While the player is in Battle Through the Heavens, the system is in The Great Ruler.

Chapter 165 Ancestral Symbol Stirs! The Spirit of a Different Flame?
"It seems this lower plane is not simple either..."

Looking at the simulation results, Lu Yu stroked his chin and said thoughtfully.

"Dozens of Dou Zun experts from one region, some of whom have broken through to Dou Sheng, and there are also unnamed experts coming to block our path..."

A look of solemnity flashed in his eyes. "If I had known such secrets in the simulation, I would never have so easily attempted to reach the Gu Immortal realm. Since I was completely unaware, it means that these powerful figures must be hiding in the shadows, just like the eight ancient clans of the Dou Qi Continent. They are beings that I could not have come into contact with back then."

"Perhaps I unknowingly violated some taboo..."

Lu Yu's gaze narrowed slightly as he pondered, "However, regardless of the circumstances, this plane can nurture so many powerful individuals, yet its alchemy is not particularly flourishing. Its resources must be extremely abundant. I'll make a note of this for now and settle this score when I have sufficient strength in the future."

"Let's first look at what we've learned from this simulation..."

Immediately, he composed himself and turned his gaze to the three options that appeared after the simulation ended. His eyes narrowed slightly as he quickly weighed the options in his mind.

"According to the standards in the simulation, a fifth-tier Gu Master is equivalent to a Dou Zun expert. That third-tier substitute Gu puppet is just a Dou Huang-level puppet, which is useless to me, so I'll discard it first..."

"As for the Blood Prison Burning Heart Flame at the Dou Zun level and the inheritance of an eighth-grade peak alchemist..."

"The value is about the same, but the strange fire is harder to find. The inheritance of an eighth-grade peak alchemist is easy to obtain in simulations, but a strange fire is not something you can encounter every time..."

"However, the poison pill I promised Xian'er might have to wait a while..."

Lu Yu sighed, and then, with a thought, made his choice.

In an instant, a blazing energy carrying a bloody aura emerged out of thin air, and a strange, blood-red flame, as if alive, slowly coalesced before him.

Unlike ordinary flames that leap and rise, it flows slowly like viscous blood, radiating a heart-pounding energy fluctuation, like a beating heart containing immense vitality and destructive power.

"Is this the Blood Prison Burning Heart Fire?"

"I wonder what the properties of this fire are..."

A hint of curiosity and inquiry flashed in Lu Yu's eyes. Then, with a thought, two flames, one golden and one black, rose from his body. The golden flame transformed into a majestic and sacred fire dragon, the Floating Pagoda Flame; the black flame condensed into a dark, gigantic python, the Netherworld Heart Demon Flame.

"Go, test its depth."

Driven by Lu Yu's thoughts, the Floating Fire Dragon and the Netherworld Fire Python roared simultaneously, carrying towering waves of fire as they fiercely pounced on the newly born Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame.

The Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame seemed to sense a threat and instinctively erupted with a raging torrent of blood flames. The viscous, blood-like flames churned and surged violently, instantly transforming into a majestic crimson dragon that charged head-on towards the two strange flames.

In an instant, the three strange flames at the Dou Zun level collided violently!

The Floating Fire Dragon and the Crimson Flood Dragon clashed head-on, emitting a sizzling sound as they burned. The terrifying temperature continuously melted away the bloody and violent aura, but the immense power of blood and qi contained within the blood flames was also exceptionally tenacious, repeatedly reforming and counterattacking.

Meanwhile, the Netherworld Demonic Flame constantly roamed the outer edge of the battle, waiting for an opportunity to unleash invisible soul thunder. This thunder was formless and intangible, yet it could penetrate the Blood Flame's defenses and directly strike the nascent spiritual essence of the Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame, causing its flames to frequently stagnate.

Although the Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame is extremely powerful and fierce, it is still in its early stages of spiritual development and is far less powerful than the two established exotic flames that have already awakened their intelligence.

Despite its ferocious attacks and the combined effects of the Floating Pagoda Fire and the eerie interference of the Netherworld Heart Demon Fire, it struggled to break through the enemy lines and unleashed a torrent of blood, yet it was still unable to withstand the onslaught.

In a short while, its blazing crimson flames dimmed at a visible speed, clearly indicating that it had been completely suppressed and its defeat was already evident.

Lu Yu seized the opportunity, his hand seals shifted, and a magnificent pagoda suddenly descended, emanating a vast aura that suppressed all things. In an instant, it enveloped the rampaging Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame and absorbed it into the pagoda.

After carefully sensing the strange fire within the tower, a hint of surprise flashed in Lu Yu's eyes. He discovered that this Blood Prison Heart-Burning Fire had the strange and wonderful effect of mobilizing qi and blood and tempering blood vessels, with an effect similar to that of the Fallen Heart Flame in tempering battle qi.

In addition, this fire also possesses a slight attack characteristic that affects the soul and burns the spirit.

"It can actually temper bloodlines! Good heavens, if the eight ancient clans knew I possessed such a strange fire, they'd probably go insane..."

