The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

Han Li cries for help!

Han Mu gripped the communication jade slip, his knuckles turning white. The Netherworld Abyss was a crucial area of ​​the Heavenly Court, and Han Li was trapped there, his chances of survival slim. But the Heart of Time and Space was right before him; if he didn't retrieve it within three days, the Ancient Beast of Time and Space would awaken, and he would have no further opportunity.

"Senior Han, what's wrong?" Liu Ruyan noticed that Han Mu's expression was off.

Han Mu handed the jade slip to everyone. After reading it, everyone fell silent.

"Senior Han Li has been kind to us, we cannot leave him unhelped," Bai Ling was the first to speak. Back in the lower realm, Han Li had helped them many times, and they had to repay that debt of gratitude.

"But the Heart of Time and Space..." Zhou Meng frowned. "The River Guardian said the Time-Space Beast only sleeps for three days. If we miss this opportunity, who knows when we'll have another chance? Besides, the Heart of Time and Space can help you quickly increase your strength. Without strength, how can you fight against the Heavenly Court?"

"But Han Li went to the Netherworld Abyss to help us explore the spacetime nodes," Lin Fan said in a deep voice. "If we don't save him, I won't be at peace with myself."

"We definitely have to save them, but how?" Li Qingzhu smiled bitterly. "The Netherworld Abyss is a heavily guarded area of ​​the Heavenly Court. If we go to rescue them, it's like walking into a trap."

"Since Han Li was able to send a message, it means he hasn't been captured yet, but is just trapped," Lin Xue analyzed. "Perhaps there's still room for maneuver."

"Senior Han, you make the decision." Liu Ruyan looked at Han Mu. "Whatever you choose, we'll listen to you."

Han Mu paused for a moment, then summoned the system panel and quickly scanned it:

Name: Han Mu

True Realm: Peak Golden Immortal

Surface Realm: Mid-stage True Immortal

Time Rule: 45% for Beginners

Spatial Laws: Introduction 5%

Celestial Aura: -100 points

Fusion degree of Chaotic Spacetime Dao Patterns: 18%

Spacetime beacon control level: 15%

System Task: Obtain the Heart of Time and Space (In Progress)

The Heart of Time and Space is related to the system's mission and also to improving one's strength. However, Han Li has been kind to him, so he cannot leave without saving him.

"Save Han Li first," Han Mu decided. "We can find another way to get the Heart of Time and Space, but if Han Li dies, we're really done for."

"How do we get to the Netherworld Abyss?" Luo Feng scratched his head. "We're in the Ancient Battlefield of Time and Space, it's difficult to even get out, let alone to the Netherworld Abyss."

"I have a way." Han Mu took out the Space-Time Beacon. "The Space-Time Beacon can travel through time and space, but it requires a large amount of immortal spiritual energy to operate. My current immortal spiritual energy is negative, so I can't use it."

"Immortal spiritual energy..." Liu Ruyan thought for a moment, "We can hunt down the Time-Space Beasts in the Ancient Battlefield of Time and Space. The cores of the Time-Space Beasts contain immortal spiritual energy. Although there isn't much, it adds up."

Time-space beasts are a specialty of the ancient battlefield of time and space, ranging in strength from Golden Immortal to Great Jade Immortal, making them difficult to hunt. However, this is currently the only method.

"Alright, let's hunt down the Time-Space Beasts and collect Immortal Spiritual Energy," Han Mu decided. "But we only have three days. We must gather enough Immortal Spiritual Energy to traverse the Netherworld Abyss within three days. Moreover, the Time-Space Ancient Beasts will awaken in three days, and we must leave the Time-Space Ancient Battlefield before they awaken."

Time was of the essence, so the group did not delay any longer and immediately set off to find the Time-Space Beast.

The ancient battlefield of time and space is vast and boundless, filled with ruins and corpses. Time-space beasts are monsters formed from the power of time and space, with various shapes and forms, some resembling lions, some resembling pythons, and some simply being a distorted mass of time and space turbulence.

Han Mu and his group of nine were quite lucky; not long after leaving the ruins, they encountered a spacetime beast at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm. The beast resembled a fierce tiger, its body wrapped in silver light bands, and with a single swipe of its claw, spacetime itself was distorted.

"I'll go!" Zhou Meng rushed to attack, his blade flashing like a bolt of lightning as he slashed at the Time-Space Beast. But the beast was incredibly agile, dodging the blade in a flash and counterattacking Zhou Meng.

"Watch out!" Bai Ling thrust out her sword, the light flashing like lightning, forcing the Time-Space Beast back. But the Time-Space Beast was tough and thick-skinned, and the sword light only left shallow marks on its body.

