The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

Six months have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, three uninvited guests arrived in Hancheng. The one in the lead was an old man in golden robes, with a powerful aura, who was actually at the early stage of the Integration Realm. Behind him were two late-stage Refinement Realm cultivators, both envoys of the Heavenly Origin Saint Emperor.

"Lord Han, the Holy Emperor has ordered you to come to the Holy Emperor City for a meeting." The golden-robed elder spoke arrogantly, his eyes filled with disdain as he looked at Han Mu. Han Mu appeared to be only at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm, which was nothing in the eyes of this Nascent Soul cultivator.

Han Mu sat in the main seat, his expression calm: "May I ask what brings the Holy Emperor to see me?"

"You'll know when we get there," the old man in the golden robe said impatiently. "Lord Han, please, don't keep the Holy Emperor waiting."

The Han family's high-ranking members in the main hall all looked grim. This old man's attitude was far too arrogant; he simply didn't take the Han family seriously. Han Yunge was so angry she wanted to speak, but Han Feng stopped her with a look.

Han Mu laughed: "What if I refuse?"

"Refuse?" The golden-robed elder sneered. "City Lord Han, don't think that just because the Han family has some strength, you can defy the Holy Emperor. Within Tianyuan Realm, the Holy Emperor is the law! To defy the Holy Emperor is to be an enemy of the entire human race!"

"What a grand compliment." Han Mu slowly stood up. "However, it's not your place to interfere in my actions. Go back and tell Emperor Tianyuan that if he wants to see me, he should come to Han City himself."

"Insolence!" The golden-robed elder roared in fury, unleashing the oppressive aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator that enveloped the entire hall. Han Feng, Han Yunge, and the others were struck as if by a heavy blow, their faces turning pale. Only Han Mu remained unmoved, as if the oppressive aura did not exist.

"Hmm?" The golden-robed elder's expression changed slightly. He was at the early stage of the Integration Realm; under such pressure, a Void Refinement cultivator should be unable to move. How come Han Mu seems completely unaffected?

"Your aura is too weak," Han Mu said calmly, raising his hand and waving it.

"Bang!"

The golden-robed elder was struck as if by a heavy blow, flying backward and crashing into a pillar of the main hall, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The two late-stage Void Refinement cultivators behind him fared even worse, being blasted hundreds of feet away and crashing onto the plaza outside the hall, unable to even get up.

"You...you concealed your cultivation level!" The golden-robed elder stared at Han Mu in shock. That wave of his hand just now, seemingly effortless, contained a power he couldn't comprehend. This was definitely not something a Void Refinement stage cultivator could achieve!

"Get lost." Han Mu only said one word.

The old man in the golden robe was ashen-faced, but dared not be presumptuous again. He could sense that Han Mu had held back just now; otherwise, that attack would have killed him. This Han Mu was at least in the mid-stage of the Integration Realm, and might even be in the late-stage!

"Alright, alright! I will definitely convey Lord Han's words!" The old man in the golden robe gritted his teeth, got up, and left in a sorry state with his two subordinates.

"Father, won't this...?" Han Feng asked with some concern. Although his father was powerful, the Heavenly Origin Saint Emperor was, after all, only at the Great Ascension stage, and had many experts under his command.

"It's alright." Han Mu waved his hand. "The Heavenly Origin Saint Emperor won't take action personally. He's at the Great Ascension stage and has his pride. Besides, the stronger I reveal, the less likely he is to act rashly."

"But he is, after all, the Holy Emperor..."

"So what if he's a Holy Emperor?" A cold glint flashed in Han Mu's eyes. "Soon, the Heavenly Origin Realm will change masters."

Han Feng's heart skipped a beat. Was his father about to formally declare war on the Heavenly Origin Holy Emperor?

"The battle for a spot in the Spirit Cleansing Pool is about to begin. Get ready and take Han Li with you." Han Mu changed the subject. "Remember, no matter what means you use, you must get a spot."

"Yes!" Han Feng nodded.

Two weeks later, in Tianyuan City.

The battle for a spot in the Spirit Cleansing Pool was held at the Battle Platform outside Tianyuan City. Hundreds of geniuses from all corners of the Tianyuan Realm gathered, all at the Refinement stage. Han Li was among them, representing the Han family in the battle.

