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

On the 23rd day of the first lunar month, Chen Yu got off the long-distance bus in Changning Town, Boluo County. The town was small, with shops on both sides of the main street. At the end of the street, you could see the outline of the Luofu Mountains—drenched in clouds and mist, dozens of peaks rose like emerald screens, truly living up to its reputation as the "Number One Mountain in Lingnan".

"System, check-in for today." Standing under the banyan tree at the entrance of town, Chen Yu took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: 3 jin of national grain coupons, basic Taoist cultural knowledge (small), portable altimeter x1, 8 yuan in cash]

The knowledge of Taoist culture came at just the right time. After using it, my mind gained more common knowledge about the Taoist pantheon, temple regulations, and rituals, and I even gained a basic understanding of the main ideas of the *Tao Te Ching* and the *Zhuangzi*. The altimeter was Swiss-made, with a metal casing, and the pointer on the dial vibrated slightly with changes in terrain.

Following the locals' directions, Chen Yu found an oxcart and headed to the foot of Mount Luofu. The driver was a farmer in his fifties, who told stories of Mount Luofu along the way:

"Comrade, is this your first time visiting Mount Luofu? This mountain is truly remarkable. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the immortal Ge Hong practiced alchemy here, and the remains of his alchemy furnace can still be found at the Chongxu Ancient Temple!"

"Ge Hong..." Chen Yu's heart stirred. This was a famous alchemist and physician in the history of Taoism, author of the book *Baopuzi*. If the Xuanzhen Master left behind a legacy here, could it be related to Ge Hong?

"Besides Chongxu Temple, where else is worth seeing?"

"There are many! Huanglong Temple, Sulou Temple, Jiutian Temple... they're all ancient Taoist temples, hundreds of years old. However, some areas aren't open to the public; you need an introduction." The farmer looked at Chen Yu, "Comrade, are you from the cultural department?"

"I guess so, I'm here to research ancient architecture," Chen Yu replied casually.

The oxcart stopped at the Luofu Mountain Forest Farm at the foot of the mountain. There were several rows of red brick bungalows with wooden signs that read "Luofu Mountain Scenic Area Management Office" hanging at the entrances. After completing the entry procedures, Chen Yu received a hand-drawn map marked with the main attractions and roads.

He first settled in the forest farm's guesthouse, then took out the Seven Star Key Finding Compass. Infusing it with spiritual energy, the Jade Balance Star on the compass surface shone brightly, and the pointer pointed northwest—the location of the main peak, Flying Cloud Peak.

However, the map indicated that Feiyun Peak was 1296 meters above sea level, and it would take four or five hours to climb it. It was already 2 PM, and there was definitely no time to make it today. Chen Yu decided to first go to Chongxu Ancient Temple halfway up the mountain to scout out the route.

Climbing the stone steps, ancient trees towered on both sides, and a stream murmured. Although it was January, the climate in Lingnan was warm, and many trees were still green. After walking for about half an hour, an ancient Taoist temple appeared ahead, with green tiles and white walls, and the four large characters "Chongxu Ancient Temple" were written on the plaque.

There weren't many worshippers inside the temple; a few elderly Taoist priests were sweeping the ground in front of the main hall. Chen Yu bought a bundle of incense and went inside to offer it. The hall enshrined the three deities Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing; offerings were laid out on the altar, and wisps of smoke curled from the incense burner.

After offering incense, he strolled around the temple. In the courtyard behind the side hall, he indeed saw the legendary "Ge Hong's Alchemy Stove"—a square stone stove with a blackened vent, clearly from years of burning. Next to it stood a stone tablet inscribed with the four characters "Zhichuan Alchemy Stove," Zhichuan being Ge Hong's courtesy name.

With his spiritual eye activated, Chen Yu carefully observed the alchemy furnace. To his surprise, there was an extremely faint trace of spiritual energy remaining inside this seemingly ordinary stone furnace! Although a thousand years had passed, the spiritual energy that had seeped into the stone during the alchemy process had not completely dissipated.

"Fellow Daoist, are you very interested in the alchemy furnace?" came an aged voice from behind.

Chen Yu turned around and saw an old Taoist priest with white hair and beard, wearing a blue Taoist robe, holding a whisk, with a thin face but very bright eyes.

"Greetings, Daoist Master." Chen Yu bowed with his hands clasped in greeting. "I have long heard that Immortal Ge refines elixirs here, and have come to pay my respects."

