Chapter 89: Near the Divine

The interdimensional shuttle hovered in the sky, surrounded by churning clouds and mist.

“Only after entering the Divine Gift University did I realize.”

“When you cultivate, money isn’t money at all.”

The girl fiddled with the Frost-Flight Bracelet and walked to the viewport, gazing down at the Anhezhou region.

Ji Xue followed Jiang Zhao, snuffling loudly with her nose.

Jiang Zhao turned around, stroking the gray fox’s head, and asked: “Jiang Jian, must you cultivate?”

Jiang Jian said: “Yes.”

Jiang Zhao asked: “Can’t you just live without cultivating?”

Jiang Jian fell silent for several seconds, then said: “In the Divine Gift realm, lifespan is 150 years.”

“In the Gushing Spring realm, lifespan is 300 years.”

He looked at his sister: “That feeling of death—complete loss of awareness, loss of self.”

“I’ve experienced it many times.”

“Every time I recall it, it suffocates me.”

“I don’t want to go through it again.”

“Not even once.”

Jiang Jian’s tone was calm.

Jiang Zhao said: “But I didn’t think that far—I just want you to be happy.”

Hearing her words.

Jiang Jian’s voice softened: “Just being able to live forever is enough to make me happy.”

He pointed to the three books on the bed: “For the next few days, stay here and study in peace.”

With that said.

Jiang Jian walked toward the cultivation chamber.

Before the door closed, Jiang Jian glanced at Ji Xue.

Ji Xue flicked her tail, signaling she would take care of Jiang Zhao.

“Are you a demon?”

Jiang Zhao stroked the gray fox’s ears, her expression curious.

Ji Xue sneered: “I’m a spirit beast, not a demon.”

Jiang Zhao asked: “What’s the difference?”

“Of course there’s a difference.”

Ji Xue waved her paw, and threads of spiritual light shimmered into view: “Demons cultivate demonic power.”

“Spirit beasts cultivate spiritual power.”

She lifted her head: “Besides, my bloodline is extremely valuable—far more precious than wild demons without identity artifacts.”

The gray fox had been raised since infancy by the Academic Affairs Office, her mind carefully shaped.

She had long since come to believe, deep in her heart, that she was not independent—that she was an expendable appendage to be traded.

Jiang Zhao curled her fingers and gently rubbed the fox’s fur, falling silent.

Cultivation chamber.

Jiang Jian took out the wooden box and opened the lid.

A snow-white pill, no larger than a bottle cap, appeared before him.

Jiang Jian stared at the pill; heavy memories surged from deep within his mind.

“There. Done.”

The black-robed man withdrew his hand, looking at the girl lying motionless on the bed, his tone relaxed.

“But you must pay attention to a few things.”

The boy knelt on the floor, his face as pale as paper: “What things?”

The black-robed man said: “Soul Separation Syndrome means her spirit and body are naturally disconnected.”

“I’ve temporarily repaired it—but there are side effects.”

“When she wakes, she’ll develop an unusually strong attachment to whoever provided the repair material.”

“If that person rejects her or distances themselves…”

“Her emotions will tremble, and her spirit and body will immediately risk separating again.”

The black-robed man looked at the boy.

“By the time she reaches adulthood, her spirit and body will be able to fuse autonomously.”

“Then, the side effects can be completely eradicated.”

The boy asked: “How do you eradicate them?”

The man turned away; his long, flowing robe stirred as jet-black strands of hair lifted.

“When that time comes, find a woman. She will give you what you need.”

“After consuming it, her spirit and body will merge perfectly with the repair material.”

“She’ll be indistinguishable from a normal person.”

The black-robed man stepped forward, ascending upward.

A bloodstained white handkerchief drifted down from his sleeve.

The boy stared at the handkerchief, stepped forward, and picked it up.

After a moment’s hesitation, he asked: “Where are you going?”

“Me?”

The black-robed man did not turn back; he chuckled softly: “Of course, to keep saving lives.”

“I am a Divine Learning physician, whose skill borders on the divine—able to restore the dying to life.”

“This twisted world…”

“Has too many, too many pitiful souls waiting for me to save.”

The wide black robe faded into the distance.

Dissolved into dust within his memory.

Jiang Jian put away the wooden box, sensing his fragmented spirit, his emotions churning.

A few seconds later.

