[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-32":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},2280582,4461,"Chapter 32: Soul Annihilation","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-32",32,"\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s expression turned grave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clearly sensed the aura emitted by the dummy was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised the wooden sword, holding it horizontally before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He secretly activated Pure Spirit True Fire, ready to shield himself at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy stood there, not attacking, but smirked strangely and said, “Lucky break this time—completed the task of injuring a candidate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now I just need to find a place to rest until your exam ends.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I can claim a new identity device.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Regain my freedom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy looked blissful, turned around, and walked into a clothing store.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Found a comfortable chair and lay down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang’s voice trembled: “Jiang Jian, what should we do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling also turned to look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian fell silent briefly, then said, “This thing is dangerous—don’t provoke it. Let’s find other non-citizens first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We follow your lead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both nodded vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling activated Soul Healing, slowly restoring the spiritual energy of all three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five minutes passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s spiritual energy recovered substantially. He stood up and said gravely, “Time is short—we must keep ascending.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang followed behind him, turning to glance at the dummy inside the clothing store: “That thing is too powerful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy seemed to sense something, lay on the chair, and glanced over, revealing a strange smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ignore it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian spoke those words and stepped directly onto the swaying light staircase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The exam time had already passed more than half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only ninety minutes remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian walked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continuously navigated winding corridors, traveling over a hundred meters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang and Song Ling followed silently behind, saying nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the distance sufficient?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian suddenly stopped and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang suppressed his alarm and said firmly, “It’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian lowered his gaze to the floor beneath his feet and whispered, “Now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang’s expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clenching his teeth, he slowly brought his palms together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a sound, a radiant, glowing great sword materialized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten Thousand Forms Sword Art, First Form.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heavy Sword Smashes Mountains!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang nearly exhausted all his spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Straining to control the transparent great sword, he slammed it down onto the floor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thick floor collapsed abruptly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the first-floor clothing store, the dummy suddenly lifted its head, pupils contracting sharply!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had no time to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transparent great sword had already smashed into the dummy’s head!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CLANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A piercing metallic screech tore through their eardrums!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sparks flew from the dummy’s skull!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its head was crushed inward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy’s body swayed unsteadily, its expression momentarily dazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its pupils refocused, eyes blazing with rage!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dared ambush me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its hoarse scream had not yet faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another wooden sword stabbed straight into its eye socket!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy stared at the light, fluttering wooden sword. Though fury surged within, remembering the previous great sword, it chose not to block.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it instantly teleported away from the clothing store!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wooden sword fell helplessly to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, it carried no spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fell for it, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian sneered, and with a thought, pushed Pure Spirit True Fire to its peak!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pure Spirit True Law, First Form.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soul Annihilation!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the clothing store, blood-red flames blazed fiercely, engulfing everything!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy stood frozen, expression panicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the blood-red flames were completely absorbed by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of flame is this…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy glanced at its own hands and feet, sensing something amiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy’s vision went black, and it lost consciousness entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stepped out of the clothing store, gazing at the fallen dummy, expression calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The technique just used—“Soul Annihilation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was a companion spell recorded in the Pure Spirit True Law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When activated, “Soul Annihilation” ignores physical strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Directly burns away the spirit and soul of living beings—immensely powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang strode forward, still shaken: “That thing really took a beating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Heavy Sword Smashes Mountains” he had just used.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was also his first time activating the technique tied to his divine gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang stood beside Jiang Jian, savoring the sensation of the attack, reluctant to let it go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some divine gifts come with accompanying training manuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, even include linked techniques of immense power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad my Level 3 Heart doesn’t come with any training method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling activated Soul Healing to restore Jiang Jian and Du Fang’s spiritual energy, her face filled with envy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have to make up for it later with the talent orbs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang glanced at her but said nothing more on the subject, turning to Jiang Jian: “Jiang Jian, how did you know the floors could block aura?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said softly, “This shopping complex has a spiral light staircase connecting directly to the sixth floor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With such a large open space, sound should carry clearly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet Xu Yu fought up there for a long time—no sound reached us at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I concluded there’s a hidden array between floors that blocks both sound and aura.