[{"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-4":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},2299326,4498,"Chapter 4: These Days, Even the Ten Thousand Souls Banner Needs Packaging","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-4",4,"\u003Cp>Behind this Void-Return cultivator stood twelve Soul-Transformation cultivators and seventy-two Nascent Soul cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft click sounded as the facial armor automatically opened, revealing a strikingly handsome face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ning of the Supreme Dao Sect!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a newly elevated Void-Return cultivator, he was required to station himself at the Sword Sect’s Ancient Cultivator Liaison Division for a century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the fading crimson array patterns below, he was about to scan with his spiritual sense when a streak of light shot from nowhere, slicing through the sky and halting before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within a hazy white glow was a palm-sized jade talisman shaped like a sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, isn’t this…?” A Soul-Transformation cultivator behind him hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it’s a Sword Sect talisman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword Sect talisman is used by Sword Sect Elders and above to communicate with Sword Sect disciples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, all those behind him grew indignant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Sword Sect is going too far!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Supreme Dao Sect is also a celestial sect—they’ve always looked down on us with their noses! Now they dare treat us as subordinates!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle! Why not crush it outright and report to the sect? Demand an explanation from the Sword Sect!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They spoke one after another, appearing righteous and furious—but none of them moved to touch the talisman hovering in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each had mastered the essence of “cautious conduct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ning was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in the span of these few words, the Sword Sect talisman seemed to grow impatient—it flashed white, then shot straight into Xiao Ning’s third eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone gasped in alarm, scrambling backward, leaving Xiao Ning standing alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The talisman contained only one message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The cultivator who emerged in Xuanjian City is one of our Sword Sect members—no need to worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A booming voice echoed; the jade talisman shattered, transforming into a swirling violet blade of sharp energy that circled within his spiritual core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grand Void Exorcism Sword Qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a cultivator beyond Void-Return could forge such a blade—it was precisely the material he desperately needed for his cultivation method, and until now had been unattainable. Now it had come to him on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this an advance payment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at least tell me what I’m supposed to do!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle, are you alright?” Another Soul-Transformation cultivator called out loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his nephews retreat far from him, Xiao Ning’s eyebrow twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In recent years, something had happened within the Supreme Dao Sect—a trend of “cautious cultivation” had taken root, influencing many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More cultivators had begun practicing concealment techniques and body-splitting arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention, among the nephews who came with him, some might already have clones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Sword Sect is a righteous celestial sect; our relationship with them has always been good. You needn’t be so cautious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uncle is right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, someone might be impersonating them—better to be careful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would dare impersonate a Sword Sect talisman?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ning muttered inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This Sword Sect talisman is a Purple Sword Talisman—the cultivator who emerged nearby is a Sword Sect member. We only need to inform the city mayor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Purple Sword Talisman is a high-tier talisman, just one step below the Ancestral Sword Talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the one who emerged holds a high status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the Sword Sect’s Four Elders? Or perhaps some unknown Sword Sect Supreme Elder? “Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all responded in unison, then followed Xiao Ning down toward the city below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Xuanjian City, as the city-protection array shut down, a young man in white sportswear walked in slowly and calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had an ordinary face and a sunny, approachable aura that instantly inspired goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after only a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked up toward the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Void-Return, twelve Soul-Transformation, seventy-two Nascent Soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad—not bad. All celestial sect disciples, their spiritual essences pure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was worth it—three years ago, he used his bloodline as a catalyst to trick his foolish brother into dying, securing all the materials at once. Otherwise, in this age, obtaining a high-quality Void-Return life-soul without risk would be nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention the vast number of auxiliary souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Seven Celestial Sects jointly governing, even at his current realm, he dared not slaughter commoners en masse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sigh, the youth pulled forth a small silver-white banner, its surface shimmering with radiant light, dragon and phoenix silhouettes leaping as if a legendary immortal artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Ten Thousand Souls Banner—a classic demonic artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But due to changing times, even the great demonic cultivators had improved it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, the original version, thick with sinister dark energy, would have drawn the attention of righteous sect elders before he even began refining it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Refining a magic treasure really isn’t easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now wasn’t even the best time—ancient cultivators were emerging; who knew what realm they were?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were a monster like a Celestial Sect Supreme Elder, he might be swatted dead in one blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the opportunity was too rare…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had planned this Ten Thousand Souls Banner for a long time—even his own younger brother had been sacrificed into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Supreme Dao Sect’s Void-Return cultivator stood right before him; his spiritual essence alone equaled two ordinary Void-Return souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he used this Xiao Ning as the main soul to forge this Ten Thousand Souls Banner, he was certain he could ascend to the next realm within a century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash of thought, he withdrew two dark purple beads glowing with a mysterious light, refined them with spiritual power—their purple glow faded, turning pure white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He released them; the pure white beads fell to the ground but did not shatter—they melted directly into the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beads sank deeper, plummeting, until they seeped into the foundation of the city-protection array.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft hum sounded; a faint, ethereal light rose from the foundation, shooting skyward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three hundred and sixty-four more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had he spoken than a series of phantom figures emerged from his body, racing toward the city—more precisely, toward the array foundations within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the city-protection array not just been activated, he could never have reversed its nature so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Xuanjian City’s Third Middle School, with the city-protection array shut down, many who had been in classrooms now stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Notice: Void-Return cultivator Xiao Ning, accompanied by the Ancient Cultivator Liaison Team, has arrived in the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The city-protection array has been deactivated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To ensure the safety of all citizens, please remain within the school and all sect outposts until further notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The announcement echoed across the entire city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the tense atmosphere in Xuanjian City eased considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, with a Void-Return cultivator stationed here, even if the emerging ancient cultivator truly caused chaos, stopping him would be easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu stepped outside the classroom, sensing the gradually calming spiritual energy, and gazed into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw countless beams of clear light rising into the heavens, forming two colossal phantom shapes—a dragon and a phoenix—circling above Xuanjian City, weaving through clouds, magnificent beyond compare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder Void-Return cultivators make such grand entrances,” she murmured in admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand entrance?” Xu Xing walked beside her, looking up at the dragon and phoenix shadows enveloping the entire city, “This isn’t something Xiao Ning created.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not Xiao Ning?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then who?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Among demonic cultivators, there’s a particularly vile magic treasure, easy to forge, requiring many life-souls and one or more high-cultivator spiritual essences as the main soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean… the Ten Thousand Souls Banner?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This forbidden artifact hadn’t been forged by any cultivator in a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct,” Xu Xing nodded, continuing, “But gathering life-souls—whether the vast number of auxiliary souls or hunting powerful cultivators’ spiritual essences—is prone to exposure. So demonic greats designed a special array.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Yunlu recalled ancient history she’d seen on the Spirit Net, her heart tightening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Soul-Subjugation Array? You’re not suggesting…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quick thinker,” Xu Xing praised, his gaze still fixed on the dragon and phoenix shadows, “The one above us is the Soul-Subjugation Array—and it’s an improved version.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, even the Ten Thousand Souls Banner needs packaging—made to look like a celestial artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Request data, request support!! (End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1352,"2026-06-20T06:44:12.591Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","75405867bfae351af75c2fd55bed4c3f4aeeeb0a0141d4d41ae01e43fc71afac","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-5","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-3",648,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fancestor-the-times-have-changed-cover.jpg"]