The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

"Calling you?" Yun Li froze, astonishment crossing her pale face. She instinctively looked at Han Mu, then at the slightly trembling fragment of the bronze beacon in his hand, her tone uncertain: "Senior, could it be the power of the beacon itself, or... some kind of trap targeting the soul?"

Han Mu didn't answer immediately. He closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and carefully tried to capture the faint tremor rising from the depths of his bloodline. The feeling was strange; it wasn't a tangible sound, but rather a resonance originating from the same source, carrying a faint warmth and a strange sense of attraction, pointing in the same direction as the Dao Beacon's trembling. This was different from the Dao Beacon resonance caused by the core fragment before, which was purely an external attraction. This feeling... was more akin to the subtle, almost imperceptible connection between those of the same bloodline, only extremely weak and extremely distant.

Was it an illusion? Was it auditory hallucination caused by weakness from severe injuries and an unstable mind? Or perhaps...

He thought of his seemingly ordinary origins, already confirmed in the spirit realm and even the human realm. No earth-shattering figures had ever been known among the Han family ancestors. But the immortal realm was vast and mysterious, and who could truly know the origins of the bloodlines of those who ascended from the lower realms? Especially the mysterious system within him, the "Eternal Life Family" system that allowed him to continuously break through and comprehend the laws of time—its origins were shrouded in mystery.

"It doesn't seem like a trap." Han Mu opened his eyes, his usual calm returning. "The beacon's tremors are very stable, and the calling sensation, though faint, is pure, without any evil or bewitching intent. It's more like... a guidance from the same source."

He paused, looking into the depths of the void in the direction the Dao beacon pointed. "In the depths of the Chaos Sea, danger and opportunity coexist. Anything that can produce such a stable direction from the Dao beacon and trigger my bloodline connection is definitely not simple. Perhaps, it's another arrangement left behind by Dao Lord Kongming, or perhaps... it's some other opportunity related to the Dao of Time and Space, or even to myself."

He looked at Yun Li: "How are you feeling? Are you able to move?"

Yun Li took the pill and regulated her breathing for a while. Her complexion improved somewhat, but her aura remained weak. "I can barely fly, but if I encounter a powerful enemy, I'm afraid..." She shook her head with a bitter smile; her strength was a major weakness. In the depths of this chaotic sea, a True Immortal's cultivation was indeed insufficient, especially given her current serious injuries.

Han Mu nodded, indicating he understood. He summoned the system panel and quickly scanned it. His immortal spiritual energy was still zero, indicating he was still overdrawn. The shop list did have some quick-healing pills, but they required a considerable amount of immortal spiritual energy, and given his current injuries, ordinary pills would have limited effects. More importantly, he needed time to refine the medicinal power, stabilize his cultivation, and prevent his realm from further declining due to his severe injuries and backlash.

"Let's heal here first and regain some strength before making any further plans," Han Mu decided. The beacon's direction wouldn't easily change, and the depths of the Chaos Sea were fraught with danger. Going there rashly in their current state would be tantamount to suicide. He took out several array flags and set up a more thorough concealment and defense array around the meteorite. These array flags were his stockpile of materials he had refined in his early years; their grade wasn't very high, but they were better than nothing.

Just as he was setting up the formation, another communication jade slip in his pocket vibrated slightly. This was not the one Han Li had given him, but a regular communication jade slip that he had left behind when he parted ways with Liu Ruyan, Luo Feng, and others at Green Bamboo Peak. It had a very wide effective range, but the transmission of information was relatively slow, and in this chaotic sea, the signal was intermittent due to interference from chaotic energy.

Han Mu infused a wisp of immortal power, and a fragmented, noisy voice came from the jade slip; it was Liu Ruyan.

"...My lord...are you well? Green Bamboo Peak...is all normal. Zhou Meng broke through to the late True Immortal stage the day before yesterday...Lin Xue went out for training and discovered what appeared to be an ancient cultivator's cave near 'Shattered Star Gorge'...but the fluctuations were weak and there were signs of spatial disorder, so she dared not enter...We have strengthened our defenses...My lord is in the Chaos Sea, please be careful...If needed, please send a message immediately..."

