[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-58":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},2280608,4461,"Chapter 58: Hanguang","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-58",58,"\u003Cp>A few minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Campus cultivation chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan suddenly spoke, “Liu Tiezhu’s origins are mysterious—be cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian asked, “What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I learned about his background through family channels.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan, with Zhuyue Dao on his back, said gravely, “He entered the academy through a special channel, and the name he used is fake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beyond that, I don’t know anything else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded: “I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Jiang Jian had already sensed something odd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu was sharp-witted, quick-thinking, and his Divine Gift was half-concealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t seem like an ordinary student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going to cultivate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan turned and walked into another cultivation chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian sat cross-legged on the floor; the room’s array activated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritual energy gathered around him, coalescing into an invisible, formless vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intricate patterns on Jiang Jian’s uniform sleeves glowed one by one, emitting a faint white light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Thursday noon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian glanced at the time; he had already decided to stay in the chamber for two days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Until Saturday night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sixty hours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The cultivation herbs are sufficient for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corner of the room stood eight large crates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each was completely filled with cultivation herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crates of herbs gradually diminished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian cultivated the Shenque spiritual energy while also refining his second Divine Gift: “Dark Scent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark Scent, Level 3 Divine Gift, Intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jiang Jian activated spiritual energy and deepened his refinement,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the glowing orb of his Shenque point brightened, becoming increasingly brilliant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sixty hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation knows no day or night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Jiang Jian, time passed swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for a few meal requests in between,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian trained diligently, fully immersed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiritual essence in his Shenque point was no longer faint—it had become a magnificent pale red flow, quietly coursing through his meridians.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dark-red luminescence was semi-translucent, about the thickness of a rope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time it flowed through his meridians, it subtly strengthened his tendons and bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also slowly growing, nourished by the dense spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two and a half days passed in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ding!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several messages chimed in succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within his dark pupils, flowing true flames flickered in and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the faint glow of the patterns on his luxurious uniform dimmed one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The cultivation at Divine Gift University has only just begun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian murmured to himself, lifted his identity device, and opened the latest message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Identity device permission update notice: First-Year New Student status upgraded to First-Year Student status!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Permission upgrade detected: Sky Ladder Ranking Tournament unlocked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Permission upgrade detected: Learning Task System unlocked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Permission upgrade detected: Academy Campus Simulation Combat unlocked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Permission upgrade detected: Lecture Replay Videos unlocked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Permission upgrade detected…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A continuous stream of alerts chimed on his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stood up, packed the remaining herbs into his backpack, and left the campus cultivation chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian had already boarded a sky pod and returned to his dormitory building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re finally back…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The robotic butler smiled, its gaze indescribable. “In a week since enrollment, you’ve only slept here once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian set down his backpack and headed for the bathroom: “A bowl of pork bone noodles, a cup of mocha.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The robotic butler walked toward the mechanical room, unsure whether to laugh or cry: “Compared to other colleagues, my job is surprisingly easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a creation of Divine Technology, the robotic butler wasn’t even a non-citizen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Solar System Code contained a clause:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary technological creations, due to limited intelligence, could be treated entirely as tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advanced technological creations possessing “quasi-self-awareness” must be treated as “sub-non-citizens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only to that extent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the suppression of Divine Technology, they could never truly attain “consciousness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would forever remain at the level of “quasi-self-awareness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dozen minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian dried his hair and stepped out of the bathroom in his pajamas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A steaming meal was already laid out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian sat on the sofa, eating while opening his identity device to review the Sky Ladder Ranking Tournament rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sky Ladder Ranking Tournament was a crucial component of cultivation at Divine Gift University.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were few ways to earn credits; besides completing learning tasks, only the Sky Ladder ranking settlement provided substantial credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It spanned an enormous area—seventeen states under Linjiang Prefecture, totaling seventeen Divine Gift Universities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sky Ladder Ranking Tournament was divided into three major zones by year level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s zone was the first-year zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first-year zone wasn’t just the 1,800 freshmen of Linjiang Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It included all first-year freshmen from the seventeen Divine Gift Universities within Linjiang Prefecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian swiped his finger and opened the Sky Ladder Ranking page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft beep sounded; a prompt window popped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must bind a virtual pod!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stood up, walked to the virtual pod, and entered its machine serial number.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Binding successful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may now use the Sky Ladder Ranking System normally!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the virtual pod’s white light turned on, its transparent glass lid reflecting brilliant radiance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian did not enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat back down on the sofa and continued eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, after binding the virtual pod,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the holographic screen of his identity device displayed detailed Sky Ladder Ranking information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Total students in zone: 42,720.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your rank: None.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Estimated credit reward: None.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian scrolled the screen to the credit reward interface; his gaze brightened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Credits are settled weekly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine grants university credits, jointly allocated by the Linjiang Prefectural Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each ranking bracket may claim credit rewards only once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rank 1: 3000 credits awarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranks 1–10: 2700 credits awarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranks 1–100: 2500 credits awarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranks 1–500: 2200 credits awarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranks 1–10,000: 200 credits awarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering the top ten thousand earns you credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian closed the holographic screen, gaining a preliminary understanding of the Ladder Ranking Tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seventeen divine universities, 42,720 new students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For ordinary students, even the 200 credits for the top ten thousand are not easily won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The campus forum was already bustling, almost entirely filled with Ladder Ranking Tournament discussions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many students had already entered the Ladder Tournament, beginning all-night pushes for ranking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This ranking tournament isn’t just about earning credits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian browsed the Linjiang online forum and saw countless heated threads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some threads had already reached tens of thousands of replies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students from different divine universities, once victorious, uploaded videos and wildly competed to one-up each other, arguing enthusiastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Linjiang Academy, as the top divine university in the prefecture,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>had a far more civilized atmosphere on its internal forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many students from lower-ranked departments, even when defeated, typically uploaded their videos and carefully analyzed the reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Numerous educational threads detailed important considerations within the ranking tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clean up the dishes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, Jiang Jian stood up from the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The robotic butler approached and picked up the tray: “Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian picked up Hanguang and placed it beneath the virtual pod’s scanning unit, then stepped directly into the pod and closed the glass lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enter the Ladder Ranking System?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lights flickered, and a prompt sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian tapped the holographic button.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuous beeping echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Identity verified!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene before his eyes gradually blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found himself standing on a combat platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The azure sky stretched endlessly; swirling clouds below filled him with serenity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The platform’s floor was made of an extremely hard stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carved upon it were vast, surging river patterns, emitting a faint glow at every moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian flipped his palm lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A three-foot-long sword materialized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hanguang has been simulated as a Level 2 divine weapon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stared at the wooden sword in his hand, frowning slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1304,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","16fd77ab18e5dbf2411434091d3deca7eee9de6458ca8389e62b17305865031d","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-59","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-57",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]