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

October 6th, 2 AM.

The wind from Houhai carried the chill of late autumn, rippling the surface of the lake. Chen Yu stood under an old willow tree, gazing in the direction where the three had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

He was at the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, a realm higher than Hua Tianxiong. Moreover, the aura emanating from that person was more fierce and dangerous than that of Hua Tianxiong.

"Who could it be?" Chen Yu quickly searched his mind for possible allies. The Temple of Vulcan had already disbanded, and Hua Tianxiong had personally promised to withdraw from China. Could it be a remnant of the Temple of Vulcan? That didn't seem likely; someone like Hua Tianxiong, once he admitted defeat, wouldn't send anyone else.

Who could it be?

He quietly retreated and disappeared into the night.

Back in the front courtyard, Qin Huairu was already asleep. Chen Yu didn't disturb her, and went straight into the west wing, entering his own little world.

Inside the bamboo house, he sat cross-legged and carefully sorted through the discoveries of the evening.

That Foundation Establishment Stage 5 expert wore a dark Zhongshan suit, had a cold and stern face, and spoke concisely and forcefully, like a soldier. But his aura was different from that of a soldier; it was colder, more... sinister.

"Could it be another cultivation organization?" Chen Yu wondered to himself. Were there other forces besides the Temple of Fire God?

He took out the system panel and checked his points—180 points. He had accumulated some points by signing in for the past few days, but it wasn't enough to exchange for advanced cultivation techniques or magical artifacts.

[Ding! Do you wish to check in for today?]

Chen Yu checked the time; it was past midnight, and a new day had begun.

【Yes】

[Sign-in successful! Rewards: Medium-grade Spirit Stone x1, Advanced Concealment Talisman x2, Tracking Skill Pack x1, 100 RMB cash]

Advanced Concealment Talisman! Tracking Technique! Just in time!

Chen Yu immediately activated his tracking skill pack, and a wealth of knowledge about tracking, counter-tracking, and trace analysis flooded his mind. Combined with his previous reconnaissance skills, he could now track any target undetected, like the most experienced hunter.

Advanced concealment talismans are far more powerful than basic ones; they can completely hide one's aura and spiritual energy fluctuations for an hour. With this, he could monitor that Foundation Establishment Stage 5 expert at close range without being detected.

As I exited the small world, dawn was breaking.

Chen Yu didn't rest and went straight to Houhai. He remembered clearly the direction the three people left in last night—westward, probably towards Xishan.

He followed the scent westward. The five senses of a Foundation Establishment cultivator far surpass those of ordinary people, and with the newly learned tracking technique, no trace along the way could escape his eyes.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the foot of West Mountain.

Here lies an abandoned villa district, built by wealthy merchants before the liberation. Later abandoned, it became a haven for stray cats and dogs. Chen Yu spread his spiritual sense and quickly detected several faint auras—someone lives there!

He took out a high-level concealment talisman and affixed it to his body, instantly suppressing his aura to the extreme, and then approached silently.

In the center of the abandoned villa area, there was a relatively intact two-story building. There were sentries around the building, with four people at the fifth or sixth level of the Qi Refining stage positioned in four directions, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

Chen Yu bypassed the sentries and arrived at the side of the small building. Through the broken window, he saw the scene inside—

Five people were sitting in the lobby on the first floor. One of them was the expert at the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage from last night, and the other four were also cultivators—two at the first level of the Foundation Establishment stage and two at the second level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Boss, the target has been confirmed." A Foundation Establishment Stage 2 cultivator spoke up, "Chen Yu, 24 years old, formerly a steel mill technician, later went to Hong Kong to do business, and now he's back in Beijing to open a snack shop. But according to our investigation, his true identity is not simple."

"How is it not simple?" asked a Foundation Establishment Level 5 cultivator.

"Two months ago he was just an ordinary person, but now he's at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage." The man handed over a document. "Also, he spent a month in Daying Mountain in Yunnan. There's a Fire God Temple there, which is said to be the location of an ancient grotto-heaven."

The fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator took the materials, examined them carefully, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes: "Mid-stage Foundation Establishment... He went from an ordinary person to the mid-stage Foundation Establishment in just two months. He must have a secret."

"Could it be that they obtained a treasure from the cave?"

"Very likely." The fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator stood up. "Send down the order to closely monitor Chen Yu and find out his every move. But don't alert him; wait for the higher-ups to arrive before taking action."

"yes!"

"The higher-ups?" Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. These five people weren't all of them; they had superiors!

Just as he was about to continue listening, he suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching from afar—stronger than the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, at least the seventh level of Foundation Establishment!

not good!

Chen Yu immediately retreated, but it was too late—the aura sensed his presence!

"Who!" A loud shout rang out, and an old man in a gray robe swept in from afar, moving with incredible speed, arriving above the villa in the blink of an eye.

Chen Yu stopped hiding and turned to run. He activated his Concealment Technique and Hidden Talisman to their fullest extent, his figure moving like lightning as he darted through the dense forest.

"Trying to run?" The gray-robed old man sneered and slammed down with his palm!

