The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

After navigating several narrow, winding, and slippery alleyways and avoiding several dark corners that clearly exuded a dangerous aura, Han Mu and his companions finally found the "Old Study" located deep within "Listening to the Rain Alley" in the south of the city, following the location map provided by the imprint in their minds.

The shopfront was small, with a weathered wooden signboard where the three characters "Old Bookstore" were almost worn away. A worn-out cloth curtain hung at the entrance, and the interior was dimly lit and quiet, suggesting that there was little business.

Han Mu didn't go in immediately. Instead, he stood on the opposite street corner, seemingly casually surveying his surroundings. In reality, the "Source Coffin Mark" between his brows subtly sensed and confirmed the security markings about this place within the brand. After a moment, a look of understanding flashed in his eyes—under the third paving stone to the left of the entrance, there was a very faint gray-white rune mark of the same origin as the brand, intact and showing no signs of being triggered or disturbed recently.

"It's safe, go in." Han Mu said in a low voice, and took the lead in lifting the curtain and going in.

The shop was indeed deserted, filled with the mingled smells of old paper and a faint musty odor. Several tall bookshelves stood against the wall, crammed with various tattered ancient books, jade slips, and animal hide scrolls. Behind the counter, a thin, elderly man with gray hair and reading glasses, wearing a faded gray robe, was engrossed in a yellowed ancient book, seemingly oblivious to the customers who had entered.

Han Mu walked to the counter, but did not speak immediately. Instead, he took out an ordinary "Crystal of Time" that he had picked up casually in the "Eternal Star Tomb" and which had a faint aura of time from his pocket (actually from his storage space) and gently placed it on the counter.

The old man didn't even lift his eyelids, still reading his book. He simply stretched out his withered fingers, brought the crystal to his eyes, examined it in the dim light, and then gently scraped its surface with his fingernail before slowly speaking in a hoarse voice: "Of average quality, fifty low-grade spirit stones."

"Shopkeeper, this crystal is something I brought from the depths of the 'Shattered Time Abyss.' It's imbued with a trace of antiquity, so it's worth more than this price," Han Mu said calmly. At the same time, his fingertips traced the specific communication runes representing the peripheral members of the "Guardians of Time" recorded in the brand on the counter with extremely subtle movements.

The old man paused slightly in his book-turning, finally raising his head. Through his reading glasses, his cloudy eyes scrutinized Han Mu, then glanced at Zhou Meng and Bai Ling behind him. After a few moments, the old man put down the book, pushed the crystal back to Han Mu, and lowered his voice: "The item is nice, but unfortunately, my shop is small and profits are meager, so I can't afford it. I also have some old items hidden away in the backyard; if the three of you are interested, you can come and take a look."

After saying this, the old man stood up shakily, lifted the curtain leading to the backyard, and gestured for the three of them to go in.

The backyard was even smaller than the front shop, cluttered with various odds and ends, containing only a simple stone table and a few stone stools. The old man closed the door, set up a soundproof barrier, and the languid look on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a sharpness and vigilance. He looked at Han Mu and said in a deep voice, "Password."

"Time flows like water." Han Mu uttered the first half of the sentence recorded in the brand.

"Just stay true to yourself." The old man immediately continued, his wariness lessening slightly, but he still scrutinized Han Mu. "A hundred years have passed, and we've finally met someone from 'above' again. However... you look unfamiliar, and your aura is completely off. The mark is correct, but I need more proof."

With a thought, Han Mu's "Origin Coffin Mark" between his brows lit up slightly, and a pure and ancient "origin" aura flashed by. At the same time, the gray-white mark in his sea of ​​consciousness also transmitted a special fluctuation that only the "Guardians of Time" lineage could sense.

The old man's expression changed drastically, his body trembled slightly, and his eyes flashed with disbelief. His voice was filled with excitement and choked with emotion: "This...this is...the aura of 'Source'?! And...the core imprint of Lord Qingxuan?! You...you are...!"

"Senior Qingxuan has fallen, and the 'Relic of Time' has been destroyed. I am Han Mu, the successor he chose before his death." Han Mu said succinctly, "To make a long story short, I need to know the current situation of the 'Shadow Guild,' as well as all the information about the 'Forging Heaven Workshop Secret Realm Map' of 'Divine Master' Ou Yezi. In addition, have there been any unusual events in the city recently, especially regarding the movements of the 'Reverse Time Alliance'?"

The old man, codenamed "Old Ghost," took a few deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his excitement, and quickly said, "This old man, 'Old Ghost,' greets Your Excellency! Lord Qingxuan... sigh! The 'Shadow Guild' has expanded its power rapidly in the past century, and is now one of the top three underground intelligence and black market trading organizations in the city. Its headquarters are located in the 'Shadow District' in the west of the city. The guild leader, 'Shadow Lord,' is mysterious and unpredictable, and it is rumored that he has the strength of a late-stage or even peak Taiyi Jade Immortal. The guild acts in a way that is both righteous and evil; as long as you can afford the price, they will accept almost any kind of business."

