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

January 10th, evening.

At the foot of Yuzhu Peak in the Kunlun Mountains.

Chen Yu stood on a moraine hill, gazing at the majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance. The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the peaks in a golden light, making the snow-covered landscape both magnificent and sacred.

Kunlun Ruins, the legendary abode of the Queen Mother of the West, is the ancestor of all mountains and the source of dragon veins. From ancient times to the present, countless cultivators have come here in search of opportunities, but very few have actually been able to enter its core.

"The golden pearl is in Kunlun Ruins, but where exactly?" Chen Yu frowned. The Fire Spirit Child's inheritance also did not give a precise location, only mentioning the three words "Kunlun Ruins".

He took a deep breath of the crisp air and strode forward.

The deeper he went into the mountains, the lower the temperature became. The frigid temperatures of minus thirty degrees Celsius were unbearable for ordinary people, but for him, a Golden Core cultivator, it was only a slight discomfort. He circulated his spiritual energy, forming a thin protective shield around his body to keep out the extreme cold.

Snow-capped mountains stretched endlessly, and glaciers crisscrossed the landscape. As Chen Yu walked, he used his spiritual sense to scan the surrounding spiritual energy fluctuations. The spiritual energy in the Kunlun Mountains was much denser than that outside, but it was also much more violent, mixed with the harshness of ice and snow and the weight of rocks.

He walked for two whole days, venturing deep into the heart of the Kunlun Mountains.

On the morning of the third day, as he crossed a mountain ridge, a vast canyon suddenly appeared before him. The canyon was shrouded in mist, and the outlines of some buildings could be vaguely seen—broken walls, stone pillars, and dilapidated palaces.

"Kunlun Ruins!" Chen Yu's spirits lifted.

He cautiously entered the canyon. The ruins were larger than he had imagined, covering dozens of miles. Everywhere were collapsed stone pillars, broken statues, and desolate courtyards. Covered in snow, they appeared even more desolate.

Chen Yu traversed the ruins, his spiritual sense searching with all its might. Suddenly, he sensed a powerful metal-elemental spiritual energy—sharp and fierce, like countless swords ringing out.

"It's a gold bead!"

He followed the fluctuations of spiritual energy and arrived at a relatively intact palace. The palace was built of huge white jade stones, and although it had existed for tens of thousands of years, it was still majestic and magnificent. Above the palace gate were three large ancient seal characters—Golden Palace.

Chen Yu pushed open the heavy stone door and walked into the hall.

The hall was empty except for a huge statue standing in the center—a majestic man in golden armor, holding a long sword, his eyes like lightning, looking down at the newcomers.

On the stone platform at the statue's feet lay a golden jade box. The box was engraved with intricate runes, and a faint golden light shimmered within it.

Chen Yu approached and reached out to open the jade box—

Inside lay a golden bead, the size of a longan, crystal clear, with countless tiny golden lights flowing within, as if it contained thousands of divine weapons.

Golden pearl!

The moment he picked up the golden bead, a sudden change occurred—

Suddenly, the statue's eyes lit up, and two beams of golden light shot out!

Chen Yu dodged to the side, and the golden light struck the ground, blasting two large craters. Immediately afterward, the entire palace trembled, and the longsword in the statue's hand emitted a clear ringing sound, then flew up on its own, hovering in mid-air!

The longsword was aimed at Chen Yu, its tip gleaming with a sharp, menacing light.

"The Sword of Protection?" Chen Yu cautiously summoned the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts.

The longsword moved—swift as lightning, a thrust came straight at you!

Chen Yu dodged to the side, his longsword spun in the air, and thrust forward again. Its speed increased, and its swordplay became more and more ferocious, as if controlled by an invisible swordsman.

Chen Yu dared not be careless. He unleashed a burst of flame from the Vermilion Bird Lantern Mirror, attempting to incinerate the longsword. However, the longsword was able to cut through the flames, and its sword light only intensified.

"What an amazing sword!"

He summoned the Azure Dragon Cauldron, its azure light shielding his entire body as he withstood the longsword's attack. Amidst the clanging of metal, the shield flickered violently, but held firm for the time being.

Chen Yu took the opportunity to observe. He discovered that although the longsword was sharp, its attacks followed a certain pattern—every nine sword strikes constituted a round, followed by a brief pause.

It's this very moment!

As the longsword finished its ninth thrust, in the instant of pause, Chen Yu suddenly attacked—with the power of the White Tiger Cong, he punched the sword!

"clang!"

The longsword was blasted backward and flew into the wall, its blade trembling and emitting a resentful hum.

But the next moment, the statue moved again—

Its golden armor peeled off piece by piece, condensing in the air into eighteen golden-armored warriors! Each warrior had the cultivation of the first level of the Golden Core stage, wielding a golden sword, and surrounded him.

