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

February 28th, a foggy morning. Victoria Harbour was faintly visible through the milky white fog, and the whistles of ferries came from afar, muffled as if covered by cotton.

Chen Yu stood by the window of his Peninsula Hotel room, toying with the Jiaqing Tongbao copper coin magic artifact in his hand. After a night of nurturing with spiritual energy, a faint golden halo appeared on the worn areas of the coin's surface, its damaged spiritual essence slowly repairing itself. He tried to infuse it with a trace of spiritual energy, and the coin immediately emitted a low hum, vibrating slightly in his palm.

"The protective effect can probably withstand a full-force attack from a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator," Chen Yu estimated the artifact's recovery status. "Although it's not strong, it might save a life in a critical moment."

He carefully put the copper coins away from his body, then took out several talismans he had made the night before from his system space: two protective talismans, one calming talisman, and one tracking talisman—the latter specially sealed with the aura left by Taoist Jingxu at Xuanmiao Temple the night before. These were all drawn using spiritual talisman paper obtained from daily check-ins, and their quality was far superior to ordinary yellow paper talismans.

"System, check-in for today." After completing the preparations, Chen Yu checked in as usual.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: HK$150, Basic Diving Skills Experience Kit (Small), 1964 Hong Kong Diving Equipment Catalog, Water-Repelling Bead (Imitation) x1, Spiritual Vermilion 50g]

The diving skills were immediately put to use, and knowledge of water pressure acclimatization, underwater navigation, and decompression procedures was added to the mind. The diving equipment catalog was eighty pages thick, detailing all kinds of diving gear available in Hong Kong, from old-fashioned heavy diving suits to new scuba diving equipment. The water-repelling bead was a pale blue bead the size of a pigeon egg; although it was just a replica, it could form a water-repellent film on the skin for an hour when worn. The spiritual cinnabar was a superior material for drawing talismans.

"It's becoming more and more in line with my needs..." Chen Yu mused. The system seemed to be able to provide targeted rewards based on his current situation and plans.

At nine o'clock in the morning, he arrived at the Causeway Bay laboratory with carbon fiber samples. Zhang Min and his team were already waiting there, and the test bench was filled with various testing instruments.

"Director Chen, is this the material you requested?" Zhang Min took the small bag of silver-gray chopped fibers and examined it under a microscope. "The fibers are of very uniform length, with a smooth surface; the quality is even better than I expected!"

"Try the dispersion effect."

Following the formula provided by Chen Yu, the team began preparing electromagnetic shielding coating samples. This time, Chen Yu personally operated the mixing process—he needed to use spiritual energy vibration to disperse the carbon fibers, but without revealing anything unusual.

"Adjust the stirring speed to medium." Chen Yu stood in front of the reactor, seemingly adjusting the parameters casually, but in reality, he was secretly injecting spiritual energy into the mixture through his palm. With his spiritual eye activated, he could clearly see the carbon fibers evenly dispersed under the vibration of spiritual energy, forming a perfect three-dimensional conductive network.

Two hours later, the first batch of samples was prepared. A dark gray coating was applied to the test plate, with a thickness controlled at 2.5 mm.

"Now we will conduct the electromagnetic shielding test." Zhang Min placed the sample into the shielding test chamber.

仪器读数缓缓变化：100MHz频段，屏蔽效能32%；500MHz，35%；1GHz，30%...所有频段都超过了周爵士要求的30%！

"It's a success!" Young researcher Wang Hao clenched his fist excitedly. "And the mechanical properties of the coating have even improved! Director Chen, your formula is amazing!"

Zhang Min pushed up her glasses, her eyes showing excitement mixed with a hint of doubt: "Director Chen, what kind of dispersant did you use? Conventional surfactants can't achieve this kind of dispersion effect."

"A special coupling agent, a research result from the mainland." Chen Yu was prepared and took out a small glass bottle from his bag. Inside was a transparent liquid—actually, it was a spiritual liquid diluted a hundred times. "This is it. The dosage is very small; just add 5 milliliters per kilogram of raw material."

Zhang Min took the bottle, smelled it, and then dropped a drop onto a glass slide to observe: "Odorless, low viscosity... I've never seen this kind of coupling agent before. Director Chen, could you reveal more technical details?"

"I'm sorry, it involves trade secrets," Chen Yu smiled. "However, I will provide sufficient quantities for mass production."

Although Zhang Min was curious, she wisely refrained from pressing the matter further. In the technology industry, protecting core formulas is the norm.

