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

January 20th, late at night.

At a depth of fifty feet on the seabed of the East China Sea.

Chen Yu was enveloped in a faint cyan light shield—a protective barrier erected by the Azure Dragon Cauldron, keeping the seawater out. The surroundings were pitch black, with only the occasional glowing jellyfish providing brief, weak illumination.

He had been submerged for an hour. The deeper he went, the greater the water pressure and the dimmer the light, but the fluctuations of spiritual energy became increasingly clear. The water-based spiritual energy was pure and boundless, unlike any other spiritual energy he had sensed before, carrying an ancient and profound aura.

"It should be around here," Chen Yu thought to himself.

He continued to descend. Seventy zhang, eighty zhang, ninety zhang—

When the depth reached one hundred feet, a huge halo suddenly appeared before them. The halo was pale blue, soft and bright, illuminating the surrounding seabed as if it were daytime.

At the center of the halo is a magnificent underwater palace!

The palace was constructed from a massive coral reef, the colorful corals shimmering like jewels in the light. Around the palace swam countless strange fish—golden dragonfish, winged flying fish, and glowing lanternfish. Upon seeing Chen Yu, they all turned their heads, as if sizing up this uninvited guest.

"This is... the Dragon Palace?" Chen Yu thought of the legendary Dragon Palace of the East Sea. Could it really exist?

He cautiously approached the palace. The main gate was a massive coral gate, inscribed with intricate runes and faintly emanating spiritual energy. Above the gate, four large characters were engraved in ancient seal script—East Sea Dragon Palace.

"It really is the Dragon Palace!"

Chen Yu reached out and pushed the door, but it didn't budge. He increased the pressure, channeling his spiritual energy into it, but the door remained firmly shut.

"Do I need a key?" He frowned in thought.

Just then, the runes on the door suddenly lit up, and a voice rang in his mind—

"Who goes there? Why do you trespass into the Dragon Palace?"

Chen Yu was taken aback, then respectfully said, "This junior, Chen Yu, has come in search of the Water Pearl and requests an audience with the Lord of the Dragon Palace."

After a moment of silence, the voice spoke again: "Water droplets? How did you know water droplets were here?"

"This junior has received the inheritance of the Fire Spirit Child and knows that the Five Pearls are scattered throughout the world. The Water Pearl is in the East Sea, and I have come here specifically to request it."

"Fire Spirit Child?" The voice seemed somewhat surprised. "That old man's successor? Never mind, come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, the coral door slowly opened.

Chen Yu stepped inside.

Behind the door was a long passageway with transparent crystal walls on both sides, outside which various strange marine creatures swam. As he walked by, the creatures clung to the crystal walls, watching him curiously.

At the end of the passageway stood a magnificent hall. Nine massive coral pillars rose within, their surfaces adorned with lifelike dragon reliefs. In the center of the hall sat a colossal coral throne, upon which sat a person—

No, it's not a person.

It was an old man dressed in a dragon robe, with two horns on his head, a majestic face, and golden eyes with vertical pupils like snakes.

dragon!

A real dragon!

Chen Yu was shocked, but he remained calm and bowed, saying, "Junior Chen Yu pays respects to the Lord of the Dragon Palace."

The old dragon looked at him, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Fifth level of the Golden Core stage, able to dive into the sea a hundred feet deep, you have some skill. Tell me, what do you need the water droplet for?"

Chen Yu recounted the entire story of the seal—the ancient battlefield, the threat of the ferocious creature, the damage to the seal, the two-year deadline, and the repair of the five beads.

After listening, Lao Long remained silent for a long time.

"I know what you're saying," he said slowly. "Two thousand years ago, that old fellow Huo Lingzi did come and said the same thing to me. At that time, I lent him the water droplet to help him set up the seal. I never expected that two thousand years later, it would be you who comes to borrow it again."

"Senior, the seal has been damaged again and urgently needs water droplets to repair it. I humbly request your assistance."

The old dragon looked at him and suddenly laughed: "You're quite an honest man. However, the water droplet is a treasure of the Dragon Palace and cannot be given away easily. If you want it, you'll have to pass three tests first."

Please enlighten me, senior.

"The first test, Dragon's Might." The old dragon stood up, and his aura suddenly surged—a terrifying pressure pressed down like a mountain!

That was the pressure of the dragon race, more than ten times stronger than the aura of a Golden Core cultivator! Chen Yu felt as if a mountain was pressing down on his heart, making it difficult to breathe, and his legs went weak, almost causing him to kneel down.

But he gritted his teeth and endured it, straightening his spine and staring intently at the old dragon.

A hint of surprise flashed in the old dragon's eyes, and his oppressive aura intensified.