"Attack together!" Han Mu ordered, and the group surrounded the Time-Space Beast. Although the Time-Space Beast was strong, it was only a mid-stage Golden Immortal after all, and it gradually became overwhelmed by the attack of nine people. A quarter of an hour later, Han Mu pierced the core of the Time-Space Beast with a sword, let out a mournful cry, and turned into silver light spots and dissipated, leaving only a silver crystal core the size of a fist.

Han Mu picked up the crystal core and sensed it. It contained about one hundred points of immortal spiritual energy. Not much, but better than nothing.

"Keep searching!"

For the next two days, the nine of them relentlessly hunted Time-Space Beasts, collecting their crystal cores. However, the Time-Space Beasts varied in strength, ranging from early-stage Golden Immortals to early-stage Great Jade Immortals. When they encountered a Time-Space Beast at the early-stage Great Jade Immortal level, the nine of them could only take a detour, as they were simply no match for it.

On the third day at noon, Han Mu tallied his harvest. He had hunted a total of twenty-three Time-Space Beasts, including eight early-stage Golden Immortals, ten mid-stage Golden Immortals, and five late-stage Golden Immortals, and obtained 3,200 points of Immortal Spiritual Energy.

"Not enough." Han Mu shook his head. Driving the spacetime beacon through the Netherworld Abyss requires at least five thousand points of immortal spiritual energy. He's still short eighteen hundred points.

"Senior Han, there's a Time-Space Beast at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm over there!" Luo Feng pointed into the distance. It was a Time-Space Beast resembling a giant ape, ten zhang tall, with a terrifying aura; it was indeed at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.

"Peak Golden Immortal..." Han Mu estimated their strength. The nine of them working together should be able to deal with a peak Golden Immortal Time-Space Beast, but they would need time. And right now, time was their biggest shortage.

"Let's do it!" Han Mu gritted his teeth. "Let's finish this quickly!"

The nine people quietly approached the giant ape-time beast and laid an ambush. Han Mu led the attack, while Liu Ruyan and Bai Ling flanked and held off the beast, and Zhou Meng, Luo Feng, and others assisted from the side.

Sensing hostility, the giant ape-time beast roared and slammed its fist at Han Mu. This punch was powerful and heavy, carrying the power of time and space, enough to shatter a mountain.

Han Mu dared not take the blow head-on. He dodged the fist's force with a swift movement, and at the same time thrust out his sword, aiming straight for the giant ape's eye. The giant ape reacted extremely quickly, raising one hand to block the sword light, and then striking at Han Mu with its other hand.

"Now!" Liu Ruyan and Bai Ling attacked simultaneously, their swords flashing like rainbows, striking the giant ape's arm. The giant ape cried out in pain, its movements momentarily halting. Zhou Meng, Luo Feng, and the others seized the opportunity to launch a coordinated attack, showering the giant ape with various spells and magical artifacts.

The giant ape flew into a rage, slamming its fists into the ground and unleashing a spatial storm. Han Mu and his nine companions were blasted away, their blood churning. But no one retreated; they continued their attack.

The battle lasted for half an hour. Finally, the giant ape could not hold on any longer and was pierced through the chest by Han Mu's sword. Its core shattered and it collapsed to the ground, turning into silver light spots and leaving behind a huge crystal core.

Han Mu picked up the crystal core, sensed it, and found that it contained 800 points of immortal spiritual energy. Adding that to the previous amount, it totaled 5,000 points.

"That's enough!" Han Mu breathed a sigh of relief, but had no time to rest. He immediately returned to the ruins where he was hiding, set up an array, and prepared to travel through.

"System, redeem the 'Netherworld Abyss Beacon'!"

[To exchange for the Netherworld Abyss Beacon, 5000 Immortal Spirit Energy are required. Confirm?]

"confirm!"

[Exchange successful; the Netherworld Abyss Beacon has been integrated into the Spacetime Beacon]

Han Mu sensed that the coordinates of the Netherworld Abyss had been added to the Spacetime Beacon. He activated the Spacetime Beacon, infusing it with immortal spiritual energy, and a silver light enveloped the nine people.

"Walk!"

With a flash of silver light, the nine people vanished. The next moment, they appeared in a dark abyss.

We've arrived at the Netherworld Abyss.

The Netherworld Abyss is a forbidden area of ​​the Heavenly Court, said to imprison ancient demons, and is heavily guarded year-round. The location where Han Mu and his nine companions appeared was a desolate valley on the outskirts of the Netherworld Abyss.