The test report was quickly compiled. After receiving the call, Lin Wanru arrived at the lab at 1 p.m.

"Sir Zhou is very satisfied." After reading the report, a relaxed smile appeared on her face. "He agreed to produce according to the new standards, with a 10% price increase. Mr. Chen, you've done another great service."

"It's the result of the team's joint efforts."

"No need to be modest." Lin Wanru took a document out of her briefcase. "This is Sir Zhou's additional contract, totaling eight hundred gallons, to be delivered by the end of the month. The advance payment has already been received."

Chen Yu glanced at the contract amount—HKD 80,000, with a 50% prepayment of HKD 40,000. Combined with previous orders, he generated over HKD 100,000 in revenue in his first month in Hong Kong.

"Furthermore," Lin Wanru lowered her voice, "Sir Zhou privately revealed that the end user of this batch of goods may be a special department of the British Army stationed in Hong Kong. Therefore, he hopes that we will keep it strictly confidential, especially the technical details of the electromagnetic shielding."

"I see."

As Chen Yu left the lab, he pondered the significance of this deal. It wasn't just about the monetary gain; more importantly, it was about establishing connections with the military through Sir Zhou—a powerful safeguard in Hong Kong in 1964.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, he arrived at the Treasure Pavilion again as agreed. The seafood restaurant wasn't booked out today; there were only a few tables occupied. A waiter led him to a VIP room on the third floor, where Su Man and the Taoist priest Jingxu were already waiting.

The private room window faced the sea, with fishing boats coming and going on the water. Tea sets were laid out on the table, but there were no snacks—clearly, this wasn't a day for tea and conversation.

"Mr. Chen is very punctual." Su Man was wearing a dark blue cheongsam with a light gray cardigan over it today. Her hair was tied in a low bun, making her look less glamorous and more intellectual.

The Taoist priest Jingxu was still wearing that dark blue Taoist robe, his grayish-white eyes half-open and half-closed, as if he were resting.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Chen Yu sat down in the empty seat.

"Now that everyone's here, let's get straight to the point." Su Man took out a wooden box from her handbag, opened it, and inside was the jade artifact from the photo—the Tianquan Jade Pendant. The jade was warm and lustrous, and it was engraved with a star chart of the fourth star of the Big Dipper, "Tianquan," similar in shape to the four keys of Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianshu, and Yuheng in Chen Yu's hand.

Taoist Jingxu also took out a sea chart from his sleeve and spread it on the table: "This is the approximate location of the shipwreck. I surveyed it with a compass, and there are abnormal energy fluctuations in that sea area, which resonate with the spiritual energy of the Seven Star Key."

Chen Yu carefully examined the nautical chart. The marked point was about forty nautical miles southeast of Hong Kong, in waters approximately thirty meters deep. This depth wasn't considered very deep in 1964, but the salvage operation would still be challenging.

"I can provide information on the four keys, as well as their connection to the cave's location," Chen Yu said. "But before that, we need to swear an oath."

"Of course." Taoist Jingxu nodded. "Please, you two, recite the oath with me."

The three rose and faced the sea. Jingxu took out a yellow paper talisman and, using his finger as a brush, wrote oath runes in the air. As spiritual power was infused into it, the runes emitted a pale golden light.

"Heaven and earth bear witness, and our Dao hearts are our oath." Jingxu solemnly declared, "I, Jingxu (Su Man/Chen Yu), hereby make this covenant with you two: to share the information of the Seven Star Keys and to explore the Xuanzhen Cave together. Before we gather all seven keys and open the cave, we must not scheme against each other, nor act alone. Whatever we find in the cave, we will share copies of cultivation manuals, and divide the elixirs and magical artifacts equally. If we break this oath, our Dao hearts will be clouded, our cultivation will be hindered, and inner demons will arise!"

As the oath was recited, the talisman in Jingxu's hand spontaneously combusted without wind, transforming into three golden rays that entered the bodies of the three individuals. Chen Yu felt a binding force forming within his soul—though not strong, it was undeniably present. This was the power of the Dao Oath.

The oath was made, and the three sat down again. The atmosphere had noticeably eased.

"Now we can exchange information." Su Man put away the jade pendant. "I'll go first. According to my family's 'Records of Strange Tales of Lingnan,' the Xuanzhen Cave is located in a valley in Lianshan County, northern Guangdong. The entrance is hidden by an array. There are three layers of restrictions inside the cave: the outer array is an illusion array, the middle array is a killing array, and the inner array is the core restriction, which requires the Seven Star Key to be inserted into the corresponding seven holes at the same time to open it."

