The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

The words of the golden-armored general, the imperial envoy, instantly froze the atmosphere outside Tianyuan City. Han Li, Han Ling'er, and the other cultivators from Han City all looked wary, their hands resting on their magical artifacts. Qingyang Zhenren and Yuqing Xianzi were also taken aback, clearly not expecting the Holy Emperor to summon Han Mu directly.

Han Mu remained calm and asked indifferently, "May I ask what brings you to the Holy Emperor's court?"

The golden-armored general said in a deep voice, "Lord Han has slain a Demon Lord at the Integration Stage, lifting the siege of Tianyuan City. This is a great achievement. The Holy Emperor wishes to personally reward him and discuss the subsequent matters concerning the Demon Clan. I request that Lord Han accompany me to the Imperial City, so as not to keep the Holy Emperor waiting."

Although the tone was polite, it carried an air of absolute authority. Tianyuan Imperial City was the core of the human race, and the Holy Emperor was the supreme ruler of humanity; his words were law, and no one dared to disobey.

Han Mu remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Since it is the Holy Emperor who has summoned me, I will naturally comply. However, I need to arrange the affairs of Han City first."

"Lord Han, please proceed as soon as possible, for the Holy Emperor is already waiting," said the golden-armored general.

Han Mu turned to Han Li and said, "Han Li, you will temporarily assume the position of city lord and handle post-war affairs. Take stock of the losses, treat the wounded, and comfort the families of the fallen. Seventy percent of the captured resources will be put into storage for the family's development."

"Yes, Lord City Lord!" Han Li solemnly replied.

"Ling'er, you lead three thousand cultivators to stay and guard Tianyuan City to assist in the defense in case the demons launch a counterattack. Heifeng and Chiyan, you take the rest of the cultivators back to Hancheng to strengthen the defenses and wait for my return."

"yes!"

With the arrangements complete, Han Mu said to the golden-armored general, "We can depart now."

"Lord Han is so kind, please." The golden-armored general gestured for them to proceed.

Han Mu boarded the flying boat, followed closely by the golden-armored general and more than ten Nascent Soul stage guards. The flying boat transformed into a streak of light and sped towards the Tianyuan Imperial City.

On the flying boat, the golden-armored general was quite polite to Han Mu, personally serving him spiritual tea: "I am Jin Ge, the commander of the Golden Armored Guard under the Holy Emperor. I have long admired Lord Han's name, and meeting you today, I can see that it is indeed well-deserved."

"Commander Jin, you flatter me." Han Mu accepted the spirit tea, took a sip, and found it to be a fine "Cloud Mist Spirit Tea," which had a calming and mind-concentrating effect.

Jin Ge looked at Han Mu, secretly shocked. This man was so calm in the face of the Holy Emperor's summons, as if he were just going to see an ordinary friend. Moreover, he was clearly only at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm, yet he was able to kill the Bone Demon Venerable at the early stage of the Body Integration realm. This strength was truly unfathomable.

"Lord Han, forgive my bluntness," Jin Ge said cautiously, "The Holy Emperor's summons this time, besides rewarding you, is probably also a test. Han City's rise has been too rapid, already attracting the attention of some forces in the Imperial City. Lord Han, you must be very careful on your journey."

"Thank you for the reminder, Commander Jin." Han Mu nodded. He naturally understood that Han Cheng's rise from obscurity to the decisive victory over a Nascent Soul Demon Lord would undoubtedly attract attention from all sides. The Holy Emperor's summons was both a reward and a warning.

Tianyuan Imperial City is located in the center of the human race's territory, covering an area of ​​tens of thousands of miles. Its city walls are hundreds of feet high and are entirely forged from "Mysterious Heaven Iron," making them incredibly sturdy. Nine sixth-order spiritual veins converge within the city, their spiritual energy so dense that it transforms into mist, enveloping the entire imperial city.

The flying boat soared above the imperial city, passing through numerous checkpoints, and finally landed before a magnificent palace. The palace bore three large characters: Holy Emperor's Palace.

"Lord Han, please follow me. The Holy Emperor is already waiting in the palace." Jin Ge led Han Mu into the palace.

The Holy Emperor's Palace is extremely spacious, enough to accommodate ten thousand people. At this moment, dozens of people are standing in the palace, each with a profound aura. The lowest level of cultivation is the Refinement of Emptiness, and among them, several people have an aura as deep as the ocean, clearly indicating that they are Nascent Soul stage experts.

At the far end of the main hall, seated on a golden dragon throne, sat a middle-aged man in imperial robes. The man possessed a refined face and eyes like stars; seemingly gentle, yet exuding an aura of quiet authority. He was none other than the sovereign of humanity, the Heavenly Origin Saint Emperor—Qin Wudao, a cultivator at the early stage of the Mahayana realm.

