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

The interrogation room on the second basement floor of the Ninth Bureau was dimly lit.

Chen Yu sat behind the one-way glass, watching the scene on the other side. The two Blackwater Gang members captured from the ancient tomb were handcuffed to two iron chairs, with electrode pads attached to their bodies, connected to the instrument next to them—this was a "spiritual energy fluctuation monitor" specially made by the Ninth Bureau, which could detect abnormal fluctuations in spiritual energy when the interrogated person was lying.

Lin Wei sat opposite the two of them, along with an interrogation expert. The expert was an elderly man in his fifties surnamed Wu, wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He appeared gentle and refined, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

"Name," Expert Wu asked calmly.

The slightly overweight man in black on the left kept his head down and remained silent. The thinner man on the right gritted his teeth and finally spoke, "Wang...Wang Ergou."

"Real name".

"That's my real name!"

The ripples on the monitor screen suddenly started to jump violently. Expert Wu adjusted his glasses: "You're lying. I'll ask again, your name."

The gaunt man in black's expression changed, but he finally lowered his head: "Li Sanshun."

This time the ripples were smooth.

"Very good." Expert Wu noted it down. "Li Sanshun, age?"

Thirty-seven.

"What is your position in Blackwater Gang?"

"Outer...outer disciples."

The ripples bounced again.

Expert Wu looked up at him and said, "I'll give you one more chance. You were able to enter the Xishan Ancient Tomb, know that there are Cold Marrow Pills inside, and even know how to open the mechanism behind the stone door—this is something that outer disciples cannot know."

Li Sanshun's forehead was sweating and his lips were trembling.

Lin Wei then spoke up: "Li Sanshun, you should know the Ninth Bureau's policy towards collaborators. If you cooperate, we can try to treat you leniently. If you resist..." She pointed to the instrument beside her, "This device can not only detect lies, but also release spiritual energy pulses to stimulate your pain nerves. Want to try it?"

Li Sanshun trembled: "I...I'll talk! I'm a third-level deacon of the Blackwater Gang, responsible for collecting supplies in the Beijing area..."

The subsequent interrogation went much more smoothly. Li Sanshun confessed that the Blackwater Hall was one of the twelve halls under the Heavenly Dao Alliance, specializing in water-attribute cultivation techniques. The hall master, "Old Man Blackwater," was at the early Foundation Establishment stage. They had seven or eight strongholds in Beijing, usually disguised as ordinary seafood companies, bathhouses, ice factories, etc.

"This trip to the ancient tomb was ordered personally by the sect leader," Li Sanshun said. "He said there are clues about the 'Water Spirit Orb' inside the tomb, and we must obtain it."

"Water Spirit Orb?" Lin Wei frowned. "What is that?"

"I'm not too sure either... I heard it's a treasure left behind by an ancient water spirit, and it's very useful for water-attribute cultivators. The hall master said that if he can find the Water Spirit Pearl, he can break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and the Black Water Hall's status in the Heavenly Dao Alliance will also be elevated."

Chen Yu, listening from behind the glass, felt a sudden thought. The Water Spirit Pearl… it sounded similar to the Vermilion Bird Key, both being Five Elements treasures. Was the Heavenly Dao Alliance collecting these?

The interrogation continued. Li Sanshun revealed the locations of several Blackwater Gang strongholds in Beijing, as well as the identity of the tall, thin man who escaped—"Yin She," the deputy leader of the Blackwater Gang, a peak fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator, skilled in insidious and poisonous techniques and hidden weapons.

"Yin She's injuries this time are quite severe," Li Sanshun said. "His meridians were damaged by that fire-wielding kid, and he'll need at least a month to recover."

Chen Yu felt slightly relieved. A month was enough time for him to make many preparations.

The other man in black, Zhao Si, was Li Sanshun's assistant. He didn't know much, and the interrogation ended quickly.

"Take them away," Lin Wei told the special operations team. "Keep them under close surveillance and don't allow anyone to contact them."

After the interrogation room was emptied, Lin Wei and Expert Wu went behind the glass.

"Comrade Chen Yu, you heard everything." Lin Wei's expression was solemn. "The Water Spirit Pearl... if it is truly a treasure left behind by an ancient water spirit, as they say, then its value is no less than your Vermilion Bird Key. The Heavenly Dao Alliance's ambition to collect all five elemental treasures is far-reaching."

Chen Yu nodded: "And they acted very quickly. From the Vermilion Bird Key in the South China Sea to the Water Spirit Pearl in Beijing, the Heavenly Dao Alliance's intelligence system is very powerful."

"That's exactly what I'm worried about." Lin Wei sat down in the chair. "Although the Ninth Bureau monitors the cultivation world, it has limited manpower and can't cover everything. The Heavenly Dao Alliance has infiltrated deeply over the years, and they have people in every industry."