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. This matched the information he sensed from the Seven Star Key, but Su Man clearly knew more details.

"I'd like to add something," Daoist Jingxu continued. "The core restrictions of the cave dwelling are not as simple as just a door lock. Ancient texts record that after the seven keys are inserted, they need to be activated in a specific order to be fully opened. This order is hidden in the star chart of the seven keys."

"Order?" Chen Yu frowned. He had indeed noticed that the star charts on each key were slightly different, but he hadn't thought that this was a hint about the opening order.

"That's right." Jingxu nodded. "So we need to collect all seven keys and study the star chart to deduce the correct order. Otherwise, forcibly activating it might trigger a counterattack from the restriction."

Chen Yu pondered for a moment: "The four keys I have—Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianshu, and Yuheng—are arranged in the order of the Big Dipper, and the direction they sense most strongly is indeed northern Guangdong. But the exact location needs to be determined on-site."

"Then we only need two keys now." Excitement gleamed in Su Man's eyes. "One is in a sunken ship at the bottom of the sea, and the other is in Macau. Master Jingxu, what preparations are needed to salvage the shipwreck?"

"Boats, diving equipment, and salvage tools," Jingxu listed. "I've already contacted a fishing boat; the owner is reliable. Diving equipment can be rented in Hong Kong, but you'll need a skilled diver. As for salvage tools... if it's just salvaging a box, simple grappling hooks and nets should suffice."

Chen Yu thought for a moment: "I can arrange the divers. How much will the boat and equipment cost?"

"The fishing boat will cost HK$200 a day, diving equipment will cost HK$50 a day, and salvage tools will be charged separately." Jingxu was clearly well-prepared. "If all goes well, it should be completed in two or three days. The total budget is around HK$1,000."

"We'll split the cost equally among the three of us," Su Man said readily. "But the key we retrieve will belong to us all."

"nature."

"What about the key to Macau?" Chen Yu asked.

Su Man smiled: "That depends on Mr. Chen's abilities. The key is in the possession of Ho Hung-cheung, the owner of the 'Wing Hing Casino' in Macau. He likes to collect antiques, but he values ​​practical benefits even more. If Mr. Chen can exchange his skills or business with him, perhaps it will work out."

Ho Hung-cheung... Chen Yu noted down this name. The Macau gambling king, a future tycoon, should still be in the rising phase of his career.

"I can try. But it will take time."

"No rush," said Taoist Jingxu. "Let's proceed with the underwater salvage first. We can go to Macau after we get the sixth key."

The three discussed some details: the ship would depart in three days, weather permitting; Chen Yu would lead the diving operation, Jingxu would use a compass for positioning on the ship, and Su Man would be responsible for logistics and communication; all three would participate in all operations during the salvage operation...

After the agreement was reached, it was already five o'clock in the afternoon. The sun was setting, and the sea was tinged with a golden-red hue.

As they were leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Su Man called out to Chen Yu, "Mr. Chen, there's something I'd like to discuss with you privately."

The Taoist priest Jingxu wisely left first.

The two walked to the observation deck at the stern of the boat. A sea breeze blew, and the hem of Su Man's cheongsam fluttered gently.

"Mr. Chen, although the oath has been made, people's hearts are unpredictable." Su Man looked at the sea and said softly, "Taoist Jingxu comes from a Taoist temple in Taiwan and has a complicated background. Although I cooperate with him, I do not completely trust him."

"What does Miss Su want to say?"

"I want to make a private agreement with you." Su Man turned to look at him. "No matter what happens, we'll stay in touch and not hide any crucial information from each other. If Jingxu makes any unusual moves, we'll work together to deal with it."

Chen Yu looked at her. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a soft glow on her face, but her eyes were sharp as knives.

Why did you choose me?

"Because we're both smart people, we know what to fight for and what to yield," Su Man smiled. "And...you have a special quality about you that makes me feel comfortable with you."

Chen Yu paused for a moment, then said, "Okay. But I have one condition."

"Speaking."

"If you discover any other important information in our family's ancient books, you must tell me immediately."

"Deal." Su Man held out her hand.

Chen Yu shook hands with her. The touch was slightly cool, but firm.

After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Chen Yu didn't return to the hotel but went to the Sai Wan warehouse. He needed to prepare for the underwater salvage operation three days later.

