The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

The skeletal creatures surged across the horizon, their rustling sounds blending into a chilling roar. Some wielded rusted swords, others were nothing but skeletons, their eye sockets flickering with eerie green flames. Their auras ranged from True Immortal to Golden Immortal, their sheer numbers despairing.

"How many of these must there be..." Luo Feng swallowed hard, his hand gripping the sword trembling.

"Ten thousand? A million? Countless." Han Li's expression was solemn. "The Desolate Wasteland is an ancient battlefield where countless immortals, demons, and monsters perished. Over countless years, their remains became sentient, forming undead creatures. This place is the perfect habitat for them."

"Senior Han, should we fight or run?" Liu Ruyan asked the crucial question.

Han Mu glanced at it and quickly brought up the system panel to check:

Name: Han Mu

True Realm: Peak Golden Immortal

Surface Realm: Mid-stage True Immortal

Time Rule: 32% for Beginners

Spatial Laws: Introduction 5%

Celestial Aura: -100 points

Status: The chaotic spacetime Dao patterns continue to merge; control over the spacetime Dao beacon is at 12%.

The Time Law has increased from 30% to 32%, indicating that the Chaotic Spacetime Dao Patterns are still in effect. The Immortal Spirit Qi is negative, so we can't rely on the system for now.

"We can't win; there are too many of them." Han Mu was very clear-headed. "We can't escape either; they're everywhere. We need to find a place to hold our ground and wait for them to retreat or for us to find a way in."

"Over there!" Bai Ling suddenly pointed to the left. "That area is slightly higher, with a huge rock that would be good for defense."

Looking ahead, they saw a massive black boulder, ten zhang tall, about three li to their left, resembling a natural fortress. There seemed to be fewer skeletal creatures around the boulder, and the boulder itself emitted a faint, eerie light, seemingly capable of isolating deathly energy.

"Go!" Han Mu led the way, unleashing the laws of time to form a time acceleration domain in front of him. His speed was so fast that he became a blur, and wherever he passed, skeletal creatures shattered—not from his attack, but purely from the shockwaves generated by his incredible speed.

Liu Ruyan and her eight companions followed closely behind, with Han Li bringing up the rear. The nine of them, like a sharp blade, tore a gap in the wave of white bones and charged toward the black boulder.

But there were too many skeletal creatures; they couldn't be killed all of them. Just as one area was cleared, more surged forward. Zhou Meng charged too fiercely and was entangled by several early-stage Golden Immortal skeletons, finding himself in grave danger.

"Get out of my way!" Han Mu turned around and swung his sword, the sword light as bright as the moon, slicing the skeletons into pieces. But this delay allowed more skeletons to surround him, including three mid-stage Golden Immortals.

"This is troublesome." Han Mu frowned. A mid-stage Golden Immortal undead could already pose a threat to them. Moreover, undead have no sense of pain and are not afraid of death, making them more difficult to deal with than cultivators of the same level.

"Fellow Daoist Han, I'll handle this!" Han Li suddenly stepped forward, took out a formation flag, and planted it in the ground. The flag lit up with a blue light, transforming into a light screen that kept the skeletal creatures within a ten-foot radius outside.

"Azure Flag?" Han Mu recognized the flag as a standard Heavenly Court array flag, which could be used to set up a simple defensive array to withstand attacks from early-stage Golden Immortals, but its effect on mid-stage Golden Immortals was limited.

As expected, the three skeletons at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm combined their attacks, causing the light barrier to tremble violently and crack.

"We can't hold out much longer, let's go!" Han Li shouted.

Han Mu ceased fighting and activated the Law of Time at full power, leading the group to accelerate towards the boulder. Finally, just before the light barrier shattered, the nine of them reached the top of the boulder.

The top of the boulder is a hundred feet in diameter, enough for nine people to move around in. Moreover, the boulder emits a faint light, forming a natural barrier. Skeletal creatures rush up and crash into the faint light, bouncing away. Only those at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm can barely break through, but their strength is greatly reduced.

"This stone is extraordinary." Han Li observed the boulder. "It's a 'Soul-Suppressing Stone,' capable of suppressing death energy and restraining undead creatures. No wonder those skeletons dared not approach."