Expert Wu added, "Judging from the interrogation, the Blackwater Hall's research on the ancient tomb is very thorough. They not only knew that there was a Cold Marrow Pill in the tomb, but also knew clues about the Water Spirit Pearl. This shows that they have access to information sources that we don't know about."

"What is the source?" Chen Yu asked.

"It could be an ancient book, a secret passed down orally, or it could be..." Lin Wei paused, "...that someone inside leaked it."

Chen Yu was startled. Were there members of the Heavenly Dao Alliance within the Ninth Bureau?

"It's just a guess," Lin Wei waved her hand, "but we have to be careful. Chen Yu, you have two tasks ahead: First, study the Cold Marrow Pill and its formula to see if you can find any clues about the Water Spirit Orb; second, stay vigilant and protect yourself and your family. Although the Yin Serpent is injured, the Blackwater Hall will not let this go."

"I see."

It was 3 a.m. when they left the Ninth Bureau. Lin Wei arranged for a car to take Chen Yu home and told him, "We've completely sealed off the ancient tomb area, and the archaeological work is suspended. Professor Sun is studying the epitaph and murals to see if there are any more clues. I'll let you know if there's any news."

Back in the courtyard house, all was quiet. Chen Yu tiptoed into the room; Qin Huairu was still fast asleep. He sat by the bed, looking at his wife's peaceful sleeping face, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.

The path of cultivation becomes increasingly perilous. But he had no way back.

The next morning, Chen Yu entered the small world.

Beside the spiritual spring, he spread out the jade box and animal hide scroll he had obtained from the ancient tomb. The three Cold Marrow Pills inside the jade box emitted a pale blue spiritual light. They were cool to the touch, but the coolness was warm and not biting.

Chen Yu picked up one and examined it carefully with his spiritual eye technique. The internal structure of the pill was extremely complex, formed from the essence of dozens of medicinal herbs. At its core was a cluster of blue crystals—that should be the "Western Mountain Cold Marrow," the key material for refining this pill.

"System, analyze the Cold Marrow Pill."

[Cold Marrow Pill: Tier 2 Pill]

[Effects: Strengthens the water elemental root, increases the cultivation speed of water-attribute techniques; assists in resisting inner demons and stabilizes the mind]

[Quality: Top grade (well preserved, 90% of the medicinal efficacy retained)]

[Usage Recommendation: Suitable for cultivators with water-elemental roots; use with caution by cultivators with fire-elemental roots, as it may cause spiritual energy conflicts]

Chen Yu possesses a Fire Spiritual Root, which clashes with the properties of the Cold Marrow Pill, so he cannot consume it. However, the pill itself has value and can be traded, or left for those who need it in the future.

He then looked at the animal skin scroll. It recorded the methods for refining five kinds of pills: Cold Marrow Pill, Heart-Clearing Pill, Grain-Abstaining Pill, Healing Pill, and one more... "Water Spirit Pill"!

"Water Spirit Pill: It is made by taking the spiritual energy of a water-rich land, supplementing it with nine kinds of water-attribute spiritual herbs, and refining it for forty-nine days. After taking it, it can greatly increase one's affinity for water-attribute spiritual energy and has a slight chance of awakening a water-attribute spiritual root."

At the end of the recipe for the Water Spirit Pill, there is a line of small print: "If a fragment of a Water Spirit Pearl is used in the medicine, it can be made into the 'Water Spirit Treasure Pill,' with double the effect."

"There really is a connection!" Chen Yu's eyes lit up. Water Spirit Pill, Water Spirit Pearl, Xishan Ancient Tomb... these clues are connected.

Since Zhou Wenyuan could refine the Cold Marrow Pill, he likely also knew how to refine the Water Spirit Pill. And refining the Water Spirit Pill requires the spiritual energy of a "water-spirited land"—the location of the Western Mountain Ancient Tomb is likely such a land!

As for the Water Spirit Orb, if it exists, it is very likely located in the core of the Water Spirit Land.

Chen Yu carefully put away the animal hide scroll. This pill formula was priceless, especially the method for refining the Water Spirit Pill, which was a treasure for water-attribute cultivators.

Over the next few days, Chen Yu worked at the research institute while secretly conducting his investigation.

Through the Ninth Bureau's channels, he accessed geological data and hydrological records of the Xishan area. Sure enough, there was an underground river beneath the valley where the ancient tomb was located, with unique water quality and rich in various minerals. Even more remarkably, according to an exploration record from the 1950s, the valley never accumulated snow in winter, and the temperature was 2-3 degrees Celsius higher than the surrounding area—a typical geothermal anomaly, likely a manifestation of the overflowing spiritual energy of this auspicious place.

On Friday afternoon, Chen Yu received a call from Lin Wei.

"Chen Yu, Professor Sun has made a discovery. The full text of the epitaph has been translated, and it contains important clues."

