[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring":3,"chapter-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-180":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Starting at Hogwarts, Logging into Elden Ring",{"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},1496404,1944,"Chapter 180: — The Face Reflects the Heart, Huoxuan’s Gossip","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-180",180,"\u003Cp>Dao Xuan pondered for a moment before speaking calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let us proceed as this Daoist suggested earlier. However—allow me to take Qingxuan's place in the battle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur turned to Ranni. She gave a slight nod, indicating she had no objections. To her, it made little difference who she fought. What mattered was venting her anger on Arthur's behalf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing even the sect master make this decision, Daoist Qingxuan finally stepped forward and bowed to Arthur, offering a stiff apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur waved it off indifferently. From beginning to end, this had been nothing more than a farce. If Qingxuan hadn't spoken without thinking, none of this would have escalated so far. Just as Li Xuanjian had said—his master truly was unreliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after Qingxuan apologized did Ranni withdraw her divine pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elders present all let out quiet sighs of relief. Qingxuan in particular nearly collapsed—if Li Xuanjian hadn't steadied him, his legs might have given out completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur looked at Dao Xuan and asked lightly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When does Sect Master Dao Xuan wish to fight Ranni? Now? Or after you've adjusted your condition?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was meaning behind the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur could tell that Dao Xuan's current cultivation—judged by the Eastern system—was at the mid-stage of Void Integration. It was clear he'd been stuck at this level for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Dao Xuan appeared middle-aged, he was actually the oldest person present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since gaining control over time, Arthur had become extremely sensitive to matters related to age. He could vaguely sense a person's true years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for why Dao Xuan looked younger than Lingxuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daoist cultivators extended their lifespan as their realms advanced. Appearance alone meant very little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was an old saying: the face is shaped by the heart. Though Buddhist in origin, it applied perfectly here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Women tended to care more about their appearance, so the few female elders present all looked no older than their early thirties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Huoxuan, for example—the fiery-tempered female elder. Her personality was explosive, her looks youthful, yet she was of the same Xuan generation and even Li Xuanjian's grand-aunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men were different. Their attitudes toward appearance varied wildly, so the male elders ranged across all apparent age groups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, Dao Xuan, as sect master, was both the eldest and the strongest among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Loneliness came with height. When one reached a level where no peers remained, there was no one left to mutually verify right and wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dao Xuan had been stuck at mid Void Integration for years. By stepping in personally, he was seeking an opportunity for breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he had been hidden in the air earlier, he'd felt Ranni's aura. By his estimation, she was slightly stronger than him—an ideal opponent to sharpen himself against.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur, on the other hand, was never considered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Arthur had seen through Dao Xuan's concealment technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That concealment should have fooled anyone up to two minor realms higher—which meant Arthur was at least at peak Void Integration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for what lay beyond that… Land Immortal. A legendary realm Dao Xuan didn't even dare to contemplate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Dao Xuan's judgment was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, both Arthur and Ranni were Divine Beings, equivalent to the legendary Land Immortals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranni was still growing, and her strength and aura had not yet reached their mature peak. That was why Dao Xuan mistook her as only slightly stronger than himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a Divine Being was still a Divine Being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Ranni's raw magical reserves were only marginally higher than Dao Xuan's spiritual power, the quality of that power surpassed his by orders of magnitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur could see the anticipation in Dao Xuan's eyes—and he himself was equally eager to watch Ranni absolutely crush him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No grudges involved. Arthur simply enjoyed a good show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you don't mind,\" Dao Xuan said, looking at Ranni, \"we can begin now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already at peak condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranni naturally had no objections. Releasing her aura earlier had barely cost her anything—she'd recovered within a single breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dao Xuan led everyone to Mount Shu's martial arena, the place where disciples usually sparred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had been disciples training earlier, but the moment Qingxuan's distress signal went out, they'd all withdrawn. Sect rules dictated that when an elder-level alert appeared, disciples were to clear the area immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the arena stood empty—perfect for this duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranni and Dao Xuan took positions on opposite sides, their auras steadily rising as both entered a state of focused readiness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Arthur noticed Hermione's mood was unusually low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gently ruffled her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arthur… compared to Ranni, am I completely useless?\" Hermione asked softly, head lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why would you think that all of a sudden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I released my aura too, but none of them even noticed me,\" she said dejectedly. \"I want to be able to do something for you too—like Ranni can.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Silly girl. You're not even fifteen yet, and you're already stronger than most people could ever dream of. There's no need to belittle yourself. If you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was interrupted by a voice behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She's right, you know. Li Xuanjian said you're all still students. At your age, having this level of strength would make you monstrous geniuses even within the sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned to see Huoxuan walking over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of the earlier misunderstanding, Arthur and Hermione were standing alone—Huoxuan was the only one who approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Elder Huoxuan? You understand English?\" Arthur asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Hermione had been speaking in English.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. I'm not one of those fossilized old men,\" Huoxuan snorted. \"I even traveled to Britain years ago. Though back then some dark lord—what was it, Pa-di-mo?—was causing trouble. Boring place. So I left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur's lips twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pa-di-mo… Voldemort would absolutely kill someone over that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just call me Big Sis,\" Huoxuan added. \"Don't call me Elder—makes me sound old.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright… Big Sis Huoxuan,\" Arthur said helplessly. \"Did you need something?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing much. Just curious,\" she waved. \"Oh, and you didn't finish what you were saying earlier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur raised an eyebrow. She really was self-familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was going to say—if Hermione wants to do something for me, she could help by beating up Daoist Qingxuan. Big Sis Huoxuan wouldn't mind, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huoxuan burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha! Kid, I like your guts. Not at all—honestly, plenty of elders would love to see Qingxuan get beaten. But that little girl's realm seems lower than his. Can she really win?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Realm doesn't equal strength,\" Arthur replied calmly. \"Isn't there such a thing as fighting above one's level?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd already noticed earlier—Eastern cultivators still relied on hand seals and incantations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione, though slightly lower in realm, had her Animagus cat form. In that state, she didn't need a wand, and some dragon-blood spells were instant-cast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Hermione truly fought Qingxuan, the outcome was far from certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huoxuan gave Arthur a thumbs-up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Confident. I like young people with spirit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then her expression shifted—pure gossip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That one fighting right now… she's your fiancée, right? She's terrifying. Can you even keep her in check?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's not about keeping anyone in check. We respect each other. Besides—how do you know I'm not stronger than her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huoxuan froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the arena, Ranni was already pressing Dao Xuan back with superior magical quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huoxuan looked from the battle to Arthur's easy smile, struggling to imagine he was even stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why do you think I could see through your sect master's concealment?\" Arthur asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realization dawned on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew that concealment technique—one needed to be two minor realms higher to see through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Arthur really was stronger than Ranni.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kid… be honest with me,\" Huoxuan asked seriously. \"Are you and her really not reincarnated great powers?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At fourteen or fifteen, Hermione's strength alone was already absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur and Ranni surpassing the sect master made no sense at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, their situation wasn't far from reincarnation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur had crossed worlds. Ranni's body had been rebuilt by Arthur himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling it reincarnation wouldn't be wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those truths couldn't be spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur could only smile and shake his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We really aren't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To read 90+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FWhiteDevil7554\u003C\u002Fp>",1362,"2026-06-06T04:19:46.381Z",1,"novelbin.me","65b1e0cf35694dcf1f8a515935949ccd79fc0868eb1831548fe6c4c0ab1419a4","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-181","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-179",281,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-cover.jpg"]