"How long can it last?" Liu Ruyan asked.

"The energy of the Soul-Suppressing Stone is limited. With so many undead attacking, it can only last for a day at most," Han Li estimated.

One day. The nine remained silent. What would they do after one day? Outside lay an endless army of white bones, among whom were commanders at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm, and possibly even late-stage or peak-stage Golden Immortals.

"Recover first, then think of a solution." Han Mu sat down cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing. The previous attack had taken a toll. Although his Time Law had increased to 32%, the consumption of activating the Time Law was even greater.

Everyone else sat down to meditate, except for Han Li, who stood at the edge of the boulder, observing the army of skeletons. He was searching for patterns. The undead creatures appeared chaotic, but in reality, they had certain behavioral patterns. If he could find the patterns, he might be able to find a way to survive.

Half an hour later, Han Mu opened his eyes and looked at Han Li: "Did you find anything?"

"Yes." Han Li pointed to the rear of the skeleton army. "Look there, those skeletons are circling around, seemingly afraid to approach a certain area. There might be something stronger there, or it might be the exit."

Han Mu looked in the direction indicated and, sure enough, the army of bones split into two groups a hundred miles away from the boulder, bypassing a certain area. That area was shrouded in gray mist, making it impossible to see inside.

"Shall we go take a look?" Han Li asked.

"Wait until dark," Han Mu said. "In the desolate wasteland at night, the undead creatures will fall into a deep sleep. This is our chance."

"How did you know?" Han Li asked in surprise.

"It's recorded in the memories of the Time Dao Ancestor," Han Mu said. Actually, while he was adjusting his breathing, a message about the Dead Wasteland came from the Chaotic Spacetime Dao Patterns.

The desolate wasteland was an important battlefield in ancient times, with special rules: the undead are active during the day and fall into slumber at night. Moreover, this wasteland has a core area, the site of the most brutal battle in the past, where terrifying power remains, and the undead dare not approach.

The area Han Li mentioned is very likely the core area.

The group continued to meditate, waiting for nightfall. The desolate wasteland had no sun or moon, but the sky changed. As time passed, the crimson sky gradually darkened, eventually becoming completely black, with only the Soul-Suppressing Stone emitting a faint, eerie glow.

Sure enough, as darkness fell, the army of skeletons ceased its charge, and all the skeletons stood still, the soul fire in their eye sockets dimming, as if they had fallen into a deep sleep.

"Now!" Han Mu stood up, activated the Law of Time, and silently flew down the boulder with everyone towards that area.

They covered a distance of a hundred miles quickly, but upon approaching, they discovered that the area shrouded in gray mist was a wasteland, filled with collapsed buildings and shattered magical artifacts. In the center stood a dilapidated ancient temple, its doors half-closed.

"Ancient battlefield ruins," Han Li whispered. "Be careful, these kinds of places often have ominous signs."

As soon as the words were spoken, a creaking sound came from the ancient hall, and the hall door slowly opened. A figure walked out of the hall; it was a man wearing tattered armor, his face as pale as paper, his eyes empty, but his aura terrifying—he was clearly at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm!

No, not just at the peak of Golden Immortal, but close to Taiyi Jade Immortal!

"Living... intruder..." the armored man spoke, his voice dry and hoarse, "Die!"

He took a step forward and instantly appeared in front of Han Mu, throwing a punch. The fist wind tore through space, carrying a dense death aura, aiming to kill Han Mu in one blow.

Han Mu was prepared. He activated the laws of time, creating a time-slowing field in front of him. The armored man's movements slowed down for a moment, but only for a moment; the force of his punch was still terrifying.

"Time freeze!" Han Mu roared, fully activating the laws of time. The armored man paused, his fist stopping half a foot in front of Han Mu's chest.

"Go!" Han Mu seized the opportunity to retreat rapidly, and at the same time, he slashed out with his sword. The sword light struck the armored man's chest, making a metallic clang, leaving only a white mark.

"What a tough body!" Han Mu's heart skipped a beat. He had used seventy percent of his strength in this sword strike, yet it only left a white mark. The armored man's physical strength was comparable to that of a magic weapon.

"Roar!" The armored man broke free from the time freeze and roared, his aura surging once again, breaking through to the Taiyi Jade Immortal level! Although it was only the initial stage, it was still far beyond the reach of a Golden Immortal.

