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

Inside the cave's main hall, the silvery-white light shimmered on the faces of the three, casting flickering shadows. Chen Yu stared at the stone tablets at the three forks in the road, activating his Spiritual Eye Technique at full power, attempting to see through the illusions behind each passage. However, the stone walls seemed to be covered by some kind of concealing restriction, blocking even his spiritual energy perception.

"System, sign in today." Inside this ancient cave, Chen Yu used his daily sign-in opportunity even more cautiously.

[Ding! Japanese visa successfully obtained]

[Received: Basic Mechanical Arts (Small), Ancient Book Restoration and Appraisal Techniques (1964), Mind-Enlightening Talisman x2, Spiritual Bookmarks (3), Jade Slip for Transmission (Disposable) x1]

Knowledge of mechanical arts flooded his mind: gear linkages, trap triggers, secret chamber construction... Though basic, these techniques were extremely useful for exploring ancient cultivation caves. Ancient book restoration skills encompassed methods such as paper handling, ink identification, and binding restoration. Mind-Enlightenment Talismans could temporarily enhance comprehension and memory, while spiritual bookmarks could mark key information. Most unique was the sound transmission jade slip, palm-sized, which, when infused with spiritual power, could record a message; the recipient could activate it with spiritual power to listen—a common communication tool in the cultivation world.

"Three paths, three choices." Daoist Jingxu stroked his beard and pondered. "The alchemy room must contain remnants of elixirs, the sword tomb must hold divine weapons, and the scripture pavilion should contain cultivation manuals. According to the stone statue of Senior Xuanzhenzi, one must pass 'three trials' to receive the inheritance. Each of these paths is probably a trial."

A longing gleamed in Su Man's eyes: "The Scripture Pavilion! Cultivation techniques and scriptures are the foundation. With cultivation techniques, elixirs and magical artifacts can be acquired gradually. If the cultivation techniques are incorrect, even divine weapons and elixirs will be useless."

Chen Yu, however, looked at the stone platform in front of the statue. The Seven Keys hovered above the platform, shimmering with silver light, as if waiting for something. He approached for a closer look and discovered that the surface of the platform was engraved with intricate patterns—a miniature Big Dipper constellation, with the seven grooves corresponding precisely to the shapes of the Seven Keys.

"Perhaps..." Chen Yu mused, "we need to put the seven keys back in their places first?"

He placed the Tian Shu Key into the corresponding slot. The moment the key was inserted, the stone platform lit up with a faint light. Then came Tian Xuan, Tian Ji... When all seven keys were in place, the stone platform erupted with a dazzling silver-white beam of light, shooting straight to the top of the cave!

Within the pillar of light, the eyes of the Xuanzhenzi stone statue slowly opened—no, those weren't real eyes, but two inlaid spirit crystals glowing! An aged yet peaceful voice echoed through the cave hall:

"Those who come after me and manage to gather all seven keys to reach this place are destined to be with me. However, the inheritance cannot be easily bestowed; one must pass three trials. The Alchemy Room tests one's alchemy skills, the Sword Tomb tests one's swordsmanship, and the Scripture Pavilion tests one's comprehension and innate talent. Choose one path to enter, and those who pass will receive the corresponding inheritance. If one passes all three trials... one will receive my true teachings."

The sound faded, and the stone statue returned to its original state. But the stone tablets at the three forks in the road had changed: the original warning text had disappeared, replaced by three new lines of ancient seal script:

The alchemy room: The quality of the elixir is determined by the quality of the first batch produced.

Sword Tomb: A single sword strike pierces the void, revealing the true essence.

Jingge: A single page reveals the true nature of enlightenment.

"It seems we have to make a choice." Chen Yu looked at the two of them. "I suggest choosing the Scripture Pavilion. The cultivation method is the foundation of cultivation, and it tests one's comprehension and innate talent, so it's relatively fair."

Taoist Jingxu nodded: "I agree. Alchemy requires specific talent, swordsmanship requires years of honing, but comprehension and innate talent are the foundation for cultivators."

Suman naturally had no objection.

