The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

The fleeting appearance of the "Time Lord" mark, like a sword hanging over everyone's heads, dispelled the relaxed atmosphere of the brief victory. The lingering cold, aloof will that seemed to manipulate time at will sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"This place is not safe to stay any longer." Han Li spoke first, his tone grave. "Since 'Time Lord' can sense the changes here through the marks of his subordinates, it means that his control over the 'Eye of Return to the Void' far exceeds our imagination. He may descend at any time, or send an even stronger force."

Han Mu nodded, his sharp eyes growing even brighter: "The more this is the case, the faster we need to act. Before he reacts and mobilizes all his forces to seal off this place, we must penetrate deep into the core and obtain more leverage." He looked at Liu Ruyan and the others, "Liu Ruyan, you take Luo Feng, Bai Ling, Li Qingzhu, Lin Fan, and Lin Xue, and immediately return to the vicinity of 'Kugu Slope' through the relatively stable spacetime nodes on the outer perimeter. Establish a temporary base and try to find a backup spacetime beacon to leave the 'outer perimeter of Guixu'. If Han Li, Zhou Meng, and I have not returned after three days, or if a drastic change occurs here, you immediately leave through the beacon, return to Qingzhu Peak, and activate the highest alert plan."

"My lord!" Liu Ruyan exclaimed urgently, as if trying to say something.

"This is an order." Han Mu's tone left no room for doubt. "If you stay behind, you won't be of any help in facing the dangers ahead; in fact, you'll only distract me. Fellow Daoist Han Li is skilled in spatial concealment and escape techniques, and Zhou Meng has the 'Time Guardian Mark' for guidance. The three of us are the most mobile. Your role in providing support from the outside and scouting for an escape route is equally crucial."

Liu Ruyan bit her lip, then nodded emphatically, "Yes! Take care, my lord! We'll wait for your return!"

Luo Feng wanted to say something more, but Bai Ling glared at him, so he could only scratch his head and say, "Then... Senior Han, you absolutely have to come back! I'm still waiting to have a celebratory drink with you!"

Han Mu smiled and waved. Liu Ruyan no longer hesitated and immediately led Luo Feng and the others, quickly leaving in the direction of a relatively safe spacetime node pointed out by Han Li.

Watching them disappear, Han Mu looked at Han Li and Zhou Meng: "Let's go too. Zhou Meng, what's the direction where your mark's sensing power is strongest?"

Zhou Meng closed his eyes, the "Time Guardian Mark" between his brows glowing faintly. After a moment, it pointed to the deeper part of the "Abyss of Annihilation," to the dark center that seemed capable of devouring everything: "Over there... it calls for the strongest, but... it also has a very dangerous, very evil feeling, somewhat similar to that 'Time Sovereign' mark from before, but even more... vast? Chaotic?"

"That is the true core of the 'Eye of Return to the Void,' the ultimate target that the 'Reverse Time Alliance' formation will erode, and it is very likely the location of the most important fragment of the 'Coffin of Origin,'" Han Mu said in a deep voice, while summoning the system panel and quickly scanning it.

[True Realm: Late-stage Golden Immortal (Stable)]

[Time Rule: 45% of the Beginner Level]

[Status: Good. "Source Coffin Mark" is active.]

[System Notification: An abnormally intensified spacetime fluctuation has been detected in the core area of ​​the "Eye of the Ruins." The remaining power of the "Reversed Spacetime Array" is being guided and gathered by an unknown entity. Warning: High-energy reaction approaching!]

As expected! The other side moved very quickly!

"Go!" Han Mu shouted. The three of them no longer concealed their intentions and increased their speed to the limit, transforming into three streaks of light and rushing into the depths of the "Abyss of Annihilation" in the direction Zhou Meng sensed. Han Mu activated the power of the "Source Coffin Mark," forming a thin layer of gray-white light shield to protect the three of them, resisting the increasingly intense and almost tangible "Breath of the End" and the violent spatial turbulence along the way.

