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

March 1st, the day of Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects).

In the small courtyard in front of the gate, the pomegranate tree sprouted new buds, tender green and glistening in the sunlight. Chen Yu stood under the tree and took a deep breath of the spring air.

After a full month, and a hundred days in the small world, his injuries were finally fully healed. Not only did he recover, but his cultivation also improved—he reached the peak of the fifth level of the Golden Core stage, just one step away from the sixth.

"It seems that a life-or-death battle is indeed the best opportunity for a breakthrough," he murmured.

"Chen Yu, dinner's ready!" Qin Huairu's voice came from inside the house.

Chen Yu turned and went into the house. Breakfast had already been laid out in the main room—millet porridge, pickled vegetables, boiled eggs, and medicinal steamed buns that Ding Qiunan had brought yesterday.

"That girl Qiu Nan is thinking about medicinal cuisine every day now," Qin Huairu said with a smile. "She says that food therapy is worse than medicine, and she insists on conditioning your body."

Chen Yu picked up a steamed bun and took a bite. It contained red dates, goji berries, and yam, and did have a faint medicinal aroma, but it wasn't unpleasant to eat.

"She learns very quickly," Chen Yu said. "With a little more instruction, she'll be ready to graduate."

"That girl is talented." Qin Huairu peeled an egg for him. "And she's diligent; she's willing to learn anything."

The two were eating when there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

"Who is it? So early." Qin Huairu got up to open the door.

Ding Qiunan stood outside the door, carrying a basket in her hand, her face flushed from the spring breeze.

"Sister Qin, Brother Chen, I've brewed a new medicinal diet, please try it!"

She went inside, put down the basket, and opened the lid. Inside was a pot of steaming soup with chicken, mushrooms, red dates, and several medicinal herbs floating in it.

"What is this?" Chen Yu asked curiously.

"The Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup!" Ding Qiunan said proudly. "I learned it from an ancient recipe and added ten herbs that replenish qi and nourish blood. It's perfect for people recovering from a serious illness."

Chen Yu chuckled: "I'm not seriously ill, I'm just exhausted."

"We still have to fix it," Ding Qiunan said earnestly. "Brother Chen, you're the pillar of our family; you can't fall down."

She said "our family" so naturally that Chen Yu and Qin Huairu exchanged a glance and smiled.

The three sat down to drink the soup. The soup was indeed excellent, flavorful and rich, with the medicinal herbs perfectly balanced.

"Qiu Nan, your cooking skills are getting better and better," Qin Huairu praised.

"It's all thanks to Brother Chen's excellent teaching." Ding Qiunan looked at Chen Yu, her eyes full of gratitude. "If it weren't for Brother Chen, I don't know where I'd be begging for food right now."

"Don't say that," Chen Yu said. "It's because you have talent and are willing to learn."

After dinner, Ding Qiunan went to help out at the shop, while Qin Huairu cleared away the dishes. Chen Yu sat in the courtyard, took out five spirit pearls, and examined them carefully.

The wooden bead was verdant, the gold bead sharp, the water bead gentle, the fire bead fiery, and the earth bead heavy. The five beads floated in the palm of the hand, their five colors reflecting each other and resonating faintly.

"In a few days, it will be time to go to the battlefield," he murmured.

To repair the seal, he needs to enter the core of the battlefield and return the five beads to their proper places. That place is teeming with ferocious beasts and extremely dangerous. Last time, he had Xuanming's help; this time, he must go alone.

"Chen Yu," Qin Huairu said softly, appearing behind him at some point, "How long will it take?"

Chen Yu was silent for a moment: "I don't know. Maybe a few days, maybe... longer."

Qin Huairu walked up to him, squatted down, and took his hand: "I'll wait for you."

"I know." Chen Yu looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness. "Once this is over, we'll live a good life together."

"it is good."

March 5th, the third day after the Awakening of Insects.

Everything was ready. Pills, talismans, magical artifacts, and the five beads were all stored in the small world. Chen Yu stood in the courtyard, giving his luggage a final check.

He Yuzhu, Yan Bugui, and Zhang Xiulan all arrived, and Ding Qiunan stood to the side. They all knew that Chen Yu was going on a long trip, but they didn't know exactly where he was going, assuming that he was going to Hong Kong to do business again.

"Xiao Chen, be careful on the road." He Yuzhu patted him on the shoulder. "Come back soon, we're waiting to drink your and Huai Ru's wedding wine."

"Definitely," Chen Yu said with a smile.

Yan Bugui handed over a cloth bag: "This is dry food that my wife made for us to eat on the road."

"Thank you, Uncle San."

Zhang Xiulan held his hand, her eyes slightly red: "Xiao Chen, your parents are watching over you from heaven. You must stay safe and sound."

"Don't worry, Aunt Zhang."

Finally, Chen Yu looked at Qin Huairu and Ding Qiunan.

