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

Chapter 259 The Soul Emperor's Interest, Gu Yuan's Protection
Gu Yuan remained silent, a suffocating atmosphere filling the air. His gaze swept over Lu Yu and the others behind him, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes.

Seeing this, the Soul Emperor slowly spoke: "Since both sides are at fault, why don't we each take a step back? The Soul Clan will hand over Soul Extinction to the Ancient Clan for disposal, and the Ancient Clan will hand over that Five-Star Dou Sheng to the Soul Clan. How about that?"

Just as Gu Yuan was pondering, Lu Yu's expression changed, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

He knew full well that there were Soul Clan spies lurking within the Ancient Clan, and handing over Soul Extinction to the Ancient Clan would be tantamount to releasing a tiger back into the mountains. Once the war between the two clans broke out, this person would surely be secretly rescued.

"Senior, wait a minute."

Lu Yu suddenly stepped forward, his voice clear yet unwavering, “Since this matter arose because of my Lingbao Pavilion, let my Lingbao Pavilion settle it.”

He looked directly at the Soul Emperor and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "The Soul Palace has repeatedly offended my Spirit Treasure Pavilion, and today it has launched a full-scale attack. Since you want an explanation, why don't I settle things with the Soul Palace?"

"Oh?"

The Soul Emperor raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on Lu Yu with an almost tangible intensity, carrying a suffocating pressure. "What is your status that you dare to negotiate with me?"

Just as tensions were about to rise, Gu Yuan stepped forward at the opportune moment, his blue robe fluttering even without wind, and said calmly, "He is the son-in-law of my Gu clan, and naturally he is qualified to speak on behalf of the Gu clan."

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Soul Emperor as he carefully examined Lu Yu once more. His gaze seemed to see right through him, inside and out, before he revealed a meaningful smile: "So that's how it is... No wonder Brother Gu was so protective of him."

He shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with amusement: "I've long heard that Brother Gu's beloved daughter has fallen for a foreign boy..."

The Soul Emperor's gaze lingered on Lu Yu for a moment, then he said meaningfully, "I never expected it to be this boy..."

"I was thinking that our two clans have been friends for many years, and that a marriage alliance would be a good thing..."

Gu Yuan snorted coldly and flicked his sleeve: "No need for pretense. Soul Emperor, you and I both know that there has never been any friendship between the Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan."

"This child's meaning is my meaning."

"Since it's a dispute between the Spirit Treasure Pavilion and the Soul Palace, let them resolve it themselves."

His gaze swept over the Soul Emperor, and he said calmly, "You and I are here; we only need to be witnesses."

Upon hearing this, the Soul Emperor glanced at the people of the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, then at the heavily injured Soul Extinction, and suddenly chuckled. His laughter carried a meaning that was difficult to decipher.

He turned to look at Gu Yuan, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "In that case, does the Eight Clans Alliance... still need to be observed?"

The question was asked casually, yet it made everyone present hold their breath.

Gu Yuan frowned upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, then his gaze fell on the heavily injured Hun Miesheng, and he said in a deep voice, "Of course we must abide by this."

The Soul Emperor nodded slightly, and a pill the size of a longan slid out from his sleeve. The pill was crystal clear, with nine strange patterns flowing across its surface, and it emitted a refreshing medicinal fragrance—it was a precious ninth-grade treasure pill.

With a flick of his finger, the pill precisely entered Hun Miesheng's mouth. As the medicinal power rapidly dissipated, Hun Miesheng's injuries began to heal at a visible speed, and his pale face gradually regained its color.

"Since we must abide by the rules..." Before the Soul Emperor could finish speaking, he suddenly pointed out with a finger.

A deep black light pierced into Hun Miesheng's brow, causing his recently recovered aura to fluctuate violently. To everyone's astonishment, his cultivation level plummeted from a five-star Dou Sheng to the peak of a four-star Dou Sheng.

Hun Miesheng groaned, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but he dared not utter a word of complaint, only bowing his head respectfully: "Thank you for sparing my life, Clan Chief."

The Soul Emperor glanced at Soul Extinction indifferently, his voice calm yet carrying a chilling edge:
"If we can't win, we don't need to come back alive."

These words fell lightly, yet they sent a shiver down Hun Miesheng's spine. He lowered his head deeply, his voice hoarse:

"My subordinate understands."

Upon seeing this, a cold glint flashed in Gu Yuan's eyes.

He could naturally see that the Soul Emperor was using a feigned retreat as a tactic to advance. On the surface, it was about punishing Soul Destroyer, but in reality, it was about using this incident to completely resolve today's conflict.

At the peak of the four-star Dou Sheng realm, Lingbao Pavilion cannot use Zi Yan. The strongest among them is Lu Yu. Although he is only a two-star Dou Sheng, his array formation skills are comparable to those of a three-star Dou Sheng.

However, there is still an insurmountable gap between them and the peak of the four-star Dou Sheng. If Lingbao Pavilion is defeated, not only will Lu Yu suffer a loss, but the face of the ancient clan will also be damaged.

Gu Yuan turned his gaze to Lu Yu, only to see Lu Yu nod slightly, his eyes shining with confidence.

Gu Yuan still had doubts, but thinking of the mysterious aura that Lu Yu had faintly emitted during his seclusion, he finally nodded slowly:
"Okay, then it's up to you."