In the warehouse, Pseudo-Man No. 3 had already purchased a batch of supplies according to his requirements: a set of old-fashioned heavy diving suits, a copper helmet, lead weights, a manual air pump, a long-distance snorkel... all common diving equipment in 1964, which, although bulky, were highly reliable.

"Master, these equipment have been inspected and are in good condition," reported Pseudo-Man No. 3. "In addition, as you instructed, I found a reliable fishing boat at the fish market. The boat owner's surname is Chen, he is from Chaoshan, and he has been at sea for thirty years with a very good reputation."

"Very good. We'll rent the boat for three days, and we'll pay the fees as usual, but we'll ask him not to ask too many questions or look around too much."

"clear."

Chen Yu stroked the heavy diving suit. The bronze helmet weighed fifteen kilograms, and the glass visor was somewhat blurry, but it was still usable. The air supply hose was made of rubber, fifty meters long, and connected to a manual air pump. This equipment could easily allow him to dive to a depth of thirty meters, but it would restrict his movements.

"However, I already have water-walking skills and water-repelling beads, so I don't actually need this equipment," Chen Yu thought. "But I have to put on a show and not arouse suspicion."

He took out the water-repelling bead and infused it with a wisp of spiritual energy. The pale blue bead emitted a faint light, and the moisture in the surrounding air automatically repelled it, forming an invisible dry zone.

"An hour is enough for underwater exploration."

That night, Chen Yu continued his cultivation in the small world. His cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refining had stabilized, and he had also mastered the basics of water manipulation. He tried casting spells in the spiritual spring, and his body indeed became lighter; the water was no longer an obstacle, but rather an aid.

"It triples my movement speed in water, and it doesn't consume much spiritual energy." Chen Yu tested the spell's effects. "With the water-repelling bead, exploring the seabed should be no problem."

During breaks in his cultivation, he contacted the fake man number one in Beijing through his consciousness.

"How's the situation at the courtyard house?"

"Master, Ms. Qin Huairu is in good health. She went to the hospital for a check-up yesterday, and the doctor said the fetus is developing normally. Zhang Xiulan comes to take care of her every day, and the neighbors in the courtyard often help out as well. In addition, Director Wang from the street office came to inform us that the verdict in the cases of Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong has been reached: Xu Damao was sentenced to three years for trafficking in cultural relics, and Liu Haizhong to two years. Both families are preparing to appeal, but the chances are slim."

"Understood. Continue to keep an eye on things, and report back immediately if anything happens."

After exiting the consciousness communication, Chen Yu stood by the spiritual spring in the small world, gazing northward.

Qin Huairu, wait a little longer. Once I find the Xuanzhen Cave and obtain its inheritance and resources, I will be able to give you a better life.

However... things in Hong Kong are becoming increasingly complicated. There's Su Man's secret agreement, Jingxu's mysterious background, Wang Shizhong from Taiwan, and Macau gambling tycoon Ho Hung-cheung...

Every line can lead to unexpected changes.

We must speed up the process.

Chen Yu took out the copper coin magic artifact, and then took out the spiritual cinnabar. Since they were going to explore the sea, they needed to prepare more protective measures.

He used cinnabar to draw reinforcing runes on the surface of the copper coin and then nurtured it with spiritual power. Two hours later, the golden light of the copper coin became more solid, and its defensive power increased to the point where it could withstand attacks from the fourth level of Qi Refining.

That wasn't enough. He drew three more water escape talismans—these were basic talismans recorded in the "Tai Xuan Zhen Jing," capable of instantly moving ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) in water, making them excellent for saving one's life.

By the time everything was ready, it was already late at night.

Chen Yu exited the small world and stood by the hotel window. The Hong Kong night view was still dazzling, but in his eyes, the city was like a giant chessboard, with various forces making their moves.

He was both a pawn and a player.

Three days later, the items were salvaged from the seabed.

What exactly was in that sunken ship?

Besides the Seven Star Key, could there be anything else?

What is the Taoist priest Jingxu hiding?

What is Suman's true purpose?

A series of questions swirled in my mind.

But in any case, this move must be made.

Because the path of spiritual cultivation is inherently about contending with Heaven and with humankind.

Outside the window, a crescent moon rose above the sea, casting its cool light.

Beyond the sea lies the unknown deep ocean.

Chen Yu's eyes were colder than moonlight and deeper than the deep sea.