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

Chapter 245 Gu Yuan: "I'll take you to rob the Soul Palace, are you in?"

"Buzz!"

Lu Yu gripped the Meteor God Sword in one hand and picked up the Dragon-Phoenix Supreme Pill in the other. Looking at the perfectly round pill, he nodded slightly and then put it into the jade bottle.

With a slight thought, the Fallen God Sword transformed into a streak of crimson light and returned to his dantian. Then, his figure gracefully landed on the Heavenly Mountain Platform.

"Congratulations, Pavilion Master, on achieving the ninth rank in alchemy!"

The alchemists from Lingbao Pavilion surged forward like a tidal wave, their faces flushed with excitement, surrounding Lu Yu and eagerly asking the questions that had been building up in their hearts for so long:
"Master! I need your guidance on how to quickly refine medicinal herbs!"

"Sect Master, how exactly should one control the heat when nurturing a sixth-grade elixir? I can never quite get the timing right at the last moment!"

"Sect Master, how can we perfectly time the condensation of the core? Every time, I feel like it's just a little off!"

"And me! Pavilion Master, how do we reconcile conflicting medicinal properties?"

"Sect Master..."

A flurry of voices filled the air, creating a lively scene. Surrounded by the crowd, Lu Yu maintained a gentle smile throughout, calmly and methodically answering each question:
"To accelerate the refining of medicinal herbs, one's soul realm is important, but even more important is the intensity of the flames; cultivation level is the foundation of everything..."

"When nurturing the elixir, it is best to keep the heat stable. At this stage, the main purpose of nurturing is to maintain the efficacy of the medicine. If the heat fluctuates too much, it will damage the already stable medicinal structure."

"The key to seizing the right moment for condensing the elixir lies in sensing the perfect fusion between the medicinal liquids. This requires..."

Every time he answered a question, a chorus of exclamations of sudden understanding would erupt from the crowd, and many alchemists would eagerly take out their jade slips to quickly record these valuable experiences.

"I see! That's the key!"

"No wonder I always felt like I was missing something when I tried to condense my core!"

"The Pavilion Master's words have truly enlightened me!"

Half an hour later, seeing that the questions from the crowd had gradually decreased, Lu Yu smiled and said, "That's all for today. If you have any questions, you can come to the main hall to find me at any time."

Upon hearing this, although everyone was still eager for more, they all respectfully bowed and took their leave, discussing their gains in small groups, their faces beaming with excitement and satisfaction.

As everyone reluctantly dispersed, Xiao Yan strode forward, grabbed Lu Yu's shoulder tightly, and laughed heartily: "Brother Lu, today has truly broadened my horizons! A ninth-grade precious pill, Black Demon Lightning, and a strange fire that can shatter Black Demon Lightning... From now on, when I'm in Zhongzhou, I'll definitely use your name!"

Lu Yu lightly punched him in the chest and laughed, "Stop with that. When did you learn to bully others by relying on your power? With your talent, breaking through to the ninth-grade alchemist is only a matter of time."

Xiao Yan chuckled, then said seriously, "To be honest, I learned so much today. I need to go back and digest it all. If my teacher knew that I witnessed the refining of a ninth-grade pill today, he would be green with envy."

"Be careful on the road," Lu Yu instructed. "Give my regards to Elder Yao."

Xiao Yan waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, Brother Lu! When I get back from Starfall Pavilion, we'll have a good drink together!"

Watching Xiao Yan transform into a streak of light and disappear into the distance, Lu Yu turned around and walked towards Mang Tianchi and Gu Yuan, who had been standing quietly to the side.

"I apologize for keeping you both waiting."

Lu Yu smiled and bowed in greeting, then led the two to an exquisite pavilion not far away. Light gauze draped around the pavilion, and fragrant spiritual tea was already prepared on the stone table in the center.

Mang Tianchi sat down on the stone bench, stroked his beard and laughed, "It's alright. Seeing you young people getting along so well reminds me of the days when I drank and made merry with old friends."

Gu Yuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked at Lu Yu with a deep gaze: "A ninth-grade alchemist, with the cultivation of a Dou Sheng, and the ability to trap and kill a Dou Sheng-level formation... It is truly amazing that you have achieved such success at such a young age."

The three sat facing each other in the pavilion, and an invisible barrier quietly rose up, isolating the pavilion from the outside world.

"Senior has given you too much praise."

Lu Yu smiled and poured tea for the two of them, saying humbly, "I was just lucky."

Mang Tianchi put down his teacup, his expression becoming more serious: "Let's get back to business. I sent a message back to the clan about the deal on the Heavenly Spirit Pill, and they have already responded. They are willing to exchange it for a Black Demon Thunder Seed at the Dou Sheng level."

Seeing Lu Yu's interested expression, he stroked his beard and explained, "This Thunder Seed has a special origin. It was left behind by a Dou Sheng senior of our clan who passed away. Young friend, you may not know that when our Thunder Clan's clan-protecting technique, the Thunder Emperor's Scripture, is cultivated to the Dou Sheng realm, one can transform Dou Qi into Black Demon Thunder, and even capture and devour strange thunder in the world."

