The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

The Five Elements True Essence Liquid entered the abdomen and instantly transformed into a violent torrent of spiritual energy that surged through the meridians.

Han Mu groaned, his face flushed red. Forcibly breaking the interval between doses had made the medicine several times more potent than normal absorption. He could feel a tearing pain in his meridians, a sign that the spiritual energy was too great and exceeded the limits of his meridians' capacity.

"System, assist in guiding the drug's effects!"

[Initiate the spiritual energy channeling procedure]

[Meridian load detected at 120%, immediate cessation recommended]

[Warning: Continuing this forcefully carries the risk of meridian rupture]

"I can't stop." Han Mu gritted his teeth and activated the "Primordial Longevity Technique," forcibly guiding his spiritual energy along a specific route.

He needed to break through to at least the seventh level of Foundation Establishment before the arrival of the demonic army. Although there was only one minor realm difference between the sixth and seventh levels of Foundation Establishment, it was the watershed between the mid and late stages, with a huge difference in strength.

The spiritual energy surged wildly through his meridians, causing sharp pain with each complete cycle. However, Han Mu could sense that the liquid spiritual energy within his dantian was rapidly increasing in density.

Half an hour later, he was soaked in sweat.

An hour later, blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Two hours later, a soft "crack" sound suddenly rang out in the cave—not the sound of something breaking, but the sound of some kind of barrier being broken.

Seven layers of foundation!

Han Mu suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of five-colored light appearing and disappearing within them. He examined his body internally and found that the liquid spiritual energy in his dantian was more than 30% thicker than before, and much more condensed. Although his meridians still ached, they had been forcibly widened considerably during the breakthrough process.

"System, retrieve the current status."

[Host: Han Mu]

[Realm: Foundation Establishment Level 7 (True) / Foundation Establishment Level 1 (Surface)]

[Cultivation Technique: Primordial Longevity Technique (Second Level, Minor Success)]

[Cultivation Progress: 12%]

[Current Status: Minor damage to the meridians (expected to recover on its own in three days)]

Han Mu let out a long sigh and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The price of forcibly breaking through was not small, but it was worth it. Now, his true combat strength should be comparable to the peak of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. With the optimized Five Elements Sword Formation, he could even fight against a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Just then, a rapid alarm bell rang out from outside the cave.

when!when!when!

Nine consecutive beeps—this is the highest level of alarm.

Han Mu stood up and stepped out of the cave. He saw that the Han family's residence was brightly lit, and all the cultivators had gathered in the square, ready for battle.

"Father, they're here!" Han Changqing strode forward, his face grave. "Our scouts report that the Demonic Path has sent nearly forty people this time, including five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators! And leading them... is Elder Blood Fiend of the Ghost Spirit Sect, at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment!"

Foundation Building Level 8!

Han Mu's eyes narrowed. Even though he had broken through to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, he was still at a disadvantage against someone at the eighth level. What's more, his opponent had four Foundation Establishment cultivators assisting him.

"How are the formations prepared?"

"The mountain-protecting formation is fully activated, and all the spirit stones have been filled." Han Changqing paused, "But based on this attack intensity, it can only last for a maximum of three hours."

Three hours...

Han Mu looked up at the night sky. On the eastern horizon, dozens of streaks of light could already be seen flying rapidly toward them.

"Pass down the order and proceed according to plan," Han Mu said in a deep voice. "Yun Ge, you take the Qi Refining stage cultivators and guard the array's core. No matter what happens, do not come out."

"Yes!" Han Yunge nodded emphatically.

"Changqing, you, along with fellow Daoists Li Yuanming and Zhang Xuanfeng, will be responsible for dealing with their Qi Refining stage cultivators. As for the five Foundation Establishment cultivators... leave them to me."

"Father!" Han Changqing exclaimed in surprise, "You're all alone..."

"Do as I say." Han Mu interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The moment the words were spoken, the demonic army arrived.

More than forty streaks of light landed outside the Han family's mountain gate. The five people at the head of the group possessed overwhelming auras; they were five Foundation Establishment cultivators. In the middle was an old man in a blood-red robe, with a withered face and sunken eyes. He was Elder Xue Sha of the Ghost Spirit Sect, with an eighth-level Foundation Establishment cultivation. To his left were Wang Chan and Dong Xuan'er, and to his right were two old men in black robes, Elder Yin Sha of the Ghost Spirit Sect (fourth-level Foundation Establishment) and Elder Miao Yin of the Joyful Union Sect (fifth-level Foundation Establishment).

"Han Mu, come out and face your death!" Wang Chan shouted sharply, his voice filled with intense killing intent.

Han Mu slowly walked out of the mountain gate, his face still "pale" and his breath "weak". He looked at the five people in front of him and said calmly, "Young Master Wang, why make such a fuss?"

"Enough with the nonsense!" Wang Chan gritted her teeth. "How dare you deceive me with a fake Blood Fiend Seed! Today, I'll wipe out the entire Han family!"

Elder Blood Fiend coldly said, "Han Mu, hand over the true Blood Fiend Seed, and I will grant you a quick death."

"Blood Fiend True Seed?" Han Mu asked, feigning doubt. "What is that?"

"Still pretending to be confused!" Elder Yin Sha sneered, waving his hand to unleash a black palm print that struck the mountain-protecting formation.

boom!

The light curtain vibrated violently, and ripples appeared on its surface.

"Three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, two mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators..." Han Mu quickly calculated in his mind, "A direct confrontation would be certain death, the only option is to outsmart them."

He secretly crushed a jade talisman hidden in his sleeve.

This is the activation talisman for the "Earth Vein Lightning Array" that was set up in advance around Green Bamboo Peak. This array uses the power of the earth veins to attract heavenly lightning. Although its power is not enough to kill a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, it is enough to create chaos.

