The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

"...How did Master's ring end up here?"

The woman in green spoke weakly, her voice filled with disbelief and shock. She struggled to sit up, but the movement aggravated her injuries, causing her to cough up more black blood, her breath becoming even weaker. But her gaze was fixed on the ancient ring on the withered finger, her eyes filled with complex emotions—a mixture of sadness, confusion, and disbelief.

Han Mu paused, his gaze shifting between the woman and the ring. A master? This woman was no ordinary person; she had at least one master who was at least a Dao Venerable, and this master seemed to have perished inside the Black Water Serpent, leaving behind even the ring that symbolized his status. This ring was called the "Void Ring," which sounded extraordinary.

"Are you sure?" Han Mu asked, while simultaneously enduring the excruciating pain to pick up a fist-sized piece of spatial crystal with his still-movable hand. This small crystal contained the weakest spatial power, so purifying it should pose the lowest risk.

"There's no mistake..." The woman in green spoke softly, as if lost in memories. "The Void Ring was one of Master's natal magic treasures. It was made primarily of 'Void Divine Iron,' supplemented with nine kinds of spatial spiritual objects. It contained a vast inner world, capable of holding mountains and rivers. I've seen Master wear it countless times... But how could it have cracked? Master..." A trace of sorrow appeared in her eyes, clearly indicating that she had guessed a certain possibility.

Han Mu had no time to comfort her; his immediate priority was to restore his strength. He summoned the system panel:

Name: Han Mu

[True Realm: Late Golden Immortal (severely injured and fell to the early True Immortal stage; realm unstable)]

[Surface Realm: Early Stage True Immortal]

[Time Rule: Small Success Rate 2%]

[Celestial Aura: 102 points]

[Status: Depleted essence and blood, severely damaged meridians, damaged origin, and suffering backlash from the disintegration of the Heavenly Demon (requires at least a Grade 5 healing pill or equivalent rare and precious herbs to stabilize)]

"System, purify the spatial crystal in your hand and absorb and transform the immortal spiritual energy," Han Mu silently commanded.

[Command confirmed. Purification initiation... Consumes 50 points of Immortal Spirit Energy for channeling.]

[Purification in progress... Detected faint Xuan Snake Mark and violent spatial power. Currently stripping and purifying...]

Purification complete. Absorption and transformation commencing...

The silver crystal in his hand dimmed visibly, eventually turning into dust. At the same time, an incomparably pure, gentle, and easily absorbed spatial primordial power surged into Han Mu's body, quickly being transformed into immortal spiritual energy by the system.

[Absorption complete. Gained 8500 points of Celestial Spirit Energy.]

[Current Celestial Aura: 8602 points.]

Success! Han Mu's spirits lifted. 8602 points, though not a lot, was enough to exchange for some healing pills to stabilize his injuries and even slightly restore his strength. He immediately opened the system shop and quickly filtered through the options.

"The fifth-grade elixir, 'Life-Creating Pill,' repairs meridians and stabilizes one's origin. Requires 3000 points."

"The fifth-grade elixir, 'Nine Transformations Stasis Elixir,' is for severe internal organ damage and depletion of essence and blood. It requires 3500 points."

"Change these two first!" Han Mu said without hesitation. Pills have a price, but life is priceless. As long as he can recover some of his combat strength, there is only a glimmer of hope for survival inside the Xuan Snake's belly and under the watchful eyes of those two Dao Venerables outside.

[Exchange successful, consuming 6500 points of Immortal Spirit Energy.]

[Received: Life-Creating Pill x1, Nine-Transformation Stasis Pill x1.]

[Current Celestial Aura: 2102 points.]

Two pills, each the size of a longan and exuding a rich medicinal fragrance and vibrant life force, appeared in Han Mu's hand. He didn't take them immediately, but instead looked at the woman in green. Her injuries were extremely severe, especially as the "Soul-Devouring Netherworld Fiend" continued to erode her soul and life force. If she didn't receive treatment, she probably wouldn't last much longer.

"Here you go." Han Mu flicked his finger, sending one of the "Life-Creating Pills" towards the woman in green. This pill mainly repairs the meridians and stabilizes the source, which will also help her injuries. As for the "Soul-Devouring Netherworld Fiend," he couldn't worry about it for the time being.

The woman in green was taken aback, instinctively taking the pill. After recognizing its appearance and the immense vitality it contained, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "A fifth-grade immortal pill? You…"

"Eat it if you don't want to die, and hurry up and heal your wounds. We're all in this together now." Han Mu finished speaking, then stopped looking at her and stuffed the "Nine Transformations Healing Pill" into his mouth. The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, transforming into a warm current that flowed through his limbs and bones, beginning to repair his riddled body. Especially his depleted essence and blood, nourished by the medicinal power, began to slowly regenerate; although slow, it was definitely improving. The stinging pain in his meridians also lessened considerably.

