The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

Huangfeng Valley is located in the northeastern part of the Yue Kingdom, with its mountain gate nestled within a vast, sprawling maple forest. In late autumn, the mountains are ablaze with fiery red leaves, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Han Mu rode the escape light, flying at a steady pace. He deliberately suppressed his cultivation level to the late Core Formation stage, making him appear substantial without drawing too much attention.

Three days later, the gate to Huangfeng Valley came into view.

"Halt!"

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators flew out from the mountain gate and blocked the way. They were dressed in the attire of Yellow Maple Valley and looked wary.

"I am Han Mu, a cultivator from the Han family of Yanling Fortress. I have come to pay my respects to Ancestor Linghu. Please announce my arrival," Han Mu said, bowing slightly in a calm tone.

"The Han family?" One of the cultivators frowned. "Never heard of them. The patriarch is in seclusion and does not receive guests. Please leave."

Another cultivator whispered, "Senior brother, the Han family of Yanling Fortress... there seems to have been a rumor recently that they repelled the Ghost Spirit Sect's attack and killed five Core Formation cultivators."

"What?" The cultivator who had spoken earlier changed his expression slightly and looked Han Mu up and down again. "Fellow Daoist, are you the patriarch of the Han family?"

"Exactly."

The two men exchanged a glance and became more respectful: "Senior Han, please wait a moment, we will inform them immediately."

One of them took out a communication talisman, whispered a few words, and the talisman transformed into a flame and flew into the mountain.

A moment later, an aged voice came from the mountains: "Fellow Daoist Han has come from afar. I am sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please come in."

The mountain gate array opened a passage, and Han Mu stepped inside.

The interior of Huangfeng Valley is even more spacious and richer in spiritual energy than the outside, several times that of Cuiping Mountain. It truly lives up to its reputation as one of the seven great sects of Yue Kingdom, possessing a profound foundation.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator led the way, bringing Han Mu to the main hall on the summit.

Inside the hall, an elderly man with white hair sat in the main seat, dressed in a yellow robe. His face was thin and his aura was unfathomable. He was none other than Linghu, the Supreme Elder of Huangfeng Valley, with the cultivation level of the early Nascent Soul stage.

"Fellow Daoist Han, please have a seat." Ancestor Linghu smiled and glanced at Han Mu, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He's in the late stage of Core Formation, but his foundation is solid and his spiritual power is condensed, unlike an ordinary Core Formation cultivator. Moreover, this young man is quite old; to have such cultivation, he must have obtained a great opportunity.

"Junior Han Mu greets Senior Linghu." Han Mu bowed and sat down, his posture neither humble nor arrogant.

"Fellow Daoist Han, there's no need for such formalities," said Elder Linghu. "May I ask what brings you here, Fellow Daoist Han?"

Han Mu cut to the chase: "I've come to form an alliance."

"An alliance?" Patriarch Linghu raised an eyebrow. "The Han family is merely a Foundation Establishment family, while my Yellow Maple Valley is one of the seven major sects of the Yue Kingdom. What makes you think of an alliance?"

"Perhaps I wasn't qualified before, but things are different now," Han Mu said calmly. "My Han family has already annihilated five Core Formation cultivators, forty Foundation Establishment cultivators, and two hundred Qi Refining cultivators from the Ghost Spirit Sect. Is this strength enough?"

Linghu Patriarch's pupils contracted slightly: "Is this true?"

"It's absolutely true. Wang Chan, the young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, should have already fled back to the sect to report the news. Within ten days, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Ghost Spirit Sect will surely arrive."

After a moment of silence, Elder Linghu slowly said, "Fellow Daoist Han, do you intend to borrow the power of my Yellow Maple Valley to resist the Ghost Spirit Sect?"

"It's not about borrowing strength, it's about cooperation." Han Mu shook his head. "The invasion of the six demonic sects is imminent, and the seven factions of Yue Kingdom are fighting their own battles. Sooner or later, they will be defeated one by one. Although Huangfeng Valley is strong, it cannot stand alone. Although my Han family is small, it has the strength to fight. Cooperation will benefit both sides, while division will harm both sides."

