Courtyard Check-in: Starting with a Small World of Cultivation

June 29th, 5:30 AM.

Chen Yu opened his eyes in the small world, a faint golden light flashing deep in his pupils. After taking two Body Tempering Pills and engaging in six hours of intensive cultivation the previous night, the bottleneck of the seventh level of the Tai Xuan True Scripture was finally shattered before dawn.

The spiritual energy within his body surged like a river bursting its banks. Under the combined impact of the medicinal power and the spiritual energy, his originally small meridians slowly expanded and became stronger. His bones emitted subtle crackling sounds, a sign that his bone density had increased once again. A thin layer of gray impurities seeped from the surface of his skin—the last bit of acquired filth expelled after his physical body had been tempered to a new level.

[Breakthrough to the eighth level of the Tai Xuan Zhen Jing]

[The range of spiritual awareness has been expanded to fifteen zhang.]

[Physical Enhancement: Strength increased by 30%, Speed ​​increased by 25%, Endurance increased by 40%]

[Unlock new spells: Wind Manipulation (Beginner), Breath Concealment (Intermediate)]

A series of system notifications invigorated Chen Yu. The Wind Control Technique allowed him to glide along short distances, though he couldn't truly fly yet, his mobility far surpassed that of ordinary people. The Intermediate Concealment Technique was a timely boon—combined with the previous Basic Concealment Technique, he was now confident he could evade detection by cultivators below the ninth level of the Qi Refining stage. If the two from the Heavenly Dao Alliance came again, unless they tested him face-to-face with special magical artifacts, they would have a hard time detecting his cultivation level.

He stood up and tested his new ability in the small world. With a thought, his body leaped up as lightly as a feather. With the aid of the Wind Control Technique, he was able to glide for more than ten meters at a height of three feet off the ground. He landed silently, activated the Intermediate Concealment Technique, and his aura instantly blended into the surrounding environment. Even the sound of the flowing water from the spiritual spring seemed to conceal his presence.

"Good!" Chen Yu nodded in satisfaction. This breakthrough not only greatly increased his strength, but also improved his ability to survive.

As I exited the small world, dawn was just breaking. The sound of a broom sweeping across the bluestone slabs echoed from the courtyard—it was Zhang Xiulan sweeping. Since the trial, this former militia member seemed to have undergone a complete transformation. Every day she would get up before dawn, cleaning the courtyard inside and out spotlessly, then go to work at the street clothing factory. In the evenings, she would come home and tutor Banggeng, leading a busy and fulfilling life.

Chen Yu pushed open the door and went out, and saw Zhang Xiulan bending over, carefully sweeping a patch of moss in the corner of the wall.

Good morning, Aunt Zhang.

"Xiaoyu's awake?" Zhang Xiulan sat up, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "I steamed some cornbread; I'll bring you a few later."

"No need to trouble yourself..."

"No trouble at all, I steam plenty." Zhang Xiulan interrupted him, a rare smile on her face. "I got paid yesterday, six yuan and forty cents in eight days. I bought Banggeng a new pencil, and the kid was overjoyed."

Looking into the light in her eyes, Chen Yu knew she had truly overcome her ordeal. Hardship can destroy a person, but it can also forge one. Zhang Xiulan clearly belonged to the latter.

"How's the stick-shaped dog doing lately?"

"It's much better. He doesn't have nightmares anymore, and he's doing his homework more diligently." Zhang Xiulan lowered her voice. "It's just... his grandma is still the same. She sits in the house all day in a daze and eats very little. I've tried to persuade her to go out for a walk, but she won't listen."

Chen Yu looked at the tightly closed door of the Jia family's house. Ever since Jia Zhangshi fainted during the court hearing and was brought back, she seemed like a different person. She no longer cried, made a fuss, or cursed; she remained silent all day, her eyes vacant. Some people in the courtyard said she was too traumatized, while others said she was faking it to gain sympathy. But Chen Yu had used his spiritual eye to see that the old lady's spirit was indeed severely weakened; it wasn't an act.

"Take it slow," was all Chen Yu could say.

Just then, He Yuzhu came out of the house, yawning: "Oh, everyone's up so early? Aunt Zhang, you've swept even cleaner than when Third Aunt was here!"

Mentioning the Third Aunt, everyone fell silent. The Yan family's gate was now tightly shut; the Third Aunt and her two children rarely went out. They would go to buy groceries before dawn and return home immediately afterward. When people in the courtyard saw them, they would mostly lower their heads and hurry past—not knowing how to face them.