The information was brief, but it eased Han Mu's tense mind slightly. Green Bamboo Peak was unharmed, Zhou Meng had actually broken through, and Lin Xue had discovered a new clue. Although it was only "suspected," the words "Shattered Star Gorge" and "spatial disorder" stirred something within him. Shattered Star Gorge was a perilous place near the edge of the Chaos Sea, known for its numerous spatial rifts and harsh environment. Could it also hold secrets related to the Dao of Time and Space?

He hesitated for a moment, then replied with a short message: "Peace, don't worry. I encountered danger in the Chaos Sea, but I've escaped and am currently seeking a place to heal. Do not act rashly regarding the Shattered Star Gorge; wait for my news." He was currently preoccupied with his own affairs, and maintaining stability on Green Bamboo Peak was the priority.

After sending the message, Han Mu stopped thinking about it, took the pill, and began to focus on healing his injuries. Yun Li also quietly regulated her breathing beside him.

Time flowed through the silent void. The meteorite belt drifted slowly, surrounded by eternal darkness and scattered, twinkling stars (or fragments of luminous celestial bodies). Occasionally, spatial turbulence or chaotic energy tides swept by, but they were barely blocked or diverted by the array set up by Han Mu.

Before we knew it, three days had passed.

Han Mu slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air tinged with the smell of blood and opened his eyes. His eyes held a restrained light, and his face was still somewhat pale, but his aura was much more stable and solid than before. His injuries had healed by about 30%, and his cultivation level had temporarily stabilized at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm. However, to return to his peak, he would need a considerable amount of time and resources. The backlash from the Bursting Yuan Pill was still present, and his strength would be diminished for the next three months.

He brought up the system panel.

Name: Han Mu

[True Realm: Late-stage Golden Immortal (Currently exhibiting mid-stage Golden Immortal status, still recovering from severe injuries)]

[Surface Realm: Mid-stage True Immortal (Can be maintained)]

[Time Rule: 8% for Beginners (Stable)]

[Status: Moderate internal injury (21% of meridians damaged, essence and blood slowly recovering, approximately two and a half months remaining in the backlash period)]

[Celestial Aura: -4502 points (Overdrafting, needs to be replenished on schedule)]

[Note: A faint homologous spacetime fluctuation has been detected near the host; its direction has been marked. Beacon resonance has intensified.]

"The beacon's resonance has strengthened?" Han Mu's heart stirred, and he took out the bronze fragment. Sure enough, the fragment's vibration was more pronounced than before, and its temperature was slightly higher, but its direction remained unchanged. The faint call from the depths of his bloodline also seemed to have become clearer; although still weak, it was no longer barely perceptible.

"Senior, your injuries..." Yun Li also finished her meditation. Her injuries were less severe than Han Mu's, and she was recovering better. She looked much better now.

"It's alright, we can move now." Han Mu stood up, waved his hand to dispel part of the formation, leaving only basic concealment. "The beacon's guidance remains unchanged, and the calling sensation is still there. We shouldn't linger here; the commotion at that crack will attract more attention sooner or later. Let's heal as we go."

Yun Li nodded, offering no objection. At this moment, the two were essentially in the same boat; Han Mu's strength and decisiveness were her only hope for survival.

After determining their direction, Han Mu reconfirmed the location indicated by the beacon. It was a deeper, darker region of the Chaos Sea, where stars were more sparse, and the occasional meteorite fragments that streaked by bore the marks of time and chaos. They concealed their auras, suppressed their escape light to a minimum, and cautiously flew in that direction.

Along the way, they encountered several small-scale spatial turbulences and bursts of chaotic energy, all of which they sensed in advance and narrowly avoided. They also sensed several powerful auras patrolling or fighting in the chaotic sea, seemingly vying for some resources, and they avoided them at all costs.

After flying for about half a day, the scenery in the void ahead gradually changed. It was no longer just darkness and scattered meteorites, but began to appear some huge, floating, fragmented landmasses, like pieces of a continent. On them, one could vaguely see the ruins of collapsed buildings and array patterns that had long since lost their spiritual light. Further away, one could even see some areas shrouded in strange force fields, with shimmering light within them, which seemed to be the remnants of secret realms or small worlds that were not yet completely destroyed.