Chen Yu's forehead veins bulged and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but he remained motionless.

After an incense stick had burned, the old dragon withdrew its oppressive aura and praised, "Good! You are the first person at the fifth level of the Golden Core stage to withstand seventy percent of my dragon might. You have passed the first test."

Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief and swallowed a healing pill.

"The second challenge, the Water Spirit Array." The old dragon waved his hand, and a water curtain suddenly rose in the hall, enveloping Chen Yu.

Within the water curtain, countless creatures formed from water spirits lunged at him—there were dragons, giant turtles, octopuses, and countless other unnamed monsters. Each one possessed strength exceeding the Golden Core stage!

Chen Yu unleashed his full power, pushing the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts to their limits, and engaged in fierce combat with the aquatic creature—

The Azure Dragon Cauldron protected him, allowing him to withstand the impact of the dragon.

The Vermilion Bird Lantern Mirror swept across with fierce flames, forcing back a group of octopuses;

With the power of the White Tiger Cong, it shattered the giant tortoise's shell with a single punch;

The Xuanwu Armor provided a solid defense, blocking the attacks of countless water arrows.

But there were too many aquatic creatures; every time he killed one, another surged in. Chen Yu's true essence was rapidly depleted, and he gradually became overwhelmed.

"We can't fight head-on!" He gritted his teeth, then suddenly an idea struck him—

These aquatic creatures are formed from the formation; as long as the formation's core is found, the formation can be broken!

He unleashed his full spiritual sense, searching among the densely packed aquatic creatures. Finally, at the top of the water curtain, he discovered a fist-sized blue bead, continuously releasing spiritual energy.

that's it!

Chen Yu exerted all his strength to break through the encirclement of the aquatic creatures and rush towards the bead.

A palm strike came down—

"Snap!"

The bead shattered, the water curtain dissipated, and all the aquatic creatures vanished simultaneously.

Chen Yu landed on the ground, panting heavily.

The old dragon clapped his hands: "Good! You're smarter than I expected to be able to find the core of the Water Spirit Array. You've passed the second test."

Chen Yu swallowed two Qi-Nourishing Pills and sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing. Half an hour later, he opened his eyes and looked at the old dragon.

"What is the third level?"

The old dragon looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "The third trial is a request from me."

"ask?"

"Yes." The old dragon stood up and walked to him. "I have guarded the East Sea for two thousand years, protecting the water droplets and the peace of this sea. But my lifespan is coming to an end. In ten years at most, I will perish."

Chen Yu was taken aback.

"After my death, the Dragon Palace will be without a master, and the Water Pearl will lose its guardian." The old dragon looked at him. "I would like to ask you to return the Water Pearl to the Dragon Palace after you have collected all five pearls and repaired the seal, and... become the new guardian of the Dragon Palace."

"Me?" Chen Yu exclaimed in surprise. "Senior, I'm only at the fifth level of the Golden Core stage. How could I possibly protect the Dragon Palace?"

"You are currently at the fifth level of the Golden Core stage, but what about ten years from now? Twenty years from now?" the old dragon said. "I can see that you have enormous potential, and you are protected by the Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts. Your future achievements are limitless."

Chen Yu remained silent.

The old dragon continued, "Of course, I will not force you. If you are unwilling, the third test is to defeat me—if you can withstand three of my moves without being defeated, the water droplet will be yours."

"Take three moves?" Chen Yu smiled bitterly. A fifth-level Golden Core cultivator couldn't even withstand one move from an old dragon who was at least at the Nascent Soul stage.

He took a deep breath and solemnly said, "Senior, I promise you. After the seal is repaired, I will definitely send the water droplet back to the Dragon Palace and do my best to protect this sea area."

Old Long smiled, his smile full of satisfaction.

"Very well, I trust you."

He raised his hand, and a blue bead appeared in his palm, slowly floating towards Chen Yu.

Water droplets!

Chen Yu took it; the water droplets felt icy cold to the touch, as if a vast ocean was surging inside.

"Thank you so much, senior!"

"No need to thank me," Old Dragon said. "Remember your promise."

Chen Yu nodded solemnly.

He wiped away the water droplets, bowed deeply to the old dragon, and turned to leave.

As I walked out of the Dragon Palace, I heard the old dragon's voice behind me—

"Boy, that third trial is actually a test. If you choose to take three of my moves, I will kill you on the spot. The guardians of the Dragon Palace need compassion, not brute force."

Chen Yu paused, then smiled.

"Your senior is wise."

Without looking back, he swam out to sea.

Behind them, the light of the Dragon Palace gradually dimmed.

But the old dragon's gaze followed him until he disappeared.