Chen Yu's expression changed. Eighteen Golden Core Stage 1 cultivators, though no match for him in a one-on-one fight, would be a formidable opponent if they joined forces.

The golden-armored warriors attacked simultaneously, their golden blades slashing in unison!

Chen Yu fully activated the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts: the Azure Dragon Cauldron protected his body, the Vermilion Bird Lantern Mirror swept across with raging flames, the White Tiger Cong enhanced his power, and the Black Tortoise Armor solidified his defense, as he clashed with eighteen golden-armored warriors—

"Clang clang clang!"

The clang of metal against metal was deafening, and the hall was filled with the glint of swords and the surging of spiritual energy. Although Chen Yu's cultivation was superior, he was gradually losing ground against the eighteen tireless golden-armored warriors.

"This can't go on!" He gritted his teeth, then suddenly an idea struck him—

The golden-armored warrior is formed from the element of metal, and in the Five Elements, fire overcomes metal!

He activated the Vermilion Bird Lantern Mirror with all his might, and the flames surged, transforming into a sea of ​​fire that engulfed all the golden-armored warriors.

Sure enough, the golden-armored warrior was scorched by the flames, his movements slowed down, and the golden light on his body dimmed.

Chen Yu seized the opportunity to strike, smashing them apart with a single punch.

As the last golden-armored warrior vanished into golden light, the longsword also fell from the wall and landed on the ground, where it remained silent.

Chen Yu gasped for breath and swallowed a Qi-Nourishing Pill.

After a long while, he stood up and looked at the statue.

The statue's eyes have dimmed, but there seems to be a hint of a smile on its lips.

He walked to the stone platform and picked up the golden bead. As soon as he held it, a sharp intent surged into his body, merging with his own spiritual power. He sensed that his affinity for metal-based spiritual energy had greatly increased.

Just then, the statue suddenly spoke, its voice deep and majestic—

"Whoever passes my three tests and obtains the gold and pearls may become my successor."

Chen Yu was taken aback, and quickly bowed, saying, "Senior is...?"

"I am the son of the White Emperor, the master of the Golden Palace under the Queen Mother of the West," the statue said. "The golden pearl is the culmination of my life's cultivation, and I pass it on to you today, hoping you will use it wisely."

"Thank you so much, senior!"

"Wait a moment," said the White Emperor's son. "Although the golden pearl is given to you, you must remember this well—the element of metal is associated with killing. If used improperly, it will surely backfire. You must use it with a benevolent heart to ensure its longevity."

"I will remember this."

The statue remained silent for a moment, then said, "You bear the scent of wooden beads; did you obtain them from the Shennong Palace?"

"Yes."

"Excellent. With all five pearls gathered, the deficiencies of the five elements can be replenished, and the ancient seal can be repaired. But remember, each pearl has its own master, and this cannot be forced. Shennong Palace has the wood pearl, I have the gold pearl, the East Sea has the water pearl, and Mount Tai has the earth pearl. As for the fire pearl..."

"The Fire Pearl is in the Temple of the Fire God," Chen Yu said.

"The Temple of Fire God?" The White Emperor Prince pondered. "The Temple of Fire God has long been lost. How do you know of it?"

"The current temple master of the Fire God Temple, Hua Tianxiong, is acquainted with me, and he possesses the Fire Pearl."

"I see," said the White Emperor's son. "Then you must gather the five pearls as soon as possible. Judging from the celestial phenomena, the damage to the seal is greater than expected. At most, there will be a dramatic change in two years."

Two years! That's even shorter than the previous three years.

Chen Yu's heart tightened, and he solemnly replied, "This junior will certainly do his utmost."

"Go." The statue's light gradually dimmed. "If you can break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the future, you may come to Kunlun again. I have important matters to entrust to you."

After he finished speaking, the statue fell completely silent.

Chen Yu bowed again, then turned and left.

As I stepped out of the Golden Palace, it was already night.

The night sky over Kunlun Mountain was exceptionally clear, filled with twinkling stars, and the Milky Way stretched across the horizon. Standing amidst the ruins, Chen Yu gazed at this magnificent starry sky, his heart overflowing with emotion.

The path of spiritual cultivation is long and uncertain. But he has already gone very far, and he will go even further.

He took out the golden pearl and put it into his small world.

Now, two of the five pearls have been obtained—the wooden pearl and the gold pearl. The fire pearl is in Hua Tianxiong's hands, but Hua Tianxiong has already left, and his whereabouts are unknown. The water pearl is in the East Sea, and the earth pearl is in the Zhongyue Temple.

"I'll go back to Beijing first, then I'll go to the East China Sea." He made up his mind.

Early the next morning, Chen Yu left Kunlun Mountain and embarked on his journey home.

Behind us, the snow-capped mountains still stand majestically, and the ruins remain desolate.

But he knew that everything here had become inextricably linked to him.