"Is this the Netherworld Abyss?" Luo Feng looked around. The valley was filled with black mist, eerie and terrifying, and even the immortal energy was very thin.

"Han Li left a location marker in the communication jade slip, deep in the Netherworld Abyss." Han Mu took out the jade slip, sensed it, and said, "It's three hundred miles away from us, and there are fluctuations of a restriction. It should be the Heavenly Court's sealing formation."

"Three hundred li is not far, but there are Heavenly Court guards in the middle, so we definitely can't force our way through," Liu Ruyan said.

"No need to force your way in, I have a way." Han Mu took out a stack of talismans, which were "invisibility talismans" that he had previously refined in the Time-Space Secret Realm. They could conceal one's aura and figure, and as long as one did not take the initiative to attack, even the Great Yi Jade Immortal would have difficulty detecting them.

"One for each person, stick it on your body, and follow me."

The nine people affixed invisibility talismans, and their auras and figures instantly disappeared, making them invisible to each other. They could only communicate through telepathy.

Han Mu led the way, venturing deeper into the Netherworld Abyss. Along the way, they encountered numerous patrolling celestial soldiers, all of whom were at least Golden Immortals, with the leader being a Grand Jade Immortal. However, Han Mu and his nine companions concealed themselves well, and thanks to the dense fog of the Netherworld Abyss, they escaped unscathed.

An hour later, the nine arrived at a valley. The valley was shrouded in a golden light barrier, which was the Heavenly Court's sealing formation. Inside the formation, a stone house could be vaguely seen, and Han Li should be inside.

"How do we get in?" Zhou Meng transmitted his voice. "This formation was set up by at least a late-stage Great Yi Jade Immortal. We can't break it."

"Breaking through it head-on won't work, but we can sneak through," Han Mu said. He has a spacetime beacon that allows him to travel short distances through spacetime. Although this great formation is strong, its main function is to seal off space, and its defense against spacetime travel is relatively weak.

"You guys stay outside and provide backup, I'll go in," Han Mu said.

"I'll go with you," Liu Ruyan said.

"No need, too many people will only make us easier to be discovered." Han Mu shook his head, activated the Space-Time Beacon, and infused it with immortal spiritual energy. The Space-Time Beacon flashed with silver light, enveloped Han Mu, and instantly passed through the great formation, entering the valley.

The formation only rippled slightly before quickly returning to calm, unnoticed by the heavenly soldiers guarding it.

Inside the valley, in front of the stone house, Han Li sat cross-legged, his face pale, clearly injured. He sensed the spatial fluctuations, opened his eyes, saw Han Mu, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fellow Daoist Han, you've finally arrived."

"Fellow Daoist Han, how badly are you injured?" Han Mu asked.

"It's just a minor injury, nothing serious." Han Li shook his head. "The Heavenly Court discovered the spacetime node of the Netherworld Abyss and has deployed heavy troops to guard it. I intended to infiltrate and investigate, but I accidentally triggered the restrictions and am now trapped here. Fortunately, they can't break through the defensive formation I set up for the time being, but they won't be able to hold out for long."

"Where is the spacetime node?"

"It's located deep in the valley, but it's heavily guarded by the Heavenly Court, with three Great Yi Jade Immortals stationed there, one of whom is at the peak of the Great Yi Jade Immortal realm." Han Li smiled wryly, "I was careless. I thought it was just an ordinary spacetime node, but I didn't expect the Heavenly Court to attach so much importance to it."

"It's alright, let's get out of here first," Han Mu said. Three Great Jade Immortals, and one at the peak—fighting them head-on would be suicide. Let's rescue Han Li first, then we can discuss the rest.

Han Li nodded and removed the defensive formation. But the instant the formation was removed, a golden light descended from the sky, transforming into a golden-armored celestial general, whose aura was clearly that of a peak Great Yi Jade Immortal.

"Han Li, you really do have accomplices!" The golden-armored general sneered. "I, 'Golden Roc,' have been waiting here for a long time. Since you're here, stay!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two more Great Jade Immortals emerged from the shadows, blocking the retreat route from the left and right. The outer array also lit up with golden light, making the blockade even tighter.

They've fallen into a trap! Han Li's expression changed. The Heavenly Court knew he would ask for help, so they deliberately set a trap to catch his accomplices in one fell swoop.

Han Mu's heart sank. Three Great Jade Immortals, one of whom was at the peak, this lineup was even stronger than Jin Feng's team. Moreover, there was a powerful array blocking the outside, making escape impossible.

"Fellow Daoist Han, I've dragged you into this." Han Li said with a wry smile.

