The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

Black Wind Ridge is located three hundred miles northwest of Yanling Fortress. It is a continuous black mountain range, named for the constant howling of the winds. The terrain here is treacherous, and the spiritual energy is thin, so few cultivators set foot here, making it an ideal place for clandestine gatherings.

The news brought back by Li Yuanming made the entire Han family nervous.

Han Mu immediately summoned Han Changqing, Li Yuanming, Zhang Xuanfeng, Doctor Mo, and others to the council hall. More than eighty Qi Refining stage disciples also stopped cultivating and went on high alert.

"Is the information reliable?" Han Mu asked in a deep voice.

"Absolutely reliable." Li Yuanming's expression was solemn. "It was sent back by a scout arranged by the Li family near Black Wind Ridge using a communication talisman. He said he saw at least a hundred black-clad cultivators enter Black Wind Ridge, among whom at least ten had the aura of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. They are using the banners of the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Joyful Union Sect, and are setting up a temporary camp."

"Ten Foundation Establishment cultivators..." Han Changqing gasped. "That's almost the entire force of the two sects on the border of Yue Kingdom. Are they going to completely annihilate my Han family?"

"Only a little over a month has passed since the three-year agreement was made, and they've already broken their promise." Zhang Xuanfeng gritted his teeth. "The demonic path is truly untrustworthy!"

Doctor Mo frowned and said, "This matter is somewhat strange. Although the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Joyful Union Sect are powerful, they are, after all, within the territory of Yue Kingdom. If they were to launch a large-scale attack on the righteous families, the Seven Great Sects would not stand idly by. Why would they take this risk?"

Han Mu's eyes flickered. Doctor Mo was right; there was indeed a problem here. According to the original plot, although the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Joyful Union Sect were arrogant, they wouldn't dare to launch such a blatant and large-scale attack on righteous families, unless... they had a bigger scheme.

"System, analyze the motives behind the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Joyful Union Sect's actions this time."

[Analysis in progress...]

Insufficient information to conduct accurate analysis

[Possible motive 1: To retaliate against the Han family's previous defeat and save face]

[Possible Motive Two: To Seize the Spiritual Vein Resources of Yanling Fortress]

[Possible Motive 3: To use a feint to cover up other actions]

[Recommendation: Send a clone or scout to Blackwind Ridge for further investigation]

Han Mu pondered for a moment, then looked at everyone: "Whatever their schemes, we'll meet them head-on. Changqing, activate the highest level of the mountain-protecting formation, and all disciples, enter a state of combat readiness. Fellow Daoist Li and Fellow Daoist Zhang, you two take your men to inspect the formation's nodes to ensure absolute safety."

"Yes!" The three men accepted the order and left.

Han Mu then looked at Doctor Mo: "Elder Mo, the refining of the Five Elements Condensing Pill cannot be stopped; it is the future hope of the family. Continue preparations, and we will start the furnace in three days. I will set up a protective array for you to ensure that the refining process is not disturbed."

"Don't worry, Master, I understand." Doctor Mo nodded.

After making these arrangements, Han Mu returned to his cave and sat down cross-legged. He needed to carefully consider his next move.

With over a hundred demonic cultivators, including ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, this force is indeed formidable. Given the Han family's current strength, a direct confrontation would be futile. However, the mountain-protecting formation has been reinforced, and with the spiritual energy provided by the Spirit Eye Spring, they should be able to hold out for a while.

The question is, how long can they hold out? A month? Two months? If the demonic path is truly determined to break through the Han family, they can wear them down.

"We must find outside help," Han Mu muttered to himself.

He thought of Huangfeng Valley. Han Yunge was now Chen Song's disciple, and perhaps he could use this connection to seek help from Huangfeng Valley. However, the seven major sects were riddled with factions, and Chen Song, a third-level alchemist, had limited influence. Moreover, distant water couldn't quench an immediate fire; by the time Huangfeng Valley sent people, the Han family would likely have already been defeated.

"It seems I'll have to use some special methods." A cold glint flashed in Han Mu's eyes.