The three headed towards the entrance of the central pavilion. As they passed the stone tablet, Chen Yu suddenly sensed a slight warmth in the protective jade talisman in his robes—a warning! He immediately stopped and activated his spiritual eye technique to observe the passage.

The passage was about ten zhang long, ending at two tightly closed stone doors. It seemed calm, but the patterns on the bluestone slabs on the ground concealed subtle flows of spiritual energy, and almost invisible runes flickered on the walls.

"There are traps and mechanisms," Chen Yu whispered. "Follow my footsteps closely and don't make a mistake."

Using his newly acquired knowledge of mechanical arts, he carefully analyzed the patterns on the ground. There were thirty-six bluestone slabs in total, each corresponding to one of the eight trigrams. The flow of spiritual energy indicated that only by following the correct sequence of the eight trigrams—"Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, Dui"—could he pass safely.

"First step, Qian position, northwest." Chen Yu stepped onto a stone slab engraved with a barely visible Qian trigram symbol.

The stone slab sank slightly, making a soft "click" sound, but did not trigger the trap. Jingxu and Suman followed closely behind.

"The second step is the Kan position, due north."

"The third step is the Gen position, northeast."

The three proceeded cautiously. Halfway there, Su Man suddenly exclaimed, "There's a shadow moving on the wall!"

Chen Yu looked up and saw countless figures appearing on the stone walls on both sides. Some were practicing martial arts, some were reciting scriptures, and some were refining pills and setting up formations. These figures were not physical objects, but rather some kind of image-recording restriction, yet they were lifelike, as if they were living people.

"Don't get distracted!" shouted Taoist Jingxu. "These are illusions, meant to disturb your mind!"

Sure enough, when Chen Yu focused his attention on a figure practicing swordsmanship, a set of sword techniques automatically appeared in his mind! Normally this would be an opportunity, but at this moment he was in the midst of a challenge, and distraction was dangerous.

Chen Yu took a deep breath and lit a stick of spiritual incense. The calming fragrance filled the air, greatly reducing the influence of the illusion. The three continued to advance using the Bagua steps.

When you finally step onto the last stone slab in the "Dui" position, the stone door in front of you opens automatically!

Behind the door was a huge circular stone chamber, about fifteen zhang in diameter and five zhang high. In the center of the chamber stood a thick stone pillar, its shaft covered with densely packed ancient seal script. The surrounding walls were all bookshelves—no, not ordinary bookshelves, but jade shelves embedded in the stone walls, each containing a jade scroll or an ancient book, shimmering with various colors of spiritual light.

"This..." Daoist Jingxu gasped, "At least a thousand cultivation manuals! Senior Xuanzhenzi's collection is so vast!"

But Chen Yu's attention was drawn to the stone pillar in the center of the stone chamber. In front of the pillar was a futon, on which lay three things: a blank jade slip, a jade pen, and an inkstone. The inkstone still contained undried ink—spiritual ink, emitting a faint fragrance.

"A single page reveals the truth and illuminates one's true nature..." Chen Yu read the words on the stone tablet. "Could the test be..."

Before the words were even finished, the scriptures on the stone pillar suddenly came to life! One by one, ancient seal characters detached from the pillar, hovering in the air, forming the opening of a complete cultivation technique:

"The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. Nameless, it is the origin of Heaven and Earth; named, it is the mother of all things. Therefore, one should always be without desire, so as to observe its mystery; one should always have desire, so as to observe its manifestations..."

This is the opening of the Tao Te Ching, but each word contains a special spiritual rhythm that subtly echoes the Tai Xuan Zhen Jing that Chen Yu cultivates.

"Comprehend this text and write it on the jade slip." The aged voice sounded again, "You have one incense stick's time limit. Those who lack comprehension will be eliminated."

An incense burner rose in the corner of the stone chamber, with a thin stick of incense already lit inside. The incense burned quickly, within half an hour at most.

"How can one comprehend this?" Su Man frowned. "Who hasn't read the Tao Te Ching? But what's the use of writing it down?"

The Taoist priest Jingxu sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and sensed: "It's not the literal meaning. These words are infused with the 'Taoist spirit' of Senior Xuanzhenzi, and one must carefully comprehend the profound principles of cultivation within them. Everyone's understanding is different, and the content they write will also be different."