"Brother Zhu, are you off today?" Chen Yu changed the subject.

"Yeah, shift work." He Yuzhu leaned closer. "Chen Yu, I heard your research institute's project is a success? It's all over the factory. They say you've come up with some new method that can spot problems in materials?"

The news spread really fast. Chen Yu nodded: "There has been some progress, but it's still in the experimental stage."

"Wow, impressive!" He Yuzhu gave a thumbs up. "I knew you were something special! By the way, come over for dinner tonight. I got a fish; how about we have a couple of drinks?"

"Okay," Chen Yu readily agreed. Although He Yuzhu was a chatterbox, he wasn't a bad person at heart and was worth befriending.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Chen Yu arrived at the research institute on time. As soon as he entered the office, Lin Zhenhua greeted him with a beaming smile: "Little Chen! Great news! Fantastic news!"

"Mr. Lin, what's wrong?"

"Our first-phase results from the 'Microscopic Observation Project' have caught the attention of the Ministry!" Lin Zhenhua's hands trembled with excitement. "Yesterday, Director Liu from the Science and Technology Department of the Ministry came in person, looked at our materials and samples, and immediately said that we should promote them! He wants us to quickly compile a complete technical manual and hold an on-site meeting next month!"

"So fast?" Chen Yu was also somewhat surprised. Although he knew this project was valuable, he didn't expect it to attract such great attention from the ministry.

"A live event?"

"That's right! Technical backbones from over a dozen key factories and mines across the country are coming to learn our methods on-site!" Lin Zhenhua patted Chen Yu on the shoulder. "Xiao Chen, you've done a great job this time! The director said he'll apply for a promotion for you after the project is completed!"

The other colleagues in the office gathered around, offering their congratulations. Su Hongmei smiled and handed over a document: "Chen Yu, this is the defect classification table you asked me to compile yesterday. I've added a few additional cases."

Chen Yu took the document and looked through it. Su Hongmei was indeed meticulous in her work. She not only supplemented the case studies but also drew diagrams and marked the key points for observation.

"Thank you for your trouble, Sister Su."

"Of course, I'm a member of the project team too." Su Hongmei paused, "Chen Yu, are you free tonight? He was my father's former student and is now a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Traditional Medicine. He's heard about our observation method and would like to discuss it with you."

The Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine? Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. His observation method did indeed draw on the ideas of traditional Chinese medicine's diagnostic method of observation. If he could communicate with a real expert in traditional Chinese medicine, he might gain new insights.

"Okay, when?"

"Six-thirty, Quanjude in Wangfujing, it's on me." Su Hongmei rarely joked, "It's a celebration banquet."

The research institute was filled with excitement all day. Chen Yu, however, remained calm—he knew that the more successful the project, the more people would be watching him, and the more cautious he needed to be. Although the Heavenly Alliance had temporarily withdrawn, there was no guarantee that other eyes were still watching.

At 3 p.m., he finished his work ahead of schedule, asked Lin Zhenhua for leave, and went to the National Library.

The library, located on Wenjin Street, is a magnificent Soviet-style building. Chen Yu showed his work ID, obtained a temporary library card, and then headed straight for the geography and literature section.

He needed to research two areas: first, the geography, geology, history, and culture of southern Yunnan; and second, the economic, social, and legal situation in Hong Kong.

Information about southern Yunnan was relatively easy to find. Chen Yu found several books, including "A Record of Yunnan Customs," "A Study of Geology in Southern Yunnan," and "The History of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms," and also found a book published during the Republic of China era called "An Exploration of the Yunnan Border." He found a quiet corner, activated his spiritual eye technique, and quickly browsed through the materials.

Southern Yunnan, especially Xishuangbanna and Dehong, has been a multi-ethnic region since ancient times, home to several kingdoms including the ancient Dian Kingdom, Nanzhao Kingdom, and Dali Kingdom. These areas are characterized by high mountains, dense forests, and numerous caves, and historically, many hermits and hermits lived there. During the Republican era, foreign expeditions even discovered what appeared to be the remains of ancient monks along the Yunnan-Burma border…

Chen Yu was so engrossed in reading that he unknowingly filled more than a dozen pages with notes. The one that interested him most was a passage: During the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, a hunter discovered a stone cave deep in the Ailao Mountains. Inside the cave were a stone bed and a stone table, and the walls were inscribed with unreadable characters. The hunter took a stone bowl, which was later collected by the local chieftain, who claimed it to be a "relic of an ancient immortal."

