The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

"It has a tail." Han Mu's voice rang out inside the shuttle, calm yet cold.

Everyone's hearts skipped a beat. Han Li immediately manipulated the Divine Shuttle, and in the instant it seemed to have come to a stop, he subtly adjusted its position, stopping at a less conspicuous spot on the edge of the platform.

"Are you sure they're coming for us?" Liu Ruyan asked in a low voice.

"Uncertain, but the aura is very similar to the remnants of the 'Reversal Alliance' cultivators after practicing the 'Reversal of Chaos' Dao. Moreover, when these divine senses swept over, they lingered for a moment longer on our captured 'Divine Shuttle.'" Han Mu's gaze swept casually over a few inconspicuous corners on the platform through the porthole. "It might be a routine inspection, or it might be that they received a tip and are keeping an eye on suspicious shuttles coming from the direction of 'Eternal Star Tomb.'"

"So, what's our plan?" Zhou Meng asked Han Mu.

"The plan remains the same, but we need to be more careful." Han Mu pondered for a moment, then said, "We'll infiltrate in groups. Zhou Meng, Bai Ling, and I will form a group, disguised as a group of independent cultivators returning from an expedition to Star Tomb, having made some gains, and preparing to enter the city to sell their loot and replenish supplies. Han Li, you and Liu Ruyan will form a group, disguised as array masters accompanied by maids, and enter the city through more legitimate channels under the pretext of purchasing rare array materials. Luo Feng, you will take Li Qingzhu, Lin Fan, Lin Xue, and Senior Yun Ya Zi, disguised as a small mercenary group, and escort a batch of 'Star Tomb specialties' into the city for trade."

"Remember, everyone immediately use spells or pills to change their appearance and conceal their aura. Fellow Daoist Han Li, prepare several sets of corresponding identity documents and travel permits. After entering the city, do not contact each other directly. Instead, gather information about the 'Shadow Guild,' the 'Forging Heaven Workshop Secret Realm Map,' and any unusual rumors circulating in the city recently through different channels. Three days later, meet in the backyard of a shop called 'Old Bookstore' at No. 37, 'Listening to Rain Alley,' in the south of the city. That shop is a relatively reliable secret contact point with a past connection to the 'Guardians of Time,' as remembered by Senior Qingxuan. I have obtained the mark and can enter safely."

"Yes!" the crowd responded and immediately sprang into action. Han Li quickly drew simple talismans to temporarily alter his appearance, while Liu Ruyan prepared corresponding clothing and tools. Luo Feng, on the other hand, began searching through the storage artifacts he had previously seized, finding some ores, bones, soul crystals, and other items that looked like "Star Graveyard specialties" to use for disguise.

Han Mu walked to the side, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, communicating with the gray-white mark left by Qingxuan in his sea of ​​consciousness, representing the incomplete control core of the "Remnant of Time." He needed to confirm whether the "Old Bookstore" contact point was still safe and usable.

As the mind focused, the grayish-white brand glowed faintly, conveying a vague message and a simple location map. The message indicated that the owner of the "Old Bookstore" was a Nascent Soul cultivator codenamed "Old Ghost." Ostensibly running a shop selling ancient books and miscellaneous items, he was actually an outreach agent of the "Guardians of Time" lineage stationed in Myriad Manifestations City, responsible for intelligence relay and supply support. He was loyal and reliable, but had not been contacted by his superiors for nearly a century. Simultaneously, the brand also emitted a very faint warning—the causal ripples generated by the Time Venerable's "Time Tracing Origin" great divine power seemed to be slowly spreading to the large area where Myriad Manifestations City was located. Although it was still very blurry at present, action had to be expedited.

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

Name: Han Mu

[True Realm: Mid-stage Taiyi Jade Immortal (Fully recovered from injuries, at peak condition)]

[Time Rule: 87%]

[Status: Peak. Fragment fusion rate of "Coffin of Origin" 25%. Control core imprint of "Relic of Time" activated, capable of sensing specific communication points.]

[Celestial Aura: -6000 points]

[System Notification: "Old Bookstore" confirmed as a safe contact point (verification required). Warning: The causal ripples of "Time Traveler's" "Time Tracing" have begun to affect this area; the risk of being locked out increases over time.]

After closing the panel, Han Mu looked at the group who had already changed their appearances. He himself had also cast a small spell, making his appearance ordinary, concealing his aura to the late Golden Immortal stage, and changing his gray robes into common adventurer attire. Zhou Meng and Bai Ling had also made similar disguises.

"Set off, and be careful on your own. If you encounter danger that you cannot handle, prioritize your survival. You may choose not to rendezvous and go into hiding. I will find you," Han Mu instructed.

"Rest assured, my lord!" Liu Ruyan and the others nodded.

Soon, the three groups left the Divine Shuttle one after another, mingling with the bustling crowd on the platform, and heading towards different entrances leading to the main urban area of ​​Wanxiang Tiancheng.

Han Mu, accompanied by Zhou Meng and Bai Ling disguised as guards, chose a "rogue cultivator passage" that required a small fee of spirit stones and had a relatively relaxed checkpoint. While queuing, he could feel those suspicious divine senses from before still subtly scanning the crowd, especially lingering on those cultivators coming from the direction of the "Eternal Star Tomb".

When it was their turn, the guards simply checked Han Li's forged identity documents, inquired about their purpose, and then waved them through. Han Mu and his companions passed smoothly through the city gate shrouded in a protective array of light, officially stepping into this chaotic city renowned throughout the heavens.

The scene inside the city was completely different from that outside. The streets were wide, but crowded with all sorts of cultivators, alien races, and even some strange puppet creatures. Shops lined both sides, with all sorts of signs. The sounds of hawking, bargaining, and fighting coming from some dark corners mingled together, and the air was filled with a complex mixture of spiritual energy, the fragrance of medicine, the stench of blood, and an indescribable restlessness.

"Let's go to 'Old Bookstore' to check the situation first, then find a place to stay, and then inquire about other things." Han Mu transmitted his voice to Zhou Meng and Bai Ling, and was about to head south of the city.

Suddenly, a commotion arose at the street corner ahead. Several cultivators dressed in matching black outfits with a twisted hourglass pattern embroidered on their chests were roughly pushing through the crowd, their sharp gazes sweeping over passersby as if searching for something.

Han Mu's eyes narrowed. That hourglass pattern... it bore a striking resemblance to the pattern on the Eclipse Token! Was it the "Reverse Time Alliance's" open presence in the city? Or something else entirely?

Just as the black-clad cultivators were about to turn their gazes toward Han Mu, a blood-soaked, barely breathing cultivator suddenly rushed out of a nearby alley, screaming, "Help... me! The 'Shadow Assassination Society'... to silence me..."

Before the words were even finished, a dark blade of light shot out from the alley, instantly beheading the cultivator who had cried for help! Blood splattered, causing screams and chaos.

The black-clad cultivators' attention was immediately drawn to it. The leader snorted coldly, "Damn it! These rats are stealing our food again. Let's go look somewhere else!"

Taking advantage of the chaos, Han Mu led Zhou Meng and Bai Ling to quickly turn around and disappear into another crowded street.

"The 'Shadow Assassins'? Never heard of them. But the waters in this city are indeed more murky than I imagined," Han Mu thought to himself, his steps unwavering. "I must find the 'Shadow Guild' as soon as possible and obtain the clue to the secret realm map. Delay will only lead to unforeseen changes."