Chen Yu understood. This was a test of the depth of one's understanding of the "Tao," not one's memory. He sat down on the futon and placed the Mind-Enlightening Talisman on his forehead—the talisman took effect, and his mind instantly became several times clearer.

With his spiritual eye activated, the floating ancient seal characters were no longer flat texts in his eyes, but rather three-dimensional trajectories of spiritual energy. The direction of each stroke of the character subtly conformed to some kind of law of heaven and earth; the rhythm and cadence of each sentence corresponded to the laws governing the flow of spiritual energy.

He was so engrossed in it that he forgot about time.

He was naturally familiar with the *Tao Te Ching* from his previous life, but rereading it now, combined with his cultivation experiences over the past six months, brought him entirely new insights. "Nothingness" is not absence, but rather an undefined, primordial state, like spiritual energy before the five elements were differentiated; "Existence" is not actual existence, but rather the manifestation after rules are established, like the formation of magic...

The essence of cultivation is to create something from nothing, and then use that something to experience a deeper level of nothingness...

Before I knew it, the incense sticks had burned more than halfway.

Chen Yu opened his eyes and picked up the jade brush. The moment the brush tip touched the spiritual ink, countless thoughts surged through his mind. He didn't copy the original text verbatim, but instead wrote down his own insights:

"Cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. But what constitutes advancement? It's not about increasing skill or mastering techniques, but about deepening one's understanding of the 'Tao.' At first, one sees mountains as mountains and water as water; then, one sees mountains as not mountains and water as not water; finally, one sees mountains as mountains and water as water again. These three realms are also the three stages of cultivation..."

He wrote over three hundred characters in one go. Just as he put down his pen, the incense stick had burned out.

The jade slip emitted a soft white light, absorbing the text. After a moment, a satisfied voice came from the jade slip: "Excellent comprehension, above-average aptitude, qualified for the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion."

The stone pillar slowly moved aside, revealing a spiral staircase behind it!

"It's a success!" Su Man exclaimed with joy.

But the Taoist priest Jingxu shook his head and smiled bitterly: "This humble Taoist... failed to pass." The jade slip in front of him was dull and lifeless, clearly indicating that he had not comprehended it enough.

"Taoist Master..." Chen Yu wanted to say something.

"It's alright." Jingxu smiled freely. "It's already a stroke of luck to have come this far. Benefactor Chen, please continue on your way. I have also gained a great deal from studying these scriptures here."

Su Man looked at her jade slip—it had passed, but the evaluation was only "Above average comprehension, above average aptitude, qualified for the first level of the Scripture Pavilion." She bit her lip, clearly not quite satisfied.

"Let's go." Chen Yu stepped onto the stone steps.

The second floor of the scripture pavilion was smaller than the first, but the quality of the books was significantly higher. The jade slips in the jade cabinets all emitted strong spiritual energy fluctuations, and even the worst ones were Foundation Establishment stage cultivation techniques. There was also a stone pillar in the center, with two futons in front of it.

"Both of you must simultaneously comprehend this and write down your shared understanding," the aged voice rang out. "The time limit is one incense stick's time."

This passage is from the "Free and Easy Wandering" chapter of the *Zhuangzi*: "In the Northern Ocean there is a fish, its name is Kun. Kun is so large that no one knows how many thousands of miles it spans; it transforms into a bird, its name is Peng..."

Su Man looked at Chen Yu: "This test is about tacit understanding and resonance of our Dao hearts. We must have a shared understanding, and the content we write must complement each other to form a complete comprehension."

Chen Yu nodded. The two sat down cross-legged. This time, he did not use the Mind-Enlightenment Talisman, but relied purely on his own comprehension to experience it.

The "Free and Easy Wandering" speaks of transcending constraints and pursuing freedom. But for a spiritual practitioner, what is true freedom? Is it boundless magical power? Immortality? Or...?

He suddenly recalled his experiences since his transmigration: from the mundane details of life in a traditional courtyard house, to the ups and downs of business in Hong Kong, and now, his exploration of the cave. Wasn't every choice, every breakthrough, a way of breaking free from some kind of "constraint"? Transmigration was breaking the constraints of space; cultivation was breaking the constraints of different levels of life...

