Chapter 4: Chenshuang Sees Jianxue

“Divine Grant Realm...”

Jiang Jian’s eyelid twitched.

The Alliance Law mandates that Earth citizens must take the Divine Grant Exam.

Even the most remote areas are equipped with middle schools.

The gods have compassion.

Anyone who takes the exam will receive a Divine Grant.

Put simply, every adult is a “Divine Grant Realm.”

For hundreds of years.

The Earth Alliance has largely uncovered the patterns of Divine Grants and classified them into six types.

“Soldier” is one of them.

Either granting weapons directly.

Or granting skills in wielding weapons.

Or granting methods of forging weapons.

Or granting secrets of refining weapons.

All such things are called “Soldier.”

“Junior, wait a moment—the Inspection Court is coming up.”

Zhou Chi changed the subject, pointing out the window, “You rarely come to the Divine Illumination Zone, so this is a good chance to see the world.”

The security vehicle lifted off and sped rapidly toward the towering city in the sky.

Through the window, Jiang Jian watched the flying shuttles passing by and asked, “Senior, when you took the exam, how many people from Guangling City got into the Divine Grant University?”

Zhou Chi paused, thought for a moment, then said, “That was two years ago—the Divine Grant University granted Guangling two districts a total of forty slots.”

Here, he looked at Jiang Jian. “Why are you asking about this? Are you aiming for one of those Divine Grant University slots?”

Jiang Jian said, “Just curious.”

Zhou Chi waved his hand. “Junior, there’s something you might not know—the Divine Illumination Zone takes up half the recommended slots.”

“That means the top twenty students in the Divine Illumination Zone enter the Divine Grant University directly.”

“The remaining slots are then contested by students from both the Divine Illumination Zone and the Shadow Zone based on rankings.”

Zhou Chi pointed to the ground beneath them. “Guangling City’s Shadow Zone hasn’t had a single student enter the Divine Grant University in three years.”

“Our Guangling No. 1 Middle School is called the First Middle School.”

“But it’s overshadowed by five or six schools from the Divine Illumination Zone...”

As the two spoke,

the security vehicle slowed and gently landed before the towering Inspection Court building at the city’s edge.

“The summons has been approved!”

The armored door of the vehicle was yanked open; Captain Wang’s face glowed with excitement. “Student Jiang Jian, please come with me to the waiting room!”

Zhou Chi stepped out of the vehicle: “Junior, come with me.”

A cool night wind swept past.

Jiang Jian stepped down from the security vehicle, pulled his uniform tighter, and gazed at the brightly lit neon city.

Unlike the false daylight of the Shadow Zone,

the road beneath his feet, the towering buildings before him,

the scent of grass and trees in the air, even the black sky above,

were all tangible, real.

“If the Divine Illumination Zone is truly the place suited for human life,”

“then what is the Shadow Zone?”

“A cramped, suffocating cage...?”

Jiang Jian’s expression was calm, but his thoughts churned like waves.

The Shadow Zone is not actually cramped.

On the contrary,

every city’s Shadow Zone is vast and boundless.

After all, it is Earth’s true surface.

It simply lacks sunlight.

But that one thing is enough to be fatal.

Because the sun has been tainted by the gods’ radiance,

serving as a medium to illuminate all things.

Losing sunlight, in some ways,

is equivalent to losing the gods’ mercy.

Thus, the Divine Grant talents of Shadow Zone residents are never strong.

Neither in rank nor in quality.

On average, they are far inferior to those in the Divine Illumination Zone.

“But if that’s truly the case—if the Shadow Zone lacks sunlight and receives no divine favor—”

“then how do I explain my innate Divine Grant?”

In the waiting room, Jiang Jian held his backpack.

His fingers brushed the outline of the wooden sword; his expression darkened.

This wooden sword

was not a family heirloom.

Nor was it some artifact capable of suppressing spiritual monsters.

It was a “natural Divine Grant”—something Guangling City had never seen, mentioned only in textbooks.

During the exam, participants undergo the Divine Grant ritual to receive a grant.

Yet across the vast Earth, among the four realms of Earth and Moon, there are always a few impossibly lucky beings born with divine favor, granted grace directly by the gods.

But according to existing data,

the probability of divine grace is less than one in a billion.

Almost zero.

Not to mention Guangling City,

even Anhezhou, or even larger Linjiang Prefecture, has never produced a “natural Divine Grant.”

Across the 130 prefectures of the four Earth-Moon realms, with a billion souls,

fewer than thirty “natural Divine Grants” have ever been recorded.

“Jiang Jian, this isn’t good!”

