The Longevity Family: Starting from the Foundation Establishment Ancestor

The night was as dark as ink, deep within the Blood Fiend Mountains.

At the Blood Refining Sect's mountain gate, the protective array emitted a faint crimson glow, and four late-stage Qi Refining disciples stood guard at the entrance. In the distance, from the main peak's cave dwelling, faint fluctuations of spiritual energy emanated—that was where Sect Master Zhao Tianxue was in seclusion.

"The Third Elder and the others have been at Yanling Fort for three days now, why haven't we heard from them yet?" A disciple on duty yawned.

"What's the rush? With all three elders out, dealing with a Foundation Establishment family that's on the verge of collapse is a piece of cake." Another person said dismissively.

"That's true, they might be counting their spoils in the Han family's treasury right now..."

Before the words were finished, a green shadow appeared silently behind the four of them.

Puff puff puff!

Four wind blades precisely sliced ​​across their necks, and the four disciples collapsed to the ground before they could even scream.

Han Mu withdrew his finger, his expression calm.

He changed into a black night-clothes and wore the "Illusion Mask"—an auxiliary magic artifact that could change his appearance and aura at will—a reward from the system, disguising himself as a rogue cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining.

"System, scan the mountain gate formation structure."

[Scanning in progress...]

【Mountain Protection Formation: Blood Fiend Spirit Sealing Formation (Second-Tier Low-Grade)】

Number of key formation points: eight

[Core Formation Point: Below the Main Peak Cave]

[Suggestion for breaking the formation: The five elements are mutually restraining. Use metal-attribute spiritual power to attack the formation's core in the northeast direction. This can temporarily create a gap for three breaths.]

A glint of light flashed in Han Mu's eyes.

This system function is very useful; it's like having the insight of a master of formations built-in. He flashed around to the northeast side of the mountain gate and, sure enough, saw an inconspicuous blood-red stone tablet, which was the core of the formation.

"Golden Sword Light".

With a flick of his fingertip, a pale golden sword aura shot out.

laugh--

The blood-red light on the stone tablet distorted for a moment, and a gap appeared in the light barrier of the mountain-protecting array, just wide enough for one person to pass through. Han Mu flashed inside, and the gap closed automatically after three breaths.

No alarms were triggered throughout the entire process.

After entering the mountain gate, Han Mu did not rush to the main peak, but instead first went to the Blood Refining Sect's scripture pavilion and treasure vault.

According to the map in Zhao Xue Sha's storage bag, the Scripture Pavilion is located in the western valley and is guarded by two early Foundation Establishment stage deacons. The treasure vault is in the eastern underground palace, which is also protected by array formations.

"Let's go to the library first."

Han Mu moved like a ghost through the night. He avoided several patrolling groups of disciples he encountered along the way.

Soon, a three-story stone tower came into view.

In the open space in front of the tower, two red-robed elders were playing chess, the black and white pieces intertwined on the board. Both men possessed the aura of the first level of Foundation Establishment, but their spiritual power was weak, clearly indicating that they had barely broken through using elixirs.

"Old Li, your chess skills are still terrible," one of them laughed.

"Enough talk, watch this..."

Before he could finish speaking, the two of them simultaneously looked up alertly!

The five-colored sword light was already upon them!

"Enemy attack—!"

One person shouted sharply and hurriedly erected a protective aura around himself. The other person reached for his storage bag at his waist, wanting to retrieve a magical artifact.

But it was too late.

The Lesser Five Elements Sword Formation was activated at full power, with the five elements rotating and sword energy crisscrossing. The two Foundation Establishment Level 1 cultivators were like lambs to the slaughter before Han Mu's Foundation Establishment Level 5 strength.

Chi Chi!

The sword light pierced through the protective aura, and a bloody hole appeared between the two men's brows at the same time, their life force quickly fading away.

From the moment the attack was launched to the moment the kill was achieved, it took only two breaths.

Han Mu put away the two people's storage bags and pushed open the stone door of the Sutra Repository.

The space inside the pavilion was not large; dozens of jade slips and more than a dozen animal hide books were displayed on three tiers of stone shelves. Han Mu scanned them with his divine sense and quickly discerned their value.

"Blood Demon Art" (Foundation Building Chapter), "Blood Soul Curse Technique", "Blood Coagulation Great Art"... are all core inheritances of the Blood Refining Sect.

"Although the cultivation method is unorthodox, it can still be used as a reference." Han Mu waved his hand and put all the jade slips and books into his storage bag.

A system notification sounded:

[Acquired 42 cultivation manuals]

[Side Quest Triggered: Cultivation Technique Collector]

[Task Requirement: Collect 100 different martial arts techniques (Current progress 42/100)]

[Task Reward: Technique Deduction Function Unlocked]

Han Mu raised an eyebrow slightly.

The cultivation technique deduction function? That's an unexpected bonus. But now is not the time to study it. He quickly left the Scripture Pavilion and headed straight for the treasure vault on the east side.