"As for the 'Forging Heaven Workshop Secret Realm Map'..." Old Ghost's face turned solemn. "About thirty years ago, a fragment of the map did appear at an auction controlled by the 'Shadow Guild,' causing quite a stir at the time. However, it was ultimately bought by a mysterious guest in a private room for an exorbitant price, and their identity remains a mystery. Afterwards, some changes seemed to occur within the guild, and there are many different opinions about the whereabouts of that fragment. Some say it's still in the guild's secret vault, some say it's been hidden by higher-ups, and some say... it has already fallen into the hands of the 'Reverse Time Alliance'!"

Han Mu's eyes narrowed: "'The Reverse Time Alliance'?"

"Yes!" Old Ghost nodded. "In the last ten years or so, the 'Time Reversal Alliance' has been much more active in the city. They have a public trading post called 'Time Pavilion' in the east of the city, ostensibly dealing in time-space materials, but secretly... Hmph. Especially in recent months, they seem to be frantically searching for and acquiring all ancient items and information related to concepts such as 'time,' 'reincarnation,' and 'origin.' Their actions are quite large, which has angered many forces. However, the 'Time Reversal Alliance' is powerful and has a mysterious background, so many people dare not speak out against it."

"Furthermore," the old ghost added, his expression growing even more serious, "just a few days ago, several of the city's larger intelligence organizations, including the 'Shadow Guild,' apparently received covert bounties from some high-ranking figures 'above,' searching for a group of unidentified 'dangerous individuals' who may have recently traveled from the direction of the 'Eternal Star Tomb.' The bounty is extremely high, but the specific descriptions are vague. I suspect this may very well be related to you, and also to the 'Reverse Time Alliance'!"

Just then, a series of urgent knocks came from outside the back gate, and a young waiter's panicked voice rang out: "Boss! Something bad has happened! A group of 'City Patrol' officers have arrived outside, along with several men dressed in black with hourglass patterns on their chests. They say they want to inspect the premises! They're already at the front shop!"

Old Ghost's expression changed: "It's the 'Reverse Time Alliance' and their lackeys in the government! Sir, you must quickly leave through the back door's secret passage! The passage leads to 'Scrap Alley,' three blocks away, where all sorts of people mingle, making it easier to escape!"

Han Mu's eyes were icy. He nodded to Zhou Meng and Bai Ling, and without hesitation followed Lao Gui to a hidden pile of junk in the corner of the yard. Lao Gui quickly moved a few empty boxes aside, revealing a downward-facing opening that could only accommodate one person at a time.

"Take care, my lord! If needed, you may use this talisman to contact me!" The old ghost handed Han Mu an inconspicuous gray jade talisman.

Han Mu and his two companions quickly slipped into the secret passage. Behind them, the clutter was pushed back, blocking out the noise and shouts coming from the front shop.

In the dark secret passage, Han Mu summoned the system panel and quickly scanned it.

Name: Han Mu

[True Realm: Mid-stage Taiyi Jade Immortal (Peak State)]

[Time Rule: 87%]

[Status: Good. The "Old Bookstore" contact point has been verified, and preliminary information has been obtained.]

[Celestial Aura: -6000 points]

[System Notification: The "Forging Workshop Secret Realm Map" clue has been confirmed to be closely related to the "Shadow Guild" and the "Reverse Time Alliance." The "Reverse Time Alliance's" bounty search has been expanded to Myriad City, and the danger level has increased.]

"The Reverse Time Alliance... they're quick." Han Mu closed the panel, a cold glint in his eyes. "We must get in touch with the higher-ups of the 'Shadow Guild' before they do!"

Meanwhile, in a noisy tavern in the west of the city, Luo Feng, disguised as a mercenary leader, was boasting to several local brokers about their "heroic deeds" of "fighting a bone beast deep in the Star Tomb," while Li Qingzhu, Lin Fan, and Lin Xue sat awkwardly to the side. Yun Yazi's remnant soul was hidden in a soul-nourishing jade pendant left behind by Zhou Meng.

"Let me tell you, Fatty, that bone beast was bigger than this tavern! I swung my axe down..." Luo Feng was getting into the swing of things when the tavern door was suddenly kicked open violently, and a group of menacing cultivators dressed in matching black outfits with twisted hourglass patterns embroidered on their chests stormed in, their cold gazes sweeping across the entire room.

The leader held a compass that was shimmering with a faint light. The compass needle was trembling slightly and pointing towards Luo Feng and his group's table.

"Found a few... suspicious little mice." The leader of the men in black grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth.