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

Chapter 213 The Movements of the Soul Palace, Xun'er's Worries

The next day,

Inside the main hall of Dragon Island.

"Sir, you are actually a peak eighth-grade alchemist?"

Elder Zhu Li scrutinized Lu Yu closely, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

He was secretly shocked. If the information Hei Qing had sent back earlier was correct, this boy had only recently broken through to the advanced eighth rank, yet he was already able to refine peak eighth-rank pills?

Such a rapid promotion is truly unbelievable.

After Lu Yu confirmed, Elder Zhu Li pondered for a moment, then with a wave of his sleeve, two strangely shaped, blood-red ginseng-like medicinal herbs floated in the air; they were none other than the Nine-Bearded Blood Ginseng.

"To be honest, sir, in the treasure trove of my Donglong Island, there are only three Nine-Bearded Blood Ginsengs left."

"Apart from the one I gave to Ziyan yesterday, the other two are all here."

Elder Zhuli said sincerely, "These two plants are a gift to you, sir, as a token of my gratitude. In addition, I have a request. Several young dragons in my clan are having great difficulty awakening their bloodlines. I wonder if you could refine a few more of those Blood Burning Mortal Transformation Pills? Donglong Island will certainly repay you with a generous gift."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu smiled and nodded, saying, "Elder, what are you saying? These two Nine-Bearded Blood Ginsengs are already rare treasures in the world. There is no need for other generous gifts. As for the matter of refining pills, this junior can agree."

He pondered for a moment, paused slightly, then changed the subject and continued, "However, I also have a small matter that I would like to ask the elder to keep an eye on."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Li's expression turned solemn, and he said, "Please speak, sir. If I can help, I will certainly not refuse..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu immediately asked, "I wonder if there are any traces of Heavenly Spirit Mushroom and Profound Ice Spirit Marrow on Dragon Island?"

"Heavenly Lingzhi and Profound Ice Spirit Marrow?"

Elder Zhuli carefully noted it down, but frowned slightly and said, "I have noted down what you need, sir, and I will definitely instruct my clansmen to pay close attention. However... please forgive my ignorance, but I have never heard of the names of these two spiritual items before."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu understood. The Heavenly Spirit Mushroom and the Profound Ice Spirit Marrow were the main ingredients for refining the Heavenly Spirit Pill and the Nine-Turn Ice Purification Pill. The latter two were used in conjunction with the Nine-Bearded Blood Ginseng Pill to deal with the subsequent difficulties of the Supreme Lesser Three Tribulations.

However, compared to the Nine-Bearded Blood Ginseng Pill, which only assists in breaking through the "physical body difficulty," the "spiritual power difficulty" and "divine soul difficulty" corresponding to these two pills are much more difficult, and the main ingredients required are naturally rarer and more precious, belonging to the supreme level of spiritual objects.

Whether it still exists in this Dou Qi Continent is still unknown.

I was just asking casually. If Donglong Island doesn't have it, I'll have to ask Danta later.

"Even if the Pill Tower truly possessed a supreme-grade spiritual item, it probably wouldn't be so easy to obtain..."

Lu Yu thought to himself that he didn't have anything he could exchange for a Dou Sheng-level treasure.

The Nine-Turn Ice Purification Pill might work, but that's a heaven-defying pill that can help break through to the Heavenly Realm.

Back then, it was merely some spirit-nurturing powder that helped people break through to the Spirit Realm, yet it attracted the attention of the two major families of the Pill Tower. If people were to find out that they possessed pills that could help people break through to the Heaven Realm, even the reclusive old monsters of the Lesser Pill Tower would probably be restless.

"My strength is still not enough..."

Lu Yu sighed inwardly. Before breaking through to the Dou Sheng realm, the Nine-Bearded Blood Ginseng Pill and the Heavenly Spirit Pill could be used cautiously, but the existence of the Nine-Turn Ice Purification Pill must not be revealed in the slightest.

Suppressing these thoughts, Lu Yu accepted the two Nine-Bearded Blood Ginsengs and bowed to Elder Zhu Li to take his leave.

After leaving the main hall, he gazed at the shimmering ginseng in his hand, his eyes gradually hardening. His immediate priority was to increase his strength; everything else could be dealt with gradually.