"What a win-win situation!" Old Ancestor Linghu laughed. "But does Fellow Daoist Han know what it means to be an enemy of the Demonic Path?"

"It means danger, but it also means opportunity," Han Mu said. "In chaotic times, the strong rise and the weak perish. If Huangfeng Valley wants to survive this calamity, or even advance further, simply maintaining the status quo is not enough."

"Then, in Fellow Daoist Han's opinion, what should be done?"

"Take the initiative, unite all forces that can be united, and establish a sufficiently powerful alliance before the full-scale invasion of the demonic path," Han Mu said. "My Han family is willing to be the vanguard, but we need the support of Huangfeng Valley."

Linghu Patriarch stared at Han Mu, seemingly trying to read something from his face. But Han Mu remained calm and his gaze was unwavering.

"What makes you think I would agree, Fellow Daoist Han?" Elder Linghu asked.

"Three reasons." Han Mu held up one finger. "First, my Han family has the strength. The fact that we were able to kill five Core Formation cultivators proves that we are not a burden."

"Secondly, my Han family has leverage." Han Mu extended his second finger and took out a jade slip. "This is the formula for the Golden Core Pill, which can increase the chance of a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator forming a Core by 30%. If you need it, Senior, I can offer it to you free of charge."

Linghu Patriarch's breath hitched. The Golden Condensation Pill formula! This was a priceless treasure passed down through the sect! Although Yellow Maple Valley possessed the Golden Condensation Pill, the formula was incomplete, with a success rate of less than 10%. If only they could obtain the complete formula…

"Third," Han Mu held up his third finger, "my Han family has potential. I am not talented, but I am confident that I can break through to the Nascent Soul stage within a hundred years. At that time, the Han family and Huangfeng Valley will be equal allies, able to help each other and fight against the demonic path together."

Linghu Patriarch remained silent. Each of these three reasons was more tempting than the last. Especially the third—the promise of reaching the Nascent Soul stage within a century! If that were true, the Han family's rise would be unstoppable. Rather than becoming enemies in the future, it was better to form an alliance now.

"Fellow Daoist Han, are you confident?" Elder Linghu asked in a deep voice.

"Seventy percent," Han Mu said. "This junior has already touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage, and is only missing an opportunity."

This statement is half true and half false. Han Mu's true cultivation level is already at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. It's a lie to say that he has touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage, but it's true that he is confident.

Linghu Patriarch took a deep breath: "Good! Fellow Daoist Han is straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush either. I'll take the formula for the Golden Core Pill. In exchange, Yellow Maple Valley can provide three things."

"Please speak, senior."

"First, the Yellow Maple Valley Scripture Pavilion is open to the Han family. Except for the core inheritance, all cultivation techniques and secret arts can be read by Han family cultivators."

"Secondly, the Huangfeng Valley Market will exempt the Han family from taxes and will designate three streets for the Han family to operate."

"Third," Elder Linghu paused, "Yellow Maple Valley can send two Core Formation elders to be stationed at the Han family to assist in defense. However, they will only be under orders and will not participate in the Han family's internal affairs."

Han Mu secretly praised him. As expected of an old fox who had lived for over a thousand years, these three seemingly generous offers actually concealed hidden secrets.

Opening the scripture pavilion was ostensibly a way to offer benefits, but in reality, it was a way to find out the Han family's true nature and what kind of inheritance Han Mu had received.

The duty-free shops and markets are a bond of shared interests, tying the Han family and Huangfeng Valley together.

Sending a Core Formation Elder was ostensibly for assistance, but in reality, it was for surveillance. However, this didn't matter to Han Mu, since outsiders had no access to the Han family's core secrets anyway.

"Okay," Han Mu nodded, "but I have three conditions."

"Fellow Daoist, please speak."

"First, the alliance will not be made public for the time being; it will be carried out in secret. To the outside world, we will only say that the Han family is affiliated with Huangfeng Valley, so as not to alert them."