Qin Huairu stepped forward, gently hugged him, and whispered in his ear, "I'll wait for you."

"Um."

Ding Qiunan also came over, her eyes red-rimmed: "Brother Chen, I remember everything you taught me. I'll test you when you come back."

"it is good."

Chen Yu released them, turned around, and strode away.

Behind him, several people stood at the gate of the courtyard, remaining motionless for a long time.

March 7th, Daying Mountain, Yunnan.

Chen Yu stood once again in the core hall of the cave. The Five Elements Spirit Pearl still floated in the air, but its light was much dimmer than before. The depletion of the seal had weakened it considerably.

"I'll lend you a little more power," Chen Yu said softly, reaching out to touch the spirit pearl.

The spirit pearl vibrated slightly, as if in response.

Chen Yu took a deep breath, activated the spirit pearl, and opened a rift leading to the battlefield.

The pitch-black crack reappeared, incredibly deep.

Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

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

When he opened his eyes again, he was already standing on that familiar wasteland.

The gray sky, the scorched earth, the distant roars—nothing has changed.

But this time, he didn't come to fight; he came to repair the seal.

Chen Yu determined the direction and sped towards the huge mountain in the center of the battlefield.

Sensing his presence, the ferocious creatures along the way pounced on him. Chen Yu didn't linger; he unleashed the full power of his Four Symbols Ritual Artifacts, carving a bloody path through the enemy lines.

At the peak of the fifth level of the Golden Core stage, combined with the power of the Four Symbols, his combat strength is comparable to that of a seventh-level Golden Core cultivator. Those ferocious creatures in the Foundation Establishment stage are no match for him.

An hour later, he rushed into the hole in the mountain and arrived at the underground space where the core of the seal was located.

The enormous altar still stands, and three cracks are clearly visible on the crystal pillar in the center of the altar, which have widened since the last time.

Around the altar, countless ferocious creatures sat densely packed together. Sensing someone's intrusion, they looked up, and countless pairs of cold eyes stared at him.

But this time, they didn't pounce. Because in Chen Yu's hand, the five spirit orbs were radiating a dazzling light.

Under the illumination of the five-colored light, the ferocious creatures let out terrified roars and retreated in all directions.

Chen Yu strode toward the altar and stepped onto the stone steps.

The moment he stepped onto the altar, all the ferocious creatures stopped, staring at him but daring not to approach.

Chen Yu walked to the crystal pillar and placed the five spirit orbs one by one into the grooves on the pillar.

The wooden beads returned to their positions, and a blue light shone forth;

The golden bead returned to its place, and a white light shone forth.

The water droplets returned to their positions, and a blue light shone.

The fireball returned to its place, and a red light shone forth.

The earth bead returned to its place, and a yellow light shone.

Five colors of light intertwined to form a huge pillar of light that shot straight into the sky!

The cracks on the crystal pillar began to slowly heal.

One, two, three—

As the last crack healed, the entire underground space trembled. The ferocious creatures let out mournful screams, forced to retreat by the light, and some of the weaker ones were instantly reduced to ashes in the light.

The seal has been repaired!

Chen Yu knelt on the altar, panting heavily. His true energy was almost exhausted, but he wore a relieved smile on his face.

Finally...it's done.

Just then, a phantom appeared before him—it was Huo Lingzi.

"Child, you did it," Huo Lingzi said with a smile, "faster than I expected."

Chen Yu looked up: "Senior, how long can the seal last?"

"At least two thousand years," Huo Lingzi said. "Two thousand years from now, someone will come to resolve this. But by then, you will be long gone."

Chen Yu remained silent. Two thousand years—he certainly wouldn't live to see that time. But that was for future generations.

"Senior, I have a favor to ask."

"explain."

"I have an old friend, Xuanming, who sacrificed himself to strengthen the seal. His last wish was that the Xuanming Palace would continue to protect the seal. I wish to... share a portion of the power of the Five Elements Spirit Pearls with the Xuanming Palace."

Huo Lingzi looked at him, his eyes full of approval: "You are a person of great loyalty and righteousness. Very well, I will grant your request."

He raised his hand and pointed, and a beam of light separated from the spirit pearl and entered Chen Yu's brow.

"This is an avatar of the Five Elements Spirit Pearl; it can be given to the Xuanming Palace. With it, the Xuanming Palace can continue to protect the seal."

Chen Yu was overjoyed: "Thank you so much, senior!"

The phantom of Huo Lingzi gradually dissipated: "Child, go. Someone is waiting for you outside."

Chen Yu stood up, took one last look at the altar, and turned to leave.

When they left the battlefield and returned to the core hall of the cave, the Five Elements Spirit Orb was still floating, but its light was much stronger than before.

Chen Yu poured the separated ray of light into a jade slip and stored it in his small world.

Then, he left the cave and stood atop Eagle-Fighting Mountain.

On the horizon, the rising sun casts its golden rays.

A new day has begun.