[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-84":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},2280634,4461,"Chapter 84: Black Dress Sword Dance, Beauty as Wine","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Jiang Jian, a thin, translucent layer of spiritual energy crystallized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of cracks spread across its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jiang Jian opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thin, cicada-wing-like spiritual crystal shattered instantly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless grains of spiritual energy scattered in all directions, dissolving into fine glimmers, gone forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demonic power water mass has consumed nearly half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian lightly sensed his shenque, stood up, and the air around him trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten hours of full-power cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My shenque’s spiritual essence has grown to this extent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stepped out of the cultivation hall and gazed up at the bright, blinding star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within his pupils, gorgeous dark red light flowed in cycles, appearing and vanishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding plants and trees thrived, exuding a fresh, dew-kissed fragrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even hundreds of meters away, they felt as close as if within arm’s reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Xue descended the stone steps, carrying a pile of items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian lowered his head, tore his gaze from the sun, and said: “Return to the dormitory building, then head to Anhezhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dormitory Building, 5th floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Xue walked into the hall on all fours, scanning the surrounding instruments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Testing hall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian murmured, walked up to an instrument, and swiped his identity device.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Identity verified successfully!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Linjiang Academy, first-year zone, spiritual essence test rankings now open!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your last test rank: 17th!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian glanced at it and opened the detailed ranking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a compilation of all test data from students who had taken the test within the Linjiang Academy campus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rank 1, Divine Bestowal 16%, anonymous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rank 2, Divine Bestowal 16%, anonymous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rank 3, Divine Bestowal 15%, anonymous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rank 4, Divine Bestowal 14%, anonymous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rank 17, Divine Bestowal 10%, Jiang Jian (already anonymous).”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These are the leftover data from my last test.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s expression remained calm; his shenque’s spiritual energy trembled as his finger touched the light sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light sphere spun rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strand of blood-red spiritual light emerged from nothingness and flowed into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Testing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Runes flashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several dozen seconds, the testing array ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lines of small text appeared on the holographic screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Test successful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spiritual essence baseline test duration: 1 minute.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Estimated spiritual energy upper limit: approximately Divine Bestowal 37%.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your test ranking position has been refreshed. Continue to remain anonymous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian swiped his finger and selected to remain anonymous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Linjiang Academy’s internal test rankings had been completely renewed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rank 1, Divine Bestowal 37%, anonymous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rank 2, Divine Bestowal 16%, anonymous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rank 3, Divine Bestowal 16%, anonymous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Messages flooded into the study team chat group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye: “Our school’s test rankings must be glitched! Divine Bestowal 37%!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan: “Divine Bestowal 37%? This data is definitely wrong! Did a second-year student accidentally use the wrong interface?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye: “I tested yesterday and only got Divine Bestowal 14%. Now suddenly a Divine Bestowal 37% appears? This is insane.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian turned off his identity device and returned to his apartment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not waste time deliberately erasing the test record.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The campus test rankings were not fully accurate and had long delays—only for reference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many students never tested at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the rankings could be anonymous,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the instrument’s detection logs remained visible to anyone unless specifically erased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Students from the First Academy would eventually discover that the Divine Bestowal 37% data originated from Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Claim my luxury aerial shuttle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Buy twenty large crates of cultivation herbs and store them in the cabin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian took Han Guang and placed it into the virtual cabin’s scanning unit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once I finish the Ladder Ranking Match, I’ll depart immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The glass cabin lid sealed shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Xue activated his identity device, tapped rapidly with his claws, and replied: “Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prompt tones sounded one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have consumed 200,000 in shopping credits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your remaining shopping credit: 400,000.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luxury aerial shuttle claim voucher: consumed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have received: 1 Interdimensional Shuttle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to the mechanical voice from the identity device,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s vision warped with light and shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood on the Floating Rock Arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin matching.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian flipped his palm; Han Guang coalesced in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Match successful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure appeared across the arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 60-second preparation timer began counting down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve long heard of your name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl reached out, drawing a long sword, smiling: “Student Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore no uniform—only a black dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long sword in her hand shimmered with blood-red light, clearly revealing her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wangchuan University, Lu Tingting, Ladder Rank 3.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Level 4 talent: Martial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian watched Lu Tingting silently, recalling the data he had read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the forums, the techniques of the top ten Ladder students had been thoroughly exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tingting’s talent was “Phantom Shift,” with extreme speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her second talent was the rare “Weapon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood sword in her hand is her second talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond that, her Qi is pure and untainted, unbound to any divine weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The advantage is that she can summon or dismiss the divine weapon at will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She can even shrink it and store it deep within her divine qu, nurturing it day and night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Very few people waste the position of the divine qu to treat a divine weapon as a second talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because as long as one goes to the Prayer Hall and undergoes the binding ritual,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>everyone can use a divine weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan’s Moon-Chasing Knife was bound through the Prayer Hall ritual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though usable, it cannot be shrunk at will, let alone stored within the divine qu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countdown: only 30 seconds left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tingting held the blood sword, its blade flickering with flowing light. “I’ve watched your battle recordings. Your strength is impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian said: “Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But,” Lu Tingting smiled, her gaze turning cold, “Shi Luohua barely bested me by a single move—that’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You? Level-three talent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, Lu Tingting shifted slightly, holding the sword in one hand, subtly assuming a stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her black skirt stirred, moving without wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brilliant spiritual light blazed forth from the blood sword’s blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countdown: only 20 seconds left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the separating light barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s eyes held a faint sneer; he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, his divine qu surged with qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faint streams of crimson light curled around his sleeves and hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tingting abandoned her talent orb and chose “Weapon” as her second talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She nurtured the blood sword within her divine qu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her divine weapon is terrifyingly powerful—do not underestimate it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countdown: 10 seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Jiang Jian spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the Ladder Arena, Shi Luohua cut your hair short.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Tingting froze, her pupils instantly flooded with crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air around them fell utterly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countdown ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transparent separating light barrier shattered with a roar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1155,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","53cfab9cf5cdcf763c5e41b54d243c2ebce754affc3ba278d04431f21e60265b","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-85","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-83",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]