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

September 10th, 6:00 AM.

In the small courtyard in front of the gate, the thin mist had not yet dissipated. Chen Yu stood in the courtyard, watching Qin Huairu check the luggage one last time. Today she was wearing a simple floral top, her hair was neatly combed into two braids, and her face had an expectant yet somewhat nervous expression.

"Did you bring everything?" Chen Yu asked.

"I've packed everything." Qin Huairu patted the bundle beside her. "Just a few changes of clothes and the dry rations you asked me to bring."

Chen Yu nodded. This time when he went to Yunnan, he specifically asked Qin Huairu to prepare more dry food—there was no food in the cave, and although one could cultivate the art of fasting, Qin Huairu had no cultivation level and needed to eat normally.

"Xiao Chen! Huai Ru!" He Yuzhu's loud voice came from outside the door.

The two went outside, where He Yuzhu was waiting at the door with a tricycle carrying two large bundles. Yan Bugui also arrived, pushing a bicycle with a net bag hanging from the handlebars, containing several apples.

"Brother Zhu, Third Uncle, what brings you here?"

"I'll see you off!" He Yuzhu said. "The train station is so far away, it must be tiring for you to carry your luggage."

Chen Yu was deeply moved. Although these neighbors usually had their own little thoughts, they always brought warmth in crucial moments.

Everyone loaded their luggage onto the tricycle. Qin Huairu held He Yuzhu's wife's hand and whispered a few instructions, which were nothing more than helping to look after the yard and feed the chickens.

The tricycle drove towards Qianmen Railway Station. In the morning light, the streets and alleys of Beijing gradually awoke, wisps of smoke rose from breakfast stalls, and bicycle bells rang crisply.

On the platform, He Yuzhu helped carry the luggage onto the train car and patted Chen Yu on the shoulder: "Xiao Chen, take good care of Huai Ru. She's a good girl, don't mistreat her."

"Don't worry, Brother Zhu."

"Also," He Yuzhu lowered his voice, "be careful on the road. I have a feeling that that Fire... Fire Palace won't give up easily."

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. Although He Yuzhu didn't understand cultivation, his intuition was sharp.

"I know. Take care, Brother Zhu."

With a long whistle, the train slowly started moving. Chen Yu and Qin Huairu stood by the window, waving goodbye to He Yuzhu and Yan Bugui on the platform. Only after their figures disappeared from sight did the two return to their seats.

The carriage wasn't crowded, and they chose a window seat. Looking at the fields rushing past the window, Qin Huairu whispered, "Chen Yu, I...I'm still a little scared."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid I'll hold you back." Qin Huairu lowered her head. "I don't understand any of the things you've mentioned, like cultivation, grotto heavens, or the Fire God Temple. I'm afraid I won't be able to help and will only cause you trouble."

Chen Yu held her hand: "Huai Ru, you don't need to understand those things. Just being by my side is the greatest help you can give."

Qin Huairu looked up at him, her eyes slightly red, but her gaze gradually hardened.

The train headed south. The scenery outside the window changed from plains to hills, and then from hills to mountains. The next evening, they arrived in Kunming again.

Zhao Dezhu was already waiting on the platform. When he saw Qin Huairu next to Chen Yu, he was taken aback and asked, "Mr. Chen, who is this...?"

"My wife, Qin Huairu," Chen Yu introduced.

"Hello, sister-in-law!" Zhao Dezhu greeted her warmly. "The car is outside. Let's go to the guesthouse to rest first, and we'll set off early tomorrow morning."

The next morning, the jeep headed towards Tengchong again. It was Qin Huairu's first time seeing the landscapes of Yunnan, and she was constantly amazed. The rolling green hills, steep valleys, and dense forests were completely different from the northern plains where she had grown up.

"So beautiful..." she murmured.

Looking at her profile, Chen Yu felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

As evening fell, the jeep stopped again at the entrance of Reshuitang Village. The Huodexingjun Temple still stood quietly under the banyan tree, its red lacquer on the temple gate appearing particularly deep in the twilight.

Abbot Zhou seemed to have known they were coming and was already waiting at the door. Seeing Chen Yu, he smiled slightly: "Benefactor Chen, we meet again."

"Abbot Zhou, I apologize for disturbing you."

"It's alright." Abbot Zhou looked at Qin Huairu. "And this is...?"

"My wife, Qin Huairu."

