[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-40":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},2280590,4461,"Chapter 40: Flowing Petals","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>The entrance division assessment, though random and different for each student,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was supervised Quancheng  by invigilators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheating was utterly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difficulty of the assessment was common knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian scored 97 on the assessment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among 1,800 new students, he ranked second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even tied with the top scorer, Liu Tiezhu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for Shi Luohua, whose fourth-tier talent score was excluded from rankings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s assessment result was more than enough to dominate this cohort of new students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many students from the First Division\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>knew it deep inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Liu Tiezhu were not a native of Linjiang Prefecture,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>then Jiang Jian\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>might well have been more than second place!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Welcome, new students!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students of the First Division clapped enthusiastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan frowned and asked, “Does the First Division really have no teachers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying cleared his throat and said, “The three theoretical subjects all have instructors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the division head teacher is away on business and hasn’t returned yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each division has four teachers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three theoretical subjects each have three instructors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The division head teacher holds the highest rank and teaches cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the division head teacher is also the most important instructor in every Divine Gift University.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the 300 incoming new students had been integrated into the local student groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan’s body trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared fixedly at one direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian noticed and followed his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corner,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>stood a girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was very beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, loosely hanging behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She silently swiped her identity device, expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around her,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>no one was present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All first-division new students stood two meters away, not daring to approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My cousin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later, Shi Xuan unclenched his fists, breathing heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shi Luohua.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua seemed to sense it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked up at Shi Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her calm gaze revealed no emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua lowered her eyes and continued swiping her identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sensed within himself\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>an invisible aura surrounding Shi Luohua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cultivation had already begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian looked at Shi Luohua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within his heart,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a faint but growing sense of urgency arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Tianzhi’s voice echoed again across the landing field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All incoming new students,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“take your identity devices,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“and proceed to your division’s dormitory building to register for accommodation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First-year zone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Year 3227, March 3rd.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is, tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The semester officially begins!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunderous applause erupted!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three theoretical instructors approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them smiled warmly and looked at Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wei Teacher is absent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll send you the map.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Use your identity devices,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“follow the map, and go to the First Division dormitory building to register.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian opened his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, a detailed campus map appeared in his new messages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The First Division dormitory building lay deep within the campus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the main gate, you still had to walk over ten kilometers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take you there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying walked over, smiling faintly. “I’m the First Division student representative and have permission to use the division’s aerial shuttle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She extended her hand and tapped her identity device repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a glowing aerial shuttle sped toward them from the edge of the landing field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying stepped aboard first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian hesitated briefly, then followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan and the others boarded as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest of the First Division students gradually dispersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In groups of two or three, they entered the campus gate and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the campus, the aerial shuttle sped swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, I know the local students of Linjiang Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They look down on students from other prefectures.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan sat in his seat, watching the dormitory buildings blur past the window, and said gravely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian shook his head. “We applied to Divine Gift University for one reason only: our own cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we waste our energy on such trivial matters,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“delaying our cultivation progress,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“wouldn’t that be foolish?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three students also looked thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them nodded in admiration: “Jiang Jian, I truly admire you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m from Luoying Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But in all the people I’ve ever met since childhood,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never has there been one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whose mind is solely on cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other two nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man continued: “The gods, moved by compassion for mortals, activated the Shenque acupoint and bestowed Tianfu .”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that everyone in the vast solar system could cultivate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that’s exactly the problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivation became optional.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most people now spend day and night struggling to make a living.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Earning Alliance coins just to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They have almost no mental bandwidth left for cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ninety-nine percent of people are trapped forever in the so-called Divine Gift Realm, unable to break through in their entire lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan shook his head and said: “Cultivation requires excellent innate talent—and it costs a fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many people aren’t unwilling to cultivate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They simply lack the means to even aspire to it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you understand this Daoli ?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These words fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three exchanged glances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all slowly nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan glanced at Jiang Jian and continued: “We’ve already passed the Linjiang Academy entrance exam and been assigned to the First Courtyard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such excellent cultivation conditions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And yet I’m still worrying about being shunned by local students.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My mind is clouded, polluted by trivial distractions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan’s expression turned solemn as he bowed deeply to Jiang Jian in sincere gratitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three felt their emotions stir, all turning to look at Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the vast Linjiang Academy,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>as newcomers from outside provinces,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they naturally felt a closeness to Jiang Jian here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the sky shuttle had come to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pilot Cang  door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying leapt down, tilted her face up, and smiled: “The dormitory building has arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The passenger door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian and the others stepped down from the shuttle and looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A towering building stood before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its summit,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>brilliant deep-blue currents swirled and churned, majestic and awe-inspiring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the entrance,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>students came and went, but in small numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quick glance revealed only a dozen or so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The building can house thousands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying blinked. “But our First Courtyard has only fifty people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone else are staff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Floor three is the cafeteria.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Floor five is the Simulation Exam Hall and Talent Test Hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Floor seven is the individual training rooms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Floor nine is the Duel Arena and Simulation Combat Hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Floor ten and above are the First Courtyard dormitories.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each person gets an apartment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your identity device is your key.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The apartment details are in the First Courtyard authentication email.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Mu Ying finished speaking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian opened his identity device and checked his authentication email.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“13-8.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirteenth floor, apartment eight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying smiled: “Go back to your apartment—I’m heading back too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow is the third. Classes start officially.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The schedule should be sent to your identity device tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying turned and walked toward the base of the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She extended her wrist; her identity device glowed faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main door opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying walked straight inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, which floor are you on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan asked. “I’m 12-6.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1230,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","cf86f52eae328e7d5f1a3f9ca7ff865b000b3bc48e70eaa16cfa32c3f7fed429","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-41","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-39",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]