----------------------

at the same time,

Southwest of Zhongzhou, the Corpse Burial Mountains.

Inside a pitch-black hall hidden in endless yin energy and deathly silence, eerie white bone fire burns silently in a niche, casting countless twisted and writhing shadows.

At this moment, the throne symbolizing supreme power in the center of the hall hung empty, and the Great Celestial Venerable had not appeared. Below him, six terrifying figures shrouded in black robes stood on either side, and the air was filled with a suffocating pressure and chilling aura.

"I'm sure you all know about the fall of the Nine Heavens Venerable Demon Rain."

A dry, hoarse voice broke the silence; it was Gu You, the second-ranked Venerable. Black mist swirled around him, and eerie green soul flames flickered in his eye sockets. "The one who killed him is the recently rising star, the Master of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion."

"Hmph, a mere emerging force dares to touch anyone from my Soul Palace!"

The one who spoke had a sinister voice; it was Blood River, one of the Four Heavenly Venerables. His eyes were cold as he said, "This grudge must be avenged, or what will become of the prestige of my Soul Palace?"

Although the Fifth and Sixth Heavenly Venerables did not speak, the overwhelming pressure emanating from their bodies at the peak of the Dou Zun realm clearly indicated their stance.

The seventh and eighth Heavenly Venerables also had cold, sinister gazes.

The ghostly green soul fire swept over everyone, and the voice grew colder: "Revenge, of course, is necessary. But according to the information I have obtained, there seems to be something even more tempting hidden in that Spirit Treasure Pavilion—the method for refining 'Spirit-Nourishing Powder,' which can help people break through to the Spirit Realm."

"Spirit-Nourishing Powder?" A glint flashed in the eyes of the Eight Heavenly Venerable Prisoner: "Isn't the method for refining this substance long lost?"

"Perhaps the master of Lingbao Pavilion obtained an ancient inheritance."

The Fifth Heavenly Venerable chuckled and said, "The Heavenly Rank Battle Technique he used to kill Demon Rain is also the first of its kind to appear in the Central Continent."

"Perfect! With this refining method, how can my Soul Palace worry about not having enough soul essence? One Spirit Realm soul is worth more than a thousand seventh-grade alchemists' souls!" The Fourth Heavenly Venerable Blood River's tone was full of greed.

Upon hearing this, the other Celestial Venerables in the hall also showed subtle fluctuations in their auras. For the Soul Palace, whose core power was soul power, the allure of this item even surpassed the desire to avenge Demon Rain.

Gu You slowly said, "The Great Celestial Venerable and the Three Celestial Venerables are currently in seclusion, breaking through to a crucial realm, and have no time to attend to other matters. This matter will be decided by us. The Spirit Treasure Pavilion... must pay the price, and the method for refining the Spirit-Nourishing Powder will surely belong to my Soul Palace!"

The chilling words echoed in the hall. The celestial beings exchanged glances, each seeing the greed flash in the other's eyes.

"I am willing to go on this mission!" Blood River, one of the Four Heavenly Venerables, spoke first, his body surging with bloodthirsty energy.

"Hmph, why bother the Four Heavenly Venerables with a mere Lingbao Pavilion?" the Fifth Heavenly Venerable said with a sinister smile. "I alone am enough."

The hoarse voice of the Sixth Heavenly Venerable then rang out: "The matter of the Spirit-Nourishing Powder is of great importance, it would be more prudent for us to go together."

Seeing that the group was arguing, Gu You's soul fire flickered slightly in his eye sockets, and he said in a deep voice, "Enough."

A chilling pressure instantly enveloped the hall, and all the celestial beings fell silent.

"If I were to take action myself, it would attract too much attention and inevitably alert the enemy, arousing suspicion from the other races."

Gu You slowly surveyed the crowd, "Since the Lingbao Pavilion Master was able to slay the Demon Rain, his strength should not be underestimated. This time, Xue He will lead the team, with the Fifth and Sixth Heavenly Venerables assisting from the side. We must crush the Lingbao Pavilion with overwhelming force and bring back the method for refining the Spirit-Nourishing Powder!"

