[{"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-26":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},2299348,4498,"Chapter 26: The Poison-Tongued Platform","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-26",26,"\u003Cp>To ensure the smooth running of this magical combat test and to demonstrate his seriousness, the principal personally invited two Golden Core sword cultivators to guard the main gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One carried a long sword on his back, the other had sword pellets circling him like spinning beads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not bad—these two were precisely the sword cultivators Xu Xing had seen at the entrance of the Errands Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite the range of services—professional security guards, aren’t they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike last time, they were far more serious now, their piercing gazes sweeping over every person entering the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the principal had paid them well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing bit into a steamed bun, following behind a man in a sharp suit as they entered the school; the two sword cultivators scanned the man ahead but gave Xu Xing not a single glance—as if he weren’t even there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And indeed, he wasn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main purpose of coming to school was to observe the method created by Shenghuang Yuan, so better keep a low profile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, if he’d only come to watch the combat test, couldn’t he just use his Xu Sandao identity? Would the school principal dare refuse him face?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving at the playground, he looked up at the massive floating combat platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thought they’d improve it—turns out it’s still the same old thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This platform was named “Zhige,” a creation of the Dragon-Elephant Soaring Heaven Sect; when cultivators sparred upon it, the moment one received a fatal wound, they’d be teleported away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the one now visible was merely the lowest-grade version—if its rank were higher, the platform could even form its own separate realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides “Zhige,” the Dragon-Elephant Soaring Heaven Sect also had the “Xue Zhan” platform, where once stepped upon, the platform would sever all external contact until only one combatant remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And whether “Zhige” or “Xue Zhan,” both would evaluate the combatants’ performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those evaluations were rarely kind words; today’s audience was large, and many students here would likely be shattered by them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing didn’t linger long; he tossed the paper bag holding his buns into a trash bin, then continued upward—the crystal card storing the “Basic Cultivation Method” was kept in the Dean’s office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one should be there now, but even if someone was, it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At precisely nine o’clock, each class’s teacher led their students to the playground to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The judging platform floated midair, occupied by the principal, two vice-principals, the dean, the mayor’s secretary, and Li Fengping, personally invited by the principal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice, neither loud nor soft, echoed across the entire grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No long speeches, no elaborate ceremonies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a martial combat among cultivators—even if these students’ realms were low, the principal would grant them full respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s stage belonged to them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM! With a thunderous roar, the floating “Zhige” platform began to split apart, like dismantled building blocks; streaks of crimson spiritual light flashed, radiating an aura of deadly solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under all eyes, the once vast and massive “Zhige” platform split into twelve smaller platforms of varying sizes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUD! THUD! THUD!… Each platform descended, kicking up clouds of dust as the ground trembled continuously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiritual light blocked the dust from reaching the audience and judging seats, but students and teachers weren’t so lucky—the dust surged forward, leaving everyone with at least a little grit on their faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the effect was sufficient, the principal raised his hand; the dust flying from the falling platforms instantly froze in place, as if pinned down, and settled immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twelve platforms now covered the entire playground—the largest in the center, growing smaller toward the edges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Challengers! Ascend the platform!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The combat test lasted only half a morning, so this format was adopted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those confident enough could choose a platform to defend; if they held out through nine challenges, they succeeded as defenders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the top twelve defenders were determined, each could challenge any other defender—except themselves—to seize their platform; final rankings would be decided by the size of the platform they held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, this combat test was not mandatory—anyone lacking confidence could simply opt out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over five hundred students—none stepped forward; the playground grew even quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several minutes, a student finally emerged—a boy who looked prematurely aged, at Qi Refining eighth layer, among the second tier of students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ascended the smallest, outermost platform. “Class Four, Du Qian—please, fellow students, grant me your teachings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clearly looked nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one stepping forward, another soon followed—a girl, also Qi Refining eighth layer; she climbed onto the same small platform, standing opposite Du Qian, announcing her name and class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>WHOOSH! The lower-grade students in the audience burst into exclamations—right away, they’re fighting?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two wasted no words; they began immediately. Zhang Yunlu watched intently, afraid to miss a single detail—but as she watched…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh? Is this even called combat?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thought surfaced in her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One threw a fireball, the other countered with a water shield—they just kept tossing spells back and forth, utterly rigid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are they playing turn-based?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fang Lin, holding a black battle knife, couldn’t help sneering at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the challenger’s spiritual power was exhausted—Qi Refining-level energy simply couldn’t sustain such wasteful use, but Du Qian wasn’t faring much better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The challenger bowed. “Senior Du’s cultivation surpasses mine—I accept defeat with full respect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Junior sister, you’re too—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Du Qian was about to modestly respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Called “combat,” yet merely spell practice—why not go to the marketplace and shout for alms? You might earn two or three silver coins.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Both attacker and defender are mere trash.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast, majestic voice echoed across the entire playground; the two on the platform froze, then their faces instantly flushed crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holy shit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This platform’s tongue is brutally sharp!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lower-grade students in the audience and the senior students yet to climb up were stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The challenger covered her face and leapt off the platform; the shame of having loudly announced her name moments ago nearly overwhelmed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Du Qian had successfully defended, the evaluation shattered his composure—he simply abandoned the platform and jumped down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, no one dared ascend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially those lacking confidence—they’d planned to give their best, but now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Go up and humiliate yourself? “Ascend.” Xu Xing’s voice suddenly echoed in her ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu froze, quickly glancing around—but saw nothing; instead, she spotted her older brother waving at her from the audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Has the elder arrived too?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gathering herself, Zhang Yunlu stepped out of her class line and walked toward the platform—though even without Xu Xing’s voice, she’d planned to climb up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For safety, she’d intended to defend a medium-sized platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ascend the central platform.” Xu Xing’s voice sounded again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xing stood at the window of the Dean’s office, a crystal card pinched between his fingers, watching Zhang Yunlu walk step by step toward the central platform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Dragon-Elephant Soaring Heaven Sect’s brutes still have their usual cruel tongues.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even within their own sect, many had been shattered by “Zhige” platform’s evaluations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But precisely because of this, internal conflicts within the Dragon-Elephant Soaring Heaven Sect had decreased greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Body cultivators were mostly hot-blooded and quick to anger, often fighting over trivial matters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhige, Zhige—no matter how great the grievance, once you step onto the “Zhige” platform and fight, you’ll realize the conflict wasn’t worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All these years passed—no one knows if the bastard who created the “Zhige” platform has been beaten to death yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please collect, please follow!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1252,"2026-06-20T06:44:12.591Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","35741bfbe66d9e59e3f7b6449483b6b0fecaf53af0460074f204892b61138cca","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-27","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-25",648,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fancestor-the-times-have-changed-cover.jpg"]