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dummy’s corpse rapidly shrank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had become a palm-sized piece of black iron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The identity device’s notification came belatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Team Alert: Iron Demon deceased.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Number of non-citizens eliminated: 36.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Special Alert: Killing an Iron Demon grants bonus exam points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They heard the voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang and Song Ling both brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian turned his head, looking toward the mall entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A proctor walked in through the mall doors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped closer, bent down, and picked up the black iron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked at Jiang Jian, eyes filled with approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You managed to use the floor array to coordinate a surprise attack and kill the demon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This piece of refined iron was originally your spoils.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proctor’s gaze was sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’m currently forging armor, and I happen to need this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would you students be willing to part with this piece of refined iron?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang was about to speak, but Jiang Jian stopped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian paused, then said, “Since the teacher needs it, we give this stone to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent, thank you, students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proctor smiled, tucked the black iron into his robe, and revealed an important piece of information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killing a refined iron demon greatly increases your assessment score.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to my estimate,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“among the 1,800 new students,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“your score is already high enough to enter the top 100—that is, the Second Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Know when to stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proctor’s expression was kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you continue and suffer serious injury, it will hinder your early cultivation after enrollment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang and Song Ling exchanged glances, both hesitant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your performance has been excellent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proctor continued, “Most new students have no combat experience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When attacked by minor spirits, they panic, become helpless, and are immediately eliminated with serious injuries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve held out this long and killed many non-citizens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you’ve secured a solid assessment score.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Worthy of praise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the proctor’s praise,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang forced a smile: “Thank you for your recognition, teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proctor nodded: “You three, with your Level-3 talents, are the future pillars of Linjiang Academy—you deserve encouragement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian fell silent for a moment, then said, “Teacher, I want to stay until time runs out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proctor raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could clearly see:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this team, Song Ling and Du Fang both followed Jiang Jian’s lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plan to kill the refined iron demon was Jiang Jian’s own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian turned his head to the two: “The refined iron demon grants a high assessment score.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just now, the teacher said it’s enough to enter the Second Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t wish to continue, you can end your assessment now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang hesitated, then asked, “Jiang Jian, what about you? Are you continuing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang gritted his teeth: “I’ll stay and help you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With Song Ling’s Mind Healing restoring our Qi, our endurance is fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling stood beside Du Fang, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her stance spoke volumes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proctor smiled, looking at Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’ve decided, follow your own path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you face grave danger, just call out ‘teacher’—I’ll save you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll do my best to ensure none of you are harmed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So your early cultivation isn’t disrupted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian replied sincerely: “Thank you, teacher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proctor waved his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned and walked out of the mall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling continuously activated Mind Healing to restore their Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>her face had turned as pale as paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, I need to rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling stopped her technique and sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Continuously activating my Divine Gift has drained my spirit—I’m dizzy, overwhelmed, and can’t hold on much longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s Qi had recovered to sixty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang’s had recovered to eighty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine—if you can’t go on, just end your assessment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling shook her head firmly: “My Qi is still enough to help you. Just give me ten minutes to rest a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian checked the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assessment had 55 minutes remaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, rest for fifteen minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded. “We’ll set out again when 40 minutes remain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang sat on the floor, relaxed: “With the refined iron demon’s score, we’re guaranteed Second Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling also nodded, smiling: “Thanks to Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, his eyes grew thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The special prompt for bonus assessment points had appeared to him twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first time, after killing the toy octopus demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second time, only now, after killing the refined iron demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“my assessment score must be far higher than Du Fang and Song Ling’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Possibly even,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“already in the top 50.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thoughts churned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian now had a rough sense of his own assessment result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1636,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e1402bcdef4f01b3cfbd3ef243c140c7b012071b6970c0b802141af852387a7d","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-33","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-31",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]