[{"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-23":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},2299345,4498,"Chapter 23: The Truth Experienced in Illusion","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-23",23,"\u003Cp>The next day, Zhang Xiu took a day off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu, following Xu Xing’s advice, went to school early to report her realm and inquire about Foundation Establishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, whenever she saw someone, she instinctively sized up their vital spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a lingering side effect—it would likely last a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering school, she went straight to the vice principal’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, such matters should be discussed with one’s homeroom teacher, but Fang Chi… better not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vice Principal’s Office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi Refining ninth layer, solid foundation—very good.” Bright threads of magic power drew from Zhang Yunlu’s wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vice principal of the Third Middle School of Xuanjian City was Yu Ming, an elderly man who looked stern and rigid, with white hair and patches of age spots, exuding an air of weariness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after interacting with him, one would realize he was in fact a remarkably gentle elder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was said that in his youth, he loved exploring various secret realms, which led to his foundation being damaged in an accident, robbing him of any further advancement—he eventually came to this school as vice principal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At this realm, it’s time I explain some matters regarding Foundation Establishment.” Yu Ming handed her a cup of water. “The spiritual net is full of mixed information; the descriptions of third-grade Foundation Establishment there have merit, but are incomplete.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ming knew perfectly well why Zhang Yunlu had come to him today. By protocol, she should have asked her homeroom teacher about Foundation Establishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are currently three mainstream methods of Foundation Establishment: pseudo-Foundation Establishment, external-object Foundation Establishment, and innate Dao Foundation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Yu Ming, student-teacher conflicts and trivial rules meant far less than a student’s future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully explained the three methods he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pseudo-Foundation Establishment was much as Zhang Yunlu had originally understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>External-object Foundation Establishment was equivalent to the second and third methods she had known, plus the first type she’d heard from Xu Xing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Innate Dao Foundation was exactly as Xu Xing had described.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what about the fourth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Innate Dao Foundation is extremely difficult to establish—it demands not only an exceptionally strong foundation, but also excruciating pain in the processes of absorbing solar essence, condensing lunar radiance, and refining stellar light.” Yu Ming smiled faintly. “Your foundation is sufficient; the question is whether you can endure these three trials.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think my willpower is decent.” After all, she’d died over a hundred times in one night. “But aren’t celestial treasures hard to come by?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing had said he’d give her one, but Zhang Yunlu still wanted to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Celestial treasures are indeed rare, but seventy-three years ago, someone developed a substitute—I personally recommend the ‘single-use divine essence’ for the ‘Pure Moon Flying Sword.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Single-use divine essence for Foundation Establishment?! “The price isn’t too high, and its efficacy is comparable to other brands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ones sold by Xuan Yue Pavilion were much more expensive, despite identical effects—they were just a bunch of merchants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Ming opened a drawer and took out a crystal card from a small box, handing it to Zhang Yunlu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the ‘Basic Cultivation Method’ created by Shenghuang Yuan. Study it carefully when you return home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Teacher, this is too—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t refuse. It’s not special treatment—every Qi Refining ninth-layer student receives one. Otherwise, how could it be called the ‘Basic Cultivation Method’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Various cultivation methods from major immortal sects are also available at school, but they’re all too extreme and violent. This ‘Basic Cultivation Method’ is relatively gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the school only dares to distribute it to students who reach Qi Refining ninth layer during their final year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh, I see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu took the crystal card and placed it inside her storage ring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there anything else you’d like to ask, Zhang student?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you heard of… Creation Dao Foundation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…” Yu Ming fell silent for a while. “Yes, but it’s not mainstream—and the difficulty is immense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The current pseudo-Foundation Establishment was developed by Lingyin Workshop after studying Creation Dao Foundation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although innate Dao Foundation is rare, a few appear in every graduation exam. But Creation Dao Foundation—the last time it appeared was fifteen years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock knock!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Principal, here’s tomorrow’s combat test…” Zhang Yunlu turned and saw her own teacher, Fang Chi. They stared at each other, the atmosphere awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At noon, the senior students gradually exited the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since tomorrow was the combat test, the school granted them an afternoon off to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu was among them, but after leaving school, she didn’t go home—she took a taxi to Xu Xing’s villa complex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During class today, several classmates who rarely spoke to her had urged her to apologize to Fang Chi, saying teacher-student conflicts could always be resolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Yunlu ignored them; she only found them noisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re about to graduate—do you really want me to mend teacher-student relations?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those people, seeing her as so “ungrateful,” directly declared they’d settle things on the combat test tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were students, yes—but also cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combat test… how many of my classmates would be stronger than that pain-immune monster from my dream? Thinking of it, she suddenly felt anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If tomorrow’s combat test offers strong enough opponents to hone my sword technique, next time I face that monster, I might not suffer so badly as last night!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The driver, watching Zhang Yunlu alternate between silence and sudden smiles in the rearview mirror, couldn’t help but sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior high students really are under a lot of pressure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decided not to speak at all, turning up the music a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the car arrived at its destination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re here, student. Cars can’t enter, so you’ll have to walk in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She paid, entered the complex, and walked straight to Xu Xing’s villa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She activated the array’s core, stepped forward, and reached for the doorbell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just come in—the door isn’t locked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the door opened with a gentle push—everything inside remained exactly as it had been yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She found Xu Xing in the garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was reclining on a wicker lounge chair, a teapot beside him, sunlight bathing him in tranquility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit. Your performance last night was indeed good—you’ll have no trouble with tomorrow’s combat test.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… about last night, I actually have a question.” She paused. “Was everything I experienced real—or fake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing didn’t answer. Instead, he asked: “What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It must be fake. Otherwise, I couldn’t have revived so many times, and I’d still be in my own room when I woke up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one has that many lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you understand that, why ask the question now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But my spiritual power truly increased—as if the pills I took in that trial actually worked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu frowned. That was what confused her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Illusion or reality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing lightly tapped the teacup—a single drop of tea rose, swelled rapidly, and transformed before her eyes into a plump, perfect elixir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When false becomes true, the false is true—that is refining the false into the real.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Xu Xing spoke, the elixir dissolved back into a drop of tea, returning to the cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To explain: last night’s experience was you living truth within illusion. Do you understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu nodded, half-understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing didn’t mind—these concepts were still far beyond her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please collect and follow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If readers find any awkward phrasing, please let me know—I’ll revise it promptly! (End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1233,"2026-06-20T06:44:12.591Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a41a779584078b27554012167e6b970b5a9b2149ba860e1b8ae93898862dbf61","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-24","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-22",648,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fancestor-the-times-have-changed-cover.jpg"]