[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-74":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},2280624,4461,"Chapter 74: Self-Admiring Reflection","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-74",74,"\u003Cp>Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the cabin, Liu Tiezhu sat down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A particle screen appeared; he glanced at Jiang Jian and lowered his voice, “How did your cultivation essence increase so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian fell silent briefly, then said, “Last night, I went to the Dedicated Cultivation Hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu’s pupils contracted: “The Dedicated Cultivation Hall? That’s a prime place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded. “Cultivating inside, your essence cap rises quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu clicked his tongue. “By normal standards, second-year students only get access to the Dedicated Cultivation Hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Jiang Jian again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to my estimate, if your Shenque essence were tested, it should be around 15%.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded. “About that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivation is becoming harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially so in the Divine Bestowal Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early stages of cultivation,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>increasing a single thread of Shenque essence requires little time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Shenque acupoint’s cap increases,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>to raise the same single thread of Shenque essence,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the time required surges dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is why the vast majority are trapped for life in the Divine Bestowal Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you two whispering about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye stood beside his seat, curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The particle screen dissolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu waved his hand. “Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye looked unconvinced. “What’s really going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the cabin door closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky-skimmer lifted off, heading toward the Tianzhu Mountain Track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you checked the forum?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the seat behind, a girl in a white dress spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone from Shaoshuizhou Academy uploaded a video—it’s Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swiped her finger and shared the post in the group chat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The post’s title was enlarged and bolded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below the video, comments had already flooded to thousands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bro, you might have gotten lucky beating me, but you’re no match for Qi Ming!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poster’s title brimmed with resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian glanced at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recognized at once—the poster was the boy who wielded the Thunder Spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The comments, however, were mostly mocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Poster’s funny—calling that a lucky win? You were dominated the whole time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wake up! Your spiritual energy reserves aren’t even in the same league as his!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why does the video cut off right when you start retreating? What happened after?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Afraid to show how badly you lost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even just the first half—you still lost!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the post vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye had been intently reading the comments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The holographic screen suddenly displayed: “Original video deleted.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He can’t take losing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye shut off his identity device, disgruntled. “He’s afraid you’ll become famous—didn’t even name you, and blocked your face.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian smiled. “It’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan walked over with a tray. “Want a drink?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A mocha, thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian raised his wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky-skimmer moved fast, but hadn’t yet left the Tianzhu Mountain Track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was still far from Dayan City in Shaoshuizhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shi Luohua climbed to No. 3 on the Ladder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu suddenly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan immediately set down the tray and opened his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s a Level 4 Talent—she pulled it off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan stared at the screen, murmuring, his expression complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye raised an eyebrow, about to say something, but thought better of it and stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>at the back of the cabin, Yin Yin looked up at Shi Xuan. “Shi Xuan, your cousin climbed to No. 2!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Ladder rankings,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua’s name rose again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swept past Qiu Lu and Lu Tingting, reaching No. 2!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan clenched his teeth and pumped his fist in excitement. \"Our Linjiang Academy is still the top Divine Bestowal university! Level 4 Talent? Still crushed by her!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye doused his enthusiasm. “Qi Ming from Wangchuan Academy holds No. 1—and has never lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan waved it off. \"My cousin’s a Level 4 Talent—she’s just as good! With enough Shi family resources, she’ll take No. 1!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want to say this,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye clicked his tongue, “but you look just like her fanboy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan retorted: “My cousin’s just shy and doesn’t fit in—but she’s gorgeous, no less than any star. So what if I’m her fan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye sighed helplessly and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian sat in his seat, eyes thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua was, after all, a Level 4 Talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her loss to me back then had something to do with her starting cultivation late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Shi Luohua now is not the Shi Luohua before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone is improving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s mind churned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivation is like rowing upstream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A moment’s slack, and you’re swiftly overtaken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In an instant, you’re left far behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Until you can’t even see their silhouette.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s gaze grew steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shenque qi surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never once did he pause cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dū!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A communication alert sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian opened his identity device, checked his latest message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a video message from his sister, Jiang Zhao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, I haven’t been feeling well lately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the video, the girl lowered her eyelids, her face pale, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every time I cultivate, it suddenly stops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As long as I don’t cultivate, I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jiang Jian, do you think I won't get sick, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the video message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s heart sank, his brow furrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered something of utmost importance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In a while, it will be Jiang Zhao’s eighteenth birthday.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need to return to Guangling City.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is the final step in treating Soul-Drift Syndrome.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian replied to the communication: \"Stop cultivating for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his sister sent a message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jiang Jian, does that mean I won’t cultivate anymore?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian replied: \"Cultivate, but wait for a while.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not tell his sister the specifics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A patient with Soul-Drift Syndrome must never know their condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the soul and the body could separate outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In severe cases, the soul might dissipate, causing immediate death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",990,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ca9ed430418ef8ad0fdf61557c9442a2fbed0939951d79a534c638e2e447ba7c","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-75","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-73",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]