[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ancestor-the-times-have-changed":3,"chapter-ancestor-the-times-have-changed-ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Ancestor, the Times Have Changed",{"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},2299342,4498,"Chapter 20: A Clichéd but Effective Method","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>It’s late at night—what’s so urgent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu withdrew her gaze and looked at the red jade in her hand; her spiritual power had fully recovered, yet that warm flow continued unceasingly, surging from her palm into her limbs and meridians, easing much of her physical fatigue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She moved her sword-holding hand—the aching had vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Do it a few more times!’ she thought to herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the jade box was a red thread; threading it through the red jade allowed it to be worn around the neck perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the longsword returned to her hand, its surface covered in spiritual light; Zhang Yunlu recalled the sword techniques and swung the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the earlier slightly clumsy movements, this time the form was perfectly fluid and harmonious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warmth flowed through her body; the sword in her hand felt like a breeze brushing past, clouds dispersing—the blade itself subtly vanished, then reappeared the next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh! A streak of white light shot out, traveling three zhang before gradually fading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is sword aura—it can slice stone into a mirror and penetrate cold iron by three inches!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first technique of the Flowing Cloud Sword Art—achieved!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It actually worked?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhang Yunlu herself was stunned; just moments ago, she had been so far from success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bit her lip, gripping the red jade at her chest—even through her clothes, she could still feel its warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So… he deduced that I would receive this red jade, and thus concluded I could master the Flowing Cloud Sword Art before the next day?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does that mean he also knows the origin of this red jade? Zhang Yunlu’s thoughts churned; it took her a long while to calm down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow after school, I’ll ask! About the truth of my parents’ deaths—she couldn’t claim to be completely indifferent, and she believed her brother felt the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now there’s a lead to investigate—ignoring it would be foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for the risk…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmph—if a cultivator of that caliber truly wanted to seize it, could she and her brother even resist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was only at Qi Refining, and her brother was merely at Golden Core! Having made her decision, Zhang Yunlu sheathed her sword, picked up the jade box and the Soul-Replenishing Elixir, and turned to leave the rooftop, returning home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After washing up, she walked straight into her bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lit a calming incense stick; as the wisps of smoke rose, Zhang Yunlu got into bed, lay down, closed her eyes, and tightly clutched the red jade in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She soon fell into a deep sleep—but did not dream until dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a strange, boundless gray space, Zhang Yunlu stared around, utterly bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a line of golden text appeared before her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Alright, I admit this might be a bit clichéd, but given your aptitude and talent, this method is the most suitable to master the Flowing Cloud Sword Art before tomorrow.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“???”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Enemy: Qi Refining Ninth Layer Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Art Minor Mastery】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Objective: Eliminate!】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What? What the hell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before she could react, the mist around her churned, coalescing into a longsword in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold to the touch, heavy with weight—it was definitely real! Wait—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he not referring to the red jade, but this strange place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure wielding a sword emerged from the gray mist, clad in black combat attire, face obscured, Qi Refining Ninth Layer spiritual power fully exposed—equal to hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulp!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is this really going to happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, the sword cultivator’s shadow stepped forward, raised his blade, and in an instant was before her—his gleaming edge slashing toward her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His actions made it clear: this was not sparring—it was a fight to the death!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding! Zhang Yunlu parried with her sword, quickly retreating—but the blade clung to her like a shadow; she retreated several steps, her numb right hand finally regaining feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She fell backward instantly—the sword shadow’s blade severed only a few strands of her hair, its momentum carrying it forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing the chance, Zhang Yunlu thrust her sword straight ahead—the tide instantly reversed; she was about to pierce him through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the sword shadow pulled a short sword from his waist, its blade covered in spiritual light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding! He blocked the strike outright! “That’s cheating!” she shouted, rolling sideways like a lazy donkey, rising swiftly and swinging her sword—the blade vanished for an instant, then reappeared, a terrifying sword aura stabbing toward the sword shadow’s lower back. But the shadow had already stabilized his stance, sidestepping the aura effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He countered with a slash—like a breeze and drifting clouds, his blade vanished for an instant too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu’s alarm bells rang loudly; she arched backward to evade the incoming sword aura—but pain flared in her waist. She turned her head and saw white light filling her vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flowing Cloud Sword Art Minor Mastery—three sword auras!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the last possible moment, Zhang Yunlu raised her right hand—and then… gave him the middle finger. The next instant, her head exploded like a burst watermelon, dissolving into clouds of gray mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kind of cheeky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the villa, Xu Xing watched Zhang Yunlu’s headless body collapse—but that final gesture of hers was rather amusing; she lost the fight but not her spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Her timing and battlefield judgment are excellent—she belongs in the sword cultivator lineage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And she’s even entered the Flowing Cloud Sword Art—that’s unexpected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu’s performance was outstanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In sudden combat, she remained calm and made sound judgments; even when caught off guard, she recovered swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era, peace far surpasses the past; conflicts have dwindled greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, cultivators like Zhang Yunlu—with strong combat talent—are easily overlooked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her innate constitution is slightly lacking; otherwise, even within the Sword Sect, she could have become a disciple of a Return-to-Void Elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, since you have such talent, I might as well help you forge a Heaven-Born Dao Foundation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the Heaven-Born Dao Foundation is established, paired with her exceptional combat talent, she may even have a chance to become a disciple of one of the Four Elders!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next instant, the entire gray space seemed to fast-forward—the visuals blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing turned his head outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you still couldn’t let go—you came looking?” Someone was cautiously approaching, “But this is unwise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the neighboring villa, someone was nearly aware—the vast, powerful spiritual sense was spreading out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Since you’re so eager to see me, I’ll help you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing raised his hand and lightly tapped the air before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hum~ Invisible ripples spread outward; the moment he finished, the vast spiritual sense had already enveloped the entire neighborhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scanning once, finding nothing, the spiritual sense retracted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the neighborhood, Zhang Xiu cautiously approached his target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he neared, a faint force attempted to distort his senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before coming, Zhang Xiu had investigated—this level of formation couldn’t even stop a Qi Refining cultivator, let alone him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, he reached the wall and formed a hand seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wall-Piercing Technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked straight toward the wall—the wall, possessing forbidden magic properties, was as useless as decoration, easily penetrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, with no lights on, the space looked dark and somewhat eerie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Keep going—no delays.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To save time, he passed through several walls until he reached the living room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The living room was empty; moonlight streaming in illuminated it brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Breaking into a private home is illegal, but I still want to say—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden voice made Zhang Xiu’s scalp tingle; the empty sofa now held a young man, smiling at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good evening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please collect and follow! (End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1265,"2026-06-20T06:44:12.591Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e221ba6e6ad26d90e81abf7307b919102efa26cd5ed3a041187d48b498e8c0fb","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-21","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-19",648,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fancestor-the-times-have-changed-cover.jpg"]