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

November 21st, 3:00 AM.

The small courtyard in front of the gate.

After the three men in black fled in a sorry state, Chen Yu did not return to the small world. He stood in the courtyard, gazing at the night sky, a vague premonition rising in his heart—the real battle had only just begun.

Sure enough, less than half an hour later, a terrifying aura descended from the sky!

The aura was far stronger than any enemy he had encountered before. It felt like a mountain pressing down on his heart, making it hard to breathe. Faced with that aura, Chen Yu's spiritual consciousness was like a firefly vying for brilliance with the moon, instantly suppressed and forced back into his body.

Jindan period!

Moreover, he was a powerful expert in the Golden Core stage!

"Chen Yu." A deep voice echoed in the night sky, seemingly coming from all directions, "I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Chen Yu took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and looked up.

A dark figure slowly descended from the night sky. It was a middle-aged man, dressed in a black robe, with a handsome face but icy eyes. A faint black mist surrounded him, giving off a chilling feeling.

Lord of the Xuanming Palace!

The Palace Master landed on the courtyard wall, looking down at Chen Yu with a hint of amusement in his eyes: "Peak of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment. To be able to kill three of my eighth-level elders single-handedly, you are indeed quite impressive."

Chen Yu remained silent, staring intently at him. He had already unleashed all four of the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts: the Azure Dragon Cauldron for protection, the Vermilion Bird Lantern Mirror ready to fire, the White Tiger Cong for added power, and the Black Tortoise Armor for enhanced defense—but he knew that these might be utterly ineffective against a Golden Core cultivator.

"Rest assured, I am not here to kill you today," the Palace Master said calmly. "If I wanted to kill you, I could have done so while you were fighting those three."

"Then what are you doing here?" Chen Yu asked coldly.

The temple master looked at him and suddenly smiled: "I've come to make a deal with you."

"trade?"

"Yes." The Palace Master leaped down from the wall and landed in the courtyard, no more than three zhang away from Chen Yu. "Tell me the secrets of the cave heaven and the Five Elements Spirit Pearl, and I can spare your life. I can also let you join the Xuanming Palace and become my right-hand man."

Chen Yu sneered: "Do you think I'd believe that?"

"Believe it or not," the Palace Master said, standing with his hands behind his back. "But I have something to tell you—the seal on the ancient battlefield won't last another ten years."

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat: "What do you mean?"

"You think Zhou Shouzhen really reinforced the seal?" A hint of sarcasm flashed in the Palace Master's eyes. "You're wrong. He only temporarily stabilized the seal with his life, but the core of that seal has already been damaged. At most, the seal will completely collapse in three years."

Three years!

Chen Yu felt as if struck by lightning. Abbot Zhou had said ten years, but the temple master had said three. Who was telling the truth?

"You don't believe me?" The Palace Master took out a jade slip from his robes and tossed it to Chen Yu. "See for yourself."

Chen Yu took the jade slip and probed it with his spiritual sense. Inside was an image—inside an ancient battlefield, countless ferocious creatures roared, assaulting a thin layer of light. The light barrier was riddled with cracks, each one widening, and it wouldn't be long before it shattered.

Below the image is a line of text: "Damage to the sealed core: 73%. Estimated collapse time: three years and two months."

Chen Yu's face turned ashen.

"Do you believe it now?" The Palace Master put away the jade slip. "Zhou Shouzhen meant well, but his cultivation level is too low. He can't see the true state of the seal at all. He thought he had it under control, but in reality, it was just a three-year delay."

Why are you telling me all this?

The temple master remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Because I also do not want to see the battlefield collapse."

He looked up at the night sky, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "What do you think I collected the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts and searched for the grotto-heavens for? For treasures? For power? You're wrong. I'm looking for a way to enter the battlefield."

"Enter the battlefield?"

"Yes." The Palace Master looked at him. "There are clues to the true seal within the battlefield. Only by entering the battlefield and finding the core can the seal be completely repaired. Otherwise, once the ferocious beast breaks free, the entire world will be plunged into chaos."

Chen Yu was stunned.

The Lord of Xuanming Palace, whom he had always regarded as his greatest enemy, was actually doing the same thing.

"you……"

"My ancestors were among the sorcerers who sealed the battlefield back then," the Palace Master said slowly. "For generations, they have guarded the seal, waiting for the destined one. But in my generation, the seal is about to collapse, and we have been unable to find the destined one. Helpless, I could only establish the Xuanming Palace and search everywhere for the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts and clues to the grotto heavens."

He looked at Chen Yu, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Until you appeared. You obtained the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts, entered the Grotto Heaven, and gained the approval of the Five Elements Spiritual Pearls. You are the destined person we have been waiting for."

Chen Yu remained silent for a long time before slowly asking, "So, those previous chases..."

"A test," the Palace Master said frankly. "I wanted to see if you were truly qualified. And you passed."

Chen Yu didn't know what to say.

The enemy he had always thought of had suddenly become an ally. This reversal was hard for him to accept.

"You don't believe me?" The temple master took out a token from his robes and tossed it to him.

The token is entirely black, with the character "玄" (Xuan) engraved on the front and four characters "镇守封印" (Zhen Shou Feng Yin) engraved on the back.

"This is a token passed down through generations of Xuanming Palace masters. If you don't believe me, you can ask Gu Wenyuan; he recognizes it."

Chen Yu held the token and probed it with his spiritual sense. The token exuded an ancient and gentle aura, somewhat similar to the Five Elements Spirit Pearl, and was indeed a token of inheritance from the sealing lineage.

"you……"

"I am Xuanming, my true name is unknown." The Palace Master—Xuanming—looked at him. "Chen Yu, I ask you, are you willing to enter the battlefield with me to find the sealed core?"

Chen Yu remained silent.

This is not a simple choice. Entering the battlefield means a slim chance of survival. But if we don't enter, the seal will collapse in three years, and everyone will die.

He looked towards the direction of the small world. Qin Huairu was still waiting for him there.

But if she doesn't go in, she and everyone else will die in three years.

"I……"

Just as he was about to speak, a ripple suddenly came from the small world—Qin Huairu's voice rang in his mind: "Chen Yu, agree to him."

"Huai Ru?"

"I heard you." Qin Huairu's voice was gentle yet firm. "Go. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you."

Chen Yu's eyes welled up with tears.

He took a deep breath and looked at Xuanming: "I promise you."

A hint of relief flashed in Xuanming's eyes: "Alright. Three years from now, before the seal completely collapses, we'll enter the battlefield together."

He turned around, ready to leave.

"Wait a minute," Chen Yu called out to him, "You still haven't told me what conditions are required to enter the battlefield."

Xuanming turned around and smiled slightly: "At least at the Golden Core stage. Otherwise, going in would be suicide."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared into the night sky.

Chen Yu stood in the courtyard, motionless for a long time.

Golden Core stage. Only three years remaining.

From the eighth level of Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core stage, normal cultivation takes several decades. But he has a small world, time acceleration, the formula for the Nine-Turn Golden Core, and spiritual herbs from his grotto-heaven.

Perhaps, there is still a chance.

He turned and went back into the house, entering his little world.

Inside the bamboo house, Qin Huairu sat on the edge of the bed. When she saw him come in, she stood up, said nothing, and simply hugged him tightly.

"I will come back," Chen Yu said softly.

"I know," Qin Huairu nodded. "I'll wait for you."

Outside the window, in the night sky of this little world, the stars twinkled.

But the real battle has only just begun.