[{"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-59":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},2299381,4498,"Chapter 59: Refining Starlight","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-59",59,"\u003Cp>Xiao Fan experienced another stroke of fortune, but Zhang Yunlu was by no means idle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At 11:15 p.m., the Foundation Establishment Comprehensive Service Center, lobby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu sat upright, before her eyes were several lines of golden text visible only to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Name: Zhang Yunlu】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Realm: Qi Refining Ninth Layer】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Current Rank: Ninth】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Eligible to Enter Trial Space】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After passing the first round of trials, she could enter the Trial Space at any time, no longer forced to wait passively during sleep as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu was not satisfied with the ninth rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had entered this space before anyone else, giving her an advantage over all others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as she engaged, she discovered her weakness—lack of familiarity with other types of cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing a body cultivator she had never fought before, a style utterly unlike sword cultivators, she suffered from inexperience and failed to adjust her tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, she spent too much time and dropped to ninth place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So after defeating her opponent, she remained inside the Trial Space, testing herself against various types of cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet what haunted her most was that Qi Refining Eighth Layer sword cultivator who understood principle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her realm was one level lower, Zhang Yunlu had been utterly powerless against her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Creation Dao Foundation…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look, Xiao Lu—someone just finished the first step of the Talent Extraction Method!” Zhang Xiu’s tone held awe. “And he walked out standing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden text before Zhang Yunlu vanished; she followed her brother’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pale young man, staggering as he walked, was being supported by others—clearly exhausted—but everyone waiting in the lobby regarded him with respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To walk out standing after completing the Talent Extraction Method? This guy was a real hardass!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if trying to preserve dignity, the man attempted to straighten up—but barely did so before letting out a cry of agony and nearly collapsing, saved only by those beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why are you even doing this? Just rest already.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young man was carried away by his companions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhang Yunlu, Trial Room Nine, Talent Extraction Method.” A cold, crisp mechanical voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good luck, Xiao Lu,” Zhang Xiu encouraged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a slight nod, Zhang Yunlu rose and walked inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the metal door around the corner, she withdrew her card and inserted it into a slot, then infused a trace of spiritual power into a device beside it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Authentication confirmed. Zhang Yunlu. Wishing you success in your Talent Extraction Method cultivation.” The mechanical voice offered a lifeless blessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hss~ The metal door slowly opened; inside, a uniformed staff member awaited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please follow me. You purchased the third-tier care service—I will monitor your condition throughout.” She smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staff member’s duty was to monitor the cultivator’s condition in real time and intervene immediately if anything went wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For cultivators like Zhang Yunlu who purchased care service, if they vomited blood, lost bladder or bowel control, the staff would instantly heal them and clean up the mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In ancient times, this process was called “Guarding the Dao,” typically occurring between master and disciple, cultivation partners, or blood relatives—and it also included defending against external threats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the last part is no longer a concern; the Sword Sect’s Miscellaneous Affairs Hall may not be absolutely safe, but it far surpasses ordinary places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For cultivators who did not purchase care service, staff would carry them to a stretcher only after they were out of immediate danger, then transport them through the back door to a rest room for family or companions to receive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following the staff member, Zhang Yunlu arrived at a circular, sealed chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walls were silver-gray; at the far end stood a control panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center rested a meditation cushion; intricate glowing patterns traced the floor—array runes. The room was cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu walked to the center and sat cross-legged upon the cushion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hummm! The ceiling above opened, revealing a starry sky like a black velvet cloth studded with diamonds—profound and mysterious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staff member stood before the control panel: “You may begin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Zhang Yunlu closed her eyes, summoned three-tenths of her spiritual power, and formed the “Star Fishing” seal with flawless familiarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The array activated instantly; thin, pale silver, ethereal threads appeared—Starlight! This step was easy for anyone to succeed at; the real challenge lay ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She extended a tendril of her soul force, like tiny tentacles, gently wrapping around the descending starlight threads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment her soul force touched the starlight, a tidal wave of agony surged through her body—her mind felt as if a saw had been driven into her skull, slicing back and forth relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Refining cultivators could summon only limited soul force, granting them just one chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yunlu frowned slightly; for her, this pain remained within tolerable limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Withstanding the agony, she retracted her soul force—and simultaneously “harvested” the starlight into her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver threads around her, drawn by unseen force, slowly drifted toward the Chengjiang acupoint and merged within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this stage, the “harvesting” was nearly complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The harvested starlight began descending from Chengjiang, traveling along the Ren Meridian, passing through Xuanji, Zigong, Zhongtan, until reaching the Qihai acupoint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This process was excruciating—as if countless small knives sliced repeatedly through her meridians, as if her body would split in two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Zhang Yunlu, who died countless times each night and possessed extraordinary pain tolerance, clenched her teeth, lips turning white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long half-minute, the starlight finally flowed through the Qihai acupoint into her spiritual sea, merging into the six-sided crystal within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh~ She exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guiding” and “Harvesting” were complete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next came “Refining”—the most agonizing step. Nine out of ten cultivators failed here; the least consequence was vomiting blood, the worst, loss of bladder and bowel control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one surge of will, Zhang Yunlu did not pause. Her hand seals shifted; she drew a thin strand of starlight from the spiritual sea, and as it entered, it fused instantly with her spiritual power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Itch—every inch of her body itched, and the itch grew worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, the itch turned to piercing pain—every part of her body ached. After a long while, the piercing pain slowly faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not too painful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the “Basic Talent Extraction Method,” she could now gradually increase the amount drawn, with pain intensifying until she could no longer endure—or until full refinement was achieved. But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was too slow! Zhang Yunlu shifted her hand seals again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The six-sided crystal storing the starlight shattered; streams of starlight rained down, forming nine vortices above her spiritual sea, sucking the starlight in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nine Qi Talent Extraction Method!” Instantly, an indescribable agony flooded every corner of her body—each strand of flesh felt sliced open. Zhang Yunlu bit down hard, face turning deathly pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The agony nearly overwhelmed her, yet she clung fiercely to the last shred of clarity in her spiritual core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fainting meant all progress lost. The observing staff member was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Talent Extraction Method she used was extremely violent—dangerous indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And violence meant speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seconds later, Zhang Yunlu snapped open her eyes, but her body, drained of strength, collapsed sideways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staff member rushed forward, gently probing her condition with a thread of magic power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, she smiled: “Congratulations! You succeeded!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remarkable—she endured such a violent method without a single cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please collect, please follow! Explanation: Foundation Establishment is crucial to later plot developments, so it’s described in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next two stages will be summarized briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1251,"2026-06-20T06:44:12.591Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","313a6e20707c1f0e6467efed09d1f921060256147c9d10659d1c31c830ad533a","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-60","ancestor-the-times-have-changed-chapter-58",648,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fancestor-the-times-have-changed-cover.jpg"]