Chen Yu immediately rushed to the ninth inning.

In the conference room, Professor Sun excitedly pointed to the projection screen: "Look at this passage—'In his later years, he obtained a rare treasure, shaped like a bright pearl, containing the essence of water, hidden within the spiritual veins of the Western Mountains.'"

"A rare treasure...shaped like a bright pearl... imbued with the essence of water..." Lin Wei read aloud, "This description sounds a lot like a Water Spirit Pearl!"

"Not only that." Professor Sun pulled out another photo, a close-up of a section of the tomb mural. "Look here, the scene of Zhou Wenyuan refining elixirs. Next to the furnace is a box, and inside the box is a blue bead!"

Although the photo is blurry, you can see that the bead is entirely blue and appears to have water flowing inside.

"Water Spirit Orb!" Chen Yu blurted out.

"But the bead isn't in the tomb." Lin Wei frowned. "We searched the entire tomb, but we didn't find it."

Professor Sun adjusted his glasses: "There is another line after the epitaph—'Fearing that the treasure would bring disaster, three false tombs were set up, and the real pearl was hidden deep in the spiritual vein.'"

"A fake tomb?" Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat. "Does that mean the Western Hills Ancient Tomb is just one of three fake tombs? And the real Water Spirit Orb is hidden elsewhere?"

"Very likely." Professor Sun nodded. "Zhou Wenyuan is a cultivator, and he is meticulous. After obtaining the Water Spirit Pearl, he was worried that others would covet it, so he set up three decoy tombs, hiding the real one in a place known only to him."

Lin Wei pondered: "If that's the case, then the Blackwater Hall doesn't have complete information either. They thought the Water Spirit Orb was in the ancient tomb, but they made a wasted trip."

"But they will continue searching," Chen Yu said. "Since there are three suspected tombs, they will definitely investigate the other two."

"The problem is we don't know where the other two suspected tombs are either," Lin Wei said, rubbing her temples. "The epitaphs don't say anything, and there are no clues on the murals."

Chen Yu thought for a moment: "Perhaps the clues are elsewhere. Zhou Wenyuan was the Vice Minister of Works, and his biographical information, writings, and manuscripts may contain clues."

"Yes!" Professor Sun slammed his hand on the table. "I'll go check the Ming Dynasty archives right now! An official of Zhou Wenyuan's rank would definitely have left behind a wealth of documents!"

The following weekend, Chen Yu didn't rest. He went to the National Library and Archives and borrowed a large amount of historical materials from the Ming Dynasty. However, due to limited access, he was unable to access many confidential files.

On Monday, Chen Yu came up with a solution.

He approached Lin Wei: "I'd like to ask Director Yang Jianguo for help. He's a leader in the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, and has higher authority; he should be able to access more Ming Dynasty archives."

Lin Wei thought for a moment and said, "Okay. But we need to be careful how we do it, and we can't expose the affairs of the cultivation world."

Chen Yu made up an excuse, saying that the research institute needed to study metal smelting technology in the Ming Dynasty and he wanted to consult relevant materials on Zhou Wenyuan, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works. Although Yang Jianguo was somewhat puzzled—why would special materials research require Ming Dynasty technology—he still approved the request.

With Yang Jianguo's approval, Chen Yu's authority was greatly enhanced. In the archive's classified storage room, he found copies of Zhou Wenyuan's memorials, collections of letters, and even a personal notebook.

The notes were written in classical Chinese, with messy handwriting and many corrections. It took Chen Yu two days to barely understand the general content.

The notes detailed Zhou Wenyuan's cultivation insights, including how to find spiritual veins, how to refine elixirs, and how to set up formations. What excited Chen Yu most was that the last few pages of the notes mentioned the principles for selecting the locations of the three suspected tombs:

"One tomb is near water but cannot see the water; two tombs see water but cannot access it; three tombs have water but are unaware of it."

What does this mean? Chen Yu pondered deeply.

Near water but unable to see water?

Seeing water but not being able to get it.

To obtain water but not know it is water.

It's like a riddle.

Chen Yu copied this down, intending to study it slowly when he got back. Before leaving, he found a yellowed piece of paper in the lining of his notebook, on which was drawn a simple map—a topographical map of Xishan, marked with three red dots.

The first red dot is at the location of the discovered ancient tomb.

The second red dot is near Fragrant Hills.

The third red dot... is at Yuquan Mountain!

"The locations of the three suspected tombs!" Chen Yu was overjoyed.

But he didn't make a fuss. This map was too important; if it were leaked, it could lead to even more disputes. He carefully put the map away and left the archives.

When Chen Yu returned to the courtyard house, it was already evening. He discovered that something had happened again in the courtyard.

A crowd had gathered in front of the Jia family's house. Jia Zhangshi sat on the ground wailing, while Zhang Xiulan stood to the side, clutching a bundle, her face ashen. Jia Dongxu squatted in the corner, his head in his hands.