The old Taoist priest sized him up for a few moments, then nodded slightly: "Fellow Taoist, you possess a refined aura, unlike ordinary worshippers. I am Xu Zhicheng, the guest master of this temple. May I ask your name?"

"My name is Chen Yu, I'm from Beijing, and I study ancient culture."

"Fellow Daoist Chen, please follow me." Xu Zhicheng turned and led the way.

Chen Yu was puzzled, but he followed anyway. The two passed through a side door and arrived at a secluded room. The room was simply furnished with a table, a chair, and a couch, with tea set on the table.

Xu Zhicheng invited Chen Yu to sit down and brewed two cups of tea: "This is Luofu Mountain tea grown in the temple. Please have a taste, fellow Daoist."

The tea was clear and bright, with a delicate aroma. Chen Yu took a sip and immediately felt refreshed—this tea actually contained a faint spiritual energy!

"Excellent tea!"

"Fellow Daoist has good taste." Xu Zhicheng smiled. "This tea tree is planted beside the spiritual spring behind the temple, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, making it different from ordinary mountain tea."

The two chatted about Taoist culture, and Chen Yu discovered that this Taoist priest, Xu, was extremely knowledgeable, with in-depth research on Taoist classics, alchemy, and health preservation methods. What surprised him even more was that Xu Zhicheng seemed to be able to sense that he possessed spiritual energy, and probed him several times with his words.

"Master Xu, to be honest, I came to Mount Luofu this time to search for an ancient site." Chen Yu decided to be partially frank, "I wonder if the temple has any ancient mountain records or secret maps?"

Xu Zhicheng stroked his beard in deep thought: "Is what you're looking for, fellow Daoist, 'Zhu Ming Cave'?"

Chen Yu was startled: "Daoist Master, you know about Zhu Ming Cave?"

"I know, but we can't go." Xu Zhicheng shook his head. "Zhu Ming Cave is located on the western cliff of Feiyun Peak, and its entrance is shrouded in mist all year round. Moreover... there is an ancient formation set up outside the cave. Anyone who forcibly enters will either get lost or lose their life."

"An array?" Chen Yu feigned surprise.

"That's right. Mount Luofu has been a Taoist paradise since ancient times, where many senior Taoist masters cultivated and left behind many relics and restrictions. Zhu Ming Cave is said to be the place of cultivation of a Xuanzhen Taoist master in the Tang Dynasty. The entrance of the cave is equipped with a 'Nine Palaces Maze Formation,' which makes it difficult for those who are not familiar with formations to move an inch."

Master Xuanzhen! It really is here!

Suppressing his excitement, Chen Yu asked, "Does the Daoist master know how to break the formation?"

"I know a little about it, but my cultivation is insufficient," Xu Zhicheng sighed. "I have been studying this formation for thirty years, and I have only figured out thirty percent of its variations. If Fellow Daoist Chen really wants to enter the cave, he needs both good fortune and strength."

"Could you please enlighten me, Taoist priest?"

Xu Zhicheng looked at him for a long time before finally standing up: "Fellow Daoist, please come with me."

The two arrived at a library behind the temple. The library was filled with bookshelves, all of which were ancient thread-bound books. Xu Zhicheng took out a yellowed silk scroll from a wooden box, which, when unfolded, revealed a complex array diagram.

"This is the 'Nine Palaces Maze Formation Deduction Diagram' that I have drawn over the past thirty years." Xu Zhicheng pointed to the lines and markings on the diagram. "This formation is arranged according to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, changing once every two hours, twelve times a day, and there is a major cycle every month. To break the formation, you must calculate the time accurately and follow a specific footwork."

Chen Yu examined it carefully. With his current knowledge of formations, he could tell that it was indeed a sophisticated maze, incorporating the principles of Qimen Dunjia and the Five Elements. Without guidance, it would be easy to get trapped and die within it.

"In your opinion, when is the best time to enter the battle?"

"On the full moon of each month, at the third quarter of the midnight hour, when the formation shifts, there is a glimmer of hope." Xu Zhicheng pointed to a point on the map, "At that time, the 'Gate of Life' will appear in the Xun position, but it will only last for a quarter of an hour. If you miss it, you will have to wait another month."

