The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

"...Reverse Time Alliance Sacrificial Array...Coordinates of the Backup Energy Node Vulnerability...Method for Closing..."

The intermittent cries for help, like a glimmer of light in the darkness, sent a jolt through Han Mu. Was it a trap, or a real opportunity? His gaze sharpened, and he quickly exchanged a glance with Han Li.

"Respond to him, but be careful, it might be a trap," Han Li transmitted his voice, already holding several defensive and counter-attack talismans in his hand.

Han Mu nodded, gathering an extremely faint wisp of divine thought, mixed with the aura of the "Source Coffin Mark" and the Daoist rhythm of "Time Guardian," and cautiously probed in the general direction from which the distress signal had come: "Who are you? How can you prove that what you say is true? What are the coordinates of the vulnerability and the method to close it?"

After waiting for about ten breaths, the faint divine thought returned, clearer than before, filled with indescribable excitement and urgency: "I am... Yun Ya Zi, the elder left behind by the seventh lineage of the 'Alliance of Time'... When the 'Abyss of Silence' fell, I self-destructed the projection of the 'Coffin of Time Guardians' to cover the disciples' retreat. I was severely injured and captured. Because my cultivation was still decent, I was imprisoned here to have my lifespan extracted for them to study the power of 'Time Guardians'... My primordial spirit is imprisoned by the 'Chaotic Soul-Locking Chains,' but I have managed to retain a sliver of clarity and can sense the fluctuations of the same-origin mark... Are you the new inheritors of 'Time Guardians'?"

Zhou Meng's brow mark twitched suddenly. He looked at Han Mu, his eyes seeking confirmation. Han Mu gestured for him to calm down and continued to transmit the coordinates of the vulnerability.

"...The coordinates are..." A complex set of coordinates containing information from multiple spatial dimensions entered Han Mu's mind, along with a description of the "backup energy node"—a relatively remote secondary node responsible for powering the outer part of the "Abyss of Silence" prison array and monitoring formation. Due to its hidden location and relatively low importance, and because its connection to the main priest array has a spacetime rift left by the "Alliance of Time" during their rebellion, which is difficult to completely repair, it forms a natural weak point and information interference zone. If one could infiltrate there and destroy several key rune nodes in a specific order, it would be possible to temporarily paralyze the node and the connected part of the prison and monitoring, creating a "blind spot," and possibly causing slight interference to the main priest array.

"The method to close requires the power of the 'Time Guardian' origin or the time Dao rhythm that can restrain 'Reversal', combined with a specific 'Time Reversal' hand seal... I can pass on the hand seal to you, but you must perform it within three zhang of the node core... Remember, you only have one chance, and you must complete it within thirty breaths, otherwise you will be backfired by the formation and detected by the guards..." Yun Ya Zi's divine sense transmitted a profound hand seal information.

Han Mu quickly verified the authenticity of the coordinates in his mind. Combining the star map in the "Time Amber" with the system scan, he found that the coordinates did indeed exist, and the energy fluctuation pattern matched the description. The hand seal also contained the orthodox "Time Guardian" Daoist rhyme, and did not seem to be fake.

"Senior Yun Yazi, how can we trust you? How can you guarantee that this isn't a trap set by the 'Reverse Time Alliance' to lure us in?" Han Mu asked the most crucial question.

"Alas..." A mournful sigh echoed from Yun Ya Zi's divine sense. "My primordial spirit is about to be completely refined; my days are numbered. Believe it or not, it's up to you. But if you are truly the inheritors of 'Time Guardian,' you should understand the meaning of 'Guardian.' This place imprisons over 100,000 beings of various races, and every moment hundreds upon hundreds are drained to death... Even if there is only a sliver of hope to rescue some, disrupt part of their rituals, and delay 'Time Venerable's' conspiracy, I will have no regrets even in death. Three thousand miles southeast, in the 74,521st prison cell, there is a fragment of the 'Time Guardian' token I left behind, which can prove my identity... But obtaining it requires taking a risk..."

Han Mu looked at Han Li and Zhou Meng. Zhou Meng nodded vigorously: "My mark can sense that there is indeed a very faint and sorrowful aura of the same origin in that direction... but it is also very dangerous, with a strong restraint around it."

Han Li pondered for a moment and said, "The coordinates and the hand seals make sense logically. But the risks are still enormous. Even if the loopholes exist, every step we take—infiltrating, sabotaging, and then withdrawing—is like walking on thin ice. What's more, we still need to verify their identities."

Han Mu's eyes flashed as he quickly weighed the pros and cons. Verifying identities meant getting closer to the prison area, which was riskier. But if Yun Ya Zi's words were true, this was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not only could it disrupt part of the ritual and create chaos, but it could also rescue some prisoners and potentially create more conditions for subsequent actions.

"Let's do it!" Han Mu finally gritted his teeth and decided, "Fellow Daoist Han Li, you take Liu Ruyan, Luo Feng, Bai Ling, Li Qingzhu, Lin Fan, and Lin Xue and stay here to establish a rendezvous point and an evacuation route. Zhou Meng and I will go and verify the token. If it's genuine, we'll proceed as planned. Objective: destroy the node, create chaos, seize the opportunity to contact Yun Ya Zi, obtain more intelligence, and attempt to rescue some of the prisoners. If it's fake, or if something unexpected happens, we'll retreat immediately. You prepare to provide backup for the evacuation."

"Brother Han, it's too dangerous. I'll go with you!" Han Li said.

"No, we need you here even more. Your array formation skills are key to establishing a safe evacuation route. Zhou Meng's 'Time Guardian Mark' can help me avoid risks and verify the token." Han Mu's tone left no room for doubt. "Don't worry, I have the 'Source Coffin Mark' and two fragments in hand. Even if we can't win, we're still quite confident in escaping."

He brought up the system panel, quickly glanced at the status, and confirmed the recovery progress.

[True Realm: Peak Golden Immortal (60% recovered from injuries, essence stabilized)]

[Time Rule: 60% of the Beginner Level]

[Status: Power restored to 70%. "Source Coffin Mark" active.]

[Celestial Aura: -9000 points]

[Hint: Accept the mysterious quest "Destroy the Sacrificial Node" and receive the temporary buff "Time Guardian Guidance" (slightly increases the ability to perceive and avoid "Reversal" formations).]

"Get ready to go," Han Mu said to Zhou Meng. The two changed into darker clothes that were more conducive to stealth, concealed all their presence, and like two shadows blending into the darkness, silently left the canyon stronghold and headed towards the coordinates of the prison given by Yun Ya Zi.

Relying on the "Source Coffin Mark" to perceive the "Reversal" energy, Zhou Meng's "Time Guardian Mark" warning, and Han Mu's own keen sense of time and space, the two trudged through the complex and dangerous outer area of ​​the "Abyss of Return to Silence," avoiding patrolling groups of gray-robed cultivators and invisible beams of warning light.

An hour later, they finally arrived near their target area. It was the edge of a dense array of cages suspended in the void. Each cage emitted faint life fluctuations and painful wails. Han Mu and Zhou Meng hid behind a huge, seemingly abandoned array base, observing cautiously.

The cage indicated by the coordinates is located deep within the array. Getting there without alerting the guards is virtually impossible.

"Senior Han, what should we do?" Zhou Meng transmitted his voice.

Han Mu's gaze swept across the area and locked onto a six-person team patrolling nearby, consisting of two peak True Immortals and four late-stage True Immortals. They seemed to be preparing to change shifts.

"When they pass that blind spot in the surveillance, make your move. Change into their clothes and blend in." Han Mu's eyes were icy, like a ferocious beast eyeing its prey.

You only get one chance.