[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-36":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},2280586,4461,"Chapter 36: Fallen Petals","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-36",36,"\u003Cp>Jiang Jian glanced at the two of them and remained silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation is not merely about advancing one’s realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One’s mental state is equally important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This view has never been officially recognized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, it is rather ethereal and insubstantial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the history of the Earth Alliance,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>countless examples have proven it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one’s mental state is poor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they often get stuck at critical moments, unable to progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they remain trapped for life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian strongly believed in this view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he refined his mental state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of his outward expression—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>whether joy or anger, pleasure or sorrow—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>deep within, Jiang Jian remained utterly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a detached observer,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he constantly watched the vast, boundless true world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second Academy, new student list.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold alert tone sounded again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranks 50 through 150.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Likewise,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>exactly one hundred names appeared on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang scanned the list and immediately showed delight: “I’m in the Second Academy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling also found her name on the list and raised an eyebrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New Student Entrance Exam, Rank 59, Song Ling, 76 points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New Student Entrance Exam, Rank 77, Du Fang, 75 points.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the neon lights on the Second Academy’s Whale-Ray Vessel began to glow one by one!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New students assigned to the Second Academy, please board the Whale-Ray Vessel and return to campus!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A teacher’s voice echoed from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining outsider students were once again halved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, we’re heading to board now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Fang suppressed his excitement and said his farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling’s gaze trembled as she said, “Jiang Jian, thank you for helping us secure such a high exam score.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian waved his hand and smiled, “We’re both from Guangling City—just a small favor. Go on ahead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Ling nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together with Du Fang, they walked toward the Second Academy’s Whale-Ray Vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the outsider students remaining on the landing field\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>numbered only five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The First Academy has only fifty spots.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Outsider students account for five of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan’s expression was unreadable: “The other forty-five are all local students from Linjiang State.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s normal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said, “Beneath Tianzhu Mountain, the Five Rivers City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, resources are abundant, and the land is spiritually exquisite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It cannot be compared to any other state.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a “beep” sounded from their identity devices!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overall new student rankings have been finalized!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian swiped the screen and looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First Academy, new student list!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan’s eyes widened in shock, nearly crying out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, how is your exam score so high!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overall ranking on the screen gradually became clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New Student Entrance Exam, not counted in ranking, Luo Hua, 98 points!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New Student Entrance Exam, Rank 1, Liu Tiezhu, 97 points!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New Student Entrance Exam, Rank 2, Jiang Jian, 97 points!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“New Student Entrance Exam, Rank 9, Shi Xuan, 91 points!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s gaze fixed on “not counted in ranking: Luo Hua.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This person,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“must be the one who doesn’t need to take the exam.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Level-4 Talent granted direct entry into the First Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan also noticed this and snorted: “Already got into the First Academy, yet still takes the exam just to show off on the rankings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t get what there is to show off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clearly\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>harbored hostility toward Luo Hua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s expression shifted slightly and asked, “Do you know this person?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan sneered, “Luo Hua’s real name is Shi Luohua—she’s my cousin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level-4 Talent isn’t enough for her to boast about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She still took the academy division exam.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words dripped with sarcasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan’s complaints about being “unwanted” and “exiled”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>were tied to this cousin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Students Jiang Jian and Shi Xuan, it’s time to board!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang stepped forward, his expression warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the chief examiner of the entrance exam,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang rarely showed any kindness to new students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Jian’s exam results were simply too outstanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan’s performance was also quite impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For exceptional students,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang clearly displayed a noticeably different attitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the edge of the landing field,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a massive Whale-Ray Vessel rested quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On its hull were written three large characters: “Linjiang Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several new messages arrived in succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian followed Teacher Zhang and opened his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five messages total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three were from Linjiang Academy: admission guidelines, new student rules, and identity verification emails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another was the First Academy’s new student benefits list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is a special identity verification email exclusive to the First Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t rush to open these emails yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher Zhang spoke gently, “Read them slowly once you’re aboard the Whale-Ray Craft.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The double gangway lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had prior experience riding the Whale-Ray Craft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian boarded the gangway, familiar with the routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy hatch slowly opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vast interior held only three people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were familiar faces he’d seen in Cabin 1.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several people rose from behind the bar, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re all new arrivals from outside—let’s exchange identity device information.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We didn’t have time to get to know each other in Cabin 1.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now we’re in the First Academy, we should support one another.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, they spoke, their words brimming with goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian and Shi Xuan exchanged a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of their inner thoughts, both smiled and raised their identity devices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s only right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They exchanged identity device information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The five people in the cabin sat apart, falling silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xu Yu sent me a message—he was assigned to the Third Academy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan found a stool at the bar and sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian sat beside Shi Xuan and nodded. “I saw his name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan sighed. “Xu Yu’s strength is like a bear’s—he’s truly powerful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He just had bad luck—he encountered the Hanger Ghost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That thing is simply too strong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan suddenly looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I never expected it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You actually killed the Hanger Ghost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you ask me,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your evaluation score of 97 is too low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shi Luohua, with a Level 4 talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If she’d faced the Hanger Ghost, she might not have been its match!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian shook his head. “Your evaluation is emotionally biased and unfair.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any Level 4 talent is no ordinary force.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 2 talents are no longer useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Level 3 talents each have their own unique traits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Level 4 talents—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian lifted his cup, took a sip of water, “Even your cousin, who hasn’t begun cultivation yet—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can still say with certainty—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Hanger Ghost—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is no match for a Level 4 talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, he came back to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression turned grave as he said to Jiang Jian: “Jiang Jian, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled but said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan fell silent too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet deep inside, he felt something stir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His resentment toward his cousin—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had quietly, imperceptibly, faded considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In its place—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was an urgent, overwhelming desire to grow stronger!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan turned his head, gazing out the porthole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clenched his fist, knuckles turning white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1199,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c28230dcab1fe696c74b435006ab4a178d957df390e77f91156b63c930d5c858","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-37","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-35",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]