The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

The news of Zhao Tieshan and his two companions being killed reached the Blood Refining Sect the very next day.

The Blood Refining Sect's mountain gate is located in the Blood Fiend Mountains in the western border of the Yue Kingdom. Inside the main hall, a middle-aged cultivator in red suddenly crushed the communication jade slip in his hand.

"waste!"

His face was gloomy, and he exuded the pressure of a second-level Foundation Establishment cultivator. He was none other than Zhao Wuxue, the second elder of the Blood Refining Sect and Zhao Tieshan's uncle.

"Third Uncle, what do we do now?" Your Highness, a disciple at the peak of Qi Refining asked cautiously, "That old bastard from the Han family actually dared to kill our people..."

Zhao Wuxue narrowed his eyes: "That old ghost Han Mu failed to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage three years ago, and his cultivation level dropped instead of rising. Logically speaking, he should be able to maintain the first level of Foundation Establishment by now. But Tieshan is at the peak of Qi Refining, and he even brought two helpers with him, how could he..."

"Could the Han family be hiding some trump card?" the disciple wondered.

"A trump card?" Zhao Wuxue sneered. "What trump card could a Foundation Establishment family that's on the verge of death have? Most likely they used some forbidden technique, or they had outside help."

He stood up, a murderous glint in his eyes: "No matter what, those who kill members of my Zhao family must pay the price. Pass down the order; this elder will personally go to Yanling Fortress!"

"Third Uncle, what about the Sect Master..." the disciple hesitated.

"The sect leader is in seclusion attempting to break through to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. There's no need to disturb him with such a trivial matter," Zhao Wuxue waved his sleeve. "Take twenty inner disciples and depart today. I want to see just how much that old devil Han Mu really is!"

"yes!"

That afternoon, more than twenty streaks of blood-red light flew out from the Blood Refining Sect's mountain gate and headed straight for Yanling Fortress.

……

Yanling Fort, the Han family.

Han Mu sat cross-legged in his cave atop Green Bamboo Peak, the most spiritually concentrated of the three miniature spiritual veins belonging to the Han family. After killing Zhao Tieshan yesterday, he brought Han Changqing and the others here to quickly clean up the cave.

"System, receive the five-year cultivation empowerment."

[Cultivation empowerment being distributed...]

The familiar warm current surged into his dantian once more. Han Mu circulated the "Primordial Longevity Technique," guiding spiritual energy to flow through his meridians. Under the impact of the pure spiritual energy, the bottleneck of the fourth level of Foundation Establishment was easily pierced like paper.

Foundation Building Level 5!

After his breathing stabilized, Han Mu opened his eyes, his divine light concealed.

"System, bring up the control panel."

[Host: Han Mu]

[Realm: Foundation Establishment Level 5 (True) / Foundation Establishment Level 1 (Surface)]

[Cultivation Technique: Primordial Longevity Technique (First Level Perfected)]

[Spells: Basic Five Elements Spells (Proficient), Weapon Manipulation Spells (Proficient), Qi Concealment Spells (Master), Minor Five Elements Sword Formation (Beginner)]

[Magic Item: None]

[Family: Han Clan (Yanling Fortress)]

[Number of members: 87]

[Family Fortune: Gray (Crisis)]

Current task: None

[New Quest Triggered: Avert the Blood Refining Sect's Revenge]

[Mission Requirements: Repel or kill the Blood Refining Sect's invading enemies and ensure the safety of your clan]

[Quest Rewards: Spirit Eye Spring x1, Clan Talent "Resilient Bloodline"]

[Punishment for Failure: Annihilation of the Clan]

They arrived as expected.

Han Mu remained calm. Killing Zhao Tieshan wouldn't have left the Blood Refining Sect unscathed. He just hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly, and judging by the mission rewards, the enemy was likely formidable.

"Ancestor!"

Han Changqing's anxious voice came from outside the cave.

Han Mu stood up and walked out, seeing Han Changqing's pale face: "The Blood Refining Sect has arrived, at least twenty people, and the leader... is a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

"How is your cultivation level?" Han Mu asked.

"I can't see through it, but its pressure is immense, far stronger than Zhao Tieshan's." Han Changqing gritted his teeth. "Father, should we activate the mountain-protecting formation?"

"No need." Han Mu shook his head. "You lead your people to retreat to the back mountain, activate the concealment formation, and don't come out no matter what happens."

"Father!" Han Changqing exclaimed anxiously, "That's a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

"Do as I say." Han Mu's tone left no room for argument.

Han Changqing opened his mouth, then nodded emphatically, "Yes!"

Watching his son's departing figure, Han Mu slowly walked down Qingzhu Peak.

Outside the mountain gate, Zhao Wuxue stood with his hands behind his back, followed by twenty disciples of the Blood Refining Sect lined up in two rows, each exuding a fierce aura. Seeing Han Mu emerge alone, a mocking glint flashed in Zhao Wuxue's eyes.

"Old Ancestor Han, it's been a long time," he said casually.

"Elder Zhao," Han Mu nodded, "I was unaware of Elder Zhao's presence. What brings you here?"

Zhao Wuxue's face darkened: "Han Mu, stop playing dumb with me! My nephew Zhao Tieshan died at your Han family's gate. If you don't give me an explanation today, I will slaughter your entire family!"