"You are blessed, benefactor." Abbot Zhou nodded. "Please come in."

That night, they stayed at the temple. Chen Yu arranged accommodations for Qin Huairu, gave her a few more instructions, and then went to the backyard alone.

Abbot Zhou was drawing water from the well when he saw him arrive. He put down the bucket and asked, "Benefactor Chen, have you come for the grotto?"

"Yes." Chen Yu did not hide anything. "I need to enter the cave again. I have some things to take care of."

Abbot Zhou remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The cave is fraught with danger. Although Benefactor Chen's cultivation has greatly increased, he still needs to be cautious. As for that female benefactor..."

"She's staying outside; please ask Abbot Zhou to look after her."

"I will do my best."

The next morning, Chen Yu went up the mountain alone. Qin Huairu saw him off at the temple gate, holding his hand tightly and reluctant to let go.

"Wait for me to come back," Chen Yu said softly.

"Mm." Qin Huairu nodded, her eyes slightly red. "You... be careful."

Chen Yu turned around and strode towards Eagle Mountain.

The mountain path was still steep, but he, being in the Foundation Establishment stage, walked as if on flat ground. In less than an hour, he reached the crater and entered the cave again.

Everything within the cave remained unchanged—the luminous pearl still emitted a soft glow, the stone palace remained majestic, and the spiritual herbs in the herb garden remained lush. Chen Yu walked straight towards the core hall. Sensing his arrival, the Five Elements Spirit Pearl vibrated gently, emitting a pleasant ringing sound.

Chen Yu stretched out his hand, and the spirit pearl slowly floated into his palm. He sensed that the energy within the spirit pearl was more active than before, seemingly because he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, and his compatibility with the spirit pearl had increased.

"Now, it's time to upgrade the small world."

He took out the fragment of the world—a thumb-sized, crystal-clear piece with countless points of light flowing inside, as if containing a starry sky. According to the system instructions, it needed to be used where the spiritual energy of the earth's veins converged, and this cave heaven was precisely the core of the entire western Yunnan earth veins.

Chen Yu sat cross-legged, holding the fragment of the world in his palm, and slowly poured spiritual energy into it. The fragment began to glow, growing brighter and brighter, until it finally transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into his brow.

Instantly, he sensed a drastic change occurring in the small world—

The area began to expand, from the original ten mu to one hundred mu!

The concentration of spiritual energy soared, from weak to rich, almost comparable to a grotto-heaven!

The shadowy images of the sun and moon appeared in the sky, and the alternation of day and night began!

Streams, hills, and groves appeared on the ground; it was no longer just flat land!

Next to the thatched hut, a two-story bamboo house appeared out of nowhere, exquisite and elegant!

Even more amazingly, he could sense and adjust the flow of time in the small world—from one to two to one to ten, at will!

[Small World Upgrade Successfully!]

Current level: 2

Area: 100 mu (approximately 0.16 acres)

[Spiritual Energy Concentration: Mid-Grade Spiritual Vein Level]

[New Features: Adjustable time flow rate (1:2 to 1:10), automatic irrigation of spirit fields, spirit beast breeding area]

Chen Yu was overjoyed. With this time acceleration function, he could cultivate for ten days in the small world while only one day passed in the outside world! Combined with the abundant spiritual energy, his cultivation speed would increase dozens of times!

He couldn't wait to enter the small world. The bamboo house was fully equipped; the first floor had a living room and kitchen, and the second floor had a bedroom and a cultivation room. Opening the window, he could see the small hills and streams outside, and the air was as fresh as a mountain forest in the early morning.

Chen Yu sat cross-legged in the cultivation room and adjusted the time flow to the highest ratio of one to ten. Then he took a Qi-Nourishing Pill and began cultivating.

One day in the outside world is ten days in the small world. Ten days in the outside world is one hundred days in the small world.

He wanted to use this time to raise his cultivation level to the next level.

Cultivation transcends time. When Chen Yu opened his eyes again, thirty days had passed in the small world—three days in the outside world.

After thirty days of continuous cultivation, with the aid of the Qi-Nourishing Pill, his cultivation level rose from the mid-stage of the first level of the Foundation Establishment stage to the peak of the first level, just one step away from the second level.

"If I cultivate for a few more days, I should be able to break through," Chen Yu thought to himself.