Today is the 23rd day of the first lunar month, eight days after the full moon (the 15th day of the first lunar month). The next full moon will be on the 15th day of the second lunar month—the day he is to take a boat to Hong Kong!

There was a time conflict.

Chen Yu frowned: "Are there any other opportunities?"

"Yes, but it's more dangerous." Xu Zhicheng pointed to another mark, "On the first day of each month, at noon, the Gate of Death turns into the Gate of Life, but only for half a quarter of an hour, and the killing intent in the formation is at its strongest."

The new moon is the first day of the lunar month, and the first day of the next month is February 12th, which is still before my trip to Hong Kong. But even with only a quarter of an hour, it was indeed dangerous.

"Thank you for your guidance, Daoist Master." Chen Yu bowed respectfully. "May I copy this array diagram?"

"Alright, but you must promise me one thing." Xu Zhicheng said solemnly, "If there are any Daoist scriptures in Zhu Ming Cave, I hope you can make a copy and give it to our temple. The Daoist lineage of Ge Xianweng has been passed down in Luofu Mountain for thousands of years, and I cannot bear to see the wisdom of our ancestors disappear."

"I agree," Chen Yu solemnly promised.

That night, Chen Yu copied the battle formation diagram under the lamp. Xu Zhicheng's deductions were extremely detailed, marking the location of the key points of the formation for each hour, the changes of the life and death gates, and the taboos regarding movement. By the time he finished copying, it was already late at night, with the mountain wind howling and the pines rustling outside the window.

Chen Yu didn't rush up the mountain, but instead returned to the small world to prepare. To break the Nine Palaces Maze Formation, besides understanding the principles, he also needed a few things: a compass for determining direction, a mind-clearing pill for breaking illusions, and a movement technique for rapid movement.

The compass was easy to obtain; he had bought a feng shui compass in Guangzhou. The Qingxin Dan (a type of elixir for calming the mind) was readily available. As for movement techniques, the "Seven Star Steps" (七星步) was recorded in *Xuanzhen Yilu, Part Three*, which corresponded perfectly to the Nine Palaces Formation. He decided to practice it over the next few days.

From the 24th to the 26th of the first lunar month, Chen Yu spent his days familiarizing himself with the terrain of various parts of Luofu Mountain, and his nights practicing the Seven Star Steps in the small world. This footwork changes according to the positions of the Big Dipper. When mastered, the steps are as smooth as flowing water, allowing one to move and turn within a small space.

During this time, several messages came from Pseudo-Man No. 7: the first batch of goods for the Guangzhou coating order had been shipped to Hong Kong; Lin Wanru called to confirm her itinerary for February 15th; in Beijing, Qin Huairu received the remittance and replied that everything was fine at home, telling him not to worry.

On the morning of the 27th day of the first lunar month, Chen Yu came to Chongxu Ancient Temple again. Xu Zhicheng was practicing his morning exercises. When he saw Chen Yu arrive, he finished his exercises and exhaled.

"Is Fellow Daoist Chen preparing to go up the mountain?"

"Yes, I'd like to scout things out first," Chen Yu said. "Would the Daoist Master be willing to accompany me and offer guidance?"

Xu Zhicheng pondered for a moment: "Very well, I also want to see with my own eyes whether the thirty years of divination can break the formation."

The two packed quickly, took some dry food and water, and started climbing the mountain via a small path behind the temple. This path was steeper than the main path, but Xu Zhicheng, who had been collecting herbs for many years, walked it as if it were flat ground. Chen Yu, having undergone marrow cleansing, was full of energy and kept up easily.

Around noon, the two reached the summit of Feiyun Peak. Standing atop the mountain, a sea of ​​clouds churned below, and the city of Huizhou was faintly visible in the distance. Xu Zhicheng pointed to a sheer cliff on the west side:

"That's where Zhu Ming Cave is located. Do you see that cloud of mist? It never dissipates; that's the effect of the formation."

Looking over, Chen Yu indeed saw a cliff face shrouded in white mist, the mist covering an area of ​​about ten zhang in diameter, which did not dissipate even in the sunlight. Activating his Spiritual Eye Technique, he could see the flow of spiritual energy within the mist, a clear indication of the formation in operation.

"Let's stop here for today and familiarize ourselves with the environment," Xu Zhicheng said. "Breaking the formation requires noon on the first day of the month, which means we have four days left. Fellow Daoist Chen, it would be best if you stayed at the temple for these four days, so we can study the formation diagrams every day."

Chen Yu nodded in agreement.

For the next four days, Chen Yu stayed in a guest room at Chongxu Ancient Temple. He spent his days discussing formations with Xu Zhicheng and his nights cultivating on his own. Xu Zhicheng, as expected of an expert who had studied this formation for thirty years, enlightened Chen Yu on many details. In return, Chen Yu also revealed some basic knowledge of alchemy—of course, claiming that he had learned it from ancient books.

On the evening of the thirtieth day of the first lunar month, Xu Zhicheng called Chen Yu to the alchemy stove and handed him a small cloth bag.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, this is the 'Barrier-Breaking Pill' that I refined. Holding it under your tongue can temporarily enhance your eyesight and allow you to see through the fog. Also, this 'Bagua Mirror' can reflect array attacks in critical moments."

Inside the cloth bag were three pale yellow pills and a palm-sized bronze mirror with Bagua (Eight Trigrams) patterns engraved on its surface.

"Master, this is far too precious..."

"Take it," Xu Zhicheng waved his hand. "If you can enter the cave and obtain the true scriptures, that will be the greatest reward for our sect."

Chen Yu accepted it solemnly. He knew that the old Taoist priest had placed his hopes for passing on his skills on him.

On the first day of the second lunar month, as dawn broke, Chen Yu and Xu Zhicheng once again ascended Feiyun Peak. The weather was fine today, but the fog outside Zhuming Cave remained thick.

"At noon, the formation shifts." Xu Zhicheng looked at the sundial. "Remember, the Gate of Life is in the Xun position, but you only have half a quarter of an hour. Once inside, no matter what you see, don't look back. Keep going forward until you see the cave entrance."

"clear."

Time ticked by. A strong wind blew up the mountaintop, causing their clothes to flutter. Xu Zhicheng held a compass, constantly calculating their location. Chen Yu, meanwhile, swallowed a Breakthrough Pill, holding it under his tongue, with a Mind-Clearing Pill at hand.

At noon, the clouds and mist began to churn.

At noon, a colorful halo appeared in the clouds.

At noon, the halo began to rotate faster.

Noon!

"Now!" Xu Zhicheng pointed to the southeast corner of the clouds and mist, "The Xun position! Enter!"

Chen Yu leaped forward, unleashing the Seven Star Steps to their fullest potential. Stepping on the Heavenly Pivot, then the Heavenly Pivot, then the Heavenly Pivot... after seven steps, he had already plunged into the clouds.

The scene before them suddenly changed! The clouds and mist were not empty; instead, countless forks in the path and illusions appeared. There were mountains of gold and silver treasures, beautiful women beckoning and calling out, and ferocious beasts blocking the way and roaring... These were all illusions created by the formation.

The Breakthrough Pill took effect, and Chen Yu's eyes cleared, allowing him to see through the illusion. Following the array's guidance, he moved with perfect footwork, three steps to the left, four steps to the right, seven steps forward, and eight steps back. Various voices filled his ears, some tempting, some threatening, but the Mind-Clearing Pill kept his mind calm.

Suddenly, a wall of light appeared in front of us! This was the final defense of the formation—the Bagua Mirror!

Chen Yu took out the Bagua mirror given to him by Xu Zhicheng and aimed it at the wall of light. The mirror reflected sunlight, collided with the wall of light, and emitted a "humming" sound. Cracks appeared in the wall of light, the cracks widened, and finally a hole appeared!

Without hesitation, Chen Yu rushed in.

Suddenly, the view opened up before him. The clouds and mist vanished, and he stood on a natural platform. At the end of the platform was a stone cave about two zhang high and one zhang wide, with three ancient seal characters carved above the entrance: "Zhu Ming Cave".

finally reached!

Chen Yu calmed his breathing and glanced back. The clouds and mist behind him were still churning, but he could no longer see the way he had come. He turned and walked into the cave.

The cave was dimly lit, but clearly visible under the Spirit Eye Technique. It was a cultivation site converted from a natural cave, with ventilation openings in the ceiling through which sunlight filtered in. The cave was divided into three chambers: the front chamber was the living area, complete with a stone bed, stone table, and stone benches; the middle chamber was the alchemy room, with an alchemy furnace and medicine cabinet; and the rear chamber was likely the cultivation room, with a spirit-gathering array diagram carved on the floor.

