The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

Those pure golden eyes slowly opened amidst the chaotic airflow, their gaze falling upon Han Mu and his nine companions.

In an instant, the nine people felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave. The oppressive aura contained in that gaze far surpassed that of the Netherworld Emperor, and was even several times more terrifying than the strongest peak Grand Jade Immortal among the Heavenly Court's pursuers. This was simply a being on a completely different level.

"run!"

Without a second thought, Han Mu unleashed a burst of silver light from the Heart of Time and Space, creating a protective shield in front of him and enveloping everyone as they turned and fled. He dared not look back, and could only unleash all his immortal power, frantically flying through the chaotic sea.

The chaotic currents of energy, sharp as knives, cut into the light shield formed by the Heart of Spacetime, producing a piercing screeching sound. With every mile it traveled, the light shield dimmed slightly. Han Mu could sense that the Heart of Spacetime's energy was being rapidly depleted.

"What was that?" Zhou Meng's face turned pale. He had just been swept by that gaze, and his immortal power had frozen, almost causing him to fall from the sky.

"I don't know, but it's definitely not something we can handle." Liu Ruyan gritted her teeth. "Han Mu, which way do we escape?"

Han Mu didn't answer. He summoned the system panel and quickly glanced at it.

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: 3500 points

Fusion degree of Chaotic Spacetime Dao Patterns: 22%

Spacetime beacon control level: 18%

Special Status: Under the Repulsion of the Chaotic Sea (Energy Consumption of the Heart of Time and Space +300%)

[Warning: Aura of a Dao Ancestor-level being detected]

[Recommendation: Stay away immediately]

Dao Ancestor level...

Han Mu's heart pounded wildly. There was actually a Dao Ancestor-level creature in the Chaos Sea? How could they possibly compete? The Netherworld Emperor hadn't mentioned anything about this.

"Senior Han, that thing behind us is catching up!" Luo Feng turned around and glanced back, his voice trembling.

Han Mu scanned the area with his divine sense and, sure enough, a massive shadow was rapidly approaching within the chaotic energy flow. The shadow was a thousand miles long, swimming freely in the chaotic sea as if it were in its own water. Those pure golden eyes were located at the head of the shadow.

"Split up and escape!" Han Mu made a decisive decision. "That thing's target is me. If you escape in different directions, you might survive!"

"No way!" Liu Ruyan was the first to object. "If we're going to die, we'll die together!"

"Yes!" Bai Ling nodded, drawing her longsword. "At worst, we'll fight it to the death."

"Fight my ass!" Zhou Meng cursed. "That Dao Ancestor level thing, do you think we can beat it? Luo Feng, don't you think so... Luo Feng?"

Zhou Meng turned his head and found that Luo Feng was gone.

"Where is Luo Feng?"

"I'm here..." Luo Feng's voice came from another direction. Everyone turned their heads and saw that Luo Feng had already flown dozens of miles away and was rushing towards the depths of the Chaos Sea.

"Luo Feng, you son of a bitch!" Zhou Meng jumped up and down in anger. "You're really going to run away?"

"As Senior Han said, we should split up and escape!" Luo Feng said without turning his head. "You guys hurry up, don't just stand there like idiots!"

Everyone: "..."

Han Mu's lips twitched. Luo Feng, that simpleton, was sometimes so simple-minded it was speechless, and sometimes he was excessively clever.

"Luo Feng is right, we'll split up and escape." Han Mu took a deep breath. "That thing's target is me. I'll lure it away, and you guys escape in the opposite direction. Remember, survive, find the Time Dao Ancestor's inheritance, and then... come save me."

"Han Mu!" Liu Ruyan's eyes reddened.

"This is an order." Han Mu's voice was cold. "The legacy of the Time Dao Ancestor is related to the survival of the Immortal Realm, more important than my life. You must survive and find the legacy."

After speaking, Han Mu turned and flew in another direction. He deliberately released the aura of the Heart of Time and Space, its silver light standing out conspicuously in the chaotic sea.

Sure enough, those pure golden eyes turned and locked onto Han Mu. The massive shadow changed direction and chased after Han Mu.

"Keep up!" Liu Ruyan gritted her teeth and led Bai Ling and the others to chase after Han Mu. However, the chaotic energy was too dense, and their speed was far inferior to Han Mu's, so they quickly lost him.

Han Mu glanced back and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Liu Ruyan and the others hadn't followed. He looked at the shadows chasing after him, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Want to pursue me? Let's see if you can even catch up!"

The Heart of Time and Space shone brightly with silver light, unleashing the full power of the laws of time. Han Mu's speed instantly increased several times over, transforming him into a silver streak in the chaotic sea. But the shadow behind him moved even faster, its thousand-mile-long body weaving through the chaotic currents as if it were nothing.

The distance is constantly shrinking.

Han Mu could sense the shadowy aura drawing ever closer. He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood essence onto the Heart of Time and Space. The Heart of Time and Space absorbed the blood essence, its silver light intensifying, and its speed increasing even further.

But not enough.

The shadow had already closed in on them for a hundred miles. Han Mu could even see the shadow's true form—it was a colossal beast, resembling a whale, but covered in golden scales, each the size of a mountain. The beast opened its mouth, and a terrifying suction force came, threatening to swallow Han Mu whole.

"Damn it!"

Han Mu tried his best to break free from the suction force. But the suction was too strong, and he was like a leaf in a storm, involuntarily flying towards the giant beast's mouth.

