[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-28":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},2280578,4461,"Chapter 28: Black Abyss","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-28",28,"\u003Cp>The porthole sealed shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Whalefin craft gradually descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRASH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A loud bang echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Whalefin craft had now docked at the dockyard beside Jiangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door to Cabin 1 slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian glanced at the students filing out, then stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang and Song Ling had already packed up and hurried after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So cool and fresh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang stood on the double-deck gangway, tilting his head up to gaze at the bustling, vibrant five-layer Jiangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling patted his shoulder as she walked past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian descended the gangway and headed toward Gu Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hundred meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two other Whalefin crafts were docked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside each vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Likewise, several hundred students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, they descended the gangways and gathered in one place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luoyingzhou, Linchuanzhou, Anhezhou, and five other prefectures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty-two students with Level 3 talents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The rest, seventy-eight students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One hundred in total.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qi raised his identity device, tapped the screen a few times, and spoke to the approaching man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man looked up, scanned the students behind Gu Qi, and nodded: “Your contract is fulfilled. You may leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qi smiled: “Teacher Zhang, I’ll head back to campus then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang replied: “Go ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qi shut down his identity device and walked toward the left side of the dockyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he passed Jiang Jian’s position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qi halted, glanced at Jiang Jian, and smiled: “Junior, be careful during the division exam.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though puzzled, Jiang Jian responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qi’s lips curved as he flicked his wrist lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hundred meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A luxury flying shuttle, previously docked, suddenly flared with light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beam of light surged forward; the luxury shuttle halted before Gu Qi, its cockpit door auto-opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Qi stepped into the cockpit and gave Jiang Jian a thumbs-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The luxury shuttle shot skyward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just seconds later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It shrank to a speck of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merging with the countless other specks in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heading toward the massive five-layer Jiangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, it seems Gu Qi has a special interest in you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling stood beside Jiang Jian and spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian shook his head: “I don’t know why.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the man Gu Qi called “Teacher Zhang” strode over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his arms to quiet the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quiet!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These students, overwhelmed by the grandeur of five-layer Jiangcheng, had been expressing varied emotions—awe, shock, delight, curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, hearing Teacher Zhang’s voice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they gradually fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang nodded in satisfaction, scanning the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are three hundred students in total.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All new recruits of Linjiang Academy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, you may clap to celebrate yourselves!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because Linjiang Academy is the finest Divine Gift university among the seventeen prefectures of Linjiang!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The first-year campus lies in the fourth layer of Jiangcheng—vast in scale, rich in resources.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each of you is one in a hundred thousand!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clap!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he finished speaking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the three hundred students burst into applause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang changed tone and spoke again: “However, this year’s incoming class totals eighteen hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The other fifteen hundred are local students from Linjiang Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’ve already completed their entrance exams.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They have already completed the entrance examination ahead of schedule!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“the overall rankings haven’t been finalized.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, they haven’t been assigned to divisions yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You three hundred must take the division exam before formal enrollment!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang extended his finger toward the distant, abyss-like first layer of Jiangcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your division exam score is critical.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It determines which division you’ll be assigned to!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The better the division, the more resources you’ll receive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The better the department, the more support resources it receives!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve sent the division exam details to your identity devices.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Check them yourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m giving you half an hour to prepare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang raised his identity device and sent a comm: “Examiners, you may enter early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang directly raised his identity device and sent a communication: “Examiners, you may enter early.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, all three hundred students’ identity devices chimed with a message alert!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian opened his device, found the new message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sender was labeled “Entrance Examination Office.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tapped to open it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screen instantly displayed the full details of the division exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Year 3227, Linjiang Academy, Division Entrance Exam.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second batch, incoming students from external prefectures: 300 total.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Groups of five, divided into sixty teams, randomly assigned to breeding grounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Use your talents and cooperate with teammates to eliminate non-citizens within the breeding grounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exam duration: 120 minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maximum score: 100 points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Examiners will evaluate your performance within the breeding grounds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After the exam concludes,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“and assign your final score.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Give the score.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After the second batch of 300 students has their scores confirmed, immediately place them in the overall freshman ranking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Re-rank all 1,800 freshmen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One student with a Level 4 talent: no assessment required, direct admission to the First Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All other students will be assigned to academies based on their overall ranking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Top 49 in the overall ranking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enter the First Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rank 50 to 150 in the overall ranking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enter the Second Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rank 151 to 250 in the overall ranking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enter the Third Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every 100 ranks form one academy, and so on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All remaining students will be placed in the Seventeenth Academy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian scrolled the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze turned to another document, more important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Assessment Guidelines.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Within 20 minutes, you may use your identity device to form teams.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After 20 minutes, ungrouped students will be randomly assigned to five-person teams by proctors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Proctors will provide constant protection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The assessment carries no danger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deploy your talent to its fullest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To achieve a higher assessment score.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jiang Jian, let’s form a team quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang swiftly scanned the assessment rules, then walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling also approached, raising his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian made no reply, swiped his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Team formed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Current assessment team: 3 members.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan walked over with a boy, smiling: \"Jiang Jian, want to form a team?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy seemed shy, murmuring: \"Hello, I’m Xu Yu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded and asked: \"What are your talents, the two of you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan said: \"I’m Level 3 'Martial'—Guiyuan Gang Qi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the shy boy beside him, Xu Yu: \"He’s Level 3 'Body'—Strength Like a Bear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang raised an eyebrow: \"He looks so frail—how is he a passive Body talent?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan chuckled: \"Don’t underestimate him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strength Like a Bear isn’t a passive talent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a rare active talent within the Body category.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both men raised their identity devices before Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each identity device emitted a voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Team formed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Current assessment team: 5 members.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Assessment team at full capacity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please wait for the assessment to begin!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1142,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0349804e3f172db57de0e6b8bba23564b99fa49b98c0fccecc654dc11ea92890","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-29","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-27",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]