"What's wrong?" Chen Yu asked He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu lowered his voice: "Zhang Xiulan really wants to move out; she's packed all her things. But Aunt Jia won't let her, and she's making a scene."

Chen Yu walked over: "Aunt Zhang, this is...?"

When Zhang Xiulan saw him, her eyes reddened: "Xiao Chen, Auntie... Auntie really can't take it anymore. I'll move out today, even a guesthouse is fine."

"You dare!" Madam Jia jumped up. "If you leave, who will take care of me? Who will cook and do the laundry?"

"Mom!" Jia Dongxu finally spoke, "Could you please say less?"

"How could I say less? I'm the one who calls the shots in this house!"

Chen Yu couldn't stand it anymore: "Aunt Jia, Aunt Zhang is a person too, she has her own life. Your fuss is not good for anyone."

"What's it to you?" Madam Jia glared at him. "You're an outsider, mind your own business!"

"I'm an outsider, but Aunt Zhang is my elder," Chen Yu said calmly. "She borrowed money to rent a house, and I lent it to her. I think she did the right thing; a family can't rely on just one person to put up with it."

These words were spoken neither too lightly nor too harshly, but many people in the courtyard nodded in agreement.

Yi Zhonghai then spoke up: "Sister-in-law, stop making a fuss. Xiulan wants to move out for a while, so let her move. It's better for both of you to separate and cool off."

Yan Bugui also advised, "Yes, forced relationships are never sweet."

Seeing that no one supported her, Jia Zhangshi sat on the ground and cried again: "My life is so miserable... My son is unfilial, and my daughter-in-law is unvirtuous..."

But this time, nobody paid any attention to her.

Zhang Xiulan thanked Chen Yu, picked up her bundle, and left the courtyard. Jia Dongxu wanted to chase after her, but was stopped by Jia Zhangshi.

Chen Yu shook his head and went back to his room. Every family has its own troubles; he could help for a while, but not forever.

At night, Chen Yu entered the small world to study the topographical map.

The locations of the three red dots are quite significant: the first is at the foot of the Western Hills, near an underground river; the second is in Fragrant Hills, famous for its "Fragrant Hills Red Leaves," but the red leaves are formed by soil rich in iron, which seems unrelated to "water"; the third is in Jade Spring Hill, famous for its springs, which fits the theme of "water."

But what exactly do these three phrases mean: "near water but not seeing water, seeing water but not getting water, getting water but not knowing water"?

Chen Yu racked his brains, and suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him—perhaps it wasn't the literal meaning, but rather referred to three different states of "water"?

Liquid water, solid water (ice), gaseous water (water vapor)?

Liquid water is common, solid water is common in northern winters, and gaseous water is invisible and intangible...

He compared the map: the ancient tombs in Xishan are near an underground river, which contains liquid water; Xiangshan... what kind of solid water does Xiangshan have? Could there be underground ice layers? The spring water in Yuquan Mountain is liquid, but "they have water but do not know water"... isn't spring water just water? Why do they "not know water"?

My head is throbbing from thinking about it.

Chen Yu decided to put it aside for now. He took out the recipe for the Cold Marrow Pill and prepared to try refining it. The small world was rich in spiritual energy, had a spiritual spring, and various medicinal herbs, making it an excellent place for alchemy.

He started by refining the simplest fasting pill. The recipe required common medicinal herbs like Polygonatum, Poria, and Dioscorea, all of which could be grown in his small world. Taking out the bronze alchemy furnace and lighting the Earth Fire Talisman, Chen Yu began his first independent pill refining attempt.

Three hours later, the pill was complete. Although it was only the lowest grade of the Qi-Clearing Pill, with a success rate of only 50%, Chen Yu was already very satisfied. Pill refining is a technical skill that requires a lot of practice.

It was late at night when Chen Yu exited the small world. Just as he was about to rest, his spiritual senses stirred—someone had scaled the wall and entered the courtyard!

He wasn't a spiritual practitioner, just an ordinary person, but his movements were very light, clearly indicating he had received training.

Chen Yu silently approached the window and activated his spiritual sense. He "saw" a dark figure touch the outside of the Jia family's window and gently knock on it three times.

The lights in the Jia family's house came on. Jia Dongxu opened the window, took an envelope from the shadowy figure, and then closed the window again. The shadowy figure quickly scaled the wall and left.

The whole process took less than a minute.

Chen Yu frowned. Who was Jia Dongxu meeting with? So suspiciously late at night—it couldn't be anything good.

He recalled Jia Dongxu's report against him at the steel rolling mill, and also the story of Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong smuggling cultural relics... This courtyard house, seemingly peaceful on the surface, hides countless secrets beneath.

It seems I need to find some time to thoroughly investigate this courtyard.