The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

Three Great Jade Immortals walked towards the cave, their steps steady, their auras locking onto the cave floor.

Inside the cave, the nine people held their breath. Liu Ruyan gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, Bai Ling's fingertips condensed sword energy, Zhou Meng's forehead was covered in sweat, and Luo Feng subconsciously moved closer to Han Mu.

"Three early-stage Grand Jade Immortals, I can't defeat them head-on," Han Mu quickly transmitted his voice. "But their target is the Heart of Time and Space in my possession, they won't kill me easily. This is an opportunity."

"What opportunity?" Lin Fan asked.

"They won't kill me; they'll try to capture me alive. The moment they enter the cave, Liu Ruyan and Bai Ling, you two attack the one on the left with all your might. Zhou Meng and Luo Feng, you two hold off the one on the right. Li Qingzhu, Lin Fan, and Lin Xue, you two are responsible for interfering with the one in the middle and creating opportunities for me."

Han Mu spoke extremely quickly: "My injuries have recovered by 70%, and I can use Time Stop once. However, the range can only cover the cave, and the duration is only one breath. Within that one breath, at least two people must be severely injured, otherwise we will all die."

"Understood." Everyone nodded.

The footsteps outside the cave grew closer, and the metallic sound of armor rubbing against each other could be heard.

"Listen up, you inside! Hand over the Heart of Time and Space, surrender, and you may be spared death," came the voice of the leading heavenly general, cold and hard as iron.

Han Mu did not respond, but simply gripped the Heart of Time and Space tightly. Silver light flowed in his palm, and the power of the laws of time quietly surged.

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences." Another heavenly general sneered and punched the cave entrance.

"boom!"

The array at the cave entrance shattered layer by layer, sending debris flying. Amidst the dust and smoke, three golden-armored celestial generals stepped into the cave, their gazes sweeping across the interior like lightning.

At that very moment—

"Let's do it!"

Han Mu let out a low shout, unleashing the full power of the Time Law. Silver ripples spread out from him, instantly enveloping the entire cave. Everything inside the cave—the flying pebbles, the billowing dust, the footsteps of Tian Jiang, even the dust floating in the air—all froze.

One breath, just one breath.

Liu Ruyan and Bai Ling attacked simultaneously. Liu Ruyan's sword flashed like a startled swan, aiming straight for the left-hand general's brow. Bai Ling's sword energy condensed into a single line, pointing towards her opponent's heart.

Zhou Meng and Luo Feng lunged at the Heavenly General on the right, one throwing a punch at his face and the other sweeping his leg at his lower body. Although there was a large difference in their cultivation levels, they only wanted to hold him off for a moment.

Li Qingzhu conjured a bronze mirror, its light shining upon the celestial general in the center. Lin Fan and Lin Xue simultaneously scattered a handful of talismans, which transformed into golden chains that bound the other's limbs.

A breath, gone in an instant.

The instant time resumed its flow, Zuo Biantian's expression changed drastically. He sensed a deadly crisis, but it was too late. Liu Ruyan's sword pierced three inches between his brows, and Bai Ling's sword energy pierced his chest.

"puff!"

Blood splattered. The general on the left roared, his golden armor blazing with blinding light, forcefully repelling the two. But he was already severely injured, blood streaming from his brow and a gaping hole in his chest.

The general on the right was equally disheveled. Although Zhou Meng and Luo Feng's attacks failed to injure him, they successfully stalled him for a moment. In that instant, Han Mu moved.

Han Mu did not attack the Heavenly General on the right, nor did he pay any attention to the Heavenly General in the middle. Instead, he moved swiftly and appeared behind the Heavenly General on the left. The Heart of Time and Space transformed into a silver dagger in his hand, silently piercing the opponent's back.

"You..." The left-hand celestial general looked down at the silver blade protruding from his chest, his eyes filled with disbelief. The spacetime power contained within the silver blade erupted, instantly shattering his celestial infant.

The Great Jade Immortal has fallen.

"Third brother!"

The Heavenly General in the middle, his eyes bloodshot, threw a punch at Han Mu. But Li Qingzhu's mirror light and Lin Fan and Lin Xue's chains had already arrived. Although they could not restrain him, they slowed his movements by a fraction.

In that brief moment, Han Mu had already drawn his blade and retreated hastily, then with a backhand swipe, his silver blade slashed towards the heavenly general on the right.

Just as the general on the right had repelled Zhou Meng and Luo Feng, the silver blade was already at his face. In a hurry, he raised his arm to block, and the golden armor clashed with the silver blade, producing a piercing metallic clang.

"clang!"

The general on the right was forced back three steps, a crack appearing in the golden armor on his arm. His face was grim; the golden armor of a Great Jade Immortal had been broken by a Golden Immortal, even if the opponent possessed a supreme treasure, it was still a great humiliation.

"court death!"

The celestial general on the right, enraged, unleashed a powerful punch. The fist's energy transformed into a giant golden dragon, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged at Han Mu.