"Explain?" Han Mu said calmly, "Zhao Tieshan bullied my Han family and forcibly demanded the spiritual vein. He deserved to die. If Elder Zhao wants to avenge him, then go ahead and do it."

"Fine! Well said, 'You deserve to die!'" Zhao Wuxue laughed in fury. "It seems you're determined to be an enemy of my Blood Refining Sect!"

He stopped talking and took a step forward, unleashing the full power of a second-level Foundation Establishment cultivator!

The crimson spiritual energy transformed into a tangible mist, enveloping an area of ​​ten feet in radius. The twenty disciples of the Blood Refining Sect retreated in unison, fearing they would be caught in the blast.

"Han Mu, prepare to die!"

Zhao Wuxue formed hand seals, and a blood-red spear materialized before him. Runes flickered on the spear's surface, emanating a strong, bloody aura—this was the Blood Refining Sect's signature technique, the "Blood Fiend Spear," which required the cultivation of a cultivator's essence blood to nurture it, its power comparable to a mid-grade magic weapon!

The spear pierced the air, heading straight for Han Mu's chest!

Han Mu's expression changed, seemingly intimidated by the oppressive aura, and he hurriedly erected a light blue screen.

boom!

The Blood Fiend Spear struck the light barrier, causing it to vibrate violently and develop spiderweb-like cracks on its surface.

"Pfft!" Han Mu spat out a mouthful of blood, staggered backward, and his aura instantly weakened.

"As expected of a piece of trash." Zhao Wuxue sneered, his hand seals changing, and the Blood Fiend Spear materialized once more. "This strike will take your dog's life!"

The spear thrusts again!

This time, their power is even greater!

Han Mu looked "despairing," seemingly powerless to resist.

However, just as the spear was about to reach him, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Raise your right hand, fingers spread wide.

Five colors of light—gold, cyan, blue, red, and yellow—burst forth from his fingertips, transforming into five illusory swords, each about an inch long. As soon as the swords appeared, they rotated along a mysterious trajectory, instantly forming a sword array!

Minor Five Elements Sword Formation!

Although it's only the beginner level, it's enough to deal with cultivators at the second level of Foundation Establishment.

"What?" Zhao Wuxue's pupils shrank suddenly.

He sensed the terrifying fluctuations emanating from those five small swords—that wasn't the power one should have at the first level of Foundation Establishment!

"You've been hiding your cultivation level!" Zhao Wuxue hissed, trying to recall the Blood Fiend Spear for defense, but it was too late.

The five-colored sword formation swirled, shredding the Blood Fiend Spear into fragments. The formation's momentum didn't wane, instantly enveloping Zhao Wuxue.

"No--"

The piercing scream lasted only half a breath.

As the sword formation contracted, Zhao Wuxue's body was crushed as if by a five-colored millstone, turning into a cloud of blood mist, with even his soul unable to escape.

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

The twenty disciples of the Blood Refining Sect stood frozen in place, staring at the slowly dissipating cloud of blood mist, their minds blank.

The Second Elder... the Second Elder at the Foundation Establishment stage... was instantly killed?

Han Mu "struggled" to stand up straight, his face as pale as paper, blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth. He looked at the Blood Refining Sect disciples, his voice weak yet icy: "Get lost."

A single word, as powerful as a thunderclap.

The twenty disciples, as if granted a pardon, turned and fled without daring to look back.

Only after everyone had disappeared into the horizon did Han Mu slowly exhale a breath of stale air.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes regained their clarity.

His earlier weakness was obviously an act. With his fifth-level Foundation Establishment strength, he wouldn't even need a second move to kill Zhao Wuxue. But if he was going to play the fool, he had to make it convincing.

"System, is the task complete?"

[Detection indicates the Blood Refining Sect cultivators have retreated; the current crisis is over.]

[Mission Completed: Averted the Blood Refining Sect's Revenge]

[Rewards: Spirit Eye Spring x1, Clan Talent "Resilient Bloodline"]

[Spiritual Eye Spring: Can be placed at a spiritual vein node to continuously produce pure spiritual energy, increasing the cultivation speed of the surrounding area by 30%]

[Resilient Bloodline: Increases the physical strength of family members by 10% and slightly enhances their resistance to negative status effects]

[New Quest Triggered: Clan Development]

[Task Requirements: The number of cultivators in the family exceeds 100, with three members at the Foundation Establishment stage]

[Task Rewards: Five Elements Elixir Condensation Recipe x1, Special Building "Heart Refining Tower"]

[Time Limit: Three Years]

A look of satisfaction appeared in Han Mu's eyes.

The Spirit Eye Spring is exactly what he urgently needs right now. As for the Resilient Bloodline, although the bonus is not much, its advantage lies in its longevity, which is beneficial to the long-term development of the family.

"However, the Blood Refining Sect will not let this go." Han Mu looked westward, his eyes deep.

Killing Zhao Wuxue is tantamount to completely severing ties with the Blood Refining Sect. The next step will either be for the sect leader to personally emerge from seclusion, or for both elders to arrive.

"We need to make some preparations."

Han Mu turned and walked towards Green Bamboo Peak, having already made up his mind.