Chen Yu first searched the front room. On the stone table was a jade box, which, when opened, contained a bamboo scroll: "The Lost Records of Xuanzhen, Part Four." The contents were basic knowledge about talismans, including the drawing methods, effects, and usage techniques of several commonly used talismans.

The alchemy furnace in the central chamber surprised Chen Yu—it was a complete bronze furnace, far superior to his rudimentary one. The characters "Zhu Ming" were engraved on the furnace wall, and the bottom still held residual heat, as if the fire had just been extinguished. The medicine cabinet contained dozens of jade bottles, but unfortunately, most were empty; only three bottles still contained remnants of medicinal pills.

The spirit-gathering array in the back room had stopped working, but the array diagram was intact. Chen Yu made a copy of it so he could set it up in the small world later.

But most importantly, on the stone platform in the center of the cultivation room, there was a jade token—the Jade Balance Key!

The token felt warm to the touch, with the character "衡" (Heng) engraved on the front and a simplified map of Mount Luofu on the back. Chen Yu placed the token together with the previous four, and the Jade Balance Star on the key-finding disk immediately lit up.

After taking stock of the harvest, Chen Yu did not forget his promise to Xu Zhicheng. He searched carefully in the cave and, sure enough, found a scroll of "Ge Hong's Classic of Alchemy with Commentary" in a hidden compartment under the stone bed. It was likely Xuanzhen Zhenren's research notes on Ge Hong's alchemy techniques. He carefully copied it and put the original back in its place—this was for Chongxu Temple.

Just as he was about to leave, Chen Yu suddenly noticed a stone carving on the cliff face. In the image, a person stood atop a mountain, gazing at the starry sky, holding seven tokens in his hand. Seven stars in the sky were particularly bright, forming the shape of the Big Dipper.

Beside the stone carving is an inscription: "Seven keys gather, seven stars align. The cave opens, the true Dharma manifests. However, transmission is not easy; one must pass three trials: refining the mind, refining the body, and refining the spirit. Future disciples, be mindful and strive diligently."

The three trials... Chen Yu kept them in mind. It seemed that collecting all seven keys was only the first step.

It was already 3 PM when they left Zhu Ming Cave. Following the exit formation method taught by Xu Zhicheng, Chen Yu successfully passed through the clouds and returned to Feiyun Peak.

Xu Zhicheng was still meditating in the same spot. When he saw him come out, a look of relief flashed in his eyes.

"Did Fellow Daoist Chen succeed?"

"I have fulfilled my mission." Chen Yu took out a copy of "Ge Hong's Commentary on the Classic of Elixir". "This was obtained from the cave and I present it to the Daoist."

Xu Zhicheng took the book with trembling hands, turned a few pages, and burst into tears: "Good...good! The lineage of Immortal Ge is immortal, immortal!"

As the two descended the mountain, the setting sun bathed Luofu Mountain in gold. Chen Yu glanced back at the mist-shrouded Zhu Ming Cave, a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and reflection) in his heart.

With the fifth key in hand, along with the talisman inheritance and a high-level alchemy furnace, the gains from this trip to Mount Luofu far exceeded expectations.

"What are Fellow Daoist Chen's plans for the future?" Xu Zhicheng asked.

"We still need to continue searching for the key," Chen Yu said. "Then...we'll go to Hong Kong."

"Hong Kong..." Xu Zhicheng pondered, "There are also Taoist traditions there, but they are a mixed bag. If you go, you can seek out Master Liu, the abbot of 'Peng Ying Xian Guan,' and say that I recommended you."

"Thank you, Taoist priest."

Upon returning to Chongxu Temple, Chen Yu stayed an extra day to organize and summarize what he had found in the cave. On the third day of the second lunar month, he bid farewell to Xu Zhicheng and descended the mountain to return to Guangzhou.

On the long-distance bus, he gazed at the scenery rushing past the window, pondering:

There are still twelve days until my trip to Hong Kong on February 15th.

The sixth key is in Xiqiao Mountain, and the seventh key is in Baiyun Mountain, both near Guangzhou.

There is enough time.

Collect all seven keys to unlock the Mysterious Cave.

Beyond the cave dwelling lies the true lineage of cultivation.

Chen Yu closed his eyes to rest.

What will be the next sign-in?

He was looking forward to it.