In the waiting room, Zhou Chi hurried over to Jiang Jian’s side, his face grim.

Before Jiang Jian could speak, a chorus of sharp intakes of breath filled the room.

“Zhao Chenshuang is here!”

“Zhao Chenshuang! Why is it her?!”

“Tier 2 Talent: ‘Warrior,’ Tongming Fist Technique!”

“Top student of City Government No. 1 Middle School last year, third in all of Guangling!”

“Student of Anhe Academy, Divine Grant University!”

The inspectors rose to their feet, murmurs rising in waves.

Zhou Chi’s lip twitched; he lowered his voice. “Every Divine Grant University student is registered in the academy’s records—Guangling Inspection Court can’t afford to offend them.”

“Who is Jiang Jian?”

A cold, clear voice rang out.

The waiting room fell utterly silent.

The next second,

a girl in a white dress walked through the door.

Her expression was icy; her stiletto heels tapped steadily on the tiles, piercing each inspector’s eardrums.

Captain Wang followed her closely, step by step.

Though his face was fearful, he still gripped the documents tightly and forced himself to speak: “Young Lady Zhao, why are you here in person?”

Zhao Chenshuang stopped, turned her head slightly toward Captain Wang: “If I hadn’t returned, would the Zhao family be bullied to death by you?”

Captain Wang clenched his teeth, raised the documents in his hand, and said, “The Zhao family hired assassins—evidence is conclusive. Even if you, Young Lady Zhao, come here yourself—”

“Five thousand Alliance coins.”

Zhao Chenshuang sneered.

Captain Wang’s eyes lit up, but he still said, “This matter is too grave—it can’t be resolved by money alone.”

Zhao Chenshuang laughed coldly: “I mean, five thousand Alliance coins for each inspector in this room.”

“Wha...what?!”

Captain Wang shuddered, frozen in place.

More than a dozen inspectors stared in stunned silence at the girl in the white dress.

The vast waiting room was utterly silent.

Hearing this, Zhou Chi suddenly turned his head, his fingers trembling uncontrollably; he stumbled and nearly knelt before Jiang Jian, tears glistening in his eyes: “Jiang Jian, I beg you—withdraw the report!”

Captain Wang snapped out of his shock, rushed forward in three strides, and collapsed at Jiang Jian’s feet, looking up with pleading eyes: “Jiang Jian, I have elderly parents and young children…”

The next second.

All the inspectors turned their heads simultaneously, their eyes welling with tears as they stared at Jiang Jian.

Several of them were already leaning into the motion of kneeling.

An inspector earns 230 Alliance Coins per month.

Five thousand Alliance Coins equals two full years of living without eating or drinking!

Not long ago, Captain Wang was eager to prove himself.

He not only reported this case involving the Zhao family to the Guangling City Government.

He also submitted it to Anhezhou.

All documentation and evidence were complete.

The only way to withdraw the case is for the complainant to retract their statement.

“You’re Jiang Jian.”

Zhao Chenshuang walked through the crowd and stopped before Jiang Jian. “You’re quite handsome, but coming from the Shadow District, you’re truly unworthy of my sister.”

Jiang Jian internally sneered, yet his face showed defiance: “Zhao Jianxue and I were betrothed since birth, and our contract was sealed by divine oath—how can you annul it with a single word?”

Zhao Chenshuang lifted her snow-white neck, sneering: “Our elders are old now. Their promises no longer hold. Face reality.”

Jiang Jian stared at her, fists clenched tight: “The Divine Oath Contract will make us legally married the moment the time comes. Unless it’s formally dissolved, my wife will always be her!”

Zhao Chenshuang’s expression turned icy: “If that weren’t true, I wouldn’t waste my time talking to you. No more talk—sixty thousand Alliance Coins to dissolve the contract.”

Jiang Jian’s face flushed with fury as he growled: “You dare use money to test my love for Jianxue? I will never let you win!”

Zhao Chenshuang found Jiang Jian’s demeanor admirable; a crimson smile curled on her lips: “What a touching ‘don’t underestimate the poor youth’ act!”

She raised her head even higher. “But do you know? The most tragic thing is lack of self-awareness—and right now, you prove it perfectly.”

Beside him, Zhou Chi hesitated, then spoke: “Brother, if you can’t win this, just take the money and leave. It’s still a good solution.”

Seeing Jiang Jian’s humiliation, Captain Wang sighed inwardly and couldn’t help but urge: “Jiang Jian, we’re all ordinary people. Don’t chase after mirages or reflections in water.”

Jiang Jian shook his head, gripping his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white: “I will never give up Jianxue!”

