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

Countless ferocious creatures roared and pounced, causing the entire underground space to tremble!

Chen Yu and Xuan Ming stood back to back, fully activating the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts, engaging in battle with the first wave of ferocious beasts charging forward.

The Vermilion Bird Lantern Mirror swept across with raging flames, instantly turning the three-headed jackal beast into ashes; the Azure Dragon Cauldron's protective shield withstood the impact of a giant python, causing Chen Yu's blood and qi to surge; the White Tiger Cong enhanced his power, and he smashed the head of a flying tiger with a single punch; the Black Tortoise Armor blocked a sneak attack from the side, and Xuanming seized the opportunity to kill the attacker with a palm strike.

But there were too many ferocious beasts. After killing one, ten more rushed up!

"This won't do!" Xuanming shouted, "We can't reach the altar!"

Chen Yu gritted his teeth and looked towards the altar. Around the altar, the most powerful ferocious creatures remained motionless, merely staring coldly at them, as if watching a play.

"They're waiting for us to exhaust our true energy!" Chen Yu understood, "so we can kill them in one fell swoop!"

"What should we do then?"

Chen Yu's mind raced. Forcing it wouldn't work; he had to find a way.

He looked at the crystal pillar in the center of the altar, where the swirling light points were somewhat similar to the Five Elements Spirit Pearls.

"The Five Elements Spirit Pearl!" A thought flashed through his mind.

If the Five Elements Spirit Pearl can be activated here, perhaps its power can be utilized.

He took out the Five Elements Spirit Pearl—he had carried it with him ever since he entered the cave. As soon as the pearl appeared, the ferocious creatures all took a step back!

"It works!" Chen Yu was overjoyed and activated the spirit pearl, which shone brightly with five-colored light!

The ferocious creatures let out terrified roars and retreated. But the most powerful beings—the three-headed dragon, the fire giant ape, and several other unknown terrifying beasts—remained unmoved, their gazes fixed on the spirit pearl with even greater coldness.

"Let's go!" Chen Yu seized the opportunity and pulled Xuan Ming towards the altar.

The three-headed dragon moved! Its three heads simultaneously spewed venom, blocking their path. The giant fire ape slammed down its fist, cracking the ground and spewing forth magma. The other overlords also joined the fray—

Chen Yu gritted his teeth and poured all his true essence into the Five Elements Spirit Pearl. The Spirit Pearl shone brightly, transforming into a five-colored light shield that protected the two of them.

Venom splattered onto the light shield, hissing as it hit the shield; lava surged forth, but was blocked by the shield; the attacks of the overlords rained down, causing the shield to flicker violently, but it held on!

"quick!"

Protected by the light shield, the two ran desperately toward the altar.

Fifty zhang, thirty zhang, ten zhang—

Finally, they stormed the altar!

The moment they stepped onto the altar, all the ferocious creatures stopped. They stood at the edge of the altar, not daring to take a step further, only staring at them with cold eyes.

"They dare not come up?" Xuanming was pleasantly surprised.

"It's not that we dare not, it's that we cannot." Chen Yu looked at the runes on the altar. "There's a seal here; they can't get in."

The two breathed a sigh of relief and slumped onto the altar. The short distance of a few hundred feet had consumed ninety percent of their true energy.

But it's not over yet.

In the center of the altar, the crystal pillar suddenly lit up, and a phantom slowly emerged. It was an old man with white hair, a thin face, wearing an ancient robe, and surrounded by a faint aura of immortality.

"Finally... someone has come," the old man said, his voice as ethereal as the wind.

"You are...?"

"I am Huo Lingzi," the old man smiled slightly, "or rather, a wisp of Huo Lingzi's divine consciousness left behind."

Huo Lingzi! A Qin Dynasty alchemist, the creator of this grotto-heaven!

"Senior!" Chen Yu and Xuan Ming bowed simultaneously.

Huo Lingzi waved his hand: "No need for formalities. It's already quite an achievement that you've come this far. I don't have much time, so let's get straight to the point."

He looked at the ferocious creatures outside the altar: "These ferocious creatures are the transformed enemies who entered the battlefield with me back then. In that battle, we perished together, but their resentment lingered, transforming into ferocious creatures that entrenched themselves here. I used my last bit of magic to set up a seal, trapping them outside the altar. But the core of the seal can't hold for much longer."

"Senior, how should we repair the seal?" Chen Yu asked.

Huo Lingzi remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The core of the seal is my golden core."

