The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

Han Li returned to Cold Moon Pool alone. This time, he didn't approach directly, but instead circled around to the lower reaches of the pool and submerged into the icy water. He took the "Water-Repelling Pill" refined by Han Yunge, which allowed him to breathe underwater for an hour. He also activated the Ice Soul Pearl, merging his aura with the ice, making him virtually undetectable.

Underwater visibility was poor, but his divine sense could still probe. Han Li cautiously swam towards the center of the lake, avoiding the weeds and undercurrents. He could sense five powerful auras in the center of the lake, one of which was particularly strong—it was the Flood Dragon King.

"They are guarding the Moon Lotus. Harvesting requires special techniques, otherwise the lotus will be damaged." Han Li recalled the knowledge taught to him by Han Mu. The Moon Lotus needs to be wrapped in wood-type magic and harvested when the moonlight is at its peak. The technique must be gentle, otherwise the spiritual energy will leak out.

"Wood-type magic... Yun Ge isn't here, so I can only use this." He took out a green jade pendant, a one-time-use magic artifact called "Wood Spirit Pendant" made by Han Yun Ge. It could simulate wood-type magic, but could only be maintained for ten breaths.

"I must finish harvesting within ten breaths, then escape immediately." Han Li calculated the distance and time. He lay in ambush behind a boulder at the bottom of the lake, waiting for his chance.

The maturation process of the Moon Lotus lasts for three hours, during which it continuously absorbs the power of the moonlight, its radiance growing ever brighter. This is the most crucial moment; the five Frost Dragons are intently watching the lotus to prevent any unforeseen events.

Half an hour later, the Moon Lotus reached its peak of light, and the petals fully bloomed, revealing the lotus seedpod in the center. There were nine lotus seeds on the seedpod, each containing pure moonlight power.

"Now!" Han Li crushed the Wood Spirit Pendant, and a surge of pure wood-elemental magic enveloped his entire body. He shot out like an arrow, instantly arriving beside the Moon Lotus.

"Who goes there?!" The Flood Dragon King was the first to notice, roaring and spewing out icy breath. But Han Li was prepared, summoning the Ice Soul Pearl to withstand the attack. His hands moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, using wood-elemental magic to wrap around the Moon Lotus and gently fold it.

"Click."

The Moon Lotus snapped in response and fell into Han Li's hand. Without even looking at it, he immediately crushed a "Thousand-Mile Escape Talisman," and his figure transformed into a streak of earth-yellow light, disappearing into the bottom of the lake.

"Roar—! You scoundrel, don't run!" The Flood Dragon King roared in fury, causing the entire lake surface to explode as the five Frost Flood Dragons gave chase. However, the Thousand-Mile Escape Talisman, bestowed by Han Mu, allowed them to travel thousands of miles underground at incredible speeds. Although the Frost Flood Dragons were skilled in water-based escape techniques, their speed was greatly reduced underground, and they were quickly left behind.

A quarter of an hour later, Han Li emerged from an icy plain a thousand miles away, his face pale and his magical power greatly depleted. However, the crystal-clear Moon Lotus in his hand remained intact.

"It's done." He breathed a sigh of relief and immediately sent a message to Han Yunge and the other three. Half an hour later, the four arrived and joined him.

"Elder Han, are you alright?" Han Ling'er asked with concern, her injuries having stabilized.

"It's alright, it just took a lot of energy." Han Li waved his hand, took out the Moon Lotus, and said, "Now that we have the lotus, we need to refine it as soon as possible. Yun Ge, are you confident in your ability to do it?"

Han Yunge took the Moon Lotus and examined it carefully. The lotus petals were crystal clear, the lotus seedpod was full, and the nine lotus seeds emitted a faint moonlight. "The lotus body is intact, and its medicinal properties are unaffected. I am 70% confident that I can refine the Moon Lotus Pill, but I need to find a safe place to start the furnace, and I must not be disturbed."

"The Guanghan Realm is dangerous everywhere, where is it safe?" Han Tianfeng frowned.

Han Li pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of something: "Perhaps there's a place... Come with me."

He led the four of them northeast. According to the map Han Mu had given them, there was a "Cave of Ice and Fire" there. Half of the cave was filled with ice, and the other half with earth fire, making it an excellent place for alchemy. Moreover, its location was secluded and difficult to discover.