Han Feng, as an elder of the Han family, sat in the spectator stands. Beside him were representatives from other forces, each possessing a powerful aura, the lowest being the late stage of the Void Refinement realm.

"Elder Han Feng, your Han family only sent a junior at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm?" A black-robed elder beside him sneered. He was Elder Blood Slaughter, one of the eight elders under the Heavenly Origin Saint Emperor, with an early-stage Integration realm cultivation.

"So what if he's only at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm? Although Han Li is only at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm, fighting opponents of higher levels is as easy as eating and drinking," Han Feng said calmly.

"Heh, quite the boast." Elder Blood Butcher sneered. "I've heard your Han family has been quite arrogant lately, even daring to injure the Holy Emperor's envoy. Han Feng, I advise you to tone it down, or you won't even know how you died."

"No need to trouble yourself." Han Feng ignored him.

At this moment, the battle on the Battle Arena had already begun. There were ten arenas, and the final winner of each arena would receive a spot in the Spirit Cleansing Pool. Han Li was on the seventh arena.

His opponent was a red-haired youth in the late stage of the Void Refinement realm, from the "Crimson Flame Sect," whose fire-based divine abilities were extremely powerful. However, Han Li did not give him a chance to use them. The Azure Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword transformed into a sword array, directly trapping the red-haired youth and defeating him in three moves.

"What a powerful sword formation!" Exclamations erupted from the spectators. A mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator instantly defeating a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator—this level-crossing combat power was terrifying.

Elder Xue Tu's face was grim. He also had disciples participating, and they were on the seventh arena, where they would face Han Li in the next match.

Sure enough, Han Li's next opponent was Elder Xue Tu's disciple, a black-robed youth at the peak of the Void Refinement stage.

"Boy, kneel down and admit defeat, and I might spare your life," the black-robed youth said arrogantly. He was at the peak of the Void Refinement stage and cultivated a blood-path technique, making him far stronger than others of the same level.

Han Li didn't say a word and immediately attacked. The Azure Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword transformed into a rain of swords, each strike containing the power of the five elements, its power astonishing.

The black-robed youth's expression changed slightly, and he summoned a blood-red shield. However, the rain of swords was too dense, and the blood-red shield shattered after only three breaths. The black-robed youth was pierced through the shoulder by a sword and sent flying backward.

"I surrender!" the black-robed youth cried out in terror. If that sword had been just a fraction off, it would have pierced his heart.

Han Li sheathed his sword, his expression calm. For him, defeating a peak Void Refinement cultivator was not difficult. With Han Mu's guidance and the treasures he obtained from the Guanghan Realm, his true combat strength was already close to the early stage of the Integration Realm.

"Useless!" Elder Blood Butcher's face turned ashen with rage. His disciple had actually been defeated in three moves by a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator; it was utterly disgraceful.

Han Feng's lips curled slightly: "Elder Xue Tu, it seems that your subordinates under the Heavenly Origin Holy Emperor are not so great after all."

"You!" Elder Blood Butcher was furious, but dared not make a move on the Battle Platform. This was a sacred place for humans, and private duels were forbidden.

The ensuing battles were a foregone conclusion; Han Li won one victory after another, ultimately securing first place on the seventh arena and earning a spot in the Spirit Cleansing Pool.

"Well done." Han Feng patted Han Li on the shoulder.

"Thank you very much, Elder Feng." Han Li was also very happy. With the spot in the Spirit Cleansing Pool, his chances of breaking through to the Integration Stage were much greater.

"Let's go back to Hancheng. The Cleansing Pool will open in three months, and I'll personally take you there," Han Feng said.

Just as the two were about to leave, a young man in white blocked their way. This young man had a handsome face and a profound aura; he was actually at the early stage of the Integration Realm.

"You are Han Li?" the white-robed youth said calmly. "My younger brother died in the Guanghan Realm, and some people say you killed him."

Han Li frowned: "And who are you?"