"This place... looks like the ruins of an ancient battlefield," Yun Li murmured, her eyes filled with shock. The massive fragments of land, the smallest of which spanned thousands of miles, bore the marks of an ancient and tragic aura, as if silently recounting a horrific war that took place in a distant era.

Han Mu's expression was also solemn. The Dao Beacon in his arms trembled even more noticeably, and the call of his bloodline became clearer, even faintly carrying a hint of... excitement? Or perhaps filial piety?

Just as they flew close to an exceptionally large piece of land that resembled a broken mountain peak, a strange change occurred!

Near the top of the land fragment, a faint, almost imperceptible grayish-white light suddenly appeared. The light vanished in an instant, but in that very moment, the bronze beacon fragment in Han Mu's hand suddenly heated up, its trembling intensifying! And the calling deep within Han Mu's bloodline also abruptly strengthened, as if it were coming from the very spot where the light had appeared!

"There!" Han Mu's gaze sharpened, and he flew without hesitation toward the spot where the light had disappeared.

However, just as they were about to approach the fragment of land, a sharp, dark light suddenly ripped through the void without warning, accompanied by a piercing shriek, aiming straight for Han Mu's back! The attacker's timing was impeccable, precisely at the moment when Han Mu's attention was drawn to the beacon and the call, and his mind relaxed slightly!

The attacker's aura was concealed, and his attack was ruthless, revealing him to be at the early stage of the Golden Immortal realm! Moreover, this attack was premeditated and incredibly powerful, far surpassing that of an ordinary early-stage Golden Immortal!

Although Han Mu was still recovering from his serious injuries, his late-stage Golden Immortal perception and combat instincts remained intact. The instant the dark light struck his body, the power of time around him fluctuated almost imperceptibly, and his figure shifted half a foot to the side in the blink of an eye!

laugh!

The dark light grazed his shoulder, leaving a trail of blood; the protective aura hadn't completely blocked it! A chilling and vicious force seeped into the wound, attempting to erode his meridians.

Han Mu grunted, his eyes flashing with cold light. Without even looking at his wound, he swung his sword backhand towards the direction from which the dark light had come! The sword energy was like a rainbow, carrying the rhythm of accelerated time, instantly traversing hundreds of feet and striking a seemingly empty void.

"Huh?" A soft exclamation echoed from the void. A blurry black shadow tumbled out in a disheveled state, narrowly avoiding the sword energy, revealing a cultivator dressed in a gray bodysuit, his face hidden in the shadows. He held a short, black dagger in his hand, exuding a chilling aura.

"Quick reaction." The gray-robed cultivator's voice was hoarse. His gaze fell on Han Mu's bleeding shoulder, then swept over the bronze talisman fragment still tightly clutched in Han Mu's hand, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes. "Hand over that bronze fragment, and all the storage artifacts you possess, and I'll spare your life."

"You think you can take me?" Han Mu coldly uttered three words, his shoulder muscles tensing as the chilling power was forcibly expelled and annihilated by the immortal power and a trace of time power flowing within his body. The wound stopped bleeding and healed at a visible speed. He took a step forward, no longer concealing his aura as a late-stage Golden Immortal. Although he was weak from his injuries, the oppressive aura of his cultivation level caused the gray-robed cultivator's expression to change drastically.

"Late-stage Golden Immortal?!" The gray-robed cultivator was filled with doubt and surprise. He had sensed from afar that the aura of a mid-stage True Immortal was clearly present. How could it be... a disguise? Or a temporary burst of power? A thought of retreat crossed his mind, but as his gaze swept over the trembling fragment of the Dao Beacon in Han Mu's hand, greed once again overwhelmed his reason. The opponent's aura was unstable, clearly indicating serious injuries. There might still be an opportunity! Moreover, that grayish-white light just now... perhaps there were other gains to be made!

"Attack!" the gray-robed cultivator shouted, not at Han Mu, but at the other side!