The woman in green gave Han Mu a deep look, then stopped being coy and swallowed the pill. She sat cross-legged and began to circulate her internal energy to refine the medicinal power. The cinnabar mark between her brows glowed slightly, seemingly a special cultivation technique mark that helped her resist the "Soul-Devouring Netherworld Fiend".

While the medicine was taking effect and he was healing, Han Mu didn't rest. He scanned the small interlayer space. Besides a few pieces of spatial crystals (of varying sizes, estimated to yield tens of thousands of units of immortal spiritual energy when fully converted), there was the skeleton wearing the "Void Ring," and several fragments of broken weapons. He laboriously moved over and examined the weapon fragments first.

A broken sword, its blade a dark gold color, riddled with cracks, yet made of extraordinary material, heavy and cold to the touch, faintly retaining a sharp edge—at least a fragment of a Golden Immortal-level flying sword. A shield fragment, neither gold nor jade, bearing indistinct beast patterns, suggesting decent defensive capabilities. And the tip of half a spear, rusted and covered in rust, yet exuding a heavy, menacing aura.

"System, assess the value of these fragments. How much immortal spiritual energy can be recovered?"

[Under investigation...]

[Dark Gold Broken Sword (Fragment of a Golden Immortal Artifact): Contains a small amount of "Essence of Geng Metal," and can recover 800 points of Immortal Spiritual Energy.]

[Fragment of Beast-Patterned Shield (Golden Immortal Artifact Fragment): Contains "Mystic Tortoise Shell" powder, which can recover 600 points of Immortal Spiritual Energy.]

[The tip of the Fiendish Spear (remnant): Suspected of being contaminated with powerful fiendish energy; material unknown. It can be recycled for 500 points of immortal energy, or its fiendish energy can be initially purified by spending 1000 points of immortal energy. There is a chance to obtain a "Fiendish Energy Crystal" (use unknown).]

Even a mosquito's leg is still meat. Han Mu desperately needs immortal spiritual energy right now. "Recycle it all."

[Recycling successful. 1900 points of Immortal Spirit Energy gained.]

[Current Celestial Aura: 4002 points.]

He felt a little more at ease. Han Mu turned his gaze to the "Void Ring." This ring was a relic of that woman's master, and it contained a hidden world within, perhaps holding even more valuable items, or even clues to leaving this place. But taking it directly seemed rather dishonest, especially with its owner nearby, even if only bones remained.

"This ring..." Han Mu looked at the woman in green who was still healing, but whose breathing had clearly stabilized.

The woman in green slowly opened her eyes. Her face was still pale, but her eyes were much clearer. The "Soul-Devouring Abyss" was temporarily suppressed, and her meridians were repairing. "Do you want to see?" she asked.

"Perhaps there's a way out of here, or a clue left by your master," Han Mu said bluntly.

The woman in green was silent for a moment, then nodded. "You're right. Master suddenly disappeared back then, and the sect searched the entire realm without finding a clue. We never imagined he would perish inside this beast's belly… This ring is Master's natal magic weapon, bearing his mark, making it difficult for outsiders to open. However…" She paused, "My cultivation technique originates from the same source as Master's, so perhaps I can try to communicate with the remaining mark and forcibly open a crack. But it will take time, and it might alert the ring's own defenses, or… the lingering will of Master."

"It's better than being trapped here to die." Han Mu glanced at the slightly writhing dark red fleshy walls around him. "Besides, this place might not always be safe. The Xuan Snake can't digest the spatial crystals, which is why this layer was formed. But if it moves violently, or if our healing and recovery energy leaks out, we might be swept away by the spatial turbulence within its body, or even drowned by its gastric juices."

As if to confirm Han Mu's words, the entire mezzanine space suddenly shook violently, and a muffled rumble came from the fleshy dome above. The furious hissing of the Xuan Snake and the terrifying sound of space being churned could be faintly heard outside. It seemed the Xuan Snake was throwing a tantrum because its "food" had escaped.

Their expressions changed. They had to speed things up.

"I'll protect you. Try to open the ring as soon as possible," Han Mu said in a deep voice. At the same time, he absorbed and transformed a slightly larger piece of spatial crystal, gaining another 5000 points of immortal spiritual energy. Combined with what he already had, he now had over 9,000 points. He exchanged for several simple talismans to stabilize the space and pasted them on the edge of the interlayer. He also set up a simple array to conceal his aura. Although the effect was limited, it was better than nothing.

Without further hesitation, the woman in green laboriously moved to the side of the skeleton. Looking at the ancient ring, a flash of sorrow crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. She bit her tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto the ring, while simultaneously forming hand seals and chanting incantations. The cinnabar mark between her brows shone brightly.