He stood up and walked out of the bamboo house. The small world was more vibrant than when it had just been upgraded—the medicinal herbs in the spirit field were growing well, several wild rabbits had appeared by the stream (their origins were unknown), and the trees on the hill were even more lush.

"When I have time in the future, I can plan this place properly," Chen Yu thought. Planting all kinds of spiritual herbs, raising some spiritual beasts, building an alchemy room, and moving all the cultivation manuals and scriptures from the cave heaven in... this will be his private cultivation sanctuary.

He exited the small world and returned to the core of the cave. The Five Elements Spirit Pearl was still floating in the air, but it seemed a little dimmer—perhaps it had consumed some energy when he upgraded the small world.

Chen Yu bowed deeply to the spirit pearl: "Thank you for your kindness."

The spirit pearl vibrated slightly, as if in response.

As Chen Yu left the grotto, he looked back once more. This sacred cultivation ground, which had existed for two thousand years, had given him so much. The Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts, the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, the Foundation Establishment breakthrough, the upgrade of his small world… each one was an immense opportunity.

"Once I've finished dealing with things outside, I'll definitely come to see you often," he murmured.

Stepping out of the cave, the sunlight was blinding. Chen Yu squinted and looked down the mountain.

In the direction of the Fire God Temple, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, everything seemed normal.

But he sensed an unfamiliar presence lingering nearby—not an ordinary person, but a cultivator!

Chen Yu's heart tightened, and he activated his Concealing Breath Technique at full power, approaching silently.

In a mountain hollow three miles away from the Fire God Temple, he saw five people—the four Qi Refining stage cultivators who had been monitoring him outside Yongding Gate, and a stranger with a cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi Refining, close to Foundation Establishment!

They were talking in hushed tones:

"...Are you sure Chen Yu is inside?"

"Confirmed. They entered the cave three days ago but haven't emerged yet."

"The Palace Master has ordered that we take action as soon as he comes out. We need to see him alive or dead."

"Where is the woman? She's at the temple."

"Take her with us. With her in our hands, we're not afraid Chen Yu won't hand over the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts."

Chen Yu's eyes turned cold.

Want to mess with Qin Huairu? You're asking for death!

He didn't act immediately, but quietly returned to the temple. Qin Huairu was helping Abbot Zhou dry medicinal herbs in the courtyard when she saw him return and ran over in surprise.

"You're back!"

"Okay." Chen Yu took her hand. "Huai Ru, come with me. It's dangerous."

Qin Huairu's expression changed, but she didn't ask any further questions and immediately began packing her things. Abbot Zhou approached, his expression grave: "Benefactor Chen, those people..."

"I know. Abbot Zhou, please take Huai Ru away from the back mountain and find a safe place to hide. I'll lure them away."

"You're all alone..."

"Don't worry." A cold glint flashed in Chen Yu's eyes. "Now that they're here, they're not leaving."

Qin Huairu held his hand, her eyes filled with tears: "You...you must come back."

"I will." Chen Yu gently kissed her forehead. "Wait for me."

Abbot Zhou led Qin Huairu out through the back door and quickly disappeared into the dense forest.

Chen Yu turned around and strode towards the ravine where the five people were hiding.

With the concealment technique removed, the Foundation Establishment stage aura was released without reservation!

The five people looked up at the same time, their expressions changing drastically.

"Chen...Chen Yu!"

Chen Yu gave a cold laugh: "I heard you were looking for me?"

The five men exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and charged forward.

Instead of retreating, Chen Yu advanced, his figure flashing like a ghost—

With one palm strike, a Qi Refining Stage 4 cultivator collapsed to the ground.

One kick, and a Qi Refining Stage 5 cultivator coughed up blood.

One punch, and the sixth level of Qi Refining stage is knocked into a coma.

In less than ten seconds, all four were dealt with. Only the leader, who was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, was left, retreating in terror.

"You...you're at the Foundation Establishment stage!"

Chen Yu approached step by step: "Go back and tell your palace master not to send anyone else. Otherwise—"

With a casual wave of his hand, he unleashed a burst of spiritual energy, snapping a pine tree ten meters away, as thick as a bowl, in two.

"Next time, it'll be the neck that gets broken."

The leader scrambled away.

Chen Yu looked at the four people on the ground and shook his head slightly. No matter how many Qi Refining cultivators there are, it's useless against Foundation Establishment cultivators.

He turned and walked towards the back of the mountain.

Qin Huairu is still waiting for him.