So, is ultimate freedom simply complete control over one's own destiny?

When the incense sticks were halfway burned, Chen Yu and Su Man opened their eyes almost simultaneously. They looked at each other and surprisingly saw a similar understanding in each other's eyes.

Pick up a pen and start writing.

Chen Yu wrote: "Freedom is not about escaping the world, but about finding it within one's heart. A cultivator, using a finite body to seek the infinite path, is inherently the greatest freedom. However, one must clearly distinguish: what is the desire of one's true nature, and what is the bondage of external things..."

Su Man continued: "...Therefore, the way to break free from bondage begins with understanding the mind. When the mind is clear, one knows what can and cannot be done; one knows what to take and what to give up. In the act of taking and giving, freedom naturally manifests."

The two jade slips lit up simultaneously, merging into one scroll in mid-air! Amidst the brilliant light, an aged voice carried a hint of approval: "Your Dao hearts are in harmony, and your insights complement each other. You may enter the top floor of the Scripture Pavilion."

The stone pillar was moved again, revealing the final stone steps.

The top floor of the pavilion was only three zhang square, without any bookshelves. Three jade scrolls floated in the center of the room, each emitting a spiritual light of blue, gold, and purple. Below each scroll was a futon.

"This is the essence of what I have learned in my life." Xuanzhenzi's voice was clearer than ever before, as if it were right next to my ear. "The blue one is the 'Xuanzhen Danjing', the gold one is the 'Xuanzhen Jianjue', and the purple one is the 'Xuanzhen Daozang'. All three can be obtained, but you must swear a Daoist oath: you must not use this technique for evil, and you must not pass it on to those with impure intentions."

Chen Yu and Su Man exchanged a glance and solemnly swore an oath at the same time.

With the oath fulfilled, the three jade scrolls slowly floated down. Chen Yu caught the purple "Xuanzhen Daozang," Su Man took the cyan "Xuanzhen Danjing," and the golden "Xuanzhen Jianjue" remained unclaimed for the time being.

The moment the jade slip was in hand, a vast amount of information flooded into his mind! The Xuanzhen Daozang not only contains the fundamental cultivation method "Xuanyuan Zhenjing" that leads directly to the Golden Elixir Path, but also dozens of auxiliary techniques such as formations, talismans, weapon crafting, and divination, making it a veritable encyclopedia of cultivation!

What's even more precious is that the jade slip contains Xuanzhenzi's cultivation insights over three hundred years, including his experience in breaking through bottlenecks, his tips on avoiding detours, and his understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth... These intangible treasures are more valuable than specific cultivation techniques.

"This..." Chen Yu was shocked. With these, his path of cultivation would be smooth sailing, and he would not encounter any major obstacles until he reached the Golden Core stage.

Su Man's face lit up with joy: "The 'Mysterious True Elixir Classic' records 365 elixir formulas, covering everything from the Qi Refining stage to the Golden Core stage! It also contains the alchemy insights of Senior Xuanzhenzi... It's incredibly precious!"

Just as the two were immersed in the joy of their harvest, the entire cave suddenly shook violently!

"Boom—!"

The stone chamber shook, and dust fell in a flurry. Chen Yu's expression changed: "Not good! Someone outside is forcibly breaking the formation!"

He quickly put away the jade slip, grabbed Su Man, and rushed out of the scripture pavilion. Back in the main hall, Daoist Jingxu was anxiously waiting: "Benefactor Chen! The illusion array has been broken! At least five people have broken in!"

Through the curtain of water at the cave entrance, one can see shadowy figures outside the waterfall, attempting to break through the restrictions at the cave entrance!

"Is it Zhao Tieshou and his group?" Su Man asked.

"Not only that." Jingxu's expression was grave. "There are two more auras... very strong, at least at the seventh level of Qi Refining!"

Seventh level of Qi Refining! Chen Yu's heart sank. He was only at the peak of the fifth level of Qi Refining, and even with all his trump cards, he would still be no match for a late-stage Qi Refining expert.