"Liu Rufeng, the eighth elder under the Heavenly Origin Saint Emperor," the white-robed youth said. "My younger brother, Liu Ruyun, was in the late stage of the Void Refinement realm and died in the Guanghan Realm. Some say they saw you fighting with him for a spiritual herb, and then he died."

Han Li remembered. Back in the Guanghan Realm, there was indeed a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator named Liu Ruyun who tried to steal the "Seven Aperture Exquisite Fruit" that he had discovered. He defeated her and she escaped. As for how she died later, he didn't know.

"I defeated him, but I didn't kill him," Han Li said truthfully.

"You say you didn't kill him, so you don't?" Liu Rufeng sneered. "Today, I will seek justice for my brother!"

As he spoke, he was about to make his move. The pressure of the Nascent Soul stage enveloped Han Li, and Han Li immediately felt short of breath, as if his body was being crushed by a mountain.

"Elder Liu, it's not right to bully the weak." Han Feng stepped in front of Han Li, dispelling the oppressive aura. He was also at the peak of the Void Refinement stage; although not as strong as the Body Integration stage, he could still withstand some of the pressure.

"Han Feng, are you trying to stop me?" Liu Rufeng's eyes were icy.

"Han Li is a member of my Han family. If you want to touch him, you'll have to get past me first." Han Feng refused to back down.

"Alright, then I'll take care of you too!" Liu Rufeng raised his hand to attack.

Just then, a faint voice rang out: "Liu Rufeng, try touching them."

The void rippled, and Han Mu's figure appeared. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Liu Rufeng with a calm gaze, yet Liu Rufeng felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

"Han... City Lord Han?" Liu Rufeng's expression changed drastically. He could sense that Han Mu's aura was unfathomable, definitely not just at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm! Recalling the incident where the golden-robed envoy was injured, an ominous premonition welled up in Liu Rufeng's heart.

"Get lost." Han Mu only said one word.

Liu Rufeng's face turned pale and then red, but he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Lord Han, I will remember what happened today. But the hatred for killing my brother will not be left unresolved!"

After saying that, he turned and left, his back view looking disheveled.

"Thank you, City Lord." Han Li bowed. If Han Mu hadn't arrived in time, he and Han Feng would have been in danger.

"It's nothing." Han Mu waved his hand. "But this Liu Rufeng won't let this go. Han Li, be careful after you enter the Spirit Cleansing Pool. He might try to harm you inside."

"I understand," Han Li nodded.

"Let's go back to Hancheng." Han Mu waved his hand and disappeared with the two of them.

Upon returning to Hancheng, Han Mu immediately summoned the top officials.

"Liu Rufeng's matter is a trigger; the Heavenly Origin Holy Emperor will make a move soon," Han Mu said in a deep voice. "We need to accelerate our preparations. Han Feng, how is your contact with those three elders progressing?"

Han Feng replied, "Father, we have already contacted two elders. Elder Qingyun and Elder Mingjing have long been dissatisfied with Emperor Tianyuan and are willing to cooperate with us. However, Elder Chiyan is still observing."

"Then let's add fuel to the fire." A cold glint flashed in Han Mu's eyes. "Doctor Mo, spread the word that the Heavenly Origin Holy Emperor is preparing to reduce the power of the Eight Elders and concentrate resources on cultivating his own loyalists."

"Yes!" Doctor Mo accepted the order.

"Furthermore, spread the word that I have obtained an ancient inheritance in the Guanghan Realm, my cultivation has greatly improved, and I will soon break through to the Integration Stage."

"Father, why is this?" Han Feng asked, puzzled. Weren't they supposed to be hiding their strength?

"It's a mix of truth and deception," Han Mu chuckled. "The stronger I reveal, the more wary the Heavenly Origin Saint Emperor will be. The more wary he is, the less likely he is to act rashly, giving us more time. Moreover, those three wavering elders will be more inclined to side with us when they see the Han family's potential."

"Father is wise!" Han Feng suddenly realized.

"Alright, everyone go and prepare. Three months from now, Han Li will enter the Spirit Cleansing Pool, and I will personally escort him. I want to see who dares to make a move in the Spirit Cleansing Pool."

A cold glint flashed in Han Mu's eyes. The Heavenly Origin Realm was due for a new master.