"An ancient immortal..." Chen Yu pondered. If it really was an ancient cultivator's cave, it might contain not only cultivation techniques and magical treasures, but also crucial cultivation resources. However, Yunnan was far away, and going there now was unrealistic; he could only gather information first.

Next, he began researching Hong Kong. There wasn't much information available about Hong Kong at that time; most of it consisted of political books criticizing "the decadence of capitalism." However, Chen Yu still managed to find the information he needed between the lines: In the mid-1960s, Hong Kong's manufacturing industry began to take off, with textiles, plastics, toys, and electronics as its four pillar industries; the real estate market was also starting to heat up, but hadn't yet reached a frenzied stage; the legal system followed the British model and was relatively well-developed; social classes were clearly defined, but opportunities were also plentiful…

He also found a copy of the 1964 edition of the "Hong Kong Business Yearbook," which listed information on major companies, banks, and chambers of commerce in Hong Kong. Chen Yu was overjoyed and borrowed it, intending to take it back for careful study.

It was 5:30 pm when Chen Yu came out of the library. Instead of going straight to Quanjude, he went back to the courtyard house first, put the books away, and changed into clean clothes.

Qin Huairu was cooking when she saw him come back, change clothes, and go out again. She asked, "Aren't you coming home for dinner tonight?"

"My colleagues at the institute invited me to dinner to discuss work," Chen Yu said without elaborating. "You guys eat first, don't wait for me."

Quanjude is located on Wangfujing Street. It's a time-honored brand, and in this day and age, only the most distinguished people can afford to host a dinner party there. When Chen Yu arrived, Su Hongmei was already waiting at the door, accompanied by a thin man in his fifties wearing glasses.

"Chen Yu, this is Professor Li Jimin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Traditional Medicine, and also my father's student," Su Hongmei introduced.

"Hello, Teacher Li." Chen Yu shook hands politely.

Li Jimin sized up Chen Yu, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Comrade Chen is very young. Hongmei told me that you created a set of observation methods, quite reminiscent of traditional Chinese medicine's diagnostic methods, but I didn't believe it. Now it seems I was prejudiced."

The three entered a private room. Li Jimin, clearly a regular customer, skillfully ordered roast duck and several side dishes.

"Comrade Chen, I've heard about your method from Hongmei, and I'm very interested," Li Jimin said bluntly. "Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes 'knowing by observation,' and skilled doctors can indeed judge a patient's condition by observing their complexion, tongue coating, and eyes. Your method seems to apply this ability to the materials used in your treatment?"

"That's one way to understand it," Chen Yu said, carefully choosing his words. "Actually, everything in the world has its 'image,' materials have their 'image,' and the human body has its 'image.' Observing the changes in 'image' and inferring the inner essence is a universal principle."

"Well said!" Li Jimin's eyes lit up. "So how do you train this kind of observational ability?"

Chen Yu thought for a moment and decided to reveal some non-core techniques: "First is focus. When observing, clear your mind and concentrate entirely on the target. Second is comparison. Observe a large number of normal samples to form a 'normal' benchmark, so that you can immediately detect anomalies. Third is association. Connect the observed phenomena with known knowledge..."

He spoke for an hour, and Li Jimin listened attentively, nodding repeatedly and asking questions from time to time. Su Hongmei took notes beside him, her eyes full of admiration.

"Comrade Chen, have you ever thought about applying this method to medicine?" Li Jimin suddenly asked, "For example, observing subtle changes in the tongue coating to judge the development of the disease; observing skin color to infer the condition of internal organs..."

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. This was indeed an idea. The Spiritual Eye Technique couldn't be used directly for diagnosis, but by combining it with traditional Chinese medicine theory and designing a training method to enhance observation skills, it might truly improve doctors' diagnostic abilities.

"You can give it a try. However, medical observation is more complex, involving ethics and safety, so caution is needed."

"Of course, of course," Li Jimin said excitedly. "How about this, I'll go back and write a proposal, and we can collaborate on a pilot project? The Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and our hospital can apply together, and you can provide technical guidance."

This proposal is very tempting. Establishing connections with the medical community would not only expand one's network but also accumulate resources for future plans.

"I need to think about it and report back to the institute."

"I understand, I understand." Li Jimin didn't insist. "Come on, let's eat first. The roast duck won't taste good if it gets cold."

The meal lasted until after eight o'clock. As they parted, Li Jimin shook Chen Yu's hand and said, "Comrade Chen, you are a truly talented person. Let's keep in touch, and we'll definitely cooperate when the opportunity arises."