Lu Yu clicked his tongue in surprise, then couldn't help but feel a little fortunate.

Fortunately, his Floating Pagoda was already a top-grade spiritual artifact. Unless a Dou Sheng or even a powerful expert above the Heavenly Realm soul level personally investigated it, it would be extremely difficult to detect the various strange flames contained within the pagoda. This saved him from the trouble of possessing a treasure that could bring him harm.

Watching the Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame slowly flickering within the Floating Pagoda, Lu Yu pondered for a moment, not rushing to achieve his goal.

His mind raced, and he silently pondered, "The power of blood and qi contained in this fire is so vast and violent. If I were to directly introduce it into my body for tempering, even with the current strength of my meridians, I could not guarantee my safety. Refining this strange fire is something I cannot be careless about."

Then, he swept his soul power over the storage ring on his hand, counted the remaining medicinal herbs, and then waved his hand, dozens of rare medicinal herbs emitting different energy fluctuations floated in front of him.

"A Grade 7 Protective Meridian Pill is sufficient to cope with most energy impacts."

A glint of light flashed in Lu Yu's eyes, and he immediately said, "With this pill protecting the core of the meridians, and the Floating Pagoda guarding the center, this double protection should be enough to tame this Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame."

At the same time, with a thought, a jade slip exuding an ancient aura appeared in his hand. It was the high-level Earth-rank body-refining technique—the Burning Heaven Glazed Body.

"The Burning Heaven Glazed Body is a high-level Earth-rank body-refining technique, divided into four realms: Crimson Melting, Profound Crystal, Glazed, and Burning Heaven, corresponding to the four realms of Dou Wang, Dou Huang, Dou Zong, and Dou Zun respectively..."

Lu Yu carefully studied the key points of the cultivation technique, his eyes shining brighter and brighter. "It's a match made in heaven! The blood and qi contained in this fire are so abundant. If we don't use it to cultivate this body-refining technique, it would be a waste of its resources. With a stronger physical body, it will definitely be twice as effective to refine other strange fires in the future."

After making up his mind, Lu Yu flicked his sleeve and skillfully started refining pills. In less than half a day, a round and translucent seventh-grade meridian-protecting pill with a lingering fragrance was successfully refined.

Without hesitation, he swallowed the pill. A gentle yet resilient energy instantly dissolved, like the most loyal guardian, merging into the meridians and walls of his limbs and bones.

"it's time."

Lu Yu took a deep breath, and with a thought, he released part of the seal on the Floating Pagoda. The eerie Blood Prison Burning Heart Flame immediately roared out, and the scorching energy, carrying a bloody aura, instantly filled the entire quiet room.

"laugh!"

Even with the double protection of the Pulse Protection Pill and the Floating Pagoda, the scorching flames, carrying a strange force of blood and qi erosion, still made Lu Yu groan, and fine beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.

He focused his mind and activated the technique of the Burning Heaven Glazed Body, guiding this violent energy to begin tempering his physical body.

Pain and strengthening coexist. Under the tempering of the pure and powerful blood energy of the strange fire, his physical body is undergoing a transformation at a visible speed.

The skin was the first to change, turning bright red and scorching hot. When touched, it emitted a sizzling sound like a branding iron. In an instant, one had entered the "Crimson Melt Realm".

After all, although he had never cultivated any body-refining techniques, his body, tempered by multiple different flames, was already quite formidable. Then, enduring the excruciating pain that felt like his bones were being scraped and his marrow being melted, Lu Yu increased the intensity of his guidance, causing more crimson flames to penetrate his skin and flesh, ultimately crashing into his bones.

The intense burning pain felt like it was melting every bone in my body, but what followed was a gradually emerging, translucent, dark red luster from deep within my bones, as dazzling and brilliant as the purest ruby…

Time slipped away quietly amidst this extreme pain and rapid enhancement...

After an unknown amount of time, inside the quiet room...

Lu Yu kept his eyes tightly closed, his entire body radiating a dazzling crimson crystal light that illuminated the entire secret chamber in minute detail. His internal organs were faintly visible, like exquisite crystal, warm yet resilient, exuding a sense of returning to simplicity!

This is a symbol of mastering the third realm, the "Glassy Realm," of the Burning Heaven Glazed Body!

"The Heaven-Burning Realm is just one step away..."

Lu Yu suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of crimson light passing through them. Feeling the blood and qi power within his body that was just a hair's breadth away from a complete qualitative change, he couldn't help but sigh, "This Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame is indeed domineering; it almost directly helped me push the Heaven-Burning Glazed Body to its highest level!"

"Although I have not yet fully entered the Burning Heaven Realm, with the completion of the Glazed Realm, my physical strength alone is enough to rival that of a peak Dou Zong expert."

"If we add in the cultivation of battle qi..."

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yu's expression suddenly changed.

Within his body, in his heart, the refined Blood Prison Burning Heart Flame resided, radiating immense power of blood and qi. At this moment, wisps of invisible heart flame quietly emerged from his heart aperture, instinctively beginning to temper his battle qi.