Rumble!

Suddenly, dark clouds filled the night sky, and streaks of silver lightning struck down, exploding around the demonic cultivators.

"A mere trick!" Elder Blood Fiend scoffed, raising his hand to create a blood-red light barrier that blocked all the lightning.

But taking advantage of this opportunity, Han Mu made his move.

Instead of attacking the five Foundation Establishment cultivators, he flashed and rushed towards the Qi Refining stage demonic disciples behind him.

"Five Elements Sword Formation!"

Five-colored sword light flew out from his body, instantly forming a sword array that enveloped the twelve late-stage Qi Refining disciples of the demonic path. These disciples were at most at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and were powerless against Han Mu, who was at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.

Chi Chi Chi!

Swords flashed, blood splattered. In just three breaths, all twelve disciples were dead.

"You're courting death!" Elder Blood Fiend roared in fury, his figure transforming into a streak of blood as he lunged straight at Han Mu.

Han Mu neither dodged nor avoided, but instead met the attack head-on. Just as the two were about to collide, he formed hand seals, and five spiritual energy shields of different colors appeared around his body.

The Five Elements Protective Aura!

This is a defensive spell that comes with the Foundation Establishment stage of the "Primordial Longevity Technique". It operates according to the principle of mutual generation of the five elements and has extremely strong defensive power.

boom!

The Blood Fiend Elder's crimson palm print slammed into the protective aura, causing it to vibrate violently but not shatter. Han Mu used the force to fly backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his face turning even paler.

"You do have some skill." Elder Blood Fiend's eyes flashed with surprise. "However, that's all."

He attacked again, this time his palm print transformed into a gigantic blood-red demonic claw, its power several times stronger than before.

Han Mu's expression turned serious. He had to take this attack head-on, and barely manage to do so.

"The five elements revolve in a cycle, endlessly regenerating!"

He activated his cultivation technique with all his might, and the five spiritual energy shields shone brightly, rotating in a mutually reinforcing order to dissolve the power of the blood-red ghost claw layer by layer.

But how could a full-force attack from the eighth level of Foundation Establishment be so easily blocked?

boom!

The spiritual energy shield finally shattered, and Han Mu was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the mountain wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Grandfather!" Han Yunge cried out from inside the formation.

Han Mu struggled to his feet, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and gave Elder Blood Fiend a "bitter" smile: "Eighth level of Foundation Establishment... indeed impressive."

"To survive two of my attacks, you have every reason to be proud." Elder Blood Fiend stepped forward. "Now, hand over..."

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden change occurred.

Han Mu suddenly clasped his hands together, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Explode!"

At this moment, he detonated all the remaining medicinal power of the Five Elements True Essence Liquid in his body!

boom!!!

A violent burst of spiritual energy exploded from his center, forming a five-colored pillar of light that shot into the sky. This sudden outburst forced Elder Blood Fiend to retreat several steps to temporarily avoid the attack.

After the beam of light dissipated, Han Mu knelt on one knee, his aura extremely weak, as if he might collapse at any moment.

"A dying struggle." Elder Blood Fiend sneered, about to step forward and finish him off.

Suddenly, Han Mu raised his head, revealing a strange smile: "You think... this is all I've prepared?"

He slapped the ground with his right hand.

"Earth's ley lines lock, activate!"

Rumble rumble rumble—

The entire Green Bamboo Peak trembled violently, countless cracks appeared in the ground, and dense evil energy from the earth veins surged out. This evil energy was different from before; it was mixed with the power of the "Spirit Locking Talisman" that Han Mu had planted beforehand, forming a huge trapping array that enveloped all five Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Elder Blood Fiend!

"This is... the Earthly Fiend Dragon Trapping Formation?!" Elder Blood Fiend's expression changed.

"Not bad." Han Mu stood up unsteadily. "This formation is based on the earth's veins and can trap a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. That time... is enough for me to do a lot of things."

He turned around and looked at the remaining Qi Refining stage demonic disciples, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

Trapped in the formation, Wang Chan shouted urgently, "Retreat quickly!"

But it was too late.

Although Han Mu was "severely injured," he was still more than capable of dealing with these Qi Refining stage cultivators. The Five Elements Sword Formation was deployed again, and wherever the sword light passed, flesh and blood flew everywhere.

In just ten breaths, eight more demonic disciples died.

"Han Mu! I will extract your soul and refine your spirit!" Elder Blood Fiend attacked frantically within the formation, but the Earth Fiend Dragon Trapping Formation was based on the earth's veins and was exceptionally sturdy, making it difficult to break in a short time.

Han Mu ignored him and continued the slaughter. He wanted to take this opportunity to weaken the power of the demonic path as much as possible.

The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passes quickly.

As the array's light barrier began to dim, Han Mu had already killed twenty-three Qi Refining stage demonic disciples. The remaining dozen or so were terrified and scattered in all directions.

boom!

The Earthly Fiend Trapping Dragon Formation was finally broken.

The five Blood Fiend Elders escaped their predicament and looked at the corpses scattered on the ground; their faces were all ashen.

"Han! Mu!" Elder Blood Fiend said each word slowly and deliberately, his killing intent soaring to the heavens.

Han Mu leaned weakly against the rock wall, looked at the five people, and suddenly smiled: "Elder Blood Fiend, now... can we have a proper talk?"

A photographic stone had appeared in his hand without his knowledge.

"I recorded everything that just happened," Han Mu said, "panting." "Tell me, if this footage gets into the hands of the seven major sects, how big of a storm would the news of the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Joyful Union Sect joining forces to massacre the three righteous families of Yanling Fortress cause?"

Elder Blood Fiend's pupils suddenly contracted.