"Retreat!" Han Mu decisively ordered. The undead spirits of Taiyi Jade Immortal were beyond their capabilities.

But the armored man was faster, flashing to block their retreat. His empty gaze swept over the nine people, finally locking onto Han Mu: "Time...Laws...You are...the inheritor..."

"Do you know the Time Dao Ancestor?" Han Mu asked.

"Dao Ancestor... Enemy... Kill!" The armored man seemed to be out of his mind, acting only on instinct. He attacked again, this time not with a punch, but with a palm strike. The palm wind transformed into a giant black palm, enveloping the nine people.

Han Mu's expression changed drastically; he couldn't withstand that palm strike. Even an early-stage Taiyi Jade Immortal's attack was enough to kill a peak Golden Immortal.

"System, redeem the 'Taiyi Amulet'!"

[Insufficient Celestial Energy, Exchange Failed]

Damn it! Han Mu gritted his teeth, preparing to use the Immortal Coffin. But at that moment, a golden light suddenly shot out from the ancient hall, striking the armored man. The armored man's body stiffened, and a moment of clarity flashed in his eyes.

"Inheritor... run... it's... dangerous here..." the armored man said with difficulty, seemingly resisting something. "The ancient temple... its core... contains... a portal... to spacetime..."

After he finished speaking, the clarity in his eyes vanished, and he was once again shrouded in deathly aura, but his movements stopped, as if he were struggling.

"Let's enter the ancient hall!" Han Mu decided immediately. The armored man said that there was a portal to another dimension at the core of the ancient hall, which might be the chance to leave this place.

Nine people rushed into the ancient hall. The armored man did not stop them. Instead, he turned around, faced the pursuing army of skeletons, and let out a roar that shook back a large number of skeletons.

The ancient hall was spacious but dilapidated, bearing the marks of battle everywhere. In the center of the hall stood a stone platform, upon which floated a portal of light—the portal to time and space.

"Where does this portal to another dimension lead?" Luo Feng asked.

"I don't know, but it's better than staying here." Han Mu walked to the portal and sensed it for a moment. "Spacetime is stable, so we should be able to teleport safely. But the situation on the other side is unknown, and it might be more dangerous than here."

"Want to take a gamble?" Zhou Meng grinned.

"Let's gamble." Han Mu said decisively, stepping into the portal first. The others exchanged glances and followed.

On the other side of the portal lay an unfamiliar space. Here, there was no deathly aura, but rather a rich spiritual energy. The sky was a normal blue, with the sun, moon, and stars. In the distance, rolling mountains stretched out, shaded by lush green trees, like a paradise on earth.

"Where...is this?" Liu Ruyan looked around, somewhat incredulous. The contrast between the desolate wasteland and this fairyland was too great.

Han Mu frowned as well. He summoned the system panel:

[Current Location: Unknown Secret Realm]

[Danger Level: Low]

[Rich spiritual energy detected; suitable for cultivation]

[WARNING: The secret realm is subject to a time-space restriction, making it impossible to leave.]

Unable to leave? Han Mu tried to activate the spacetime beacon, and sure enough, the surrounding spacetime was locked, making it impossible to open a spacetime rift.

"It seems we're trapped here," Han Li said with a wry smile.

"Let's explore first and see if there's a way out," Han Mu said. Since we're already here, we can only move forward.

The nine people flew towards the mountains. Soon, they discovered that this secret realm was not large, only a thousand miles in circumference, with a lake in the center, a wooden house on the lakeside, and an old man fishing in front of the house.

The old man, dressed in a straw raincoat and wearing a bamboo hat, was fishing with his back to the group. Sensing the nine people approaching, he slowly turned around, revealing an aged face with gentle eyes.

"So many years have passed, and finally someone has come." The old man smiled. "I am the old fisherman, waiting here for those destined to find me. Would you like to go fishing?"

Everyone was stunned. This old man exuded a calm aura, like an ordinary person, but how could someone who could live alone in such a secluded realm be an ordinary person?

"Senior, where is this place? How do I leave?" Han Mu asked, bowing respectfully.