Jiang Jian suppressed his thoughts, steadied his mind, and forced himself into cultivation.

In the Shen Que point.

The demonic power water mass continued to deplete.

“Cultivating here greatly hones precise control over spiritual energy.”

Spiritual energy surged within the chamber.

Jiang Jian guided the spiritual energy in a cycle while stripping away its impurities.

With the demonic power water mass sustaining him, his cultivation speed didn’t slow—it accelerated further.

Sun rose, moon set.

The interdimensional shuttle hovered among the clouds; several days had passed.

Inside the cabin.

“What do you want to eat today?”

The gray fox trotted on all fours to the virtual cabin.

“Same as yesterday—pounded chili pork trotter rice.”

The cabin lid opened; Jiang Zhao stepped out.

On her slender white wrist, the Frost-Flight Bracelet glowed faintly.

Over these past few days,

she had been attending classes regularly within Anhe Academy’s virtual environment.

Though she had taken seven days’ leave, Jiang Zhao had missed not a single lesson.

“Alright.”

The gray fox curled her tail around the ingredient pack, placed it in the food machine, and pressed the start button.

Within minutes,

a steaming bowl of fragrant pounded chili pork trotter rice sat before Jiang Zhao.

At that moment,

the cultivation chamber door opened.

“Jiang Zhao.”

Jiang Jian placed the wooden box gently on the table: “Take your medicine.”

Jiang Zhao whispered: “Okay.”

She opened the box, cupped the pure white pill in her palm, and sniffed lightly: “So fragrant.”

Jiang Jian fell silent, just watching her.

“I’ll eat it now.”

The girl placed the pill into her mouth.

A few seconds later.

She looked up at Jiang Jian, her expression strange: “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Jiang Jian stared at her and said: “What do you feel?”

“Nothing.”

Jiang Zhao shook her head. “Just cold—like a chill seeping into my lungs and organs. Now I can’t feel it at all.”

“Good.”

Jiang Jian said, “Eat. Afterward, I’ll take you back to the academy.”

More than ten minutes later.

The Cross-Domain Shuttle descended through the clouds, heading toward Anhe Academy.

“My sister’s illness is cured.”

“A weight has been lifted from me.”

Jiang Jian stood before the cabin window, watching the academy draw nearer, and for once, he exhaled in relief.

His mind was pure, his thoughts clear.

Even the speed of his Qi’s natural circulation had increased.

At the academy gate.

The Cross-Domain Shuttle cast a massive shadow, drawing countless students to stop and look up.

Just days ago, this luxurious shuttle had arrived once, causing a huge stir.

The forum at Anhe Academy had already exploded with rumors.

Jiang Zhao, a first-year student at this academy, was actually the sister of Jiang Jian from Linjiang Academy!

Linjiang Academy—the number one Divine Gift university in the prefecture.

Jiang Jian himself ranked third in the Ladder Ranking Tournament!

Among seventeen Divine Gift universities, over forty thousand new students.

Jiang Jian’s name had long been legendary; his battle recordings had been viewed over a million times.

Even at Anhe Academy, there were many supporters of Jiang Jian!

Many students gathered, gazing up at the Cross-Domain Shuttle, whispering among themselves.

“Linjiang Academy treats top students way too well!”

“Look at their luxury shuttle—compare it to our school’s broken one!”

“Don’t talk nonsense—I have a friend at Linjiang Academy. This shuttle belongs to Jiang Jian himself, not issued by the school!”

“What? His own? He bought a shuttle this big? How rich is he?!”

“So Jiang Zhao is actually a rich, beautiful girl?!”

“A noble lady has been right beside me?!”

…

But most people’s attention remained fixed on the Cross-Domain Shuttle.

After all,

Such a luxurious shuttle had never appeared in Anhezhou before.

Even the public shuttles of the prefecture paled in comparison.

“Zhaozhao, are you feeling better?!”

The boarding ramp lowered. Zhong Ling stood at the academy gate, her face filled with concern as she stepped forward to support Jiang Zhao.

Jiang Zhao nodded lightly: “Much better.”

“Good, that’s good—I don’t have to worry anymore.”

Zhong Ling exhaled in relief, then turned her gaze to Jiang Jian on the ramp, her eyes bright with excitement and shyness: “But your brother is really handsome.”

Jiang Zhao was speechless.

