[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-82":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},2280632,4461,"Chapter 82: By the Abyss","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-82",82,"\u003Cp>Beep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A series of communications came through on the identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Xue waved its claw, checking the messages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later, it looked up at Jiang Jian: “Shan Ye sent a learning task.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian frowned, glanced at the holographic screen, and said, \"Tell her I might leave Linjiang Province for the next few days and won't be back for at least ten days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Xue responded and helped Jiang Jian reply to the communication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian closed the Ladder Ranking system and stared at the date in the lower-right corner, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Luohua has reached the number two spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu, Shi Xuan, Yin Yin, Mu Ying, Shan Ye, and other classmates have gradually entered the top 20.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, in the Ladder rankings’ top 20:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linjiang Academy holds 13 positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Videos of freshmen defeating their opponents have been uploaded one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the academy forum, criticism against Linjiang Academy has vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My rank is number nine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian paused for a moment, then walked toward the virtual pod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the rules, the top 100 must compete in daily ranking matches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, they’ll be kicked out of the rankings and have to restart from the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Participate in the Ladder every day to maintain my rank.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once I return from Anhe Prefecture, I’ll fight my way back up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As thoughts churned, the glass pod lid sealed shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light and shadow flickered; his consciousness plunged deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he opened his eyes again:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stood on the Floating Rock Arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Matchmaking starting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Jiang Jian tapped the holographic screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At rank nine, movement is extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over several days, Jiang Jian’s rank remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This means those ahead of him haven’t been replaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shocked voice came from across the arena: “How is it you?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A transparent light barrier divided the center of the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 60-second countdown had already begun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian flipped his palm lightly; delicate light coalesced into the Han Guang longsword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opponent sighed bitterly: “What kind of matchmaking system is this?! I’m rank 67—how did I get matched against rank nine?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time Jiang Jian competed in the Ladder, he won every match consecutively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parts of those battle videos had already been posted online.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His weapons and techniques were now widely known among new students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The countdown ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian remained silent; spiritual energy surged from his Shenque, and he slashed forward with one sword!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade’s radiance blazed like a rainbow of fire!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opponent’s pupils shrank—he had no time to dodge, his face twisted in horror: “This sword aura is ten times more terrifying than in the videos!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His virtual armor shattered instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword aura surged violently, shredding him into a bloody mess, exposing gleaming white bones on his chest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flames followed, swallowing everything, reducing him to ash in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have won this ranking match!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your rank: 9.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Special Notice: You have achieved 33 consecutive victories!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s expression remained calm; he exited the Ladder rankings immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his current rank, the matchmaking system mostly pairs him with lower-ranked opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he wins, his rank won’t rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He can only avoid falling by logging off for a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only during specific times will the system match him with higher-ranked opponents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then can he face those above him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the seventeen Divine Gift Universities’ joint forum, a new post appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian of Linjiang Academy May Match the Top Three!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The title was bolded and enlarged, accompanied by uploaded battle footage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within minutes, it attracted tens of thousands of views!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Jiang Jian has few Ladder matches, yet his rank is so high!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His win rate is still 100%!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the current win rate leaderboard, apart from Qi Ming, Jiang Jian is the only one left with a 100% win rate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His sword aura is ruthless and terrifying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From my observations, the most terrifying thing is his Shenque spiritual energy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, under the forum’s data aggregation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s Ladder profile, like those of other top 100 students, was updated again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It spread across many students’ identity devices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Linjiang Academy, Jiang Jian, Level 3 Talent, Technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Techniques: Suspected Level 3 Divine Gift Weapon; excels in sword aura sweeps and true fire techniques; unknown auxiliary talent; extremely strong defense, profound spiritual reserves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weakness: None detected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This profile was posted on the joint forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every technique Jiang Jian had ever used was exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other top-ranked students who had participated in the Ladder were no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because every battle could be fully recorded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With video footage, analysts could deduce common techniques and obvious weaknesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most shocking thing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Jiang Jian,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a single weakness had ever been revealed—from start to finish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the number two, Shi Luohua, had videos circulating, marked with “slightly weaker in prolonged battles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the top 100:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the number one, Qi Ming, and number nine, Jiang Jian,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still maintained a 100% win rate without exposing any vulnerabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demonic energy water clusters left by the river demon are excellent spiritual substances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glass pod lid opened; Jiang Jian picked up Han Guang from the virtual pod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within the Shenque, demonic energy water clusters still abound with spiritual energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks to the spiritual energy it releases:”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My cultivation speed is nearly equivalent to spending 24 hours a day in a dedicated cultivation chamber!