[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-87":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},2280637,4461,"Chapter 87: Flickering Lanterns","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-87",87,"\u003Cp>The interzone shuttle glowed brilliantly as it sliced through the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the vessel, blazing white exhaust trails illuminated the dim cloud layer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anquan Force of the continent requests communication!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prompt tone sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Xue turned her head, her gray paw hovering above the button, looking at Jiang Jian: “Should we answer?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian nodded: “Answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Anquan Force officer’s voice came through: “This is Anhezhou Anquan Force; please report your identity!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the cabin’s main console, Ji Xue tapped the holographic screen and said: “Interzone shuttle from Linjiangzhou, registered to a student of Linjiang Academy. I’ll send you the identity device data.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice sounded like that of a young girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calm and gentle, it brought a sense of reassurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’ll log your entry!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After verifying the identity device data, the officer’s tone softened: “Welcome home!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t have a home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Xue pursed her lips, muttered to herself, swiped away the holographic screen, and turned her gaze to the navigation map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the pale blue star chart, the light dot representing the interzone shuttle sped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was drawing closer to Anhe Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath rolling heavy clouds, the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas of the continent flashed by like puzzle pieces, vanishing behind in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interzone shuttle was a new-type vessel of Linjiangzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anhezhou was far too impoverished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before this, no such advanced shuttle had ever been registered in its records.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most aircraft within Anhezhou’s borders were still outdated, manually piloted shuttles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the wealthy Shenzhao District, city governments, and sacred temples like the Pray-Deity Hall possessed expensive unmanned shuttles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for ordinary citizens in the Shadow Zone, the only advanced technology they could access.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was nothing but the identity device on their wrists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Jiang Jian, my theoretical scores are tied with yours, ranked first in both districts of Guangling City.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Jiang Jian, I’ve been rewatching your annotations on ‘Overview of the Divine’ and have gained many new insights.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Jiang Jian, I have some materials that might be useful to you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the holographic screen was a communication from Nie Zheng of Guangling No. 1 High School.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian swiped his finger, pausing on the last message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attachment was a document.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Direct Guide to Divine Gift Cultivation,” over a hundred pages long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It detailed the cultivation essentials of Shenque Lingyun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>this document was clearly a private annotation, containing many unique insights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Linjiang Academy’s library held many similar materials,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>this file remained extremely valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian flipped through two pages, his gaze shifting slightly, saved the file, and replied to Nie Zheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you. I have some notes of my own; by next year’s Divine Gift Exam, they should help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sending the message,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian located the annotations he’d written separately for his sister before the Divine Gift Exam and sent them over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his mailbox, Teacher Zhou Yu’s messages mostly consisted of inquiries about his well-being and his studies at Linjiang Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian scored a perfect 100 on the Divine Gift Exam and gained admission to Linjiang Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This not only brought great fame to Guangling No. 1 High School in the Shadow Zone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but also elevated Zhou Yu’s status significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His teaching salary was raised to 1,200 Alliance Coins per month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, he received numerous extra rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guangling City was resource-poor; residents barely earned enough to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saving any extra money was extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guangling City lay in a remote corner of Anhezhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No spiritual veins, no waterways, no mountain ranges—extremely impoverished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a monthly income of 500 Alliance Coins was already considered high pay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yu earned 1,200 Alliance Coins monthly, surpassing 99% of Shadow Zone residents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although high-income earners in the Shadow Zone had to pay expensive income surcharges to the Guangling City government,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even after deductions, he still retained nearly 800 Alliance Coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re almost there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Xue lay curled on the cabin seat, staring at the star chart, whispering a reminder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian deleted Zhou Yu’s message, dialed Jiang Zhao’s identity device, and told the gray fox: “Slow down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interzone shuttle tore through the clouds and descended toward the continent’s landmass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, occasional outdated, worn-out aerial shuttles passed by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the massive interzone shuttle, their pilots paled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They steered their vessels far away, daring not to approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian frowned, swiped his finger, and opened Jiang Zhao’s communication interface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sister’s last message remained from a day ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, I’m feeling better today—only had one headache.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, I saw on the Union Forum that you beat Lu Tingting. That’s amazing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian, remember to take your medicine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian swiped away the message and dialed real-time communication again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The identity device was bound to every Earth citizen’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was used for everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless dead, no one would ever remove it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Real-time communication via the identity device carried unmistakable alerts—there was no way to miss it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could she…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It shouldn’t be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Zhao’s birthday is March 15th—it hasn’t arrived yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian frowned, lowered his gaze to his wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Frost Jade Bracelet shimmered with faint light, delicate frost petals drifting down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anhe Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Girls’ dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhaozhao, are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Ling looked worried: “Don’t push yourself—I’ll take you to the clinic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao’s face was pale; she leaned against the bed rail, shaking her head slightly, unable to speak a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a cold silver light had begun surging deep within her pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These faint glimmers gathered and dispersed without form, appearing and vanishing intermittently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headache subsided; Jiang Zhao lifted her eyelids, about to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her spirit suddenly tightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An indescribable pulling force surged from the depths of her soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her consciousness instantly collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl’s frail body collapsed helplessly onto the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhaozhao!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhong Ling’s fingers trembled, and she couldn’t help but scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where am I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She woke from a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao struggled to lift her eyelids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before her eyes appeared the back of a boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao’s pupils contracted; countless questions surged in her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—this person before me is young Jiang Jian!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao sat up, astonished to realize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her own body now was no older than a child’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, I have to go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy sensed her movement, didn’t turn around, and spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao opened her mouth to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she found she couldn’t control her body at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The act of sitting up had been done by “herself,” not her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother… brother…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “herself” sitting up moved her lips, whispering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao frowned, murmuring: “Is this dumb, foolish girl… me when I was young?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this… my memory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She watched the scene before her, thinking quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few seconds later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already reached a firm conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place was the Shadow District of Guangling City, the Public Care Center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I don’t recall this moment in my memory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao stared at the boy, her thoughts churning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly is happening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her emotions had calmed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re going to send me away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy spoke again, “But I know it’s a lie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In a place like the Shadow District, the law means nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy’s tone carried self-mockery—and coldness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his hand, he held a wooden sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Shadow District of Guangling City is full of filthy things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But today, I’ve realized something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are even more humans dirtier than them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy still did not turn around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He picked up the wooden sword and walked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I left you something—it will protect you for one night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow, I’ll come back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy stepped out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than a dozen ragged people had been gathered at the door, their eyes filled with malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when they saw the boy, they all turned pale with fear and scattered like birds and beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy glanced at them, said nothing, and walked straight out the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He really left!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s actually been sent away!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go check!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s really gone!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many raised their filthy, stinking hands, pressing against the door crack to peer outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they saw the boy follow the “Director” onto the broken floating vehicle,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the courtyard fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They erupted in uncontrollable cheers!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone immediately turned and headed for the wooden hut, eyes gleaming with lust: “The little girl’s mine now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hard palm struck his face!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s cheek swelled, stars danced before his eyes, and he staggered to the ground, kicking up dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Worthless fool, how dare you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall, muscular boy retracted his hand, spat on the ground, and strode into the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others exchanged glances, hesitating, gathering outside the door, whispering among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No rush, no rush.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The girl’s right here—she can’t run away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let him finish first, then it’s our turn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, he got there first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What can we do? He’s strong—we can’t beat him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the wooden hut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall, muscular boy walked toward the bed, staring at the girl—exquisitely carved like jade—and drool dripped from his filthy, stinking lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, she’s so beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped at the bedside, gazing at the girl’s pale, exquisite face, unable to suppress a gasp of awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl lowered her eyelids, her brows and eyes like a painted scroll, her black hair cascading like a waterfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though still young, she already possessed beauty that could shame flowers and sink fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pity—she’s an idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall, muscular boy sighed, reached out, and touched the girl’s arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly froze, staring at his own hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingernails were caked with stinking black grime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the creases of his palm held years of accumulated filth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right before his eyes,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>was the girl’s slender, snow-white fingers, like finely sliced scallions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the tall, muscular boy’s eyes flickered with struggle and hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his expression hardened again into cruelty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The public care center in the Shadow Zone was always a place where beasts devour humans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once you’re in here, everyone’s a beast—who’s better than whom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he spat on the ground, his face twisted, and moved closer to the girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao watched him coldly; time seemed to freeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within her pupils, shards of silver light surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint, almost inaudible snap echoed beside his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall, muscular boy’s body froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through twisted features, icy silver flakes oozed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only moments passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His entire body shattered into countless streams of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Collapsed to the ground, reduced to dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the room, the crowd had been peering through the door crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the tall, muscular boy die in a grotesque manner, they all showed fear and dared not approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this my childhood memory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do I have no recollection of it at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao sat on the bed, gazing at the people outside, silver light surging in her pupils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Zhao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar, cold voice whispered beside her ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light and shadow fragmented; heaven and earth reversed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao suddenly opened her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clear, beautiful boy who looked exactly like her stood at the bedside, silently watching her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze was as still as a deep abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as it had been ten years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Zhao stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within her heart, an inexplicable, overwhelming pain surged forth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This pain had no origin she could discern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor could she say why it arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it was deeply rooted, planted in the core of her soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it had never left her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1951,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","597c16489f35246c982d25362b80b763c27ae33c28ea444ce13906b551e28f45","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-88","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-86",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]