The blood essence fell onto the ring, but instead of being repelled, it slowly seeped in. The cracks on the ring's surface seemed to gleam slightly.

Time passed slowly. The interlayered space trembled intermittently, and the movements of the Xuan Snake outside fluctuated in intensity. Han Mu refined the medicinal power to recover while remaining vigilant of his surroundings. He summoned the system panel to check his status:

Name: Han Mu

[True Realm: Late Golden Immortal (Currently recovering from severe injuries, currently able to utilize approximately late True Immortal strength)]

[Surface Realm: Early Stage True Immortal]

[Time Rule: Small Success Rate 2%]

[Celestial Aura: 9035 points]

[Status: Essence and Blood restored 15%, Meridians repaired 30%, Fundamental damage repaired 10%, Demonic Disintegration backlash suppressed]

[Estimated full recovery requires: at least three elixirs of grade five or higher, or a large quantity of rare and precious herbs of the same grade, and at least three months of secluded cultivation.]

He has recovered a little, but is still far from his peak. However, he can still use the strength of a late-stage True Immortal, combined with the laws of time, so he has some ability to protect himself in critical moments.

Just then, something changed on the woman in green's side.

hum!

The "Void Ring" suddenly erupted with a powerful silver light, illuminating the entire dimly lit interlayered space! An ancient, vast spatial aura, seemingly capable of encompassing all the heavens, permeated the air. Within the cracks on the ring's surface, silver light flowed, faintly forming a complex, illusory image of runes.

"It's open!" the woman in green uttered softly, her face even paler, clearly exhausted. She gestured with her hand, and the illusory runes slowly rotated, revealing a tiny silver portal, just wide enough for one person to pass through, that slowly opened above the ring.

Beyond the portal, the faint outlines of mountains and rivers could be seen—the very celestial world within the ring! Although some areas appeared dilapidated and dimly lit, the celestial world had indeed opened!

However, before the two could even rejoice, a sudden change occurred!

The opened silver gate did not release the expected spiritual energy or aura of treasures. Instead, it emitted a chilling, deathly stillness filled with intense resentment! At the same time, the ring on the finger of the previously quiet skeleton shone brightly, and two ghostly green flames suddenly ignited in the empty eye sockets of the skeleton!

"Heh...heh..." The jawbone of the withered bone opened and closed, emitting a chilling grinding sound. A residual pressure far exceeding that of a Golden Immortal, and even approaching that of a Dao Venerable, mixed with overwhelming resentment, suddenly erupted and locked onto the nearest woman in green!

"Master?!" the woman in green exclaimed in shock, but her expression immediately changed drastically. "No! This isn't Master's soul! This is... a remnant of resentment and a corpse that has turned into a zombie?!"

The skeleton slowly "stood" up, its movements stiff, but the eerie green ghost fire stared intently at the woman in green, as if it were seeing an irreconcilable enemy. It raised its skeletal hand and grabbed at the woman in green, its palm wreathed in dark, ominous, resentful death light!

Han Mu's pupils constricted sharply. Damn it, I knew it wouldn't be that simple! The inner world within this ring had probably long been corrupted by the resentment of its fallen owner and the deathly aura within the black serpent's belly! What had been opened wasn't a treasure trove, but Pandora's box!

"Be careful!" Han Mu shouted, gathering the little strength he had just recovered. He condensed the Law of Time at his fingertips, preparing to strike. Although the pressure of this withered corpse was close to that of a Dao Venerable, it was still just a skeleton. Judging from its stiff movements, there might be an opportunity.

The woman in green reacted quickly, remaining calm despite her shock. She held her broken flute horizontally in front of her, unleashing a blue sonic wave in an attempt to block the approaching bone claw. However, the resentful, deathly aura emanating from the bone claw was extremely strange, subtly suppressing her sonic attack!

Just as the bone claws were about to grab the woman in green, Han Mu's Time Slow was also about to make his move—

Suddenly, the skeleton abruptly stopped moving, and the eerie green ghost fire pulsed violently, turning towards Han Mu! No, more accurately, it turned towards something in Han Mu's arms!

Han Mu was taken aback, and then felt the "Time-Space Beacon (Fragment)" in his arms getting slightly warm, automatically emitting a faint but pure time-space fluctuation.

The ghostly flames in the skeleton's eyes seemed to be stimulated the moment it saw the spacetime beacon, letting out a silent shriek. It abandoned the woman in green who was right in front of it and turned to pounce on Han Mu! The resentful death light surged even more fiercely, and it seemed to be mixed with a trace of... fear and ecstasy?

"Time and space...beacon...give me back!!" A hoarse, distorted voice filled with endless resentment exploded directly in Han Mu and the woman in green's minds!