After a two-day flight, we arrived at the Ice and Fire Cave. As the map indicated, the cave was indeed filled with millennia-old ice on the left and magma on the right. The intersection of ice and fire created a wondrous balanced zone with a suitable temperature and abundant spiritual energy.

"This place is excellent." Han Yunge nodded in satisfaction. "Using ice to stabilize the furnace and earth fire to refine the pills can increase the success rate. Elder Han, you will protect me. The pill refining process will take forty-nine days, and there must be no interference."

"Don't worry, with us here, not even a fly can get in," Han Li said. The five divided the tasks: Han Li and Han Jinglei guarded the cave entrance, Han Ling'er and Han Tianfeng guarded the cave interior, and Han Yunge started refining pills at the junction of ice and fire.

The alchemy furnace was Han Yunge's natal magic weapon, the "Azure Phoenix Furnace," a high-grade fourth-tier item. She first cleansed the furnace body with the power of ice, then warmed it with earth fire. Once the furnace reached the required temperature, she carefully took out the Moon Lotus and began processing it.

The alchemy process was intricate and meticulous, and Han Yunge was completely focused, not daring to be distracted in the slightest. Han Li and the other three also dared not be careless, taking turns guarding the area day and night, remaining vigilant about their surroundings.

Meanwhile, outside the Guanghan Realm, in the Hanyue Plain.

Suddenly, a burst of brilliant light erupted from the cave where Han Mu was in seclusion. He opened his eyes, which shimmered with multicolored light, and his aura was several times stronger than before.

"System, check the current status," he silently instructed.

[Host: Han Mu]

[World inhabited: The Spirit World]

[Cultivation Level: Early Stage of True Integration / Mid Stage of Superficial Refinement (Automatically adjusted by the "Heaven-Gathering Divine Technique")]

[Cultivation Techniques: Primordial Longevity Technique, Level 8 (Early Stage), Heaven-Gathering Divine Technique, Level 6, Nine-Turn Undying Body, Third Stage]

[Supernatural Abilities: Lesser Five Elements Sword Formation, Primordial Chaos Qi, Heaven-Gathering Technique, Five Elements Escape Technique, Primordial Thunder Technique, Realm-Suppressing Seal]

[Magic Items: Qiankun Sword (Innate), Five Elements Flag (Ancient Treasure), Heavenly Secrets Disc (Special), Boundary Suppressing Stele (Incomplete Immortal Artifact)]

[Families: Han Family (Human Realm), Han City (Spirit Realm)]

[Contribution Points: 27000]

[Current Task: Develop Hancheng (In Progress)]

[Task Progress: Nascent Soul Cultivator 1/10, Intermediate Advancement (100%)]

[Mission complete, promoted to advanced stronghold]

[Rewards: 20000 Contribution Points, Clan Talent "Bloodline Resonance" upgraded to level 2, Blueprint for the special building "Enlightenment Tower"]

Current contribution points: 47000

"I've reached the early stage of the Integration Realm..." Han Mu felt the surging magical power within his body. After three years of seclusion, refining the Boundary-Suppressing Monument, and comprehending the laws of the Guanghan Realm, he had finally broken through to the Integration Realm. And his apparent cultivation level, adjusted by the "Heaven-Gathering Divine Technique," showed as the mid-stage of the Void Refinement Realm, perfectly fitting the principle of "playing dumb to fool the enemy."

The Boundary-Suppressing Monument is a damaged immortal artifact. Although its power is less than one ten-thousandth of its complete form, it has already greatly increased his strength. In particular, the divine ability "Boundary-Suppressing Seal" can mobilize a portion of the laws of the Guanghan Realm to suppress enemies, and its power is no less than a full-force attack from a mid-stage Integration Realm cultivator.

"System, construct the Enlightenment Tower." He thought to himself. The Enlightenment Tower could help cultivators comprehend the Great Dao and increase their chances of breakthrough, which was exactly what Hancheng urgently needed.

[Construct the Enlightenment Tower by consuming 10000 contribution points]

[Remaining Contribution Points: 37000]

Construction time: six months

Han Mu rose and walked out of the cave. A considerable number of people had already gathered on the Cold Moon Plain, all from various factions awaiting the return of their disciples. The Guanghan Realm had been open for nearly three years and would close in a little over a month.