On the way back to the courtyard house, Su Hongmei said, "Teacher Li rarely appreciates someone this much. Chen Yu, you've really impressed him this time."

"It was Sister Su who made the good recommendation."

"I don't have that much influence," Su Hongmei said with a smile. "It's your own ability."

The two parted ways at the entrance of the research institute. Chen Yu walked home, the cool autumn night breeze on his face making him feel refreshed.

Today was a fruitful day: the project gained attention from the ministry, he broke through to the eighth level of the Qi Refining stage, met a TCM expert, and collected data from Hong Kong and Yunnan... But Chen Yu knew that these were all preparations, and the real challenges were yet to come.

It was past nine o'clock when they returned to the courtyard. The courtyard was quiet, and most of the lights in the houses were off. Chen Yu tiptoed into the house, where Qin Huairu was still awake, sewing clothes under the lamp.

"You're back? There's some porridge warming in the pot, have some."

"it is good."

Chen Yu drank a bowl of millet porridge, and his body warmed up. Looking at Qin Huairu's focused profile, he suddenly said, "Huairu, if... if there's a chance in the future, would you be willing to live in the south?"

Qin Huairu stopped what she was doing, looked up at him, and asked, "South? Where?"

"For example... Hong Kong," Chen Yu tentatively suggested.

Qin Huairu paused for a moment, then smiled: "Wherever you say we want to go, we'll go. The children and I will go with you. But Hong Kong... isn't that a foreign country? Are we even allowed to go?"

"Not now, but maybe there will be a chance in the future." Chen Yu didn't say much more. "Go to sleep, it's getting late."

After washing up, Chen Yu entered the small world. He didn't start cultivating immediately, but instead took out the jade box containing the recording stone.

The recording stone was still inside, and the concealment talisman was intact. But Chen Yu still felt uneasy—the Heavenly Dao Alliance's methods wouldn't be that simple.

He carefully peeled off a concealment talisman, activated his spiritual eye technique, and carefully observed the recording stone. This time he looked even more closely and indeed discovered something unusual—at the core of the recording stone, in addition to the array that recorded images and sounds, there was also an extremely hidden miniature array, like a grain of rice-sized point of light, slowly flickering.

"A tracking array!" Chen Yu recognized it. This wasn't a simple recording stone, but a recording tracking and replication artifact! As long as the stone was still working, no matter where it was placed, the caster could sense its location within a certain range!

That was close! If we had destroyed the stone or cut off the signal for an extended period, the other party would have immediately known something was wrong. We had to keep it working "normally," but without revealing the secret.

Chen Yu thought for a moment and came up with an idea. He took out a piece of ordinary jade and carved a simple illusion array on it with a carving knife. Then he placed the recording stone in the center of the illusion array and adjusted the array parameters—in this way, the recording stone would record a "safe image" that had been filtered and modified: he got up, went to work, came home, ate, and slept on time every day without any abnormalities.

As for the audio, it was even easier to handle. Chen Yu recorded a loop of everyday conversation and used a soundproof array in conjunction with an illusion array to ensure that the recording stone could only record this "safe content".

By the time everything was arranged, it was already 1 a.m. Chen Yu placed the treated recording stone back into the window frame gap—in the exact same position as before. This way, if the Heavenly Dao Alliance members returned to inspect, they would see a record showing everything was normal and wouldn't suspect anything.

After doing all this, Chen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The methods of the cultivation world are indeed impossible to guard against; he must be even more careful in the future.

He sat down cross-legged and began his cultivation for the evening. His Qi Refining Stage 8 realm was already stable; now he needed to accumulate experience step by step and advance towards the Ninth Realm.

The Wind Manipulation Technique still needs to be mastered, and the Intermediate Breath Concealment Technique also requires more practice. There are also several newly unlocked minor spells: Cleanse, Temperature Control, and Bright Light... Although they are all auxiliary spells, they are very useful in daily life.

Chen Yu cultivated until 3 a.m. before exiting the small world. He lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.

Hong Kong, southern Yunnan, traditional courtyard houses, research institutes, the Heavenly Dao Alliance... a series of clues intertwined in my mind.

He suddenly remembered a sentence he had seen in the library that day: "A breeze begins with a ripple on the water, and a wave is formed from a gentle ripple."

The tide of history is about to surge, and he has already stood at the forefront.

The next step is to accumulate strength and wait for the right opportunity.

Then, it rises with the wind.

Outside the window, autumn insects chirped, and the night was deep.

But in Chen Yu's eyes, he could already see the light in the distance.