The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

After a moment of respite, Han Mu concealed his aura and stealthily made his way towards the black hole. The closer he got to the black hole, the denser the Yin energy became, approaching 5%, requiring even a Foundation Establishment cultivator to fully circulate their cultivation techniques to resist it. Ghostly figures could be vaguely seen moving within the black mist, but they seemed to be restrained by some force, only able to move within a fixed area.

"The system monitors environmental changes in real time and issues early warnings of dangers."

[Monitoring in progress...]

Current location: One mile outside the black hole

[Yin Sha Concentration: 5.3% (Continuing to rise)]

Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius lower than normal

[Warning: A formation barrier has been detected ahead, level three]

[Recommendation: Detour or break through the formation]

A protective array? Han Mu stopped and hid behind a boulder. He stared intently and saw a pale black light barrier shrouding the entrance to the black hole a hundred feet ahead. Runes flowed across the light barrier, and the array fluctuations it emitted were far stronger than the Six Yin Blood Fiend Array he had encountered before.

"System, analyze the formation type and the method to break it."

[Analysis in progress...]

[Formation: Nine Yin Spirit Sealing Formation (Tier 3, High Grade)]

[Function: Seal off an area, isolate the inside from the outside, and detect life fluctuations]

[Solution Method 1: Forcibly break through using a Tier 3 Breaking Formation Talisman (80% success rate)]

[Solution Method Two: Locate the array nodes and destroy them one by one (requires an array master, time-consuming)]

[Solution Method 3: Disguise your aura as Yin energy to fool the detection (requires special techniques or magical artifacts)]

Han Mu happened to have a third-tier formation-breaking talisman, but using it here would be too wasteful. Moreover, forcibly breaking the formation would cause too much noise and would definitely alert the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators and Yin Sha Ghost King inside.

The third method… to disguise the aura of Yin and Yang? Han Mu's heart stirred. He cultivated the "Primordial Longevity Technique," which allowed him to simulate the five elements of spiritual power, but simulating the aura of Yin and Yang was more difficult. However, he had the Blood Fiend Flag in his hand. Although it was a ghost-path magic weapon, it contained a rich aura of blood and Yang, which might be able to serve as a disguise.

He took out the Blood Fiend Banner from his storage bag. The banner was tattered, but the core remained, emanating a blood fiend aura. Han Mu activated the banner, and a faint layer of bloody light enveloped his entire body, concealing his human aura.

"System, assess the camouflage effectiveness."

[Under evaluation...]

Disguise level: 65% (can fool ordinary detection)

[Duration: One incense stick's time (The Blood Fiend Flag is tattered and cannot be sustained)]

[Risk: May be detected by high-level cultivators]

That's enough. Han Mu took a deep breath, holding the Blood Fiend Flag, and walked towards the array's light barrier. As he approached the barrier, he could feel the array scanning him, but the Blood Fiend aura worked its magic; the barrier only rippled slightly and didn't trigger an alarm.

The moment he passed through the light barrier, a bone-chilling cold swept over him. Han Mu hurriedly activated the Pure Yang True Fire Technique to resist, while simultaneously maintaining his bloodthirsty aura. He entered a bizarre space—it seemed like another world altogether. The sky was dark red, the earth was pitch black, and everywhere were white bones, the air thick with the stench of blood.

"Is this the inside of the black hole?" Han Mu was shocked. This was no cave at all; it was clearly a small Yin Sha Realm! The Yin Sha Ghost King had actually created such a space; it seemed its strength was even greater than expected.

He proceeded cautiously, the white bones beneath his feet cracking under his feet. In the distance, he could see a palace built of bones, with a huge blood-red crystal floating atop it, continuously absorbing the surrounding Yin energy.

"System, scan the crimson crystal and the palace."

[Scanning in progress...]

[Crimson Crystal: Blood Fiend Source Crystal (Tier 4 Material), Core Array Eye of the 100,000 Blood Fiend Grand Array]

Palace: Throne of Bones (Residence of the Yin Sha Ghost King)

[Strong life force detected: 1 (Mid-stage Core Formation), Location: Inside the Palace]

[Foundation Establishment stage life fluctuations detected: 8 (Palace outer guards)]

Found it! The Blood Fiend Source Crystal is the core of the grand formation! As long as it is destroyed, the Hundred Thousand Blood Fiend Grand Formation will collapse on its own!

The problem, however, is how to get close. There are eight Foundation Establishment guards surrounding the palace: two at the late Foundation Establishment stage, four at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and two at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Furthermore, the palace itself is protected by an array, making a direct assault impossible.

Han Mu hid behind a pile of bones, observing carefully. The guards were positioned in eight directions, each fifty feet apart, forming a tight perimeter. What was more troublesome was that there were interconnected array patterns under their feet, clearly indicating a coordinated formation; if one was attacked, the others could immediately provide support.

"System, simulate the infiltration plan."

[Driving simulation in progress...]

[Option 1: Create a disturbance to lure the enemy away (40% success rate)]

[Option 2: Assassinate the guards one by one (30% success rate, easy to be detected)]

[Option 3: Use the Blood Fiend Flag to disguise yourself as a Ghost Spirit Sect cultivator and infiltrate their ranks (60% success rate, requires accurate intelligence)]

Han Mu favored the third option. He possessed the Ghost Spirit Sect token and clothing he had taken from the gray-robed elder and the others, making it relatively easy for him to impersonate a Ghost Spirit Sect cultivator. However, he needed to know their codes, duty roster, and other information; otherwise, he risked being exposed.

