation, price: 2,300,000 Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thunderbody Cultivation: Specialized in body cultivation; when mastered, thunder cracks with every punch and kick, immensely powerful, comes with a corresponding cultivation method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 orb, Body: Nine Oxen, Two Tigers, price: 1,200,000 Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nine Oxen, Two Tigers: Passive talent that increases physical strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 orb, Body: Thick Skin, Tough Flesh, price: 1,100,000 Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thick Skin, Tough Flesh: Passive talent that increases physical resilience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 orb, Mind: Keen Ears, Sharp Eyes, price: 1,300,000 Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keen Ears, Sharp Eyes: Passive talent that enhances vision and hearing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian scanned the dense list of talents on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, he felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The importance of obtaining a Level 3 talent during the Divine Bestowal Ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cheapest “Body” and “Mind” talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were all passive talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the accompanying cultivation methods were absent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as long as the talent orb was Level 3,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>its price would never be below one million Alliance Coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sofa beside him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling and Du Fang browsed the Linjiang network, equally stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Linjiang Fu’s trading platform actually sells Whale Ray vessels!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang pointed at his identity device, mouth agape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling snapped out of it and turned to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang exclaimed: “A Whale Ray vessel, manufactured by Linjiang Academy, priced at 7.8 million Alliance Coins!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Overreacting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian picked up his water cup, took a sip, and said: “What I’m more curious about is something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling turned to him: “Jiang Jian, what did you notice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled and said: “So many people, after receiving a Level 3 talent,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“don’t cultivate it themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Instead, they strip it off and sell it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang clicked his tongue: “Everyone has their own path; it’s normal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, a Level 3 talent is worth over a million Alliance Coins!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With that much money, how long could you possibly spend it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling sneered: “One million Alliance Coins doesn’t last long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard that at the Divine Bestowal University, annual extra resource fees are over one hundred thousand Alliance Coins!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t spend that money,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“and only rely on the school’s subsidized resources,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“you can still cultivate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling’s face held mockery: “But your cultivation progress? Ha, you’d already be left behind by eight hundred li.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian shook his head and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he was thinking about was something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice-blue flame deep within his spirit origin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Must not be exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t know what level it was,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>yet on it,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a single wisp of flame,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pure Spirit True Flame,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had already reached Level 3 Divine Bestowal status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If my spirit-soul grows stronger,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I should gradually be able to summon more of the ice-blue flame.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian halted his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down at his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>thin strands of blood-red flame spiraled up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dancing joyfully around his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pure Spirit True Flame glowed crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it appeared, it hissed as it burned the air, warping it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang shuddered, pupils contracting sharply: “Quick, put it out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled, flicked his fingers, and extinguished the Pure Spirit True Flame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang moved farther away, fear still lingering in his eyes: “That thing is scary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling teased: “Isn’t your Ten Thousand Forms Sword Art supposed to be powerful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang forced a smile: “None of us have started cultivating yet—we can only rely on the raw power of our talents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Ten Thousand Forms Sword Qi is offensive only.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian’s Pure Spirit True Flame is both offensive and defensive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t beat him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the advantage of Art.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Song Ling did not refute him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Art holds the top position among the six talents because…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“the vast majority of Arts…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“can both attack and defend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Martial, however, is mostly focused on offense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For defense, it can only rely on the second talent as a supplement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is inherently weaker than ‘Art.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the other four talents…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of her own talent, Song Ling sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Intent and Weapon, in rare cases, manifest as offensive talents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Body and Heart, ninety-nine percent of the time, are passive talents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There aren’t even corresponding cultivation methods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang looked curious and asked, “What kind of talent is your Xinlingzhiyu ?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling glanced at him and said, “It consumes Qi to restore injuries and provides various miscellaneous buffs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the most absurd thing is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling’s expression turned complex. “ Xinlingzhiyu  has only spellcasting methods—no corresponding cultivation technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To cultivate it, I have only two options.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, use the most basic, slowest cultivation method everyone receives after the Divine Gift Ceremony.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, buy a talent orb with a cultivation method and implant it into the Shenque acupoint as my second talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed to her identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talent orbs are ridiculously expensive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A level-two talent orb with a cultivation method costs five hundred thousand Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even a level-one Art with a matching cultivation method starts at one hundred thousand Alliance Coins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1159,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","739e3ffe152f344deeed3354c8535a7f8ddeba452be3b8ffa531fd7f71893477","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-26","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-24",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]