"This place is a 'Land of Forgetfulness,' a place you won't want to leave once you've come," the old fisherman laughed. "As for leaving... why leave? It's all fighting and killing outside, so tiring. Here, carefree and without worries, how wonderful."

"We have urgent business to attend to and must leave," Han Mu said.

"Important business?" The old fisherman shook his head. "There's nothing inherently wrong in the world; it's just that fools create their own troubles. But since you want to leave, it's not impossible. See this lake? There are fish in it; catch the biggest one, and you can leave."

"Is it that simple?" Luo Feng didn't believe it.

"Simple?" The old fisherman laughed. "The fish in this lake are not easy to catch. They are not ordinary fish, but 'fish of Daoist thought,' using Daoist thought as bait and the heart as a hook. Whether you can catch them or not depends on your Daoist heart."

A fish of Daoist thought? Han Mu frowned. He had never heard of this thing before, but it sounded extraordinary.

"Let me give it a try." Han Li stepped forward and took the fishing rod handed to him by the old fisherman. The fishing rod was ordinary, the fishing line was transparent, and the hook was straight—like Jiang Taigong fishing, waiting for those who were willing to take the bait?

Han Li sat down to fish, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, using his Daoist thoughts as bait. After a moment, the fishing line twitched slightly, and a fish took the bait. Han Li lifted the rod and caught a small golden fish, about the size of his palm, emitting a faint Daoist aura.

"Your resolve is strong, not bad." The old fisherman nodded. "But this fish is too small; it's not big enough to leave. Keep fishing until you catch the biggest one."

Han Li continued, but no more fish took the bait. He tried for an hour before he had to give up.

"I'll do it." Han Mu took the fishing rod and sat down to fish. He closed his eyes and concentrated, using the law of time as bait—since it was a fish of Dao thought, the law of time was also a kind of Dao.

The fishing line moved quickly and quite loudly. Han Mu lifted the rod, and a three-foot-long silver fish was pulled from the water. Its scales shimmered with fragments of time; it was a "fish of time and space"!

"Good heavens!" The old fisherman's eyes lit up. "The laws of spacetime, how rare! This fish is big enough, you can leave now."

"Can we leave now?" Han Mu asked.

"No rush." ​​The old fisherman waved his hand. "Since you've caught the fish of time and space, you're destined to be here. I have a task for you. Are you willing to take it? If you complete it, you'll not only have a way to leave, but also an extra reward."

"What mission?"

"Could you deliver a letter for me?" The old fisherman took out a yellowed letter. "Deliver it to the 'Guardian of the River of Time.' He's been waiting for this letter for a long time."

The River of Time? The Guardians of the River? Han Mu's heart skipped a beat. The River of Time was a legendary place, the source of the laws of time, and only those who had mastered the laws of time could enter. The Guardians of the River were even more legendary beings, protecting the River of Time and remaining untainted by karma.

"Senior, where is the River of Time? How do I enter it?" Han Mu asked.

"The Time-Space Fish will take you there," the old fisherman said. "It will transform into a Time-Space Boat, carrying you downstream to the River of Time. But remember, the River of Time is fraught with danger, with great terrors and great opportunities. Once you arrive, simply give the letter to the river guardian."

Han Mu took the letter. It was light, but felt heavy, as if it carried important cause and effect.

"How can this fish of time and space transform into a boat of time and space?"

"Simple." The old fisherman pointed a finger at the Time-Space Fish, and the fish's body turned into silver light, transforming into a three-zhang-long silver boat that floated in the air. "Get on board, it will take you where you are meant to go."

Han Mu looked at everyone, and they nodded. Since there's a way to leave, let's go.

The nine people boarded the Time-Traveling Ship, and the old fisherman waved goodbye: "Have a safe journey. Remember, the River of Time only flows in, never out. Deliver the message and leave quickly; do not linger."

The Time-Space Ark activated, transforming into silver light and disappearing into the void. The next moment, the nine people appeared on a vast, boundless river. The river's water was silver, and what flowed was not water, but time itself.

The river of time has flowed on, and now we've arrived.

But Han Mu quickly realized something was wrong—there was more than one boat on the river; there were several other boats in the distance, each with a powerful figure on board, at least a Great Yi Jade Immortal!

And those ships were heading towards them.