Just as he was pondering, footsteps suddenly came from afar. Han Mu quickly concealed his aura and saw two guards at the early stage of Foundation Establishment walking towards him, talking as they went.

"Why haven't Steward Wang and the others returned yet? Weren't they supposed to be intercepting the intruders?"

"Who knows? It might already be resolved. But Lord Ghost King is pressing us hard, wanting us to complete the final adjustments before midnight. I heard the Seven Major Sects have already noticed and might send someone over."

"Hmph, coming here is just suicide. The grand formation is already ninety percent activated. Once midnight arrives, the blood sacrifice will begin, and Lord Ghost King will break through the seal. At that time, the entire Yue Kingdom will be ours!"

The two men walked past the pile of bones where Han Mu was hiding, talking as they passed. Han Mu held his breath until they were far away before he finally relaxed. But just then, one of them suddenly stopped and frowned as he looked at the pile of bones.

"Something's not right. There's a sense of human presence here."

Han Mu's heart tightened. Had he been discovered? That shouldn't be the case; he had the Blood Fiend Banner as a disguise…

"You must be mistaken. This place is filled with nothing but Yin energy and blood energy. Where would any living person come from?" another person laughed.

"No, there was definitely something unusual for a moment just now." The man said, walking towards the pile of bones.

Han Mu knew he couldn't hide any longer, so he acted decisively and launched a sudden attack the moment the other party got close! He didn't use his flying sword, but instead used both hands simultaneously, his left hand wielding pure Yang true fire and his right hand wielding five elements sword energy, attacking the two of them at the same time.

The two were shocked and hastily engaged in battle. However, Han Mu was only at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, and his attack was a sneak attack; they were no match for him. The Pure Yang True Fire countered the Yin Sha, instantly burning through one person's protective aura, while the Five Elements Sword Qi pierced the other's heart.

The battle ended in three breaths. Han Mu swiftly dragged the two corpses into the pile of bones and buried them, then searched their tokens and storage bags. But just then, a sharp shout came from the direction of the palace: "Who dares to trespass on forbidden grounds?!"

Oh no! The battle fluctuations from just now have been detected!

Han Mu didn't have time to think. He changed into one of the men's clothes, put on the Ghost Spirit Sect token, and changed his aura to disguise himself as a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator. Just as he finished doing this, three streaks of light arrived; they were three Foundation Establishment mid-stage guards.

"Wang Wu, Li Si, what just happened here?" The leader was a one-eyed giant with a Foundation Establishment Level 5 cultivation. His gaze swept around like a knife.

Han Mu feigned panic and said, "Reporting to Steward Liu, there were intruders just now! We were patrolling this area when we noticed something amiss. Just as we were about to investigate, we were suddenly attacked. Li Si... he's dead!"

"Intruders? Where are they?" the one-eyed giant shouted.

"They ran...that way!" Han Mu casually pointed in a direction.

The one-eyed giant glanced in the direction Han Mu pointed, then at the battle marks on the ground, his eyes filled with suspicion. But Han Mu's disguise was impeccable; his aura, clothing, and token were all flawless, and the giant couldn't detect any flaws for the time being.

"You stay here, we'll go after them!" the one-eyed giant said to the other guard, and then led the two of them in the direction Han Mu pointed.

The remaining guard was a Foundation Establishment Level 3 cultivator, young in age, and looked tense. Han Mu, still seemingly shaken, approached him and whispered, "That was close. That intruder was very strong, at least mid-Foundation Establishment level..."

"Is that so?" The guard suddenly sneered, a black dagger appearing in his hand as he thrust it straight at Han Mu's heart. "You're not Wang Wu at all! Wang Wu stutters; you spoke too fast just now!"

Han Mu's pupils contracted, and he dodged to the side, but the short blade still grazed his left shoulder. Black energy spread from the wound, clearly indicating it was poisoned.

"I've been exposed." Han Mu stopped pretending, his aura surged, and he recovered from the first level of Foundation Establishment to the seventh level. He grabbed the guard's wrist holding the blade, and pure Yang true fire surged out, instantly melting the short blade.

"You..." The guard was shocked and wanted to call for help, but Han Mu had already placed his other hand on his head and activated the Soul Searching Technique.

Moments later, the guard collapsed to the ground, dead. Han Mu's face was grim; from the guard's memories, he had obtained crucial information:

At midnight tonight, when the moon is full and the yin energy is at its peak, the 100,000 Blood Fiend Array will be fully activated. At that time, the Blood Fiend Source Crystal will absorb the essence, blood, and souls of all living beings within a radius of 300 miles, helping the Yin Fiend Ghost King to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Now, there are only three hours left until midnight.

What's more troublesome is that the Yin Sha Ghost King is currently in seclusion, at a crucial moment of breakthrough, and cannot be disturbed. But once the great formation is activated, it will emerge from seclusion and personally take charge of the formation's core.

The Blood Fiend Crystal must be destroyed before midnight! Otherwise, it will be too late.

Han Mu gazed at the palace of bones, his eyes resolute. He changed into a guard's uniform, adjusted his breathing, and walked towards the palace. Since his disguise had been exposed, he would launch a direct assault!

But just as he approached within a hundred feet of the palace, the entire space suddenly trembled violently. The Blood Fiend Source Crystal shone brightly, and a blood-red pillar of light shot into the sky, piercing through the top of the palace and soaring straight into the dark red firmament.

A deafening roar echoed from within the palace:

"Who... dares to disturb my peaceful cultivation?!"