"Your Majesty, Lord Han has arrived." Jin Ge knelt on one knee and said respectfully.

Han Mu bowed slightly: "Han Mu of Hancheng greets His Majesty the Holy Emperor." His manner was neither servile nor arrogant, neither impolite nor subservient.

All eyes in the hall fell on Han Mu, some with curiosity, some with scrutiny, and some with apprehension. The news of Han Mu's slaying of a Nascent Soul Demon Lord in the battle of Han City had already spread throughout the human race's upper echelons, and they were naturally very interested in this suddenly rising city lord.

"No need for formalities." Qin Wudao's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "Lord Han, you have rendered a great service by relieving the siege of Tianyuan City and slaying the Bone Demon Venerable. On behalf of the human race, I thank you."

"Your Majesty is too kind. The demon race has invaded our territory. As the lord of Han City, it is only right that I step forward to protect the human race's land," Han Mu said.

Qin Wudao nodded: "Merit must be rewarded, and wrongdoing must be punished; this is the rule of the imperial city. City Lord Han, tell me, what reward do you desire?"

Han Mu pondered for a moment and said, "Han City is newly established and in need of reconstruction. If the Holy Emperor is willing, could he grant Han City an 'interdimensional teleportation array' so that it can exchange goods with the Imperial City and other major human cities?"

These words caused a slight change in the expression of many in the hall. Interdimensional teleportation arrays were strategic resources strictly controlled by the imperial city, possessed only by a handful of top-tier powers. Han City was merely a rising force; what merit did it possess to qualify?

Qin Wudao laughed and said, "I can give you the interdimensional teleportation array. But besides that, I also want to bestow upon you something else."

He paused, then said, "Hancheng has rendered a great service this time. I have decided to bestow upon you the title of 'Demon Suppressor King' and grant you the title of King. The entire area within a million li of Hancheng will be your fiefdom. You may establish your own laws and govern your territory, and you only need to pay a certain amount of tribute to the imperial city each year."

"A title of King?!" A murmur of astonishment rippled through the hall. The human realm was vast, but the number of kings was few and far between, each belonging to an ancient family or sect with a history spanning over ten thousand years. How long had Han City been established? Han Mu had only just begun to distinguish himself, yet he was already being granted the title of King?

An elderly man in a purple robe stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this matter is not appropriate. Although Lord Han has made great contributions, the matter of bestowing a title upon him is of great importance and requires careful consideration. Han's foundation is still shallow, and I fear it will be difficult for him to win the hearts of the people."

Another middle-aged man in a blue robe added, "Indeed. A royal title is no small matter; it cannot be granted lightly. Your Majesty, please reconsider."

Qin Wudao said calmly, "Lord Han's ability to kill a Nascent Soul Demon Lord is enough to qualify him as a king. As for his shallow foundation, I believe that with Lord Han's abilities, it won't be long before Han City becomes another foundation for our human race."

He looked at Han Mu: "Lord Han, what do you think?"

Han Mu understood that the Holy Emperor was trying to win him over. The bestowal of the title of King seemed like an honor, but in reality, it was a way to bind him to the imperial court. However, for Han Cheng, this was indeed a tremendous opportunity. With the title of King, Han Cheng would rightfully become a regional lord, able to openly expand his power.

"I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's favor, and I, Han, accept the decree," Han Mu said, bowing.

"Good!" Qin Wudao laughed loudly, "From this day forward, you are the Demon Suppressor King, and Hancheng will become the eighth royal city of our human race! Jin Ge, issue the order: a coronation ceremony will be held three days later to announce this to the world!"

"Yes!" Jin Ge replied.

"Lord Han, no, you should now be called the Demon Suppressor King." Qin Wudao stepped down from the dragon throne, came to Han Mu, and took out a golden token and a jade slip. "This is the Royal Decree. With this decree, you can freely enter and leave the Imperial City and mobilize some of its resources. This jade slip contains the method for setting up the interdimensional teleportation array, as well as some unique cultivation techniques and resource lists of the Imperial City. It is a small token of my appreciation."

Han Mu accepted the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and a thought struck him. The jade slip not only contained the method for setting up an interdimensional teleportation array, but also several cultivation techniques that could be cultivated to the Integration stage, as well as information on a large amount of rare resources. The Holy Emperor had indeed spared no expense this time.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Han Mu said.

"No need for formalities." Qin Wudao waved his hand. "Now that you have been granted the title of king, you are a high-ranking member of my human race. There are some things you should know."