Zhong Ling turned her head aside and whispered: “Can you help me get his identity device info?”

“That’s doable.”

Jiang Zhao nodded. “But he’s been training nonstop since morning—he probably won’t have time for you.”

Zhong Ling blinked, her inner gossip flame igniting: “Linjiang Academy has so many beautiful girls. Is your brother still single?”

“Yes,” Jiang Zhao glanced back. “He has his own goals. He’s not interested in romance.”

As they spoke,

Jiang Jian descended the ramp and stopped beside Jiang Zhao, transferring another sum to her: “Focus on your training. If you have any questions, message me anytime.”

On her identity device, a notification chimed.

“Transfer successful: 400,000 Alliance Coins.”

“Your balance: 387,609 Alliance Coins.”

With that,

Jiang Jian turned and walked toward the cabin door.

He briefly calculated his own training resources.

After giving his sister this sum, he had 380,000 left.

His spending limit still had 400,000.

For now, it was more than enough.

Besides, he still had sixteen pieces of refined iron unsold.

The massive income from selling the refined iron was the main source of his Alliance Coins.

Below the ramp,

Jiang Zhao bit her lip, falling silent.

“Another 400,000 Alliance Coins.”

She knew clearly—this was the resource Jiang Jian gave her for training.

“Everything related to training is so expensive.”

“The average citizen barely earns enough to eat. Training? It’s a dream.”

Jiang Zhao returned to Anhe Academy, her mind filled with thoughts.

She no longer resisted training as she once had.

“Maybe I should try hard at training.”

Jiang Zhao sensed the talent orb floating within her Shen Que: “Perhaps I’m not worse than others.”

It was the “Spiritual Wisdom” talent Jiang Jian had purchased for over a million Alliance Coins.

In that instant, her mindset underwent a fundamental change.

“But Jiang Jian must train too.”

“Perhaps the money he gave me was scraped together from his own needs.”

“I need to find a way to earn credits myself, climb the rankings, seize resources.”

Thinking this, her gaze hardened.

Unconsciously,

Jiang Zhao’s Soul-Departure Syndrome had fully healed.

Her soul and body now merged seamlessly, indistinguishable from a normal person’s.

…

The Cross-Domain Shuttle sped through the sky.

Far in the heavens, the silhouette of Tianzhu Mountain was barely visible.

“My sister still cares about me.”

Jiang Jian opened his identity device, staring at over a dozen messages of concern, his brow furrowing.

“Are the aftereffects still lingering?”

After a moment’s thought, he replied to one message.

“I haven’t had an episode in a long time. Maybe I won’t need medicine anymore.”

A few seconds later.

Jiang Zhao sent back: “Take your medicine on time, or I’ll transfer the money back to you.”

Reading the message,

Jiang Jian exhaled in relief: “She clearly refused me, yet showed no extreme reaction.”

“The aftereffects must be completely gone.”

He swiped away the message.

Deep within his spirit, as if a massive boulder had been lifted.

The Qi in his Shen Que circulated faster, unconsciously.

“Next,”

“Before my fragmented soul collapses entirely,”

“I must glimpse the Spirit Platform.”

“Reach that realm.”

“No matter what.”

“All must be done.”

Jiang Jian stood before the porthole, spiritual energy surging around him.

The demonic power water mass within his Shen Que gradually diminished, strand by strand.

Ji Xue stopped beside Jiang Jian, all four paws planted: “Just now you told me to send the message—Liu Tiezhu has replied. He’s shared the learning task; we depart tonight.”

Jiang Jian nodded: “When the time comes, park the interzone flyer at the fleet yard, then return to the dormitory building.”

“I’ll get off directly and head to Liu Tiezhu’s interzone flyer.”

Ji Xue flicked his tail: “Alright.”

Jiang Jian flipped his palm lightly, taking Han Guang in hand; the blade shimmered with flowing light.

Spiritual energy brimmed—just a slight infusion would summon frost-white sword qi, sharp and peerless.

“The Two Prefectures Martial Duel.”

“Rich in resources.”

“After completing this large learning task, the Martial Duel should begin.”

Jiang Jian looked at the holographic screen.

On it was Liu Tiezhu’s shared message.

“Learning Task: Clear the Tianzhu Mountain.”

“Reward: 10,000 study credits.”

“Duration: 20 days.”

(End of Chapter)