[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ascending-to-divinity":3,"chapter-ascending-to-divinity-ascending-to-divinity-chapter-92":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},2280642,4461,"Chapter 92: The Rain Has Passed, But the Sky Remains Cloudy","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-92",92,"\u003Cp>The river water was icy, permeated with a chilling aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surrounding light was dim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Prefectural Office’s Mining Division is a goldmine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye sneered, “She keeps claiming we’re noble heirs, righteous and upright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yet she herself is the one with deep connections.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ignore her,” Liu Tiezhu said gravely. “She thinks we’re new students from the academy and resents how slow we are at cleaning—afraid it’ll delay her profiteering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cave was narrow at the entrance but widened inside, fairly spacious, with a ceiling studded with jagged rocks five to six meters above the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the cliff edges, an underground river flowed, sending up waves of cold air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deeper inside, faint lights flickered, accompanied by occasional strange cries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu stepped forward. “The guardian demons lead the way, Shi Xuan follows right behind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll stay in the center with Shan Ye; the plant spirits follow us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You stay with Yin Yin at the rear—your spells can protect her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two aloe spirits stretched their bodies, unleashing brilliant light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The area within dozens of meters became as bright as daylight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need for all this trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian flipped his palm lightly, holding Han Guang in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll go first. Shan Ye, replenish my Qi. One more plant spirit, follow behind me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As these words fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell over the surroundings, leaving only the sound of the underground river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned toward Jiang Jian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye hesitated: “Jiang Jian, let the guardian demons protect you—it’s too dangerous otherwise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian refused to waste time; he walked past her and said softly, “Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian stepped to the very front of the team and walked toward the depths of the underground river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu glanced at Shan Ye. “Do as Jiang Jian says.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye pondered a moment, then said: “I, Jiang Jian, and one aloe spirit will lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You and Yin Yin, with the other aloe spirit, clear any monsters we miss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shi Xuan leads the guardian demons, providing flank support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group responded: “Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they advanced deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The underground river’s water turned a strange black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strange sounds around them grew more numerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One kilometer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye stopped, opened her identity device, and exhaled in relief. “We haven’t encountered anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had she spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rock on the cliff face suddenly twisted, revealing a nose, mouth, and neck that stretched toward Shan Ye to bite!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blade’s light slashed through!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rock monster shattered instantly into powder!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian, holding Han Guang, spun a sword flourish and continued forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye lagged a few steps behind, then her pupils contracted: “Jiang Jian, watch out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On both sides of the cliff walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless monsters tore free from the stone, roaring as they lunged!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s expression remained calm; he swung his sword horizontally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blade of light surged upward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blazing white sword rainbow roared through, exploding hundreds of rock monsters at once!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless stone fragments scattered, as if a dust rain had fallen ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The area several hundred meters ahead was completely cleared!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the things stirring beneath the dark river’s surface now fell silent, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Jian!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing such terrifying swordlight, Shan Ye’s eyes widened in shock as she whispered, “You’re the new student with 37% Shen Que spiritual essence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian made no denial; he stepped forward over the powdered stone debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two kilometers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three kilometers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rock monsters were all destroyed; the lurking evils around them seemed to sense something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever Jiang Jian approached, they retreated like receding tides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three kilometers!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye could hardly believe it. “It’s been this easy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian slowed his pace, looked ahead, and said softly, “They can’t escape now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead in the underground river, countless things clustered together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A rough count revealed water imps, water snakes, aquatic plant spirits, and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On both cliff walls, stone monsters twisted and surged wildly, countless faces struggling to flee deeper in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jing Ling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a palm flip, Han Guang plunged into the cliff wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian’s gaze turned icy; he formed hand seals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Threads of blood-red flame rose slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless scarlet true flames erupted from nothingness, burning indiscriminately toward the front of the cave!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the black river water was melted by the crimson flames!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sea of fire boiled!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian did not cease his incantation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Que spiritual energy surged wildly, pouring into the Jing Ling fire sea!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the immense spiritual essence as support, the power of the Jing Ling technique surged again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood-red fire sea roared fiercely, ferocious beyond measure!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SIZZLE!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where the fire sea swept, the burning sounds continued unceasingly, sharp and piercing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the endless cave and underground river, countless agonized cries echoed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit beasts and malevolent entities, writhing in desperation, were swallowed by the fire sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All turned to ash, sinking into the deep, black river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sizzling sounds echoed through the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fading farther and farther, until silence fell completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an unknown length of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian finally ended his incantation, released his fingers, his face pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three-tenths of his Shen Que spiritual energy had been consumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye stared wide-eyed, mouth slightly open, fixed on the scene ahead, forgetting entirely to replenish Jiang Jian’s Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing there, gazing into the depths of the cave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No living presence remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surface of the underground river floated a thick layer of black ash, emitting a foul stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the spiritual ash left by dead demons—a form of cultivation resource.