Han Mu neither dodged nor evaded, his left hand forming a fist, and the laws of time surged once more. But this time, it wasn't time that stood still, but rather—

"Time is slow."

The golden dragon's speed suddenly slowed tenfold, as if it were wading through mud. Han Mu easily dodged it, and with a swift movement of his silver blade, he slashed at the dragon's neck.

"Snap!"

The dragon's head was severed, and the fist's energy collapsed. But the heavenly general on the right had already rushed forward, and his second punch slammed into Han Mu's chest.

The punch was too fast and too fierce; Han Mu had no time to dodge and could only parry with his blade.

"clang--!"

Han Mu was sent flying backward, crashing into the cave wall and spitting out a mouthful of blood. Although the silver blade had blocked the attack, the power of the Great Jade Immortal had still injured his internal organs.

"Senior Han!"

Liu Ruyan and the others tried to rescue him, but the Heavenly General had already broken free of the mirror light and chains, and struck Li Qingzhu with a palm. If Li Qingzhu were hit by the Great Yi Jade Immortal's palm, he would surely die.

"Get out of here!"

Han Mu gritted his teeth, grabbed with his left hand, and the Heart of Time and Space transformed from a silver blade back into its original form, radiating brilliant silver light. The Law of Time erupted for the third time, this time with a range of only three feet, but its intensity was doubled.

"Time Imprisonment!"

The palm strike unleashed by the celestial general abruptly stopped three inches above Li Qingzhu's head. It wasn't that he wanted to stop, but rather that he was forcibly bound by the laws of time, unable to move.

Although it was only for a moment, it was enough.

Bai Ling thrust out her sword, its aura as cold as frost, aiming straight for the throat of the central general. Zhou Meng and Luo Feng also pounced at the same time, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks.

The celestial general roared, his golden armor bursting with blinding light as he forcefully broke free from the time-binding barrier. But Bai Ling's sword had already arrived, and he could only dodge to the side, a bloody gash slashing open his throat.

"Damn it!"

The Heavenly General in the middle retreated violently, clutching his throat, blood gushing from between his fingers. Although not fatal, it had already alarmed him—these people were cooperating too well, especially that Golden Immortal boy, whose mastery of the laws of time was so profound that he could actually threaten a Great Jade Immortal.

The general on the right wanted to attack again, but the general in the middle shouted, "Retreat!"

"Big brother, the third brother..."

"I said retreat!" The Heavenly General in the middle stared intently at the Heart of Time and Space in Han Mu's hand. "The Heart of Time and Space has already recognized its master. Forcibly seizing it will trigger a backlash. Let's go back and report to the Emperor first, and then discuss this further."

The heavenly general on the right gritted his teeth but dared not disobey. He helped up the corpse of the heavenly general on the left and left the cave with the heavenly general in the middle.

The three transformed into streaks of light and soared into the sky, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Inside the cave, Han Mu breathed a sigh of relief, then spat out another mouthful of blood and knelt on one knee.

"Senior Han!"

Liu Ruyan quickly supported him and fed him healing pills. Li Qingzhu also came over, placing her hands on Han Mu's back and gently channeling her immortal energy to help heal him.

"I'm fine..." Han Mu waved his hand, but his face was as pale as paper. He had used the Time Law to its fullest extent three times in a row, and had also withstood a punch from Da Yi Yu Xian, which aggravated his injuries.

"Are they really gone?" Luo Feng peered cautiously outside the cave.

"They've left for now, but they'll be back soon." Han Mu swallowed the pill, sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, and said, "The leading heavenly general is very cautious. He knows that the Heart of Time and Space has already recognized its master, and there's a risk in forcibly taking it. But after he goes back to report, the Heavenly Court will definitely send someone even stronger."

"Then let's hurry up and go," Zhou Meng said.

"We can't leave." Han Mu shook his head. "My injuries are too severe, and I need time to recover. Besides, they must have set up surveillance facilities nearby. If we go out now, we'll just fall into a trap."

"What should we do then?" Lin Xue asked.

Han Mu remained silent for a moment, then summoned the system panel:

Name: Han Mu

True Realm: Peak Golden Immortal

Surface Realm: Mid-stage True Immortal

Time Rule: Small Success Rate 5%

Spatial Laws: Introduction 12%

Celestial Aura: 6500 points

Fusion degree of Chaotic Spacetime Dao Patterns: 22%

Spacetime beacon control level: 18%

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

【Heart of Time and Space: A relic of the Time Dao Ancestor, now recognized as its master】

[Current Status: Initial Integration, capable of using supernatural abilities such as Time Domain, Time Reversal, and Time Freeze]

[Warning: The aura of the Heart of Time and Space has been locked by the Heavenly Court. Please refine it as soon as possible.]

"System, exchange for the 'Hidden Breath Array Plate' and the 'Healing Elixir'," Han Mu silently instructed.