"As cultivation progresses,"

Mang Tianchi said with a sigh, "One can nurture a natal thunder seed within the body. This thunder seed used for exchange was obtained in this way. After absorbing and refining the thunder seed, it can not only temper our thunder clan's own bloodline, but also accelerate cultivation. It can be said to be the foundation of our thunder clan's long-term prosperity."

"The fact that the clan can offer this for trade shows how much they value the Heavenly Spirit Pill formula."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu pondered in silence, lightly tapping the stone table with his fingertips.

A Dou Sheng-level Different Lightning Seed was indeed exactly what he wanted. He possessed eight divine meridians, meaning there were no bottlenecks on his cultivation path; he only needed to accumulate enough energy to break through. Furthermore, the Floating Pagoda's ability to contain different types of fire and lightning made this seed practically tailor-made for him.

Moreover, if the Thunder Clan is willing to part with such a treasure that is crucial to the foundation of their clan, they probably don't have many other better items.

If he were to use any fighting techniques or skills, they would be of little use to him.

“Since the Thunder Clan is so sincere,” Lu Yu finally smiled, “then I agree to this deal.”

Mang Tianchi was overjoyed: "Good! I will send a message back to my clan and have them send the Thunder Seed as soon as possible."

After Mang Tianchi got up and went to the side to use a secret communication technique, Lu Yu turned his gaze to Gu Yuan, who was sitting quietly and sipping tea.

What kind of bargaining chips will this elder from the ancient tribe offer?
Gu Yuan calmly put down his teacup and said indifferently, "Unlike the Lei Clan, my Gu Clan does not have seeds of strange thunder and strange fire that can be traded."

With a flick of his sleeve, an ancient-looking jade slip appeared on the stone table. "However, here is a complete inheritance of a ninth-grade Xuan Dan alchemist. I wonder if you would be interested, young friend?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu could not hide his disappointment.

A ninth-grade Xuan Dan alchemist's inheritance? What's the use of that?

He already possessed the inheritance of a Heavenly Grade Alchemy Master, comparable to a Ninth Grade Golden Core Alchemist.

If the other party could produce the inheritance of a Golden Core alchemist, he might consider it.

However, he expressed deep doubt as to whether the ancient tribes possessed such a level of heritage.

Seeing Lu Yu's lack of interest, Gu Yuan put forward several more conditions: a position as a guest elder of the ancient clan, a high-level Heaven-rank combat skill, and even the right to explore an ancient ruin. However, these opportunities, which ordinary people would dream of, failed to entice Lu Yu.

Seeing this, Gu Yuan's expression darkened. His offer was more than enough for a top-tier eighth-grade medicine formula; he hadn't expected this kid to have such high standards, even nitpicking the conditions he himself had proposed. "Young friend," Gu Yuan's tone was slightly cold, "do you perhaps think my Gu clan is unworthy of this transaction?"

"Please forgive me, senior. These things you have offered are not what I need right now."

Lu Yu shook his head, a helpless look on his face.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan frowned even more deeply: "Then what exactly do you want?"

Lu Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Ideally, it should be a rare and precious herb that can quickly increase strength without damaging the foundation..."

“At your level, rare and precious natural treasures with such effects are not so easy to find.”

Gu Yuan shook his head and sighed softly, "But since you are an alchemist, you must be most interested in strange fire."

He then changed the subject: "But our ancient clan only possesses the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame, a single inherited flame, which is absolutely not something we would trade."

Gu Yuan pondered for a moment, then a glint of light flashed in his eyes: "Boy, haven't you had a long-standing feud with the Soul Palace? I remember they possess a strange fire. Why don't we join forces and seize the Soul Palace's strange fire?"

"They stole the Soul Palace's strange fire?"

Lu Yu almost choked on his own saliva. "Senior, if you want to die, don't drag me down with you."

Of course he remembered that the Soul Palace controlled the Void Devouring Flame, which ranked second on the Strange Flame Ranking. But to say that he was trying to steal that thing was not just wishful thinking, it was practically a death wish.

Even if he possessed the decree of the Flame Emperor, he wouldn't dare provoke the Void Devouring Flame, a being who had attained the level of a Nine-Star Dou Sheng and whose strange fire had become a spirit. What difference is there between this and ants plotting to kill an elephant?
Seeing his expression that seemed to say, "Are you drunk from drinking tea, old man?" Gu Yuan couldn't help but laugh and scold, "What are you thinking? I meant to go and snatch the sub-fire that he split off!"

"Zi Huo?"

Lu Yu's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "That's negotiable. But senior, where are we going to rob it? We can't just storm the Soul Hall headquarters, can we?"

"Don't worry, I'm not senile yet."