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian sat back on the sofa, eating while estimating his cultivation progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dedicated cultivation chambers were extremely rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were among the most elite cultivation resources at Linjiang Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even third-year student Gu Qi:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before securing the title of “Linjiang Top Student,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could only spend two hours per day in a dedicated chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Qi Gathering Bracelet no longer helps me much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian removed the Qi Gathering Bracelet and opened his identity device to browse other tech equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wish Jade was the only bonded Divine Gift Weapon, enhancing divine affinity—it was still sufficient for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Qi Gathering Bracelet, though a technological device, had become useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Union currency: 780,000.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Purchasing quota: 600,000.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Academic credits: 2,450.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian glanced at his balance and logged directly onto the academy platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Items on the academy platform were more valuable and of higher quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, due to insufficient academic credits, he could only use his purchasing quota to buy the Qi-accumulating bracelet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that his academic credits were sufficient,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the academy platform’s goods were always superior to those on the Linjiang network.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The technology equipment interface offered a wide variety of items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bamboo Node Necklace, contains a tech core, price: 300 academic credits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Effect: Enhances Qi circulation, improves Qi affinity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jade Bracelet, contains a tech core, price: 500 academic credits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Effect: Increases Qi circulation speed, improves Qi affinity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jade Pendant, contains a tech core, price: 700 academic credits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Effect: Comprehensively enhances Qi cultivation and comprehension, gathers Qi, improves Qi affinity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Feishuang Bracelet, contains a tech core and an independent forbidden array, price: 1,200 academic credits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Effect: Greatly increases Qi circulation speed, improves Qi affinity, nurtures the meridians.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian paused briefly, then selected the Feishuang Bracelet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With sufficient academic credits, such advanced tech equipment could only be acquired so easily on the academy platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although similar items existed on the Linjiang network,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>they required over a million Union currency, plus long wait times for restocking—no shipment would arrive for months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are about to purchase the Feishuang Bracelet, consuming 1,200 academic credits. Confirm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are about to purchase the Feishuang Bracelet, consuming 1,200 academic credits. Confirm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Academic credits were too precious—the confirmation box popped up again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian clicked repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Confirm purchase!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Confirm purchase!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have consumed: 2,400 academic credits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your remaining academic credits: 50.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your item will be delivered by the academy’s academic affairs office within one hour.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prompt messages continued to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian dismissed the communication and tossed the Qi-accumulating bracelet to Jixue: \"It’s yours.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jixue took the bracelet, slipped it onto its gray-furred paw, and blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the Qi-accumulating bracelet, it longed far more for the priceless Feishuang Bracelet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good items drew envy from everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But such thoughts passed through its mind and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jixue would never voice them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a pet, it had clear self-awareness—it knew it had no right to demand cultivation resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, as a variant of the spirit fox,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>its greatest advantage was that it required no resource investment from its master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could sustain itself solely on stellar light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you want the Feishuang Bracelet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jixue blinked, then shook its head: \"I don’t want it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said softly: \"One of these is for me. The other is for my sister—her condition is extremely dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fastened the Hanguang Sword to the side of his backpack: \"If you want it—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prove your worth to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Prove you deserve the resources I’d have to sacrifice to cultivate you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian adjusted his backpack, lowered his gaze, and spoke calmly: \"Take the cultivation herbs and come with me to train.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1507,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","186ff32e454df608ea3d940b97b952589876e860936e6c71087696440aff4712","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-83","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-81",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]