The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

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

The roar was deafening, and the entire white bone space shook violently. The Blood Fiend Origin Crystal shone brightly, and a terrifying aura soared into the sky from the depths of the palace. It was the pressure of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, as solid as a mountain, making Han Mu's breath catch in his throat.

"System, monitor the Ghost King's status in real time."

[Monitoring in progress...]

[Target: Yin Sha Ghost King]

[Status: Awakening (Breakthrough interrupted, combat power decreased by 20%)]

[Cultivation Level: Mid-stage Core Formation (Currently performing at approximately the peak of the early Core Formation stage)]

[WARNING: Target is enraged and extremely aggressive]

"Combat power reduced by 20%!" A glint flashed in Han Mu's eyes. This was an opportunity! The Ghost King was forcibly interrupted at a crucial moment in its breakthrough, inevitably suffering a backlash and damage to its strength. If it were to fully awaken and stabilize its realm, there would truly be no chance of victory.

"If we don't act now, when will we?"

Without further hesitation, Han Mu leaped forward, heading straight for the Blood Fiend Source Crystal. He held a third-tier array-breaking talisman in his left hand and gripped the "Yin Soul Thorn" in his right. The Pure Yang True Fire Technique within his body circulated wildly, and pale golden flames ignited around him.

"How dare you!"

Inside the palace, a dark shadow soared into the sky. It was a ghostly creature three zhang tall, with two horns on its head, a ferocious face, and a dense aura of bloodlust surrounding it. Its eyes were bloodshot as it stared intently at Han Mu, and it struck out with a palm.

The demonic claw expanded to ten zhang in size and slammed down with earth-shattering power. Wherever it passed, space distorted and bones shattered.

"System, calculate the optimal evasion path!"

[Calculation in progress...]

[Path 1: Seven steps to the left, roll over, success rate 85%]

【Path Two: Retreat rapidly, success rate 70%, but will take you further away from the Blood Fiend Source Crystal】

【Path Three: Endure the Test, certain death】

Without a second thought, Han Mu took seven quick steps to the left and rolled over. The ghostly claw slammed down on his body, creating a massive crater three zhang deep, and the shockwave sent him flying.

"Pfft!" Han Mu spat out a mouthful of blood, his internal organs feeling as if they had been struck by a heavy blow. This was the power of the Core Formation stage; even the aftershocks were not something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily withstand.

But he used the momentum to accelerate his charge towards the Blood Fiend Source Crystal. The distance was now only thirty feet!

"You're courting death!" The Yin Sha Ghost King laughed in fury, spitting out a stream of black flames. It was Yin Sha Ghost Fire, far more powerful than the previous ghosts' breath, burning even the space itself in its wake.

Han Mu's eyes narrowed, he dared not take the attack head-on. He bit his tongue, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the "Soul-Slaying Thorn." The short blade shone brightly with black light, transforming into a black streak of light that met the black flames.

boom!

The black flames collided with the Yin Soul Thorn, unleashing a terrifying energy storm. Although the Yin Soul Thorn was a third-tier magic weapon, it shattered inch by inch under the attack of a Core Formation stage Ghost King. But that was enough! In those three breaths, Han Mu had already rushed to within ten feet of the Blood Fiend Source Crystal!

"Break Formation Talisman, go!"

Without hesitation, he threw out a third-tier formation-breaking talisman. The talisman transformed into a golden light, shooting towards the Blood Fiend Source Crystal like a meteor.

"How dare you!" The Yin Sha Ghost King's eyes were bloodshot. It hadn't expected Han Mu to be so decisive, and it certainly hadn't expected the opponent to possess a third-tier formation-breaking talisman. Ignoring the backlash, it forcefully unleashed even more power, and a blood-red barrier condensed before the Blood Sha Origin Crystal.

But it's too late.

The array-breaking talisman struck the crimson barrier, unleashing a blinding golden light. The barrier trembled violently, cracks appearing everywhere. The array-breaking talisman was, after all, a third-tier talisman, specifically designed to counter arrays, while the crimson barrier was hastily erected by the Ghost King; how could it possibly withstand it?

"Break!" Han Mu roared, his hands forming hand seals, and the Pure Yang True Fire transformed into a pillar of fire, slamming into the crack.

click-

The crimson barrier shattered with a deafening roar. The remaining force of the formation-breaking talisman struck the Blood Fiend Source Crystal squarely!

Rumble!

A deafening explosion resounded throughout the space. The Blood Fiend Source Crystal trembled violently, cracks appearing on its surface, and dense blood fiend energy surged and dispersed. The entire Hundred Thousand Blood Fiend Array trembled in response, and its operation became sluggish.

"No—" the Yin Sha Ghost King roared mournfully. The grand array it had painstakingly set up, the breakthrough it was about to complete, was completely destroyed! Although the Blood Sha Source Crystal was not completely shattered, its core was damaged, the power of the grand array was reduced by at least 30%, and it could no longer absorb essence blood and souls to help it break through.