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan arrived, eyes filled with shock, speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu stood beside him, murmuring in admiration: “Incredible. Even a second-year academy student wouldn’t reach this level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yin looked at Jiang Jian, equally stunned inside, yet her expression remained calm as she whispered, “Ordinary second-year students aren’t nearly as powerful as Jiang Jian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rapid footsteps approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What… what happened here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu walked forward in her bureau uniform, strides steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the lifeless dark river, her expression was one of utter disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She and her team had been collecting stone veins at the one-kilometer mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She sensed violent spiritual energy fluctuations deep within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The collection instruments further showed countless spiritual ashes at the three-kilometer mark!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My god!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu scanned the surroundings, her eyes locking onto the thick layer in the dark river, ecstatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s this much natural spiritual ash?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quick! Collect it all!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She waved her arm; her staff members’ eyes gleamed as they rushed forward with their equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clear sword cry rang out!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brilliant sword light flashed past, carrying blinding white radiance, grazing Li Lu’s forehead and shattering more than half the stone wall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rocks collapsed, falling into the dark river, sinking to the bottom without a single splash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu turned pale; a strand of hair snapped and drifted to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several staff members trembled violently, freezing in place, silent as stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian extended his pale, slender fingers, pulling the Han Guang Sword from the stone wall, and said softly: “These are not natural spiritual ashes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped before Li Lu, the tip of Han Guang Sword flickering with blazing white light: “They are my spoils.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu stared at the student holding the sword, gritting her teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a bureau employee and a member of the Li family of Linjiang,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>she wanted, as usual, to look down on these students and hurl harsh words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But meeting Jiang Jian’s cold, clear gaze,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu’s heart trembled—she couldn’t utter a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even suspected:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she said the wrong thing, blazing sword light would strike instantly, annihilating her soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though bureau laws were strict, forbidding humans from harming one another,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>at this moment, Li Lu was afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Student.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu forced a smile: “Yes, yes, they’re your spoils—all yours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing her demeanor,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian fell silent, turning to Shan Ye: “Show her the recording.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the learning mission regulations,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>original resources from tributary earth veins belong to the bureau.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spoils acquired during cleanup are taken by students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu lifted her head from the screen, face filled with horror, staring fixedly at Jiang Jian: “Student, you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stammered for a long time, unable to find the right words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what, Li Lu had never imagined these spiritual ashes were truly not natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were the ashes of countless demonic spirits and ghosts, burned to cinders by true flame!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Li family was a renowned clan in the Five Rivers City of Linjiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Lu combed through every famous prodigy of the Li family over the past decades in her mind,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and found no student who had reached such strength in first year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prodigy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu’s expression shifted, thoughts surging: “This Jiang Jian student is absolutely a prodigy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prodigy is rarer than a genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only those who crush all peers of their age, dominating an entire bureau,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>can be called a prodigy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In just half a month since enrollment, his Shen Que spiritual essence has reached 30% of the Divine Bestowal realm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally, this is impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even scions of great clans, spending limitless resources—holding life-source essence in one hand, swallowing precious spiritual herbs in the other—don’t advance this fast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu considered a possibility, extremely rare:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cultivation is deeply tied to spiritual aptitude!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could Jiang Jian be one of those prodigies with extraordinary aptitude?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Li family member, Li Lu knew secrets unknown to ordinary people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many factors influence cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Innate talent, second talent, cultivation resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are merely some of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is another factor, inaccessible to commoners, yet absolutely crucial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aptitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under identical conditions,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>those with high aptitude cultivate at least several times faster than those with low aptitude!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some prodigies’ aptitude is so monstrous, the multiplier is even greater!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Student Jiang Jian!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu suddenly spoke, voice firm: “I invite you to join the Li family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu and the others wore strange expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Jiang Jian could speak,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yin stepped forward, blocking him, sneering: “Does the Li family even qualify?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu frowned: “Young lady, I wasn’t speaking to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Li family member, in Linjiang, she could walk with impunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a handful of other clans could overshadow the Li family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why, earlier, she had recognized Shi Xuan and the others as scions but shown no fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yin stood, hand brushing her skirt, eyes cold, pale fingers glowing with crimson light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said it: the Li family doesn’t qualify.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lu stared at her fingers, face turning ashen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Shi Xuan froze, turning to look at Yin Yin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>she said nothing, turned, and led her staff away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan stared at Yin Yin: “Yin Yin, so you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye interrupted: “Shi Xuan, what were you going to say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jian turned his gaze toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan hesitated slightly, then spoke: “So you’re not human.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Shan Ye’s face darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu stared at Yin Yin, thoughtful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shan Ye gritted his teeth: “Shi Xuan, are you insane?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shi Xuan spread his hands: “What did I do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s right,” the girl said softly, “I am not human.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yin Yin turned her face, hair falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her pale, exquisite features glowed with cold light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dark river flowed on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke; silence, strange and heavy, settled around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep moving,” Jiang Jian said. “Push to ten kilometers—I need to board and cultivate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heavenly Ladder ranking match hasn’t been fought yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Liu Tiezhu: “When we get back, lend me the trans-boundary shuttle’s cultivation chamber.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tiezhu snapped out of his daze and smiled: “Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1960,"2026-06-20T01:21:34.271Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","52798358bcac776721224f155a12320ddaf8c42a49fb3db5d13900b470fbc985","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-93","ascending-to-divinity-chapter-91",306,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fascending-to-divinity-cover.jpg"]