Chen Yu and Xuan Ming were both shocked.

"Back then, I self-destructed my golden core, using myself as a seal to trap these ferocious beasts for two thousand years," said Huo Lingzi. "Now, my golden core is about to shatter, and the seal is about to break. There is only one way to repair the seal—"

He looked at the two of them: "We need a Golden Core cultivator to sacrifice their Golden Core to reinforce the seal."

Offering the Golden Elixir!

That means... death.

Chen Yu and Xuan Ming exchanged a glance, both seeing the complexity in each other's eyes.

"Of course, you can also choose not to sacrifice," Huo Lingzi said calmly. "The seal can last for three more years. After three years, the ferocious beast will break out, and the world will be in chaos. But you can use these three years to escape to the ends of the earth, and perhaps you can live a few more years."

escape?

Qin Huairu's face appeared in Chen Yu's mind, as did He Yuzhu, Yan Bugui, Zhang Xiulan, Abbot Zhou... and all the people he had protected.

They escaped, what will they do?

He took a deep breath, about to speak, but Xuan Ming spoke first—

"I'll do it."

Chen Yu was taken aback: "Xuanming!"

"Stop talking." Xuanming looked at him, his eyes calmer than ever before. "I've lived for two hundred years, that's enough. You're still young, and there are people waiting for you. Besides..."

He smiled slightly: "I am the Lord of the Xuanming Palace, and it is my mission to protect the seal."

"But……"

"No buts." Xuanming interrupted him, turning to face Huo Lingzi. "Senior, I am willing to sacrifice my Golden Core."

Huo Lingzi looked at him, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes: "Good. What's your name?"

"Xuanming".

"Xuanming..." Huo Lingzi nodded, "After you die, I will use your golden core as the core to reinforce the seal. Your name will remain here with me forever."

Xuanming smiled and turned to Chen Yu: "Chen Yu, please pass on a message to the people of Xuanming Palace—the Palace Master is loyal and worthy of our ancestors."

Chen Yu's eyes welled up with tears, and he nodded solemnly: "I will definitely deliver it."

Xuanming stopped speaking and walked towards the crystal pillar. He sat down cross-legged, formed a hand seal, and a faint golden light emanated from his body—the light of a golden core.

The golden light grew brighter and brighter, eventually transforming into a pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.

Xuanming's figure gradually became transparent, but the smile on his face remained unchanged.

"Chen Yu, take care."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished completely.

A golden pill floated in the air, slowly flying towards the crystal pillar. The crystal pillar absorbed the pill, its light blazing brightly, causing the entire altar to tremble.

At the edge of the altar, the ferocious creatures let out mournful screams, forced to retreat repeatedly by the newly reinforced seal.

The seal has been repaired.

Chen Yu knelt on the altar and kowtowed three times in the direction where Xuan Ming had disappeared.

"Xuanming, I will complete your mission."

The phantom of Huo Lingzi reappeared, looking at Chen Yu: "Child, it's time to go. The battlefield is about to close; if you don't leave now, you'll be trapped here."

"Senior, those ferocious beasts..."

"They will be sealed away for two thousand years," Huo Lingzi said. "After two thousand years, someone will take care of them."

Chen Yu nodded and got up to leave.

"Wait," Huo Lingzi called out to him, "I have something else to give you."

He raised his hand and pointed, a beam of light entering Chen Yu's brow. Instantly, countless pieces of information flooded his mind—the cultivation insights of Huo Lingzi throughout his life, various techniques and secret arts, and... guidance to higher realms.

"Thank you, senior."

"Go." The phantom of the Fire Spirit gradually dissipated. "Take care of yourself, and take care of the people you cherish."

Chen Yu took one last look at the altar before turning and leaving.

Following the path he had come from, he passed through the tunnel, burst out of the mountain, and ran wildly. Behind him, the battlefield began to crumble, and the roars of countless ferocious creatures gradually faded into the distance.

When the last glimmer of light disappeared, he was already standing in the core hall of the cave.

The Five Elements Spirit Pearls remained suspended in the air, emitting a soft light.

Chen Yu knelt on the ground and did not get up for a long time.

Xuanming is gone.

He carried on his mission and remained forever on that dark battlefield.

But what he left behind was a world that was sealed away again, and the peace of countless people.

Chen Yu stood up and looked towards the exit of the cave.

Outside, Qin Huairu was still waiting for him.

There are still many people waiting for him.

He took a deep breath and strode outside.