The entrance to the treasure vault is deep within the underground palace, protected by layers of array formations.

"System, analyze the formation."

[Analysis in progress...]

[First Layer: Illusory Mist Array (Tier 1, High Grade)]

[Second Layer: Golden Stone Dragon Trapping Formation (Tier 2, Low Grade)]

[Third Layer: Blood Fiend Seal (Requires the Blood Refining Sect Master's essence blood or token to activate)]

Han Mu pondered.

The first two layers of the formation can be forcibly broken, but the third layer requires something called Zhao Tian's blood. However…

He took out a blood-red token from Zhao Xue Sha's storage bag, which was engraved with the words "Xue Sha".

"It should work."

Sure enough, when the token approached the third layer of the formation, the blood-red light automatically opened a portal.

Inside the treasure vault, spirit stones were piled up like mountains, roughly estimated at tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones, and several hundred mid-grade spirit stones. In addition, various refining materials, spiritual herbs and medicines, and finished magic weapons were displayed in abundance.

"As expected of a sect with a history of over a hundred years, its foundation is quite impressive." Han Mu took it all without any hesitation.

Just as he put the last box of spirit stones into his storage bag, a deafening roar suddenly came from the direction of the main peak!

"Who dares to offend my Blood Refining Sect—!!"

The sound was like thunder, and the pressure of the peak fourth level of Foundation Establishment instantly enveloped the entire mountain gate!

Zhao Tianxue has emerged from seclusion!

Han Mu's expression remained unchanged; instead, a slight smile appeared on his face.

"Perfect, saves me the trouble of looking for you."

He flashed and headed towards the main peak.

On the main peak square, Zhao Tianxue stood suspended in mid-air.

He appeared to be in his forties, with a sinister face, bloodshot eyes, and a surging aura of bloodlust emanating from him. The interruption of his seclusion had enraged him to the extreme.

"You cowardly rat hiding your head and tail, get out here!" Zhao Tianxue swept his divine sense across the area and quickly locked onto Han Mu, who was approaching.

When he saw that the newcomer was merely a rogue cultivator at the "peak Qi Refining" stage, he was first taken aback, then flew into a rage: "A mere Qi Refining cultivator dares to trespass on my mountain gate? He's courting death!"

He struck out with his palm, and the blood-red palm print pressed down like a mountain!

A single strike from a peak fourth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator is enough to pulverize any Qi Refining cultivator.

Han Mu looked terrified and hurriedly flew backward, while simultaneously forming a hand seal to create a light blue screen.

boom!

The palm print struck the light screen, shattering it instantly. Han Mu was sent flying backward, spitting blood.

"Hmph, utterly pathetic." Zhao Tianxue sneered.

But as soon as he finished speaking, Han Mu, who had been flying backward, suddenly stopped and stood steadily in mid-air.

The look of terror on his face disappeared, replaced by calm.

"Sect Leader Zhao, is this all you've got?"

Han Mu's voice became steady, and his aura began to rise!

Peak of Qi Refining... Foundation Establishment Level 1... Foundation Establishment Level 2... Foundation Establishment Level 3...

Finally, it stopped at the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment stage!

"You... you've been hiding your cultivation level?!" Zhao Tian's pupils constricted sharply. "Who exactly are you?!"

Han Mu did not answer, and the five-colored sword light reappeared in his hand.

The Lesser Five Elements Sword Formation is now in full operation!

This time, he stopped pretending.

The five-colored sword light transformed into a rainbow, carrying the momentum to annihilate everything, and went straight for Zhao Tianxue!

"Blood Demon Protection!" Zhao Tian shouted fiercely, his body radiating a brilliant blood-red light, and a Blood Demon Shadow appeared behind him.

But the moment the sword light collided with the demonic shadow—

scoff!

The demonic shadow was torn apart as if it were made of paper!

"How is this possible..." Fear finally appeared in Zhao Tianxue's eyes.

He sensed that the power contained in the sword light far exceeded the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, and even... approached the late stage of Foundation Establishment!

"You're not at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment! What exactly are you...?"

Before he could finish speaking, the five-colored sword light had already pierced through his dantian.

Zhao Tianxue looked down at the bloody hole in his abdomen, his spiritual energy leaking out wildly.

"The Blood Refining Sect... is finished..."

He murmured something, and his body fell from the sky.

Han Mu withdrew his sword light and looked down at the Blood Refining Sect's mountain gate.

Overnight, the entire leadership of this century-old demonic sect was wiped out, its treasury was looted, and its scripture pavilion was emptied.

From today onwards, the Blood Refining Sect will be completely removed from the cultivation world of Tiannan.

"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)]

[Clan Development Task Progress: Number of cultivators 13/100, Foundation Establishment members 1/3]

[New Assets: 12300 low-grade spirit stones, 485 mid-grade spirit stones, and various other resources]

[Warning: The destruction of the Blood Refining Sect may alert surrounding forces.]

Han Mu's eyes were deep and profound.

Next, we need to consider how to consume these spoils and deal with any potential troubles.