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

November 23rd, Little World.

Chen Yu sat cross-legged in the cultivation room on the second floor of the bamboo building, surrounded by piles of spirit stones and jade slips. Outside the window, Qin Huairu was busy in the spirit field, where the medicinal herbs were lush and vibrant under the ripening effect of the time array.

He withdrew his gaze and continued studying the "Fire Spirit Child's Golden Elixir Secret Record" in front of him. This book was brought out from the cave heaven and recorded the cultivation methods from the early to late stages of the Golden Elixir realm, as well as several elixir formulas suitable for the Golden Elixir stage.

"The key to the Golden Core stage is condensing the Golden Core and strengthening the divine soul," Chen Yu murmured. "The more solid the Golden Core, the greater the chance of forming the Nascent Soul in the future. We can't rush it; we must proceed steadily and surely."

He took out the remaining eight Nine-Turn Golden Pills, his last reserves. After swallowing one pill, the medicinal effects dissipated, and he began to circulate his true energy according to the method in the secret manual.

To advance from the third to the fourth level of the Golden Core stage, one needs to compress the true essence within the Golden Core to its extreme, making it more refined. This process is even more difficult than the Foundation Establishment stage, as compressing each strand of true essence requires a great deal of mental effort.

The time flow rate in the small world is adjusted to the highest ratio of 1:10, so one day outside is equivalent to ten days here.

A month later (small world time), Chen Yu opened his eyes. His golden core had become more solid, but it was still far from the fourth level.

"This is too slow." He frowned. "We need supplementary pills."

He got up and went downstairs to the edge of the spirit field. Qin Huairu was watering a spirit mushroom. Seeing him come out, she smiled and asked, "How is it?"

"The progress is slower than expected," Chen Yu said. "We need to refine some auxiliary pills."

"What do you need? I'll pick it for you."

Chen Yu named several medicinal herbs, which Qin Huairu noted down before turning to gather them. Chen Yu, meanwhile, returned to the bamboo house to prepare the alchemy furnace and auxiliary materials.

Three days later, a batch of Qi-Nourishing Pills (Golden Core stage version) was produced. Twelve pills were formed, of good quality.

Chen Yu took one pill and continued his cultivation.

Days passed by in this little world.

Cultivation, alchemy, eating and talking with Qin Huairu, and occasionally checking on the growth of medicinal herbs in the spirit field... life was peaceful and fulfilling.

Eight months later, Chen Yu took the fourth Nine-Turn Golden Pill and finally broke through to the fourth level of the Golden Core stage.

When a year and a half had passed in the small world, he consumed his fifth Nine-Turn Golden Pill and reached the peak of the fourth level of the Golden Core stage.

Two years later, he consumed his sixth Nine-Turn Golden Pill and broke through to the fifth level of the Golden Core stage.

At this point, two of the eight Nine-Turn Golden Pills remain.

Chen Yu opened his eyes, feeling the surging true essence within his body. His golden core was already the size of an egg, with a faint golden light flowing across its surface. He had reached the fifth level of the Golden Core stage, which meant he had firmly established himself within the Golden Core realm.

"That's enough," he muttered to himself. "To go any further, I'll need to accumulate more experience; I can't rush it."

He stood up and walked out of the bamboo house.

More than two years have passed in the small world. Qin Huairu's vegetable garden has expanded several times over, and she has raised a flock of chickens. Next to the bamboo house, she has built a small shed to raise a few rabbits.

"You're out?" Qin Huairu was feeding the rabbits when she saw him and ran over with a smile. "You broke through?"

"Fifth level of the Golden Core stage." Chen Yu nodded. "That's about right."

"So...should we get ready to go out?" Qin Huairu's smile faded slightly.

Chen Yu was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes. It's about time."

Qin Huairu lowered her head and remained silent.

Chen Yu walked over and embraced her: "Huai Ru, I promise you, I will come back alive."

"I know," Qin Huairu said in a muffled voice, "You never make empty promises."

The two of them held each other like that for a very long time.

In the days that followed, Chen Yu began preparing to enter the battlefield.

First, there were the pills. He took the remaining two Nine-Turn Golden Pills with him and exchanged several bottles of healing and detoxifying pills from the system shop. He had accumulated quite a few points recently, which came in handy.

Secondly, there are the magical artifacts. The Four Symbols ritual artifacts are essential, and he also exchanged a basic flying sword from the system, just in case.

Secondly, there were talismans. He used spirit stones to exchange for several high-level attack and defense talismans, which could save his life in critical moments.

Finally, there were the supplies. Qin Huairu prepared enough dry food and drinking water for him to last three months, as well as changes of clothes, medicine for wounds, fire starters, and so on, filling a large bundle.