However, as soon as their powers intersected, as if drawn by some special force, the Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame suddenly pounced and devoured the newly formed invisible heart flame in one gulp. Then the flames leaped and danced with great joy!
"Oh no, I forgot about that..."

Lu Yu frowned. The Blood Prison Heart-Burning Flame is a fire of blood and qi, and it naturally prefers to reside in the heart, the core of blood supply. Similarly, the Fallen Heart Flame tempers battle qi, starting from the heart.

The two have very different attributes but live in the same place, so it is inevitable that they will interfere with each other or even conflict with each other, which is indeed a problem.

With a thought, he swiftly forced the restless Blood Prison Burning Heart Flame back into the Floating Pagoda to suppress it. Within his heart, only a faint wisp of the remaining Blood Prison Burning Heart Flame and a newly formed, invisible heart flame remained for the time being.

Just as Lu Yu thought the conflict had subsided and was preparing to guide Xin Yan to continue refining his battle qi.

However, upon looking inward, he saw a surprising scene: the remaining wisp of blood and qi fire and the newly formed invisible heart flame did not repel each other, but were instead harmonized in some mysterious way, actually intertwining and slowly merging together...

"This is……"

Lu Yu was stunned for a moment, then a bold idea flashed through his mind.

Without hesitation, he carefully drew a wisp of soul fire from the origin of his soul, tempered by the Netherworld Demon Fire, and quietly merged it into the merging flame.

The three flames suddenly met at that moment. Instead of exploding or repelling each other, they seemed to have found their missing parts, instantly intertwining and merging perfectly together!
Lu Yu's eyes suddenly lit up, and a hint of anticipation flashed in them.

However, before he could fully experience the fusion process, he saw the light of the three flames dim rapidly, as if they had exhausted all their energy, and vanished in an instant.

At the same moment, deep within his mind, a long-dormant fiery red rune seemed to be activated by some force, and suddenly began to flash rapidly!
A clear, melodious, and soul-piercing phoenix cry then resounded throughout the land!

"The Flame Ancestral Symbol?"

Lu Yu frowned slightly, clearly sensing the abnormal fluctuations emanating from the ancestral symbol. With a thought, his consciousness arrived in a crimson space.

Before him, a magnificent fire phoenix, its entire body formed from brilliant flames, gracefully spread its wings. Each of its feathers seemed to be composed of the purest flames, flowing with an ancient and powerful aura—it was the spirit of the Ancestral Symbol.

However, its beautiful wings and body were bound by five icy blue chains that exuded an extremely cold aura, binding it tightly.

"The Netherworld Demonic Flame scorches the soul, the Fallen Heart Flame refines the Qi, the Blood Prison Burning Heart Flame tempers the blood... Little fellow, you have quite a few good opportunities."

The fire phoenix spoke slowly, its voice ethereal and distant, as if echoing through the ages. Its gaze shifted, and it continued, "Shall we make a deal?"

"trade?"

Lu Yu frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the five icy chains wrapped around the fire phoenix. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "What kind of deal?"

"It seems you are not aware that the three strange flames you possess have complementary properties, which are extremely mysterious."

The Fire Phoenix spoke slowly, its voice carrying an ancient charm, "If we can use a special method to completely fuse them, not only will we be able to perfectly preserve their respective characteristics, but there is also a great possibility... to give birth to a spirit of strange fire with infinite potential."

Immediately, it changed its tone, its flame-filled eyes fixed on Lu Yu: "However, helping you fuse the three elements and create a spirit of a different kind of fire will consume my own essence. If you want this fortune, you must give me appropriate compensation."

Lu Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately asked, "What does Senior wish to obtain?"

"Half of the original essence of the spirit of the strange fire when it was first formed."

Fire Phoenix's voice was calm and even, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Lu Yu's face immediately darkened. Half of the essence of the strange fire spirit? This price was far too high, tantamount to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

This bastard is asking for an outrageous amount!
He immediately shook his head: "Senior, I am afraid I cannot comply with your request. If the spirit of the strange fire is damaged at its core, its future growth will inevitably be limited."

The Fire Phoenix seemed to have anticipated this and was not angered. The flames around her body flickered slightly as she glanced at the five chains on her body that exuded an extremely cold aura. She said slowly, "Since that's the case... how about you help me break one of these icy chains?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu feigned surprise and looked at it. He naturally knew the details of this seal, but he still hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Break the seal? Me?"

"good."

The fire phoenix's voice was ancient and calm, "This seal is extremely difficult to break from the inside, but it is much easier to break from the outside. With your current soul power, you are just enough to break this first seal."

A glint flashed in Lu Yu's eyes as he quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

Breaking a seal will slightly release the power of the ancestral symbol's spirit, but it is still within a controllable range; it's merely a matter of unsealing a high-grade spiritual artifact to a top-grade spiritual artifact.

In exchange for the opportunity to fuse the three flames and nurture the spirit of a different flame, this deal seems quite worthwhile.

……

(End of this chapter)