Just then, the Heart of Time and Space suddenly trembled. A silver light shot out from the Heart of Time and Space, transforming into a portal that blocked Han Mu's path. The giant beast's suction force struck the portal and was repelled.

"A time-space beacon?" Han Mu was taken aback.

The portal of light emanating from the Heart of Time and Space was clearly a spacetime beacon. Moreover, this beacon pointed to a certain place deep within the Chaos Sea.

Han Mu had no time to think and plunged into the portal. The portal closed instantly, and the giant beast missed its target, letting out an angry roar that shook the chaotic sea.

……

Han Mu tumbled out of the portal and landed in a chaotic mass of energy. This mass was unusual; the chaotic energy flowed gently, unlike the violent flow outside. In the center of the mass, a silver palace floated.

The palace was small, only a hundred feet in diameter, but it was entirely crafted from spacetime crystals, exuding a rich aura of spacetime laws. The palace gates were tightly shut, and four characters were inscribed on them—

Temple of Time

"The Temple of Time?" Han Mu was stunned. The legacy of the Time Dao Ancestor was here?

He looked around and realized that Liu Ruyan and the others were not there. The Heart of Time and Space had only taken him through the portal; the others should still be in the Chaos Sea.

"I hope they're alright," Han Mu murmured as he walked towards the Temple of Time.

Upon reaching the temple, the doors opened automatically. Behind the doors was a long corridor lined with murals depicting the life of the Time Dao Ancestor. Han Mu looked at each mural, growing increasingly alarmed with each reading.

In the mural, the Time Dao Ancestor is depicted as creating the world, establishing the laws of time, and setting the order of time. He and six other Dao Ancestors are collectively known as the "Seven Ancestors of Creation," jointly ruling the Immortal Realm. However, later, the Chaos Dao Venerable rose to power, seeking to refine the Chaos Sea and become the ruler of the Immortal Realm. The Time Dao Ancestor opposed this, and the two engaged in a great battle. Ultimately, the Time Dao Ancestor burned his very essence, perishing together with the Chaos Dao Venerable.

But the last mural made Han Mu's pupils shrink.

In that painting, the Time Dao Ancestor did not completely perish. He merged a wisp of his remnant soul into the Heart of Time and Space, awaiting a destined person. And that destined person will inherit his legacy and prevent the Chaos Dao Venerable from being resurrected.

"The Chaos Dao Venerable... is not dead yet?" Han Mu gasped.

The Netherworld Emperor said that the Time Dao Ancestor and the Chaos Dao Venerable perished together, but the mural shows that the Chaos Dao Venerable was only seriously injured and asleep, not truly dead. Moreover, he is awakening.

"We must obtain the inheritance as soon as possible." Han Mu quickened his pace, passed through the corridor, and arrived at the main hall in the center of the temple.

The hall was empty except for a silver crystal suspended in the center. The crystal was the size of a fist, with countless points of light flowing inside, each representing a moment in time.

"The Seed of Time." A voice rang out in the hall.

Han Mu looked up and saw a phantom appear above the main hall. It was an old man with white hair, a kind face, but eyes as deep as the starry sky. He wore a white robe and held a silver staff, the top of which was inlaid with the same Heart of Time and Space as Han Mu's.

"The Time Dao Ancestor?" Han Mu asked tentatively.

"Yes and no," the old man shook his head. "I am but a remnant soul; the true Dao Ancestor has already fallen. Young man, you have finally arrived."

"Does the senior know me?" Han Mu asked.

"The Heart of Time and Space chose you, and I knew you would come," the old man said. "You've made it this far, which means you've passed the first test—surviving the pursuit of the Chaos Beast. But the real test is just beginning."

"What kind of test?"

"Refine the Time Dao Seed and inherit my legacy." The old man pointed to the silver crystal. "But I must warn you, refining the Time Dao Seed is risky. The seed contains my lifelong understanding of the laws of time. If you cannot withstand it, you will be devoured by the power of time, turning into dust of time, never to be reborn."

"What if it succeeds?"

"If you succeed, you will master the laws of time, break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, and may even attain the Dao Ancestor realm. But you will also bear my responsibility—to prevent the resurrection of the Chaos Dao Venerable and protect the peace of the Immortal Realm."

Han Mu was silent for a moment: "What will happen if I fail?"

"The Chaos Daoist will fully awaken in a hundred years, refine the Chaos Sea, and become the ruler of the Immortal Realm. At that time, the Immortal Realm will be plunged into eternal darkness," the old man said. "You have no choice, young man. From the moment you obtained the Heart of Time and Space, your fate has already been sealed."

Han Mu looked at the silver crystal, then at the Heart of Time and Space in his hand. The Heart of Time and Space trembled slightly, as if urging him on.

"I will refine it," Han Mu uttered three words.

The old man smiled: "Very good. Go, grasp the seed of the Dao, and accept the baptism of time. Remember, hold fast to your true self, so that you will not be lost in the long river of time."

Han Mu took a deep breath and walked towards the silver crystal. He extended his right hand and grasped the Dao Seed.

The instant he grasped the Dao Seed, countless images flooded his mind—

In the creation of heaven and earth, time was born.

The Seven Patriarchs discussed the Dao and established order.

Amidst the chaos, the Daoist Master rises to power.

In the final battle, heaven and earth shattered.

And... a golden figure hidden deep within the chaotic sea.

The figure slowly opened its eyes, its pure golden pupils looking at Han Mu.

"Found you, successor of the Time Dao Ancestor."