"Lord Han, you've emerged from seclusion?" A familiar voice rang out; it was Jin Yangzi. This Lord of Tianyuan City was also waiting here.

"Lord Jin," Han Mu bowed, "are you waiting for your disciples?"

"Indeed," Jin Yangzi sighed. "The Guanghan Realm is fraught with danger; every time it opens, thirty percent of the cultivators perish. I only hope that more of my Tianyuan City disciples can return."

"Good fortune will always be with you," Han Mu comforted him. He sensed that Han Li and the other four were in good condition and that the Moon Essence Pill was about to be completed, which put his mind at ease.

"Lord Han, there's something I need to remind you of." Jin Yangzi's expression was solemn. "The Blood Demon Sect, Shadow Assassination Hall, and Samsara Hall suffered heavy losses in the Netherworld Cave, and it has been confirmed that Lord Han was responsible. They've declared that they will fight Han City to the death. Moreover... the Samsara Hall seems to have enlisted the help of a powerful figure who intends to harm Han City."

"Oh?" Han Mu's eyes turned cold. "What important figure?"

"I'm not sure, but for the Samsara Palace to take this so seriously, it must be at least a Nascent Soul cultivator," Jin Yangzi said. "City Lord Han needs to make plans as soon as possible."

"Thank you for informing me, Lord Jin." Han Mu nodded. He had expected that seizing the Underworld King Seal and thwarting the three-way conspiracy would not be easily forgiven. However, now that he had reached the Integration stage and possessed the Boundary Suppression Stele, he had nothing to fear unless a Mahayana cultivator personally arrived.

After a brief conversation, Jin Yangzi took his leave. Han Mu gazed towards the entrance to the Guanghan Realm, lost in thought.

"Hancheng is now a high-level stronghold, but it is still short of nine Nascent Soul cultivators. Once the Moon Essence Pill is refined, Han Changqing, Han Yunge, and Han Li are all expected to break through. With the accumulation of other resources, it will not be difficult to cultivate ten Nascent Soul cultivators within three years."

"Only when Hancheng has a combined-level expert in charge, ten Nascent Soul cultivators as assistants, over a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators, and over a thousand Core Formation cultivators, can we truly establish a firm foothold in the Spirit Realm."

He returned to his cave and continued his seclusion. The Moon Essence Pill was about to be completed, and Han Li and the others were about to cross the boundary. Meanwhile, Han Cheng's rise to power was only just beginning.

Within the realm of the Moon, lies the Ice and Fire Cave.

Forty-nine days passed in the blink of an eye. The alchemical furnace trembled, its lid soaring into the sky, and nine beams of moonlight shot upwards, intertwining to form a phantom of a bright moon on the cave ceiling. The moonlight poured down its clear glow, enveloping the entire cave.

"The pills are complete!" Han Yunge exclaimed, forming hand seals. Nine pills, each the size of a longan, flew out of the furnace. Each one was crystal clear like jade, with moonlight shimmering on its surface, and emitting a refreshing fragrance.

The Moon Essence Elixir is complete!

"Nine pills...all of them are of superior quality!" Han Li was moved. Refining Moon Essence Pills is extremely difficult; it is considered a success if three pills are successfully made. Han Yunge actually refined nine pills, and all of them were of superior quality. Her talent in alchemy is truly terrifying.

"I have fulfilled my mission." Han Yunge's face was pale, but her eyes were full of joy. She waved her hand to put away the pills and placed them into a specially made jade bottle. "The Moon Essence Pill needs to be nurtured with moonlight for a hundred days for its effects to fully stabilize. We still have more than a month to find a place within the realm with abundant moonlight to nurture it."

"I know a place," Han Ling'er said. "On the way here, there is a place called 'Bright Moon Valley'. The moonlight in the valley is ten times that of the outside world, which is perfect for nurturing elixirs."

"Alright, let's go to Bright Moon Valley," Han Li decided. The five of them packed up and left the Ice and Fire Cave.

Meanwhile, across the Guanghan Realm, carnage and treasure hunting were also unfolding. With the three-year period drawing to a close, many cultivators were going mad, fighting to the death for their final opportunity.

Will the five people from Hancheng be able to cross the border safely?