"There's no use talking about this now. We need to find a way to fight our way out." Han Mu gripped his sword tightly, glancing at the system panel. He had less than a hundred points of immortal spiritual energy left, which wasn't enough to exchange for anything. His only reliance was the spacetime beacon and the immortal coffin.

"Charge out? With your abilities?" Jin Peng sneered. "One is a peak Golden Immortal, the other a late-stage Golden Immortal, and you dare to be so insolent before me? Take them down!"

Two Grand Jade Immortals at the early stage responded immediately, one grabbing at Han Mu and the other at Han Li. Both were Grand Jade Immortals, and their attacks were as powerful as thunder, sealing off the space itself.

Han Mu dared not be careless. He fully activated the Law of Time, setting up a time-slowing field in front of him. At the same time, he unleashed a sword strike, the sword light as sharp as a bolt of lightning, aimed at the Great Yi Jade Immortal. However, the difference in their cultivation levels was too great. The sword light was shattered by the opponent's palm, and the aftershock caused Han Mu's blood to surge, forcing him to retreat three steps.

Han Li fared even worse. Already injured, he could only barely defend himself against Da Yi Yu Xian's capture. He was at a disadvantage after just three moves, and was struck in the chest by a palm, spitting blood and flying backward.

"Fellow Daoist Han!" Han Mu wanted to save him, but another Great Yi Jade Immortal had already arrived and struck him on the top of the head with a palm. If this palm struck, he would surely die.

In the critical moment, a ruthless glint flashed in Han Mu's eyes as he prepared to use the Immortal Coffin. But just then, an unexpected change occurred.

Suddenly, a dazzling silver light erupted from the spacetime node deep within the valley, shooting skyward and tearing apart the heavens to form a massive spacetime rift. From within the rift emanated an ancient, desolate, and terrifying aura.

"The spacetime node has rioted!" Jin Peng's expression changed drastically. "Quickly, seal the rift!"

But it was too late. From the spatial rift, countless silver specks of light surged forth, transforming into spatial beasts that pounced on the Heavenly Court's soldiers. These spatial beasts varied in strength, ranging from True Immortals to Great Jade Immortals, numbering in the hundreds and thousands, instantly engulfing the valley.

"Good opportunity, let's go!" Taking advantage of the chaos, Han Mu grabbed Han Li, activated the spacetime beacon, and with a flash of silver light, rushed out of the great formation to meet up with Liu Ruyan and the others outside. Then, without looking back, he fled towards the Netherworld Abyss.

Jin Peng wanted to give chase, but he was entangled by the Time-Space Beast and couldn't break free. He could only watch helplessly as Han Mu and the others escaped.

"Damn it!" Jinpeng roared in fury, smashing a Time-Space Beast to pieces with a single punch, but more Time-Space Beasts poured out from the crack, and he could not kill them all.

Han Mu and his nine companions fled the Netherworld Abyss and found a safe place to hide. Han Li was seriously injured and needed to heal.

"Fellow Daoist Han, thank you very much this time." Han Li took the pill, and his complexion improved.

"No need to be polite. You've helped me many times, so it's only right that I help you once," Han Mu said.

"This time I was too naive. I didn't expect the Heavenly Court to value that spacetime node so much," Han Li sighed. "That node doesn't connect to an ordinary place, but to the 'Temple of Spacetime'!"

"The Temple of Time and Space?" Han Mu was taken aback. The Heart of Time and Space he was looking for was in the Temple of Time and Space.

"That's right. The spacetime node of the Netherworld Abyss is the back door to the Temple of Spacetime, which is much safer than entering from the front of the Ancient Battlefield of Spacetime," Han Li said. "I originally wanted to investigate thoroughly before telling you, but I didn't expect to alarm the Heavenly Court."

"Is the Heavenly Court also eyeing the Temple of Time and Space?" Han Mu asked.

"It should be. The Temple of Time and Space possesses the Heart of Time and Space, a supreme treasure left behind by the Time Dao Ancestor, which the Heavenly Court also desires," Han Li said. "Moreover, I suspect that the Heavenly Court has even greater ambitions regarding the Temple of Time and Space."

"What are you plotting?"

"I don't know, but it's definitely not simple." Han Li shook his head. "Fellow Daoist Han, if you want to go to the Temple of Time and Space, I can tell you the location of the Netherworld Abyss's time-space node. But it's heavily guarded by the Heavenly Court now, so it won't be easy to get in."

"No need, I have another way," Han Mu said. He has a spacetime beacon that can directly transport him to the vicinity of the Spacetime Temple. Although it consumes a lot of energy, it is safer than forcibly breaking into the Netherworld Abyss node.