A sharp palm strike descended from the sky. Chen Yu dodged it, and the palm strike hit the ground, creating a large crater.

Chen Yu was shocked—the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment stage was three realms higher than him, and he was no match for them at all!

He entered the small world without hesitation.

Outside, the gray-robed elder landed where Chen Yu had disappeared, frowning as he looked around: "Where is he?"

The Foundation Establishment stage cultivators also caught up. The fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator bowed and said, "Elder, that person suddenly disappeared, as if he evaporated into thin air."

The gray-robed old man's face was grim: "Search! Search every mile within a ten-mile radius, dig three feet into the ground, and find them!"

"yes!"

Inside the small world, Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. What a close call! If it weren't for the small world, he would have perished there today.

He sat down cross-legged, his mind racing.

The fact that the gray-robed elder was called an "elder" indicates that this is an organized force with a strict hierarchy. If a seventh-level Foundation Establishment cultivator is only an elder, are there even more powerful figures above them?

"What kind of organization is it?" Chen Yu frowned.

He stayed in the small world for three hours, estimating that an hour had passed in the outside world, before cautiously probing out his spiritual sense.

There was no one outside. The group searched for a while but couldn't find him, so they probably thought he had escaped far away and left.

Chen Yu exited the small world, activated his concealment technique to its fullest extent, and quietly left West Mountain.

It was already afternoon when they returned to the courtyard in front of the gate. Qin Huairu was busy in the shop, and the courtyard was empty.

Chen Yu closed the door, entered the small world, and began to think of a solution.

That organization has clearly set its sights on him, and they're powerful enough that he can't handle them head-on. He needs to find a way to increase his strength, or... find their weakness.

He took out some documents seized from the Temple of Fire God and examined them carefully. One of the documents mentioned that there was an ancient cultivation organization in Southeast Asia called "Xuanming Palace," which was much more powerful than the Temple of Fire God and specialized in collecting ancient magical artifacts and searching for blessed lands.

"Could it be the Xuanming Palace?" Chen Yu's heart sank.

If it really is the Xuanming Palace, then we're in big trouble. This organization is said to have a Golden Core stage expert in charge, and Foundation Establishment stage cultivators are nothing but minor figures in their eyes.

"I must improve my strength as soon as possible," Chen Yu made up his mind.

He swallowed a Nine-Turn Golden Pill, adjusted the time flow of his small world to the highest ratio of one to ten, and began his secluded cultivation.

In this little world, days pass by one by one.

Meanwhile, time passed day by day in the outside world.

Qin Huairu works long hours, leaving early and returning late every day, running her snack shop. Chen Yu comes out every few days to have a meal with her, chat, and then goes back to his cultivation world.

"Chen Yu, why have you been acting so mysterious lately?" Qin Huairu finally couldn't help but ask one day.

Chen Yu remained silent for a moment, then decided to tell her part of the truth: "Huai Ru, a new enemy has set his sights on me, someone even more formidable than before. I'm trying to find a way to improve my strength."

Qin Huairu's expression changed, but she quickly regained her composure: "Then... are you confident?"

"Not for now," Chen Yu said frankly, "but I won't give up."

Qin Huairu grasped his hand: "No matter what, I support you."

Chen Yu felt a warmth in his heart and pulled her into his arms.

"Once this is over, we'll live a good life together," he said softly.

"Um."

October 15th, fifty days have passed in the small world.

Chen Yu consumed the fifth Nine-Turn Golden Pill, and his cultivation broke through to the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

October 20th marks the 100th day in the small world.

He consumed the sixth Nine-Turn Golden Pill, and his cultivation reached the peak of the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.

He is now at the fifth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, the same level as that expert at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. If he also uses the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts, he should be able to defeat his opponent.

But the gray-robed old man was at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, and he was still no match for him.

"It still needs improvement," Chen Yu thought to himself.

He checked his system points—280. He had accumulated quite a few points through consecutive daily check-ins.

[Exchange: 5 Qi-Nourishing Pills, requires 500 points, insufficient points]

[Exchange: Advanced Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Technique, requires 800 points. Insufficient points]

I still don't have enough points.

"Keep checking in, keep cultivating," Chen Yu made up his mind.

October 25th, late at night.

Chen Yu was cultivating in the small world when he suddenly sensed someone approaching the front courtyard.

He exited the small world, activated his concealment technique, and silently arrived in the courtyard.

Outside the courtyard wall, two dark figures were talking in hushed tones—it was the fifth-level Foundation Establishment expert and his second-level Foundation Establishment follower.

"...The elder said we'll make our move tomorrow," said a Foundation Establishment Level 5 cultivator.

"Yes. That Chen Yu has been hiding recently, but he finally showed up today," the henchman said.

"Keep a close eye on him, don't let him get away again."

"clear."

After they finished speaking, the two quietly left.

Chen Yu stood in the courtyard, his eyes cold.

They're going to make their move tomorrow.

But he was already prepared.

Come on, whoever you are, I'll show you what happens when you underestimate me.

He turned and went back into the house, taking one last look at Qin Huairu, who was fast asleep.

Then, enter the small world and adjust your state to its peak.

Waiting for dawn.