He rose and went deep into the cave, taking out several materials from his storage bag: a fist-sized piece of "Yin Sha Iron," three pieces of "Soul Sealing Wood," and seven "Soul Suppressing Stones." These were all obtained from the Blood Fiend Sect's treasure vault and the Black Wind Mountain cave, and contained a rich Yin Sha aura.

He was going to forge a special magical artifact—the "Yin Sha Soul-Guiding Banner".

This magical artifact has no direct offensive power, but it has a special function: it can attract the spirits and malevolent energy within a radius of a hundred miles, forming a small-scale malevolent domain. Within this domain, the power of the techniques of the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Joyful Union Sect cultivators will be enhanced, but at the same time, it will also attract a large number of spirits, causing chaos.

Han Mu planned to use this thing to create a "surprise" for the demonic cultivators.

The refining process went smoothly. Although Han Mu's weapon-refining skills were not as good as his alchemy skills, with the system's assistance and the extremely high quality of the materials, he completed the refining in just one day.

It was a small black banner, about the size of a palm, woven with silk threads made of Yin Sha Iron. The banner pole was made of Soul-Sealing Wood, and a Soul-Suppressing Stone was inlaid at the top. The banner was entirely dark, emanating a chilling aura that made one's heart tremble.

"System, evaluate the effectiveness of the Yin Sha Soul-Guiding Banner."

[Item: Yin Sha Soul-Guiding Banner (Tier 1 High-Grade Magic Item)]

[Function: Once activated, it can attract the evil spirits and malevolent energy within a radius of 100 miles, forming a malevolent domain that lasts for twelve hours.]

[Area: Centered on the ritual implement, with a radius of fifty li]

[Side effect: May attract powerful evil spirits; use with caution]

Twelve hours is enough.

Han Mu put away the small banner and walked out of the cave. Night had fallen, and the entire Green Bamboo Peak was shrouded in the pale blue light of the protective array, appearing peaceful and serene. But everyone knew that this was only the calm before the storm.

"Father." Han Changqing hurried over, his face grave. "Our scouts report that the demonic cultivators have begun to move, advancing in three directions to surround Yanling Fortress. At their speed, they will arrive by noon tomorrow at the latest."

How many people came?

"At least eighty people, including six Foundation Establishment cultivators," Han Changqing said. "The remaining twenty-odd people stayed at Black Wind Ridge, seemingly guarding something."

"What are they protecting?" Han Mu's eyes narrowed. "Have your spies get as close as possible and find out what they're protecting. But be careful not to expose yourselves."

"Yes."

Han Mu gazed northwest, his eyes flashing with cold light. "Ghost Spirit Sect and Joyful Union Sect, since you've broken your promises, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"Changqing, guard the family well. I need to go out for a while."

"Father, where are you going?" Han Changqing asked in surprise.

"Go and deliver a big gift to them," Han Mu said calmly, his figure transforming into a wisp of green smoke, silently passing through the mountain-protecting formation and disappearing into the night.

The night provided the best cover. Han Mu concealed his aura to the extreme, moving through the darkness like a ghost. His Foundation Establishment Level 7 cultivation allowed him to move extremely fast, arriving at the outer edge of Black Wind Ridge in less than an hour.

He hid on a cliff and looked down.

Deep within Black Wind Ridge, a temporary camp had been set up. More than twenty black-clad cultivators patrolled around the camp. In the center of the camp were three tents, the largest of which emitted array fluctuations, clearly indicating that there was some important person or thing inside.

"System, scan the camp."

[Scanning in progress...]

[Target: Ghost Spirit Sect/Hehuan Sect Temporary Camp]

Number of cultivators: 23

[Cultivation Level Distribution: 2 at the early Foundation Establishment stage, 12 at the late Qi Refining stage, and 9 at the mid-Qi Refining stage]

[Tent Analysis: There are strong array fluctuations within the central tent, possibly a teleportation array or a sealing array]

[Left tent: Storage of supplies, containing pills and talismans]

[Right tent: Residence, containing 2 Foundation Establishment cultivators]

Teleportation array? Sealing array?

Han Mu's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Joyful Union Sect's massive attack on Yanling Fortress was a cover for some kind of operation here?