The deeper one goes, the harsher the environment becomes. Vast spatial rifts are everywhere, tearing through the void like wounds, spewing forth chaotic storms of time. In some areas, time stands still, with bizarre fossils floating about; in others, time flows at an astonishing rate, rocks weathering and crumbling in an instant. And in still others, spatial structures fold and twist, forming natural labyrinths.

Fortunately, with Zhou Meng's "Time Guardian Mark" as guidance, they could always find a relatively safe path. Han Li also took action from time to time, using exquisite spacetime techniques to smooth out some minor turbulence, or setting up simple misleading restrictions to interfere with any possible tracking.

After traveling for about half an hour, the scenery ahead suddenly changed.

They broke free from the boundaries of the "Abyss of Annihilation" and arrived at a "space" beyond description. Here, there was no up, down, left, or right; no matter existed, only a colossal, swirling "vortex" woven from countless gray and colored rays of light! At the center of the vortex was a bottomless "pupil" that seemed capable of devouring all light and perception—the true form of the Eye of the Ruins!

And at the edge of that enormous vortex, three things were suspended:

On the left was a grayish-white ancient coffin phantom, even larger, more solid, and with more cracks than the one Han Mu had seen in the "Abyss Heart." It was another core fragment of the "Coffin of Origin," seemingly even larger than the previous one! At this moment, this ancient coffin phantom was entangled by countless gray chains extending from the "Eye of Return to Nothingness." Evil runes flowed on the chains, which was the power of the "Reversed Time and Space Array," frantically drawing out and refining the power of the ancient coffin.

On the right is an extremely complex three-dimensional array model constructed entirely of solidified time crystals. At the core of the model floats a constantly changing phantom of an hourglass—a projection of the "Hourglass of Time" itself! This is clearly one of the central hubs set up by the "Reverse Time Alliance" here to control the entire array!

Most striking of all was a blurry, gray figure, pieced together from countless fragments of time, suspended in the very center, between the ancient coffin's phantom and the array model! The figure had its back to the group, facing the "Eye of the Ruins," as if gazing into their eyes, or perhaps communicating with them. Though only its back was visible, the vast, ancient pressure emanating from it, carrying a hint of "rebellious" nature, sent shivers down the spines of Han Mu and his companions!

An avatar or projection of "Time Lord"?

Seemingly sensing the uninvited guests, the gray figure slowly, extremely slowly, turned around. It had no facial features, only a constantly changing gray vortex reflecting the birth and death of countless worlds, coldly, indifferently, and without any emotion "gazing" at Han Mu and his companions.

"The insects that stole the power of the Source Coffin... actually managed to get this far." A grand, ethereal voice, seemingly coming from the end of time, resounded directly in the souls of the three, carrying a natural, condescending indifference, "Perfect, let your time, your imprints, everything you have... become resources for my path."

As he spoke, the enormous "Eye of the Ruins" vortex around them seemed to spin slightly faster, its terrifying suction and aura of impending doom spreading out even more intensely. At the same time, the three-dimensional array model shone brightly, and countless gray chains, like venomous snakes, emerged from the void, coiling towards Han Mu and his companions! The enormous ancient coffin phantom, trapped by the chains, also let out a mournful cry of unbearable strain, and another crack seemed to appear on its surface.

"Attack! First, break the core of the formation and rescue the fragments of the ancient coffin!" A fierce glint flashed in Han Mu's eyes. Without hesitation, the "Origin Coffin Mark" between his brows erupted with light, transforming into a gray-white torrent that actively met the incoming chains and formation power! At the same time, he transmitted his voice to Han Li and Zhou Meng: "Fellow Daoist Han Li, interfere with that avatar! Zhou Meng, use your mark to try to communicate with and appease that ancient coffin, helping it resist the refining!"

A great battle is about to break out! And this time, the opponent is a suspected avatar of the "Time Lord" and the core power of the entire "Reversed Time and Space Array"!