"That's good." Han Li nodded. "After I recover from my injuries, I will leave the Netherworld Abyss and find a place to cultivate in seclusion. The Heavenly Court is after me, and I can't implicate you."

"Take care of yourself."

After Han Li left, Han Mu and his group of nine returned to the ancient battlefield of time and space. Two and a half days had passed, and the ancient beasts of time and space could awaken at any moment, so they had to hurry.

Following the map given by the Elder of the Black Abyss, Han Mu and his nine companions arrived at the center of the ancient battlefield of time and space, where they saw a magnificent temple. The temple was entirely silver, soaring into the clouds, exuding an ancient and weathered aura.

This is the Temple of Time and Space.

The temple gates were tightly shut, and in front of them stood two lifelike stone statues, one a giant dragon and the other a phoenix. Han Mu could sense that the statues contained terrifying spatial and temporal power, which, once triggered, would be enough to annihilate a Great Yi Jade Immortal.

"How do we get in?" Liu Ruyan asked.

"Use the Spacetime Beacon." Han Mu took out the Spacetime Beacon and infused it with immortal spiritual energy. The Spacetime Beacon shimmered with silver light, resonating with the temple gate. The gate slowly opened, revealing a silver passage.

"Enter!"

The nine people stepped into the passage, and the gate immediately closed. The passage was long, with murals on both sides depicting scenes of ancient battles. Han Mu didn't have time to look at them closely and moved forward quickly.

A quarter of an hour later, the nine arrived at the depths of the temple. Here was a grand hall, in the center of which floated a silver heart, the size of a fist, slowly beating, with each beat causing ripples of spacetime to spread out.

Heart of Time and Space!

Han Mu's heart raced; this was his destination. However, the Heart of Time and Space was surrounded by spacetime restrictions, and approaching rashly would result in being strangled by these restrictions.

"Senior Han, be careful," Liu Ruyan warned.

Han Mu nodded and cautiously approached. He had a spacetime beacon, so the spacetime restrictions had less effect on him, but he still felt pressured. Every step he took felt like carrying a mountain on his back.

Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps… Han Mu's forehead was covered in sweat as he finally reached a point three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in front of the Heart of Time and Space. The restrictions here were strongest; the power of time and space was like a knife, cutting into his body. If it weren't for the protection of the Time and Space Beacon, he would have been torn to shreds long ago.

"Almost there..." Han Mu gritted his teeth and took another step forward. But as soon as he took that step, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, the Heart of Time and Space shone brightly with silver light, and a phantom figure emerged from it. It was a woman in white, with an exquisitely beautiful face, but her eyes were empty and lifeless, as if she had no soul.

"Intruder, die." The woman in white spoke, her voice icy, and with a flick of her finger, a beam of silver light shot toward Han Mu.

Han Mu's expression changed drastically. The spatial and temporal power contained in this beam of light was enough to kill a Great Yi Jade Immortal. He activated the Spacetime Beacon with all his might, setting up a spacetime barrier in front of him, while simultaneously retreating hastily.

The beam struck the spacetime barrier, shattering it like paper. Undeterred, the beam continued its trajectory towards Han Mu. Unable to dodge, Han Mu was grazed by the beam on his left arm, which instantly turned to ashes.

"Senior Han!" Liu Ruyan exclaimed, wanting to go forward to help, but was blocked by the space-time restriction and could not get close.

Han Mu endured the pain and continued to retreat. The woman in white was relentless, pointing her finger again, this time unleashing three silver beams that blocked all of Han Mu's escape routes.

Just as Han Mu was about to be hit by the beams, a black light descended from the sky, blocking Han Mu and transforming into a black shield that blocked the three beams.

It's the Old Man of the Black Abyss!

"Quickly seize the Heart of Time and Space, I can't hold out much longer!" the Black Abyss Elder roared, wielding a black shield as he confronted the woman in white. The woman in white possessed terrifying strength; each of her attacks caused the Black Abyss Elder to stagger.

Han Mu dared not delay. Enduring the pain of his severed arm, he rushed towards the Heart of Time and Space. This time, there were no restrictions to stop him, and he grabbed the Heart of Time and Space.

The Heart of Time and Space felt warm in his hand, and a vast amount of time and space power surged into his body. Han Mu felt his comprehension of the laws of time and space rapidly improving; his understanding of the laws of time soared from 45% at the beginner level to a breakthrough to minor mastery!

But at that moment, the entire Temple of Time and Space shook violently, and a terrifying roar came from outside.

The ancient beast from another time has awakened!