Zhao Chenshuang seemed to lose patience, stepped closer, her leather shoes clicking sharply: “I’ll give you seventy thousand Alliance Coins. Come with me to Guangling City Government now and dissolve the Divine Oath Contract. What do you say?”

Jiang Jian gritted his teeth: “No matter how much money you offer, I won’t take it. I only want to be with Jianxue!”

He spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “And I won’t withdraw the report.”

Hearing the astronomical sum of seventy thousand, Zhou Chi nearly suffered mental shutdown.

Captain Wang felt dizzy, as if witnessing the birth of another wealthy man from the Divine Illumination District.

But the next moment, he clearly heard the words: “won’t withdraw the report.”

Captain Wang’s body jolted, as if doused with icy water; he hurriedly pleaded: “Jiang Jian…”

The other inspectors’ expressions changed drastically.

For their own five thousand Alliance Coins, they gathered around, all speaking at once in persuasion.

Zhou Chi snapped out of his daze, patted Jiang Jian’s shoulder, and said: “I once loved a girl too. But in this world, some things are simply not meant for you—no matter how hard you try.”

Hearing this,

Jiang Jian was struck as if by lightning, his face turning pale.

Captain Wang and the others sensed opportunity; they silently gave Zhou Chi a thumbs-up.

Zhou Chi sighed, speaking with the tone of one who had been there: “Brother, I urge you to let go. If you truly love Zhao Jianxue, giving her freedom is the greatest love you can offer.”

Jiang Jian paused, his face twisted in inner conflict, murmuring to himself: “Giving her freedom… is love?”

Zhou Chi gathered courage and shot Zhao Chenshuang a glance.

The girl in white snorted: “Eighty thousand Alliance Coins—for my sister’s freedom! Jiang Jian, even for the Zhao family, this is an unimaginable sum!”

Jiang Jian ignored her, his inner struggle intensifying as he whispered: “So… loving someone means learning to let go.”

He suddenly lifted his head, staring at Zhou Chi: “Senior, is it really like this?”

Zhou Chi nodded firmly: “Love her? Give her freedom!”

“Love her? Give her freedom.”

Jiang Jian finally sat down on the chair, his face hollow and defeated.

Seeing this, Captain Wang quickly signaled to those around him.

Two inspectors immediately stepped forward, half-leading, half-dragging Jiang Jian toward the security vehicle outside.

“Miss Zhao, I strongly suggest you go to the City Government now and dissolve the Divine Oath Contract—grant Zhao Jianxue her freedom!”

Captain Wang leaned close to Zhao Chenshuang, his expression urgent.

Zhao Chenshuang held her head high, calm and composed.

Inside, she screamed in fury.

“Eighty thousand Alliance Coins! Eighty thousand Alliance Coins!”

“My precious sister!”

Her heart ached as if bleeding.

Yet under the gaze of countless eyes,

Zhao Chenshuang, the Zhao family’s eldest daughter, remained the proud swan.

Head held high, she walked gracefully into Captain Wang’s security vehicle.

Half an hour later.

Jiang Jian, supported by Zhou Chi, stumbled out of Guangling City Government.

He kept his eyes lowered, expression serene.

His identity device flickered; only he could hear the voice.

“Your account has received a transfer: 850,000 Alliance Coins.”

“Your balance: 850,138 Alliance Coins.”

The extra fifty thousand Alliance Coins was the fee Jiang Jian agreed to for withdrawing the report.

On the other side.

Zhao Chenshuang collapsed into the Zhao family’s luxury hovercar, her composure shattered; her eyes twitched wildly as she screamed: “My money!”

“The Zhao family’s money!”

“If not to show Father how much I care for my family…”

The girl in white bit her lip until it bled, silently comforting herself.

Money is merely external wealth.

With her array business, she could earn it back.

The Zhao family heir position was what truly mattered.

Through relentless self-hypnosis, Zhao Chenshuang slowly calmed down.

“Miss, the Patriarch only gave forty thousand Alliance Coins to dissolve the contract…”

Suddenly, her personal steward approached, pale-faced and whispering:

“You spent over thirty thousand from your own account—that was your remaining two years’ resource allowance at Anhe Academy…”

“Plus, you’ve taken out a high-interest loan of fifteen thousand Alliance Coins from the Guangling Treasury…”

As these words fell,

the luxury hovercar fell into a terrifying silence.

The next second,

Zhao Chenshuang opened her bloodshot eyes, unable to contain her rage.

Her small leather shoe kicked hard into the steward’s face.

“Fuck you!”

(End of Chapter)