His expression turned serious: "This invasion by the demon race is no accident. According to reliable sources, a major upheaval has occurred within the demon race. The new demon lord, 'Blood Heaven,' is ambitious and desires to unify the spirit realm. This attack on the human race is merely a test. The real demonic calamity is likely yet to come."

The expressions of everyone in the hall turned solemn. If it were just an ordinary invasion, it wouldn't be so bad. But if the demonic calamity were to strike again, it would be a catastrophe that would engulf the entire spirit realm, and whether the human race could survive the calamity would be uncertain.

"Therefore, I need more powerful figures like you to uphold the world for our race." Qin Wudao looked at Han Mu with expectation in his eyes. "Han Mu, are you willing to fight for our race?"

Han Mu remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I was born and raised among humans, so it is only right that I fight for them. However, I have my own principles. If there is internal strife among humans, I will not participate. But if foreign races invade, I will certainly stand up and fight."

"Good! With your words, I am relieved." Qin Wudao nodded in satisfaction. "The investiture ceremony will be held in three days. You will stay in the imperial city for now. Jin Ge, take the Demon King to the Tianyuan Palace to rest."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Jin Ge led Han Mu away from the Holy Emperor's Palace and towards the Tianyuan Palace within the imperial city. This was a palace specifically for entertaining kings and nobles, incomparably luxurious and rich in spiritual energy.

After Han Mu left, the purple-robed elder in the hall frowned and said, "Your Majesty, although this young man is strong, his origins are unknown. Is it appropriate to grant him the title of king so easily...?"

Qin Wudao waved his hand to interrupt: "I have my own considerations. Han Mu's strength is unfathomable, and his background is mysterious. If he can be used by me, it will be a blessing for the human race. If not, at least I must make him stand on the side of the human race. Conferring a title of king is both a way to win him over and a way to restrain him."

He gazed out of the hall, his eyes deep: "The demonic calamity is approaching, and humanity needs a new strongman. Han Mu may be that person."

Inside the Tianyuan Palace, Han Mu sat cross-legged, took out the jade slip bestowed by the Holy Emperor, and examined it carefully.

"System, bring up the current status." He thought to himself.

[Host: Han Mu]

[Cultivation Level: Early Stage of True Integration / Mid Stage of Superficial Refinement]

[Identity: Demon Suppressor King (Human King)]

[Faction: Han City (Royal City)]

[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), Ten Thousand Ghosts Banner (Reforged)]

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

[Contribution Points: 95000]

[Current Mission: Resist the Demonic Calamity (Completed)]

[Rewards: 50000 Contribution Points, partial control of the Guanghan Realm (accessible at any time)]

[New Mission: Establish Royal City Power (In Progress)]

[Mission Requirements: Within three years, develop Hancheng into the eighth largest power of the human race, possessing at least three Nascent Soul cultivators and ten Void Refinement cultivators.]

[Task Rewards: 100000 Contribution Points, 1x Special Building "Time Acceleration Tower", Upgraded Clan Talent "Bloodline Awakening"]

"The Time Acceleration Tower..." Han Mu's eyes lit up. This was even more precious than the Enlightenment Tower, as it could accelerate the flow of time. A year of cultivation inside the tower might only be equivalent to a month in the outside world. This would be of immense help to the cultivation of the Han family's disciples.

"Bloodline Awakening Advancement?" Han Mu checked the details.

[Bloodline Awakening (Advanced): A direct descendant of the Han family with a unique bloodline talent. Once activated, it can awaken the ancestral bloodline inheritance, granting special physiques or innate supernatural abilities. The awakening probability is related to bloodline concentration and cultivation level.]

"Great stuff!" Han Mu was thrilled. With this, the strength of the Han family members would experience a qualitative leap. However, the prerequisite was to first complete the task of "establishing power in the royal city."

To cultivate at least three Nascent Soul cultivators and ten Void Refinement cultivators within three years... this is no easy task. Han City currently only has one Nascent Soul cultivator and one Void Refinement cultivator. However, with the Guanghan Realm involved, it's not entirely impossible.

"It seems we need to arrange for people to enter the Guanghan Realm as soon as possible." Han Mu already had a plan in mind.

Just then, Jin Ge's voice came from outside the hall: "Demon King, a guest has arrived."

"Please come in."

The palace doors opened, and Jin Ge led in an elderly man with white hair. The old man wore a simple gray robe, had a kind face, but his eyes were bright and his aura was unfathomable.

"Late stage of the Integration Realm..." Han Mu's heart stirred, and he stood up, cupping his hands in greeting: "May I ask who you are, senior?"

The old man smiled and said, "I am Qing Yuanzi. I have long admired the name of the Demon Suppressor King and have come to pay him a visit."