[Exchange for the Concealed Breath Array Plate requires 2000 Immortal Spirit Qi]

[To exchange for a healing elixir, 1000 Immortal Spirit Energy are required.]

[Confirm?]

"confirm."

[Exchange successful. Current Immortal Spirit Energy: 3500 points]

In Han Mu's hand appeared a palm-sized array plate and a pill the size of a longan. The array plate was bronze in color, its surface engraved with intricate patterns. The pill was milky white and emitted a pleasant medicinal fragrance.

"Liu Ruyan, set up a concealment array to block the detection of those below the Great Yi Jade Immortal level." Han Mu handed over the array. "Li Qingzhu, protect me. Lin Fan, Lin Xue, you guard the cave entrance. Zhou Meng, Luo Feng, check if there are any other exits inside the cave. Bai Ling, you..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Go and guard the cave entrance. If the people from Heaven return, warn them immediately."

"Yes," everyone responded, each performing their duties.

Liu Ruyan took the array plate and infused it with her immortal power. The array plate lit up with a blue light, transforming into a light curtain that enveloped the entire cave. Outside the light curtain, the cave was still a cave, but inside the light curtain, the aura was completely isolated, as if it did not exist.

Li Qingzhu sat cross-legged behind Han Mu, placing her hands on his back and gently channeling her immortal energy into him. Han Mu took the healing elixir and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

The elixir entered his stomach, transforming into a warm current that flowed through his limbs and bones. Broken ribs began to heal, displaced organs began to return to their proper places, and his depleted immortal energy was rapidly restored.

But Han Mu was not completely immersed in healing. He spared a wisp of his mind to communicate with the Heart of Time and Space.

The Heart of Time and Space hovered in his dantian, radiating a soft silver light. Within the silver light, countless profound runes flowed, the manifestation of the laws of time.

Han Mu attempted to refine it, but the moment he made contact, he felt an overwhelming, ocean-like force surge towards him. It was the imprint left by the Time Dao Ancestor; although the passage of time had faded most of it, it remained powerful.

"So powerful..." Han Mu was shocked. If a mere wisp of a mark possessed such power, what kind of being must the Time Dao Ancestor have been in his lifetime?

He dared not force it, and could only grind it down slowly. Fortunately, he had a foundation in the laws of time, so refining it wasn't too difficult, it just required time.

An hour later, Han Mu opened his eyes, his injuries having healed by about 80%.

"How is it?" Liu Ruyan asked.

"That's about it." Han Mu stood up and stretched his limbs. "The Heart of Time and Space has been refined to one-tenth, which is barely usable. But to fully refine it, it will take at least three months."

"Three months is too long." Bai Ling walked back from the cave entrance. "The people from Heaven could return at any time."

"I know." Han Mu looked out of the cave; it was already dark, night had fallen. "So we can't stay here too long. We'll leave when it's completely dark."

"Where to?" Lin Fan asked.

"Go somewhere they wouldn't expect." A glint of light flashed in Han Mu's eyes.

"Where?"

Han Mu did not answer, but instead took out a jade slip from his robes. The jade slip was blue-green, with the character "Han" engraved on its surface. This was a gift from Han Li, who said it could be used in times of crisis.

He crushed the jade slip, and a beam of azure light surged into his brow. A map appeared in his mind, marking a location—deep within the Netherworld Abyss, near a spacetime node.

"Han Li said before that the Netherworld Abyss has a spacetime node and is the back door to the Temple of Time and Space," Han Mu said. "Now that the Temple of Time and Space has been destroyed and the ancient beasts of time and space have awakened, the Heavenly Court's attention is definitely focused there. The Netherworld Abyss has become the safest place, hidden from view."

"Moreover..." he paused, "Han Li may have encountered trouble in the Netherworld Abyss and needs help. If we go there, we can both seek refuge and help him."

The group exchanged glances, and none of them objected.

"Then it's settled." Han Mu looked out of the cave; the night was already deep. "Pack up, we'll set off in a quarter of an hour."

A quarter of an hour later, the nine people left the cave and disappeared into the night. The concealment array continued to operate, isolating their presence.

But what Han Mu didn't know was that a thousand miles away, on a mountain peak, three celestial generals hadn't left. The middle general held a compass in his hand, the compass needle pointing in the direction they had left.

"Brother, they've made a move," said the general on the right.

"Follow them." The Heavenly General in the middle sneered. "The Daoist Master has ordered that the Heart of Time and Space must be brought back. Although that kid has some skill, he's seriously injured and won't get far. Once they lower their guard, we'll wipe them all out."

"But the third brother's grudge..."

"Revenge must be taken, but the Heart of Time and Space is more important." The celestial general put away the compass. "Let's go, don't lose them."

The three of them transformed into streaks of light and silently gave chase.

In the darkness of night, a chase and escape had just begun.

The communication jade slip in Han Mu's arms suddenly vibrated. He took it out to check; it was a message from Han Li, containing only two words:

"Come quickly."