Gu Yuan stroked his beard and chuckled, “The Human Hall, one of the three main halls of the Soul Palace, is governed by the nine Heavenly Venerables. The Great Heavenly Venerable is at the peak of the One-Star Dou Sheng level, which is exactly the level that the two of us can handle together. So, how about it, do you dare to come with me to meet them?”

Lu Yu tapped his fingertips lightly on the stone table in a rhythmic manner, and pondered, "This matter... is not impossible."

He calmly analyzed the situation: once Zi Yan took the Dragon-Phoenix Supreme Pill, with the talent of the Ancient Void Dragon, she would surely break through to the Dou Sheng realm in a short time, at which point she could restrain the Soul Hall Master. As for himself, possessing multiple different flames, fighting beyond his level was not difficult, and he should be able to handle the Soul Hall Vice Hall Master.

As for the potential retaliation, Lu Yu already had a plan in mind—since the ancient clans were involved, they naturally wouldn't sit idly by.

If it really comes to the last resort, it wouldn't be unreasonable to use the decree of Emperor Yan to intimidate the high-ranking members of the Soul Clan.

“However…” Lu Yu’s eyes flickered slightly, “Since we’re going to make a move, why not choose the Earth Palace? Although the Vice Palace Master of the Soul Palace is stationed there, that’s precisely why they might be less vigilant.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan paused slightly, stroking his beard: "The Earth Palace? That's a crucial area of ​​the Soul Palace, and the Vice Palace Master is a three-star Dou Sheng. Are you confident in your abilities?"

"If the ancient clans could send a powerful expert of the same level to help, the chances of success would be much higher."

Lu Yu calmly replied, "After all, this Void Devouring Flame Sub-Fire was originally part of the ancient clan's transaction."

"Senior, you can't just let the junior seller make the purchase, can you?"

Gu Yuan pondered for a moment, then finally nodded: "What you say makes sense. In that case, we will do as you say."

Seeing this, Mang Tianchi quickly stated, "This matter is of great importance, and it is inconvenient for my Lei Clan to participate directly. However, you two can rest assured that nothing about what we discussed today will leak out of my hands."

Upon seeing this, the two nodded slightly to Mang Tianchi.

Lu Yu turned to Gu Yuan, cupped his hands and said, "In that case, I will take my leave first, and we will discuss it in detail with you later when we are ready."

After Lu Yu left, Mang Tianchi looked at Gu Yuan with a solemn expression: "Old ghost, what exactly is your ancient clan plotting? How dare you encourage this kid to break into the Soul Palace's underground palace? Can you handle this?"

Gu Yuan leisurely sipped his tea and said calmly, "It's just letting the young people gain some experience. The Soul Palace... will handle things properly."

"Know your limits?" Mang Tianchi raised an eyebrow. "If things escalate, the Hall Master of the Soul Palace will personally intervene..."

"He didn't dare."

Gu Yuan put down his teacup, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Since I dared to send this kid, I naturally made thorough preparations. But is your Lei Clan sure you won't get involved?"

Mang Tianchi waved his hands repeatedly: "It's best for our Lei Clan to stay away from such troublesome waters."

Gu Yuan chuckled softly, gazing in the direction Lu Yu had left, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

……

Soon after,

Inside the quiet room,

Lu Yu sat cross-legged, gazing at the purple-gold Dragon and Phoenix Supreme Pill before him, feeling the immense energy contained within. He murmured to himself, "A ninth-grade treasure pill refined from the essence blood of the Ancient Void Dragon and the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix... I wonder what realm it will allow me to break through to."

He recalled the records in the inheritance, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes. His hands slowly formed a hand seal, and the purple-gold elixir instantly transformed into a stream of light and entered his dantian.

"What a powerful medicine!"

Lu Yu's heart trembled as he felt two completely different energies erupt within his body. The domineering power of the Ancient Void Dragon and the fiery intensity of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix intertwined, and if it weren't for the unique purple-gold energy in the elixir to harmonize them, even his meridians would probably have been unable to withstand it.

He immediately activated the Great Floating Pagoda Technique, and the phantom of the Floating Pagoda appeared and disappeared around him. A rich purple-gold radiance emanated from his body, condensing into a huge cocoon of light in the quiet room.

The left half of the body gradually revealed purple-gold dragon scale patterns, each scale shimmering with a mysterious light; the right half of the body displayed purple-gold phoenix feather totems, each pattern exuding a noble aura.

Under the continuous tempering of this unique purple-gold energy, his physical body is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, and his internal fighting spirit is circulating at an unprecedented speed. His cultivation level, which was originally stable at the early stage of a one-star Dou Sheng, has begun to rise rapidly.

The ancient bloodline power contained within the essence of the dragon and phoenix, enveloped in this unique purple-gold energy, is transforming his physique in the most perfect way.

Time passed slowly, and the purple-gold cocoon became more and more dazzling, its aura becoming more and more profound and magnificent.

Faintly, the sounds of dragons roaring and phoenixes singing seemed to emanate from the cocoon of light...

(End of this chapter)