He paused, his tone suddenly turning cold: "If you fail... you should know the consequences of the palace rules."

A blood-red glint flashed in Xuehe's eyes as he cupped his hands and said, "Rest assured, Lord Guyou, I will not fail you!"

The fifth and sixth Heavenly Venerables also bowed and accepted the order.

----------------------

In the ancient realm, a solitary mountain peak pierces the clouds, surrounded by mist and clouds, resembling a fairyland.

At the summit, a young girl dressed in a light blue robe stood against the wind, her clothes fluttering gently in the swirling clouds, like a fairy from a painting.

Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, held back only by a simple jade hairpin, revealing her gracefully sculpted, fair neck. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, her features so delicate they seemed to have been meticulously sculpted by the very essence of heaven and earth. In particular, her bright eyes were as clear as autumn water, radiating an aura of refined elegance with every glance.

"Miss, that's how it is..."

"Young Master Lu Yu's title of 'Heavenly Flame Venerable' has now resounded throughout the Central Plains."

Behind him, Ling Ying, dressed in a black robe, respectfully reported.

Upon hearing this, Xun'er's lips unconsciously curved upwards, forming a breathtakingly beautiful arc. Her clear eyes seemed to hold the stars, sparkling with genuine joy and pride.

She murmured to herself, her voice brimming with undisguised pride: "I knew it. Wherever Brother Lu Yu goes, he'll always be the most dazzling one."

However, this joy did not last long.

When Xun'er thought of the Soul Palace's consistent vengeful and ruthless style, the smile on her face gradually faded, and a clear look of worry appeared in her beautiful eyes.

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly as she gazed towards the Central Plains, murmuring, "The Soul Palace's influence is deeply entrenched. They will not let the loss of a Celestial Venerable go unpunished. Although Brother Lu Yu has become famous throughout the Central Plains, he has also put himself in the eye of the storm... I am truly worried that the Soul Palace will secretly plot against him."

Seeing this, Ling Ying comforted her, "Miss, there's no need to worry too much. Young Master Lu Yu is quite powerful now and has even founded the Lingbao Pavilion. He's not alone."

Xun'er gently shook her head, her tone tinged with helplessness and urgency: "I know Brother Lu Yu's abilities, but the Soul Palace is full of cunning schemes, making it impossible to guard against them all. I really want to..."

She paused, unable to utter the words "go to his side immediately."

Because she remembered that she had already gone out once before. As a daughter of an ancient clan, she was bound by strict clan rules. Without a proper reason, her father and the elders would never allow her to leave the realm so easily again.

This constraint of identity suddenly made her feel powerless.

Just then, a gentle yet aged voice sounded leisurely from behind: "Hehe, what is it that makes Miss so worried?"

Xun'er turned around and saw that Elder Tongxuan had quietly appeared not far away, looking at her with a smile.

"Elder Tongxuan." Xun'er bowed slightly.

Elder Tongxuan stroked his beard and smiled, "I know a little about what Miss is thinking. Although the Soul Palace is arrogant, it is ultimately just the Soul Clan's open henchmen. Our Ancient Clan does not need to be afraid of them."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Well then, I happen to have some business to attend to in Zhongzhou, so I'll take the opportunity to visit the Lingbao Pavilion, see my young friend Lu Yu, and also... give the Soul Palace a little warning, so they can be more measured in their actions and not go too far."

Upon hearing this, Xun'er's beautiful eyes flashed with surprise and delight, and she quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, Elder Tongxuan!"

She understood that with Elder Tongxuan, a high-ranking member of the ancient clan, personally intervening, it was undoubtedly the strongest protection for her brother Lu Yu, and also the most powerful deterrent to the Soul Palace.

Seeing this, Elder Tongxuan simply waved his hand with a smile and said repeatedly, "It's alright, it's alright."

He gazed intently towards Zhongzhou, his mind racing with his own thoughts. Since their faction had already decided to invest in Lu Yu, there was no reason for them to back down halfway.

Having already shown goodwill in the early stages, and now that the kid may be facing a threat from the Soul Palace, it is even more necessary to demonstrate the support and sincerity of their faction.

Only by continuing this investment can it potentially yield unimaginable returns in the future.

(End of this chapter)