The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

The milky white, viscous pool water completely enveloped Han Mu. There was no feeling of suffocation; instead, it felt like being immersed in a warm womb. But the next moment, endless images, sounds, and emotions flooded into Han Mu's mind like a burst dam!

The images of the woman in white with tears streaming down her face, the dark gold figure laughing madly, and Han Mu himself standing holding the coffin... these three images flashed alternately, faster and faster, until they finally merged into a chaotic vortex of light and shadow.

Han Mu felt his consciousness being forcibly pulled, as if he were about to fall into the depths of a vortex. Just then, the "Origin Coffin Mark" between his eyebrows suddenly burst out with a blazing gray-white light, and the four fragments of the "Origin Coffin" in his arms also vibrated in unison, emitting a clear and melodious resonance.

"Hold fast to your true self!" Han Mu shouted, activating the "Flow of Time and Light" technique to firmly stabilize his soul. At the same time, the fragment of the "Seed of Reincarnation" trembled slightly, emitting a strange Daoist aura of reincarnation that could soothe chaos.

The pulling force of the vortex of light and shadow immediately weakened.

Han Mu seized the opportunity, focused his mind, and stopped resisting the flood of information. Instead, he actively "read" and "understood" it.

The woman in white in the first image gradually revealed her features. It was a beauty that transcended the mortal world, yet her brows held an unyielding sorrow and resolute determination. She stood before a complete, hundred-foot-tall, greyish-white coffin, her hands forming an extremely complex ancient hand seal, softly chanting incantations that Han Mu couldn't understand but could sense as endless grief.

As the incantation was completed, the woman's body, starting from her feet, transformed into specks of white light, merging into the giant coffin like falling snowflakes. The giant coffin trembled violently, its surface covered with countless cracks, before finally exploding open with a deafening roar, transforming into seven streams of light that shot towards all the heavens and myriad realms.

"This is... the truth behind the shattering of the 'Coffin of Origin'." Han Mu realized in his heart, "That saintess was named Shi Yue. She sacrificed herself to seal the predecessor of Shi Zun, but this also caused the supreme treasure to shatter."

The dark gold figure in the second image also became clear. It was a middle-aged man with a sinister face and crazed eyes, wearing a dark gold robe, standing at the end of a river of time that stretched through endless galaxies. He raised his hands high, and countless stars collapsed behind him, the wails of billions of living beings turning into tangible black energy that flowed into his body.

"Time Lord... he is drawing upon the negative emotions and deathly resentments of all the heavens and myriad realms to strengthen his own 'Rebellious' Dao principles." Han Mu's eyes were icy. "He wants to use this method to forcibly break the seal of the 'Source of Time'."

In the third scene, Han Mu himself is holding the complete "Coffin of Origin," while the dark gold figure opposite him is kneeling on one knee... This scene begins to fluctuate and distort violently, like a water mirror with an unstable signal, and finally shatters with a "crack," turning into countless points of light.

"Is this... one possibility for the future?" Han Mu frowned. "But it doesn't seem to be certain yet, which is why the image is unstable."

Just then, all the illusions vanished. Han Mu found himself still immersed in the "Origin Pool," but the water was no longer turbulent; instead, it was as calm as a mirror. The grayish-white "Crystal of the Origin of Time" in the center of the pool was slowly drifting towards him.

"You saw it." Qingxuan Daoist's voice rang out by the pool, tinged with weariness. "Those are 'fragments of memory' buried in the origin of time here. The fact that you were able to keep your mind steady and not succumb shows that you are qualified to receive the inheritance and gifts of my clan."

Han Mu reached out and grasped the "Crystal of the Origin of Time". The crystal felt warm to the touch, and the extremely pure power of the Origin of Time flowed into his body through his arm, quickly repairing the remaining injuries, nourishing the dried-up meridians, and even activating the "Origin Coffin Mark" and the four fragments between his eyebrows, causing them to slowly and spontaneously merge and resonate.

"Now, it's time to discuss the terms." Daoist Qingxuan walked to the edge of the pool, his expression solemn. "Young friend Han Mu, I can give you the complete middle section of the *Time Flow Scripture*, as well as the first fragment of the 'Key of Time.' But you must swear an oath by the Great Dao—"

"First, if you are to collect the 'Coffin of Origin' in the future and stop the Time Lord, you must rebuild the lineage of the 'Guardians of Time' and prevent the inheritance from being cut off."

"Secondly, if possible, find and rescue the Holy Maiden Shi Yue. Even if it's just a wisp of her soul or a trace of her true spirit."

"Third, the power of the 'Coffin of Origin' must never be used for evil, and one must not follow the example of that Venerable who attempted to control the time of all living beings."

Han Mu stood up from the pool, the water sliding off automatically without wetting his clothes. He had recovered 90% of his injuries, and his aura was even more solid and powerful than before.

"Senior, I can agree to these three conditions." Han Mu looked directly at Daoist Qingxuan, "but there are three points that need to be explained."

"Speaking."

"First, I will reorganize the tradition, but I must take the lead. The tradition can be preserved, but the rules must be changed. If we stick to the old ways, we will eventually repeat the same mistakes."

"Secondly, I will do my best to save Saintess Shi Yue, but if it is impossible, I will not risk my own life or the lives of my companions."

"Third, not doing evil is the bottom line, and I know my limits. As for controlling time... if it's to protect those who should be protected, things that should be protected, and realms that should be protected, I won't hesitate to use the power that's needed."

Qingxuan Daoist looked at Han Mu intently for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Good! No hypocrisy, no empty talk, just principles and a bottom line. Make this oath."

Han Mu raised his hand, forcing out a drop of essence blood from his fingertip. Using the blood as a guide, he sketched a complex Great Dao Oath Rune in the air, imprinting the three promises he had just made into it, and then inserted it into his brow.

As the runes merged, it felt as if an invisible shackle had fallen upon them, but it was instantly buffered and compatible by the power of the "Source Coffin Mark" and the system, without causing any real restraint. It was more of a warning to one's Dao heart.

"That's great!" Without further hesitation, Qingxuan Daoist raised his hand and sent the complete inheritance jade slip of the middle part of "The Flow of Time and Light" and the dark silver "Key of Time" fragment to Han Mu in mid-air.

Han Mu took the jade tablet, and the jade tablet transformed into a stream of light that entered his brow. A massive amount of information flooded in, several times more profound than what he had previously obtained. He carefully put away the key fragment.

Just then, Han Mu brought up the system panel and quickly scanned it.

Name: Han Mu

[True Realm: Early Stage of Taiyi Jade Immortal (Injuries fully recovered, realm stabilized)]

[Time Law: 78% (Absorbing the essence of time, enhancing understanding)]

[Status: Peak. The fusion rate of the "Coffin of Origin" fragment has been increased to 15%. The activity level of the "Seed of Reincarnation" fragment has increased.]

[Celestial Aura: -6000 points]

[Obtained: Complete "The Flow of Time" (Middle Chapter) Inheritance. Obtained "Key of Time" Fragment (1/3). Completed the hidden quest "Trial of the Origin Pool," reward: Crystal of the Origin of Time (absorbed), +3% Insight into the Laws of Time.]

[New Task: Integrate the novella "The Flow of Time" to further enhance your understanding of the laws of time.]

"Looks like the harvest was quite good." Han Mu closed the panel and looked at Qingxuan Daoist. "Senior, are the 'Time Corridor' and 'Mirror of Reincarnation' trials next?"

"Not bad." Daoist Qingxuan nodded. "Those two trials mainly target different applications of the laws of time and the deepening of understanding of reincarnation. They will also greatly benefit the rest of your team. Especially that little guy named Zhou Meng, his 'Time Guardian Mark' may be fully awakened in the 'Mirror of Reincarnation'."

"Let's get going without delay," Han Mu said.

The two left the "Origin Pool" and returned to the pavilion. Liu Ruyan, Han Li, and the others immediately surrounded them.

"My lord, are you alright?" Liu Ruyan asked with concern.

"It's alright, I've gained quite a lot." Han Mu briefly explained the situation, then looked at Han Li, "Fellow Daoist Han Li, next you, Zhou Meng, Luo Feng, and Bai Ling will come with me to the 'Mirror of Reincarnation' for the trial. Liu Ruyan, you take Li Qingzhu, Lin Fan, Lin Xue, and Senior Yun Yazi to the 'Corridor of Time'."

"Yes!" the crowd replied.

Luo Feng rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining: "Finally, it's my turn! Where's the mirror?"

Qingxuan Daoist raised his hand, and the distorted spacetime portal reappeared behind the pavilion, with three forked paths clearly visible.

"The left is the 'Corridor of Time,' the middle is the 'Mirror of Reincarnation,' and the right is the 'Pool of Origin,'" said Daoist Qingxuan. "Remember, danger and opportunity coexist in this trial; act according to your abilities. Also…"

Qingxuan Daoist paused, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat solemn: "I just sensed that the outermost concealment array of the Lost Realm seems to have been activated. Although it's very weak, it's possible that spies from the 'Reverse Time Alliance' accidentally affected it while searching the nearby star field. You all need to hurry and leave as soon as you finish the trial."

Han Mu's eyes narrowed: "They found us so quickly?"

"The importance that the Time Lord places on you far exceeds your imagination," Qingxuan Daoist said in a deep voice. "Go quickly, time is running out."

Without further hesitation, Han Mu led Han Li, Zhou Meng, Luo Feng, and Bai Ling into the middle passage leading to the "Mirror of Reincarnation".

Just as the five figures disappeared into the passage, outside the ruins, in the distant, dark starry sky, a tiny, almost imperceptible gray light, like a pebble thrown into water, rippled outwards in the void, creating a barely perceptible ripple.

At the center of the ripples, a blurry gray shadow slowly emerged, its scarlet gaze locking onto the approximate location of the "Relic of Time".