"Secondly, if the Ghost Spirit Sect attacks, Yellow Maple Valley needs to provide covert support, but there's no need for open action. I will set up a large formation at Emerald Screen Mountain, sufficient to withstand early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. If it's a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, then I'll ask you to intervene."

"Third," Han Mu looked at Linghu Patriarch, "I want a spot to enter the 'Blood Forbidden Secret Realm'."

Linghu Patriarch's expression changed slightly: "The Blood Forbidden Realm? How did Fellow Daoist Han learn of this?"

The Blood Forbidden Realm is the greatest secret of Yellow Maple Valley, opening only once every fifty years, and accessible only to core disciples. The realm contains a vast quantity of rare spiritual herbs, crucial for Yellow Maple Valley's cultivation of Core Formation cultivators.

"Senior, there's no need to ask further," Han Mu said calmly. "I only need one spot for my granddaughter, Han Yunge. In exchange, I can provide ten sets of Five Elements Core Formation Powder materials to help Huangfeng Valley cultivate Core Formation cultivators."

"Five Elements Core Formation Powder?" Ancestor Linghu was shocked once again. This was yet another treasure that aided in the formation of the Golden Core. Although its effects were not as good as the Golden Core, its advantage lay in the relatively easy availability of its materials.

"Fellow Daoist Han has truly impressed me." Ancestor Linghu gave Han Mu a deep look. "Very well, I agree to all three conditions. However, the Blood Forbidden Realm will not open for another three years. I will send someone to inform you when that time comes."

It's a deal.

The two reached an agreement and immediately made a vow to overcome their inner demons. For cultivators, the vow to overcome inner demons is the heaviest constraint; once broken, they will be haunted by inner demons, and their cultivation will hardly advance any further.

After making the vow, Han Mu handed over the formula for the Golden Condensation Pill to Ancestor Linghu. Ancestor Linghu verified that it was correct and was overjoyed. He immediately took out three jade slips.

"These are the first three levels of the Azure Origin Sword Technique from Yellow Maple Valley. Although they are not as advanced as your sect's inheritance, they are still top-tier techniques that can be cultivated up to the late Core Formation stage. Also, these are the market land deed and the elder's token. Please keep them safe, Fellow Daoist Han."

Han Mu took it, scanned it with his divine sense, and confirmed that it was correct.

"It's a pleasure to cooperate." Han Mu stood up. "This junior will return to Cuiping Mountain now to set up defenses. The Ghost Spirit Sect should be arriving soon."

"Fellow Daoist Han, please wait." Ancestor Linghu called out to him, taking out a jade pendant. "This is a communication jade pendant, which can be used to contact me directly. If needed, just crush it, and I will arrive immediately."

"Thank you, senior."

Han Mu accepted the jade pendant, cupped his hands in farewell, and took his leave.

Leaving Huangfeng Valley, Han Mu didn't delay and returned to Cuiping Mountain at full speed. He had a premonition that the people from the Ghost Spirit Sect should already be on their way.

Sure enough, after flying a thousand miles, the communication jade pendant in his robes vibrated. It was a message from Doctor Mo.

"Master, two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Ghost Spirit Sect have arrived at Emerald Screen Mountain and are attacking the great formation. The formation can still hold, but the consumption of spirit stones is enormous, and it may not last long."

A cold glint flashed in Han Mu's eyes, and he increased his speed by another three points.

"System, check the task progress."

Main Quest: Rise of the Clan (85% Progress)

[New Quest: Defeat the Nascent Soul Stage of the Ghost Spirit Sect (In Progress)]

[Task Rewards: 20000 Contribution Points, Special Building "Sword Testing Platform" Blueprint x1]

"A sword-testing platform?" Han Mu's heart skipped a beat; this was a valuable item. The sword-testing platform could simulate various battle scenarios, helping clansmen improve their combat abilities and making it the best place to cultivate combat talents.

"Ghost Spirit Sect... Now that you're here, you're not leaving."

Han Mu moved like lightning, slicing through the sky.