He carefully observed the array patterns surrounding the central tent. The array was complex and ancient, somewhat similar to the spirit-sealing and soul-suppressing array in the Black Wind Mountain cave, but more complete, clearly set up by someone.

"System, activate the formation simulation function."

[Driving simulation in progress...]

[Formation Type: Boundary-Breaking Summoning Array (Simplified Version)]

[Function: Forcefully break through weak points in space to summon or guide something]

[Required Materials: Yin Sha Iron, Living Soul, Essence Blood]

[Speculated purpose: To summon a powerful being or to guide one to a treasure]

A boundary-breaking spirit-summoning array? Summoning a powerful being?

Han Mu suddenly remembered what the Heavenly Fiend True Monarch had said. This old monster had been sealed in the Black Wind Mountain cave for three thousand years. Could it be that the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Joyful Union Sect were planning to summon him out?

No, that's not right. The remnant soul of the Heavenly Fiend True Lord is still in the cave, and the Boundary-Breaking Spirit Summoning Array requires a large number of living souls and essence blood. The Ghost Spirit Sect has gathered so many cultivators, probably for this reason.

"Such ruthless methods." Han Mu's eyes were icy. Using the souls and essence of hundreds of cultivators to summon a powerful being—this was definitely a grand scheme by the demonic path. The attack on Yanling Fortress was probably just a pretext; the real purpose was to collect enough "materials."

They must be stopped.

Han Mu took out the Yin Sha Soul-Guiding Banner, made hand seals, and struck the small banner into the ground. The small banner disappeared into the soil, but Han Mu could feel an invisible Yin Sha power beginning to spread.

He quietly retreated and came to a hilltop on the outskirts of Black Wind Ridge, which was the edge of the influence range of the Yin Sha Soul-Guiding Banner.

"activation."

Han Mu cast a spell.

hum-

An invisible wave spread out, and the Yin energy within a hundred miles began to converge on Black Wind Ridge. At first, it was not obvious, but soon, the Yin wind howled, and the cries of ghosts and wolves arose everywhere. Countless wandering Yin spirits were attracted and hovered in the sky above Black Wind Ridge.

"What's going on?!" The demonic cultivators in the camp were shocked.

"The Yin energy has suddenly surged; something's strange!"

"Report this to the elders immediately!"

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators rushed out of the tent and looked at the densely packed Yin spirits in the sky; their expressions changed drastically.

"Someone's causing trouble! Find them!"

But they couldn't find Han Mu. Han Mu had already concealed his presence, hiding in the shadows, quietly observing.

The number of wraiths gathered rapidly, quickly forming a dark cloud. Ghostly figures loomed within the cloud, their mournful howls echoing throughout. Some weaker wraiths began to attack the camp, though they were blocked by the formation, the light from the formation noticeably dimmed.

"Maintain the formation! We can't let them interfere with the ceremony!" a Foundation Establishment cultivator shouted.

All the demonic cultivators were channeling their spiritual energy to maintain the camp's formation. However, they failed to notice that the Yin Sha Soul-Guiding Banner underground was subtly altering the nature of the formation.

The Spirit Summoning Array requires pure Yin energy and living souls, but after being interfered with by Han Mu's Yin Soul-Guiding Banner, the Yin energy became impure, and the living souls were in chaos. The array began to become unstable, and muffled thuds came from inside the central tent.

"Oh no! The formation is about to collapse!"

"Stabilize!"

boom--!

With a deafening roar, the central tent exploded, revealing intricate array patterns inside. The patterns were now flashing wildly, the runes breaking apart inch by inch, clearly out of control.

"Who?! Who's causing trouble?!" a Foundation Establishment cultivator roared, frantically scanning his surroundings with his divine sense.

But Han Mu had already left and returned to the cliff where he was hiding.

He looked down at the chaotic camp below, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"The gifts have been delivered. I hope you like them."

He turned and left, disappearing into the night.

Inside the camp, the demonic cultivators were in a frantic rush, trying to stabilize the collapsing formation. But little did they know, even greater trouble lay ahead.

The out-of-control spirit-summoning array has attracted something it shouldn't have.