Behind Han Mu, another, even more concealed, shadowy figure, almost blending into the void, silently emerged. Holding a jet-black dagger, devoid of any glint of light, it aimed directly at Han Mu's nape! This was a pair of acquaintances skilled in stealth and assassination! The previous man was merely bait to draw attention; the real killing move was this attack from behind! Their perfect coordination clearly indicated they were used to this kind of stunt.

"Senior, be careful!" Yun Li exclaimed, wanting to intervene, but due to her still-healing injuries, she was a beat too slow.

Han Mu seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. Just as the dagger was about to strike him, he shifted his body slightly to the side in a way that defied common sense. At the same time, without even looking, he flicked his longsword backward!

Ding!

A crisp metallic clang rang out as the sword tip struck the dagger's blade with pinpoint accuracy! A tremendous force traveled through the dagger, causing the attacking figure to shudder violently, let out a muffled groan, and fly backward, nearly dropping the dagger from his hand.

"Time Slowdown?" The gray-robed cultivator's pupils contracted. He finally saw clearly that Han Mu seemed to be surrounded by an extremely weak time distortion field. It was this field that allowed Han Mu to make such exquisite evasions and counterattacks under impossible circumstances! This was a power that no ordinary Golden Immortal could control!

They'd kicked a hornet's nest! The gray-robed cultivator instantly realized that even if their opponent was a heavily injured late-stage Golden Immortal, they, as early-stage Golden Immortal assassins, were not someone they could easily defeat. Especially since their opponent possessed such troublesome power of time!

Without hesitation, he crushed a black talisman, his figure instantly transforming into a wisp of black smoke as he fled into the distance. The black shadows that Han Mu had repelled also crushed their talismans at the same time, turning into black smoke and escaping in different directions.

"Trying to leave?" Han Mu's eyes were icy. Now that he had made his move, there was no reason for him to let him go. He pointed his fingers like a sword, aiming them at the direction the gray-robed cultivator had fled.

"Time flies."

There was no earth-shattering noise, only a barely perceptible gray-white line that instantly traversed space and caught up with the black smoke.

"Ah!" A short, mournful scream came from afar. The black smoke paused abruptly, then, as if eroded by millions of years, it quickly dimmed, weathered, and dissipated into the void, along with the primordial spirit within, completely annihilated. The other wisp of black smoke, seeing this, was terrified and fled even faster, disappearing into the depths of the void in the blink of an eye.

Han Mu didn't chase after the other one. That finger strike had taken a toll on his health and aggravated his injuries, making his face even paler. He sheathed his sword and stood there, looking at the spot where the gray-robed cultivator had vanished. Only a black storage ring and a dark, short dagger remained there.

"Senior, are you alright?" Yun Li flew over and asked with concern. She looked at the wound on Han Mu's shoulder that had already healed and was shocked. The attacker's dagger was no ordinary weapon, and the insidious poison it contained was also very troublesome. Han Mu had actually forced out and healed the wound so easily. His strength was indeed unfathomable.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury." Han Mu shook his head, waved his hand to collect the spoils of war, and after a quick inspection, there was nothing special about them, just some ordinary immortal crystals, pills, materials, and a few decent concealment and assassination magic items. He put away the useful ones and stored the rest in his storage ring.

"These two are 'Void Hunters,' specializing in hunting down lone cultivators in the Chaos Sea." Yun Li said in a deep voice, looking in the direction the other assassin had fled. "They are excellent at stealth and specialize in coordinated ambushes, targeting injured or lone cultivators. Judging from their appearance, they must have been watching us for a while. Perhaps they sensed the array fluctuations when we were healing earlier."

Han Mu nodded, unsurprised. The Chaos Sea was a lawless place; killing and robbing were commonplace. What concerned him more was something else entirely.

"Their timing was perfect, just when I was drawn to the beacon and that light." Han Mu looked at the top of the fragment of land resembling a broken mountain. "A coincidence, or... do they know something too?"

He had a vague feeling that the fleeting gray-white light and the sudden sneak attack might not be isolated incidents.

The beacon in his arms trembled even more violently, even becoming slightly hot. And the call of his bloodline became clearer than ever before, carrying an urgent meaning, as if urging him to hurry, faster.

