The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

The next morning, after washing up, Han Mu touched his smooth head, grinned at himself in the mirror, and then went out to class.

As soon as Han Mu reached the classroom door, he heard a commotion inside. Some people were arguing, some were making a ruckus, and others were slamming their fists on the table and cursing. He pushed the door open and saw that the hundred students in the classroom were divided into two groups, arguing fiercely about something. They were all red-faced and spittle flying everywhere.

"What's all the noise about?" Han Mu walked up to the podium and slammed his hand on the table.

A burly young man stepped forward, his bald head gleaming, his face full of menacing features, and veins bulging on his neck—clearly not someone to be trifled with. He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Han Mu, his tone laced with provocation and disdain: "Teacher Han, we were discussing the theory you mentioned yesterday, about unleashing potential in life-or-death situations. I think it's incorrect."

"Something's not right," Han Mu asked calmly.

"You say that people can unleash power far exceeding their usual strength in life-or-death situations, and I admit that. But you also say that this kind of power can be simulated and controlled through daily training, which I think is impossible," the burly young man said loudly, his voice echoing in the classroom, prompting the other students to nod in agreement. "Life and death are life and death, and training is training; the two cannot be confused. No matter how well you train on the field, when it comes to fighting for your life, your legs will still buckle."

Han Mu glanced at him and asked, "What's your name?"

"My name is Tie Niu, and I am the disciple of the seventh seat of the Supreme Council." The burly young man held his head high, his tone filled with pride, his chin almost pointing to the sky.

"Tie Niu, right? What you said makes sense, but it's not entirely correct." Han Mu stepped down from the podium and came to Tie Niu's side, the two of them no more than three feet apart. "I'm asking you, have you ever experienced a real life-or-death battle?"

Tie Niu paused for a moment, then said, "A few times."

"So how did you feel at that time?"

"My mind went blank. It was all instinctive. I don't even remember what I did after I finished," Tie Niu answered honestly.

"That's right," Han Mu said. "How do instinctive reactions come about? They come from muscle memory formed through countless training sessions. If you train hard enough and relentlessly, in a life-or-death situation, your body will react faster than your brain. That's what I mean by simulating and mastering through training. Do you think those veterans who survived on the battlefield did so by luck? They honed their instincts through thousands upon thousands of sword swings."

Tie Niu opened his mouth, wanting to retort, but couldn't find a suitable reason. After hesitating for a long time, his face turned red, and the veins on his neck bulged again. He said, "Talk is cheap. Do you dare to fight me and let me see the skills you're talking about? If you win, I'll be convinced and listen to whatever you say from now on. If you lose, don't mislead others here."

The classroom fell silent instantly, everyone turning to look at Han Mu, awaiting his reaction. Some wore expressions of anticipation, while others looked worried.

Han Mu smiled and was about to speak when a frail voice suddenly came from the classroom door. The voice wasn't loud, but it drowned out all the noise: "If you want to fight, you'll have to get past me first."

Everyone turned to look and saw an old man in a worn-out gray robe standing at the door, holding a bamboo broom. The old man had white hair, a bald head, and a face full of wrinkles; he looked like an ordinary old sweeper. But his eyes shone like stars in the sky, and no one dared to meet his gaze.

Han Mu was taken aback when he saw the person who came, then smiled and said, "Father-in-law, what brings you here?"

The newcomer was none other than the Primordial Dao Ancestor. Leaning on a broom, he strolled leisurely into the classroom, his steps unhurried and steady. He approached Tie Niu, sized him up, and then said, "Young man, if you want to fight my son-in-law, you'll have to beat this old man first."

Tie Niu looked at the skinny old man in front of him, snorted disdainfully, and said with his nostrils practically pointing to the sky, "Old man, you're too old for me to bully you. If something bad happens, I'll have to pay for your medical bills."

"Trying to bully me? You try it." The Hongmeng Dao Ancestor slammed his broom on the ground, and with a crack, a fissure appeared on the bluestone pavement, spreading outwards like a spider web.

Tie Niu's expression changed, his pupils contracted sharply, and he realized that the unassuming old man in front of him was a master. But the words had already been spoken and couldn't be taken back; he couldn't back down in front of the whole class. Tie Niu gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and threw a punch at Hongmeng Daozu's face. The punch was powerful and the air itself exploded with a loud bang.

Hongmeng Daozu neither dodged nor evaded, but extended two fingers and lightly pinched Tie Niu's fist. The movement seemed effortless, as if picking up a fallen leaf from the ground. Tie Niu felt as if his fist was being clamped by an iron vise, his bones creaking under the pressure. He struggled several times, his face turning a deep purplish-red, veins bulging on his forehead, but he couldn't pull his fist back.

"Young man, your strength is not bad, but you're still far from it." The Hongmeng Dao Ancestor loosened his fingers and casually pushed forward.

Tie Niu staggered back several steps, then landed on his backside, sprawling on the ground, unable to get up for a long time. Sitting on the ground, he stared at Hongmeng Daozu with a face full of shock, his mouth agape enough to fit a fist.

The classroom erupted in uproar. Everyone stared at the Hongmeng Dao Ancestor with awe. The students who had just joined the commotion now shrank back, wishing they could bury their heads in their crotches. Tie Niu got up from the ground, dusted himself off, and bowed respectfully to the Hongmeng Dao Ancestor, his waist bent at more than ninety degrees: "Senior, your skill is truly remarkable. This junior is convinced, utterly convinced."

Hongmeng Daozu waved his hand, then looked at Han Mu and laughed, "You should just teach, kid. Don't fight with people. It's beneath your dignity. If you really want to fight, let this old man handle it."

"Father-in-law is right," Han Mu said with a smile.

After this little incident, the students became even more respectful towards Han Mu. The rest of the lesson went very smoothly, and no one dared to challenge him anymore, not even whispering among themselves. Han Mu got carried away and shared his deepest insights, captivating the students who listened intently, filling their notebooks with dense notes, their pens swishing across the paper.

After class at noon, Han Mu found the Hongmeng Dao Ancestor and asked, "Father-in-law, how did you end up in a higher dimension?"

Hongmeng Daozu sat on a stone bench in the courtyard, holding a cup of tea, and said slowly, "I've always been here. I stayed at the Temple of Creation for a while, but I got bored, so I came back. It's quiet here, suitable for retirement. I sweep the floor every morning and bask in the sun. Life is comfortable."

"Then why did you become a 'sweeping monk'?" Han Mu said with a smile.

"Sweep the floor, stretch your muscles, and see if any fools are bullying my son-in-law," said Hongmeng Daozu with a smile, taking a sip of tea. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were crinkling together.

Han Mu felt a warmth in his heart. He knew that although his father-in-law didn't say it, he had been secretly watching over him.

"By the way, Father-in-law, how much do you know about the Supreme Council?" Han Mu asked.

Hongmeng Daozu put down his teacup, remained silent for a moment, and then his smile faded. "Those seven old fellows are all cunning and shrewd. They invited you to give lectures, ostensibly because they value your talent, but they likely have ulterior motives. Be careful not to be used as a pawn."

Han Mu nodded.

Hongmeng Daozu stood up, picked up a broom, and patted Han Mu on the shoulder: "Alright, you go ahead and do your work. I'll continue sweeping. If you need anything, come find me. I'm sweeping on the street next door."

Han Mu watched his father-in-law's hunched back disappear into the alleyway, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.