"We must leave as soon as possible." Chen Yu looked at the other two paths, "The Alchemy Room and the Sword Tomb..."

"It's too late." Jingxu shook his head. "Those people are already attacking the entrance barrier; they can break it in a quarter of an hour at most."

Chen Yu's eyes sharpened: "Then let them in. We... are going to the Sword Tomb!"

"Sword Tomb?"

"Yes." A decisive glint flashed in Chen Yu's eyes. "The Sword Tomb tests one's heart for the sword. If we can pass, we might obtain a powerful protective weapon. Moreover..." He looked towards the waterfall, "If the Sword Tomb contains divine weapons, perhaps we can put ourselves in a fighting chance!"

The three rushed towards the sword tomb passage on the right. This time there were no traps or mechanisms, but at the end of the passage was a smooth, mirror-like stone wall with two large characters carved on it:

剑心

A rusty iron sword was stuck in front of the stone wall, with tattered strips of cloth wrapped around its hilt.

"Is this the test?" Su Man asked, puzzled.

Chen Yu understood. He walked to the iron sword and grasped the hilt. Instantly, his consciousness was pulled into an illusion!

It was an endless sword mound, with thousands upon thousands of swords stuck in the ground, ranging from rusty iron swords to dazzling spiritual swords. Countless sword shadows danced in the sky, each representing a different sword style.

A phantom figure stood with its back to him: "My successor, do you know what a sword is?"

Chen Yu pondered for a moment: "The sword is a weapon, but also a principle. A weapon can harm others and protect oneself, while the principle can cut through illusion."

"Good." The figure turned around, revealing a swordsman with an indistinct face. "Choose a sword and prove your swordsmanship."

Chen Yu surveyed the Sword Tomb. The radiant spirit swords seemed to beckon him, while the murderous demonic swords tempted him... but he ultimately walked to a corner and drew the most inconspicuous wooden sword.

"Why did you choose this sword?" the swordsman asked.

"The sword resides in the heart, not in the weapon," Chen Yu said calmly. "A wooden sword can slay an enemy, and a spiritual sword can be covered in dust. The true way of the sword is the way of the swordsman, not the sword itself."

The swordsman remained silent for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Excellent! A fine 'the sword resides in the heart, not in the weapon'! You are worthy to receive my swordsmanship!"

The illusion shattered, and the stone wall crashed open. Behind the door was a massive cavern filled with all sorts of swords. And on the central stone platform, three swords floated suspended:

A sword that is entirely emerald green with bamboo-like patterns on its blade—the Green Bamboo Sword.

A sword as white as the moon, with a blade as thin as a cicada's wing—the Flowing Moon Sword.

A sword as black as ink, with blood-red runes engraved on its hilt—the Evil-Slaying Sword.

"Choose one." The swordsman's voice echoed in the cave. "They are all spiritual weapons, but their characteristics are different. The Green Bamboo Sword has a long life force, the Flowing Moon Sword is as swift as light, and the Evil-Slaying Sword is specifically designed to subdue evil spirits."

Chen Yu looked at Su Man and Jing Xu: "You two choose too."

Su Man chose the Flowing Moon Sword—it was the most suitable sword for her agile movements. Jing Xu chose the Green Bamboo Sword—Taoism emphasizes the continuous cycle of life.

Chen Yu walked towards the Demon-Slaying Sword. The moment he grasped the hilt, a chilling aura surged into his body, but it was quickly neutralized by the peaceful spiritual power of the Tai Xuan True Scripture. The sword trembled slightly, emitting a pleasant hum—it acknowledged its master.

Just as the three of them obtained the sword, a loud bang came from the entrance of the cave!

"boom--!"

The barrier has been broken!

Footsteps and shouts came from the direction of the hall!

"They're in!" Taoist Jingxu gripped his green bamboo sword tightly. "Benefactor Chen, what should we do?"

A cold glint flashed in Chen Yu's eyes as he pointed the Demon-Slaying Sword at the exit of the passage:

"Since we can't avoid it, then... let's fight!"

Outside the cave, at least five cultivators were pouring in.

Inside the cave, the three spirit swords had just recognized their masters.

War is imminent.