"Human, I will tear your soul from your body and refine it, so that you may never be reincarnated!" The Ghost King went completely mad and pounced on Han Mu without regard for anything else. It slapped its hands repeatedly, and countless ghostly claws covered the sky, sealing off all of Han Mu's escape routes.

Han Mu's face was pale. Forcibly activating the formation-breaking talisman and the Pure Yang True Fire had consumed seventy percent of his spiritual power, leaving him at his limit. Faced with the Ghost King's frenzied attacks, he could only desperately dodge.

"System, simulate escape routes!"

[Driving simulation in progress...]

[Escape Route 1: Break through to the northeast, requires overcoming three Foundation Establishment guards, success rate 30%]

[Escape Route Two: Head southwest, enter the Palace of Bones, and use the terrain to your advantage. Success rate: 40%]

[Escape Route 3: Detonate the remaining fragments of the array-breaking talisman to create chaos and escape in the confusion. Success rate: 50%]

Han Mu chose the third option. He took out a fragment of the formation-breaking talisman from his storage bag—although the main talisman had been used, the fragment still contained some of the formation-breaking power. He gritted his teeth, threw all the fragments at the charging Ghost King, and at the same time retreated as fast as he could.

"burst!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fragments exploded one after another. Although their power was not as great as that of a complete talisman, their sheer number made up for it. Caught off guard, the Ghost King was forced to retreat repeatedly, and the bloodthirsty aura around him diminished somewhat.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Han Mu soared into the sky on his sword, flying swiftly back the way he came. He had to leave this space of bones and return to the outside. There, the seven major sects might have already arrived, and there might still be a glimmer of hope.

"You can't escape!" the Ghost King roared, transforming into a streak of blood-red light and relentlessly pursuing him. Its speed was too great; in the blink of an eye, it closed the distance.

Han Mu glanced back, his heart sinking. If he continued to flee like this, he would be caught in less than ten breaths. He had to find a way to buy time.

"System, scan the surrounding environment for usable terrain or formations."

[Scanning in progress...]

[Three hundred feet to the left: A labyrinth of bones (naturally formed, capable of interfering with divine consciousness)]

[500 zhang to the right: Yin Sha Rift (Spatial instability, dangerous but can be temporarily avoided)]

[Ahead: Exit of the Nine Yin Spirit Sealing Array (Requires three breaths to pass)]

A bone maze! Han Mu's eyes lit up. He changed direction and headed straight for the bone maze on the left. It was a natural maze made up of countless bones, with intricate passages, and the bones could interfere with divine sense detection.

"Trying to use the maze to buy time? Naïve!" The Ghost King sneered, its speed undiminished. Although its divine sense was interfered with, the perception of a Core Formation cultivator far surpassed that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Han Mu's aura was like a beacon in the darkness, impossible to conceal.

But this moment of disruption was exactly what Han Mu wanted. He rushed into the maze, winding his way through the maze, while taking out several talismans from his storage bag—"Concealing Breath Talisman" and "Illusion Talisman" found on the bodies of the Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators.

He affixed the Concealing Aura Talisman to his body, instantly suppressing his aura to its absolute limit. The Illusion Talisman transformed into three identical phantoms of him, which fled in different directions.

The Ghost King rushed into the maze, suddenly lost Han Mu's presence, and saw four "Han Mus" fleeing in different directions, which startled him. Although it was only for a brief moment, it was enough for Han Mu.

His true form was hidden behind a pile of bones, holding his breath and lowering his heart rate to a minimum. The Ghost King's divine sense swept over the pile of bones, lingering for a moment, but the concealment talisman worked, and with the interference of the white bones, it detected nothing unusual.

"Hmph, mere child's play." The Ghost King sneered, raising his hand to strike one of the phantoms. The phantom shattered instantly. Then came the second, and the third. All three phantoms vanished, but the true form still hadn't appeared.

The Ghost King's face darkened. It knew it had been tricked; the human must have used a sophisticated method of concealing its presence. But it wasn't worried; this was its territory, and the other party couldn't escape.

"Human, I know you're still here." The Ghost King's voice echoed through the labyrinth. "Come out, and I'll give you a quick death. If I find you, I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Han Mu remained unmoved. He was waiting—waiting for the arrival of the seven major sects, or for the Ghost King to leave. Time passed second by second, each breath feeling incredibly long.

Suddenly, a violent explosion came from outside the maze, followed by the arrival of several powerful auras.

"King of Yin Sha, come out and face your death!" A hoarse but majestic voice rang out.

It's the voice of Master Qingyun, the leader of Huangfeng Valley! The people from the seven major sects have arrived!

Han Mu was overjoyed, but his expression immediately changed. He saw that the Yin Sha Ghost King was not only not panicked, but instead revealed a strange smile.

"They've finally arrived..." the Ghost King muttered to himself, a mad glint in his eyes. "Perfect, I'll use your essence and blood to repair my Blood Fiend Source Crystal!"

It actually intends to wipe out all the masters of the seven major sects in one fell swoop!