"Too many," Chen Yu said with a wry smile.

"Not much," Qin Huairu insisted. "We don't know what the battlefield will be like, so it's better to be prepared."

Chen Yu stopped refusing and put the burden into his small world.

Once everything was ready, he exited the small world and appeared in the front courtyard.

In the courtyard, a figure stood with his hands behind his back—Xuanming.

"You're out?" Xuanming turned around and looked him over. "Golden Core Stage 5? Not bad, faster than I expected."

How did you know I was coming out today?

"I come here every few days," Xuanming said calmly. "I just happened to sense your presence today."

Chen Yu nodded: "When do we depart?"

"Three days from now," Xuanming said. "At midnight three days from now, the seal will be at its weakest, making it the best time to enter."

"Where is the entrance?"

"Eagle Mountain, deep within the cave," Xuanming said, looking at him. "I will be waiting for you there."

After saying that, he turned around and prepared to leave.

"Wait," Chen Yu called out to him, "How do we regroup after we enter the battlefield?"

Xuanming turned around and smiled slightly: "The battlefield is vast, but there is only one core seal. You only need to head towards the center of the battlefield, and I will go there as well. If we meet, it is fate; if not, we will fight our own battles."

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

Chen Yu stood there, gazing at the night sky, motionless for a long time.

Three days later, we will enter that unknown battlefield.

Life and death are uncertain, fortune and misfortune are unpredictable.

But he had no way out.

For Qin Huairu's sake, and for everyone he cared about, he had to go.

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

Inside the bamboo house, Qin Huairu was cooking. Seeing him come in, she smiled and said, "Perfect timing, the food is ready."

The two sat down and ate in silence. Neither of them spoke, but everything was understood without words.

After dinner, Chen Yu accompanied Qin Huairu for a walk along the edge of the spiritual field. As the sun set, the evening glow painted the sky red, and a sense of peace filled their little world.

"Chen Yu," Qin Huairu suddenly spoke, "can I wait for you outside after you go in?"

Chen Yu was taken aback: "Outside?"

"Okay." Qin Huairu nodded. "I want to go back to live in the small courtyard near the front gate. That way, I can be closer to you every day."

Chen Yu was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

The next day, he took Qin Huairu out of the small world and returned to the small courtyard in front of the gate.

The courtyard was still the same courtyard; the pomegranate tree had grown taller, and the roses in the corner were in full bloom. Qin Huairu stood in the courtyard and took a deep breath: "It's still the best here."

"Then you can stay here for now," Chen Yu said. "I'll go in and talk to you."

Over the next two days, Chen Yu spent his days shopping for groceries with Qin Huairu, helping out at a snack shop, and chatting with He Yuzhu and the others. In the evenings, he would enter the small world to continue consolidating his cultivation.

November 26th, late at night.

Chen Yu stood in the courtyard, looking at Qin Huairu.

"I'm leaving," he said softly.

Qin Huairu nodded, her eyes slightly red, but she held back her tears.

"Wait for me." After saying that, Chen Yu turned around and strode away.

He didn't turn around.

Because he knew that if he turned back, he might not be able to leave.

Behind him, Qin Huairu stood at the courtyard gate, watching his figure disappear into the night.

After a long while, she turned around and went back into the house.

The lights stayed on all night in the small house.

Eagle Mountain, deep within a cave.

Chen Yu stood in the core hall once again, the Five Elements Spirit Pearls still floating in the air, emitting a soft light.

Xuanming had arrived and was standing beside the Spirit Pearl, closing his eyes to rest.

"You're here?" He opened his eyes.

"They're here."

"Ready?"

"Ready."

Xuanming nodded and pointed to the Spirit Pearl: "The battlefield entrance is right behind the Spirit Pearl."

He formed hand seals, casting a series of runes. The spirit pearl slowly rotated, its light growing brighter and brighter, finally opening a pitch-black rift behind it—a rift so deep it seemed to lead to another world.

"Let's go." Xuanming stepped into the crevice first and disappeared.

Chen Yu took a deep breath and glanced back at the cave.

Then, he stepped into the crack.

Everything went black, and then the world spun around me.

When he opened his eyes again, he was standing on unfamiliar land.

The sky was a hazy gray, devoid of sun and moon, only an eternal darkness. The earth was a wasteland, filled with scorched soil, jagged rocks, and twisted, withered trees. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the distant roars could be faintly heard.

We've arrived at the ancient battlefield.

Chen Yu gripped the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts tightly and unleashed his full spiritual power.

The real battle begins now.