The Nitescence Theorem constructs a canonical mechanism for navigating Gödelian incompleteness through structural ascension. Given a consistent, Σ1-sound effective theory S, the nitescence operator N(S) = S + Con*(S)* resolves an obstruction determined by S itself rather than arbitrarily chosen among its undecidable propositions. The construction is classical—the Turing–Feferman consistency progression—but is characterised here by a universal property: among deductive extensions of S proving Con*(S)*, N(S) is the least. The construction is governed by a relevance relation comparing proof-theoretic strength, expressive reach, and resolution. The framework distinguishes between data that are expressible but undecided within a structure and data that are extra-structural relative to it, requiring respectively proof-theoretic or expressive ascent. Iteration of N produces a strictly ascending transfinite hierarchy in which each structure’s canonical obstruction is resolved one level up, while no resulting structure is maximal. Gödel’s Second Incompleteness Theorem thus becomes the engine of ascension rather than an obstacle to it: the internal obstruction determines the external direction. The theorem formalises incompleteness not as a dead end, but as a navigable horizon: a structure can carry, in its own limitation, the direction of a canonical ascent beyond itself. ( direct link )