Without further hesitation, Han Mu said to Yun Li, "Stay close to me and be careful." After saying that, he concealed all his aura and even used a trace of time power to distort his own presence, carefully flying towards the top of that land fragment, where the light had once shone.

As they drew nearer, an indescribable aura of antiquity, desolation, and a touch of melancholy permeated the air. The land was riddled with deep ravines and cracks, and the remaining ruins bore a peculiar architectural style, distinct from the mainstream of the current immortal realm, and brimming with the weight of time.

When they finally landed on top of the land debris, on a relatively flat but cracked grayish-white stone platform, the bronze beacon fragment in Han Mu's hand suddenly flew out and hovered in mid-air, emitting a deep, melodious hum. On the surface of the fragment, the mysterious silver patterns lit up one after another, casting a hazy light and shadow.

In the interplay of light and shadow, the outline of a dilapidated palace could be vaguely seen, and deep within the palace, a faint but tenacious grayish-white light was gently flickering, resonating with the call from the depths of Han Mu's bloodline.

The light and shadow slowly moved, pointing to the edge of the stone platform, to an inconspicuous crack obscured by a massive broken pillar. Deep within the crack, it was dark and devoid of light, yet faint but clear spatial fluctuations emanated from it, along with... a faint, yet familiar aura that sent a shiver down Han Mu's spine.

Is it the aura of the "Immortal Coffin"? No, not exactly the same; it's more ancient, more...primitive.

Han Mu and Yun Li exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity and surprise in each other's eyes.

Indeed, there was more to this fragment of land than met the eye. Moreover, it seemed to have some connection with Han Mu, or rather, with the "immortal coffin" on his body.

Han Mu took a deep breath, stepped forward, and came to the edge of the crack. The crack was not large, only allowing one person to pass sideways. Looking inside, it was bottomless, with only pure darkness and the strange fluctuations that constantly emanated from it, attracting the Dao Beacon and Han Mu's bloodline.

Is it a blessing or a curse?

Han Mu didn't hesitate for long. Opportunity often comes at a risk, and having come this far, there was no reason to back down. He turned to Yun Li and said, "I'll go first. You follow three zhang behind. If anything goes wrong, retreat immediately. Don't worry about me."

"Senior!" Yun Li wanted to say something.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." After saying that, Han Mu retrieved the floating beacon fragment from his hand, and with a flash, he entered the deep crevice. Yun Li gritted her teeth and followed closely behind.

The crack was initially very narrow, barely wide enough for a person to pass through. After walking several dozen steps, it suddenly opened up into a bright and spacious area.

No, it wasn't a true "openness," but rather a spatial expansion. Inside the crack wasn't solid rock, but a strange, folded, and compressed space. All around were constantly twisting and flowing grayish-white mists, within which, one could vaguely see enormous phantom chains traversing the void. The chains were inscribed with extremely complex runes, most of which had faded, but still exuded a chilling aura of sealing.

In the deepest part of the space, in the center of the grayish-white mist, something was suspended.

That was a coffin.

An ancient coffin, entirely gray and white, neither gold nor jade, of unknown material.

The ancient coffin was simple and even somewhat rough in style, its surface covered with fine cracks, as if it might break at any moment. The coffin lid was tightly closed, but wisps of grayish-white aura still seeped out from the cracks. This was the source of the call that Han Mu had sensed outside, and also the source of the familiar yet ancient aura of the "Immortal Coffin".

The bronze road sign fragment trembled violently in Han Mu's hand, emitting a joyful yet sorrowful hum, as if a traveler were returning home, or as if it were weeping.

Han Mu stared blankly at the gray-white ancient coffin, the resonance deep within his bloodline reaching its peak, his heart pounding uncontrollably. A sense of closeness and filial piety, originating from the very source of life and the depths of his soul, surged forth, almost overwhelming him.

This coffin...is from the same source as the "immortal coffin" inside his body! Moreover, it seems to be even more ancient, even more...primitive.

Just then, the gray-white ancient coffin seemed to sense Han Mu's arrival, and the coffin body trembled slightly.

Click.

A soft yet clear, crisp sound echoed in the silent space.

On the surface of the ancient coffin, a crack that was already there had quietly widened.