[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-57":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},2280607,4461,"Chapter 57","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-57",57,"\u003Cp>Wu Hai smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll use my authority to assign you the learning task of repairing buildings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Saturday night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll be sent directly to your identity device.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Hai picked up the textbook *Introduction to Theology*, “Go back to the classroom first. I’ll be there shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian replied and walked out of the administrative pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the white stone pillar,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying stood at the entrance, smiling gently: “Jiang Jian, have you formed a study team yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded: “I’ve teamed up with Liu Tiezhu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying looked slightly disappointed. “I’ve formed a team with Shi Luohua. If you joined us, the three of us could earn a lot of credits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian raised an eyebrow and glanced behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few meters away,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A girl with a ponytail was lowering her head, scrolling through her identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled and shook his head: “I’ve already agreed to team up with Liu Tiezhu. I’m sorry, Mu Ying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mu Ying waved her hand. “It’s fine. Next time, let’s do a study task together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian passed by Shi Luohua’s side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl suddenly spoke: “Jiang Jian, you’re not my match anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stopped and turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua turned around, her gaze calm. “Last time I lost to you, I was careless. In the Ladder Ranking Match, will you fight me again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian gave no answer. “I’ll fight, but there must be a stake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua asked: “What do you want to bet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said: “Twenty crates of cultivation herbs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty crates of cultivation herbs meant 200,000 Alliance credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had access to the Shi family’s resources, so she could afford it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But staking 200,000 Alliance credits on a single duel was unwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her silent,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian chuckled and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua watched his back, silent for a long while, even forgetting to pause the short drama on her identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s attitude was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fight if you want, but put money on the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This left Shi Luohua feeling helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her mind,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>student sparring was meant to be a cost-free way to improve together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Jian’s blunt reply left her at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a heavy punch landing on cotton—no resistance, no effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 9 a.m.,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>only forty students showed up for the *Introduction to Theology* theory class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Hai seemed utterly unconcerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout the entire lecture, he spoke calmly, finishing the lesson as if no one else were there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ironwood is this rare?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After class, Jiang Jian browsed the Linjiang network, searching for ironwood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Linjiang network showed it was out of stock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the academy platform, ironwood was available—but at an extremely high price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each piece cost 500 credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And delivery was irregular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Order today, and you might wait months to receive one piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wu Hai really dares to ask—for ten pieces of ironwood at once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three hundred thousand Alliance credits is still too little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian remained calm and sent Liu Tiezhu a message: “Meet me in the cultivation academy lobby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the lobby of the cultivation academy, first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu sat on the sofa, sipping coffee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye was fiddling with her fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, I just went back to the dormitory building to get something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan walked over, carrying Yueyue Dao, apologetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian shook his head: “No problem. Sit down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan sat beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said: “I have a learning task.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan smiled. “I knew something good was coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu’s eyes flickered. “Is this task assigned to you by Teacher Wu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian being called to the office before class wasn’t a secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded. “I’ll forward it to you both. Take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian operated his identity device and sent the learning task “Repair Buildings” to all three of their inboxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye looked up first. “1,200 credits. The reward isn’t bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu glanced at Jiang Jian. “This task isn’t simple—the bonus reward is empty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled. “The bonus task is verbally assigned by Teacher Wu: we need to collect ironwood. Each piece earns us 100 credits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ironwood!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu’s face showed surprise. “That stuff is extremely valuable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye rolled her eyes. “Wu Hai is ruthless—500-credit material, and he gives us 100. He’s stealing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian glanced at her and stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu thought for a moment. “Ironwood is used to forge top-tier tech gear, but output is extremely limited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wu Hai is just a theory teacher. For him to manipulate a learning task like this, someone must have instructed him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he finished speaking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian looked at Liu Tiezhu and raised his evaluation of him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu turned his head, his gaze fixed on Jiang Jian: “I’ve calculated—this task is highly profitable. We should take it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because ironwood? We have no right to use it. Keeping it just invites risk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But at a critical moment, we must record everything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If anything goes wrong,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“we expose Wu Hai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The one violating the *Non-Official Citizen Protection Act* is Wu Hai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Liu Tiezhu looked indignant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Shan Ye’s right—100 credits per piece of ironwood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why doesn’t he just rob a bank?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He looks so virtuous, but he’s actually so corrupt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye nodded. “True. You can’t judge a person by appearance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan said nothing throughout, only taking Yueyue Dao in hand and silently polishing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s expression didn’t change. “Teacher Wu is still decent. This task is practically free credits. He gave it to us today—he can give it to others tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu’s lips twitched. “From that angle, there’s no real issue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said: “At least it’s easier than dredging the Gray River.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu seemed to realize something, staring at Jiang Jian. “Jiang Jian, could you complete this task alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>both Shan Ye and Shi Xuan turned to look at Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled softly. “Something like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu looked at him with complex eyes and said, “Thank you, Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye also showed surprise: “Jiang Jian, I didn’t expect you to be so kind—you’re willing to share a task that gives free credits!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian offered a formulaic smile: “No need to thank me. We’ve formed a study team—we must stand together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the sofa booth, the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian picked up his mocha, took a sip, and remained calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he decided to find Liu Tiezhu and the others to jointly take the “Repair Structures” study task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t out of benevolence or to play the generous benefactor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew well that a semester was long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such study tasks didn’t come often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the time, to earn credits, one had to leave the academy and undertake high-difficulty large-scale study tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, by giving away a small portion of his own earnings,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he could gain teammates with higher trustworthiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a long-term deal that wasn’t a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the mutated iron demon wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true nature of the task was unknown to anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t afford to believe Wu Hai’s word alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1222,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","605f7c7f781781a0fdd3fda8710a9d4bf1556d1ae75bc871c6099b02fdae5bbf","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-58","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-56",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]