He turned his gaze to Lu Yu, his tone carrying a deeper meaning: "You brat, if you lose, I won't let Xun'er live as a widow..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu's face immediately lit up with a bright smile, and he respectfully bowed to Gu Yuan: "Father-in-law, rest assured, your son-in-law will do his best and will never let you down."

The way he addressed him as "father-in-law" was so natural that Gu Yuan's eye twitched slightly. Everyone present exchanged bewildered glances, and even the usually composed Soul Emperor raised an eyebrow.

No one expected that at such a tense moment, Lu Yu would so readily identify himself as a son-in-law.

This kid... is truly shameless...

Gu Yuan's lips twitched, but he didn't say anything more. He turned to the Soul Emperor and said in a deep voice, "Since we are going to fight, we need to define the battlefield to avoid harming the innocent."

The Soul Emperor chuckled and said, "As you wish."

The two top experts of the era raised their hands at the same time, and their vast battle qi surged forth.

A semi-transparent barrier quickly unfolded in the arena, its light screen shimmering with a transparent glow. It could completely isolate the terrifying aftershocks of the battle inside without hindering the observers from watching.

"Go." Gu Yuan flicked his sleeve, and an entrance to the barrier opened.

Lu Yu and Hun Miesheng exchanged a glance before stepping into the barrier one after the other. Hun Miesheng's body was enveloped in swirling black mist; the pressure of a peak four-star Dou Sheng caused the space within the barrier to distort slightly, and a sinister aura permeated the air.

Although Lu Yu was only a two-star Dou Sheng, he stood calmly in place, with golden flames faintly circulating around him, like the rising sun.

The moment the two stepped into the barrier, three different flames rose simultaneously from Lu Yu's body—the emerald green flame of the Flame of Life, the dark and deep essence of the Netherworld Flame, and the dazzling golden light of the Floating Pagoda Flame. The three saint-level flames intertwined and merged in front of him, transforming into a three-colored halo.

"Burning Spirit Transformation!"

With this clear shout, the three-colored light wheel erupted, transforming into a towering pillar of light that enveloped Lu Yu. Within the pillar, the power of the strange fire surged ceaselessly, and Lu Yu's aura, driven by the secret technique, steadily increased, eventually stabilizing at the early stage of a three-star Dou Sheng!

At this moment, he was surrounded by three-colored light, and every breath he exuded caused the space within the barrier to tremble slightly. Seeing this, Hun Miesheng curled his lips into a disdainful sneer.

If I can't beat that Ancient Void Dragon, surely I can beat you?
How dare this mere brat, who forcibly improved himself through secret methods, act arrogantly before me? Today I will show you that in the face of absolute strength, any trickery is futile!
"Soul-Devouring Claw!"

A cold glint flashed in Hun Miesheng's eyes as he launched the first attack, his right hand suddenly extending like a claw. Five pitch-black claw shadows tore through the void, heading straight for Lu Yu's face.

Wherever the claw shadow passed, space shattered inch by inch, even the light was swallowed up, leaving only five twisted trails, and a cold, deathly aura instantly permeated the entire barrier.

Lu Yu looked up, his gaze still calm. He formed a hand seal in front of his chest with lightning speed, and three strange flames surged out from his body, instantly condensing into a giant fiery palm a thousand feet long.

"Heaven-Burning Seal!"

Facing a formidable foe, Lu Yu poured all three Saint-level exotic flames—the Flame of Life, the Netherworld Flame, and the Floating Pagoda Flame—into his flames without reservation. The three-colored light swirled on the giant fiery palm, emanating a terrifying aura capable of incinerating everything, as it fiercely met the five dark claw shadows.

"boom!"

The three-colored fiery palm and the pitch-black claw shadow collided with a deafening roar.

To everyone's astonishment, Hun Miesheng was forced back three steps, a half-inch-long white bone appearing on the back of his right hand. No blood seeped from the wound—the surrounding flesh had been completely incinerated by the residual heat of the strange fire the instant of contact!
"The Lord of the Soul Palace is nothing special..."

Before Lu Yu could finish speaking, Hun Miesheng's eyes flashed with blood-red light, and he laughed angrily, "Arrogant brat! When I took charge of the Soul Palace, you were still an infant!"

"Ten Thousand Souls Devouring Heaven Palm!"

A pitch-black palm print, carrying countless vengeful spirits, roared out. Countless twisted souls struggled and wailed within the palm print, and the space collapsed wherever it passed, even the light was completely swallowed up.

Lu Yu's expression remained unchanged, and the Yin and Yang energies at his fingertips circulated like dragons: "Two Elements Breaking the Void Finger!"

The black and white finger strikes tore through the sky, the yin and yang energies perfectly merging, colliding violently with the pitch-black palm print. The resulting energy storm caused the entire barrier to tremble violently, and all the onlookers paled in shock.

"Ten thousand souls worship!"

A bloody gash suddenly split open between Hun Miesheng's brows, and an invisible soul impact transformed into the wails of countless vengeful spirits, directly attacking the depths of Lu Yu's soul. If this attack were to hit, it would be enough to obliterate the soul of an ordinary Dou Sheng.

"Netherworld Thunder Sound Sword!"

A flash of lightning appeared between Lu Yu's brows, and a soul sword containing a vast thunderous sound burst forth from the sky. Wherever the sword energy passed, fine lightning patterns rippled through the space, fiercely clashing with the soul impact in mid-air.

The ear-piercing thunder and ghostly howls intertwined, causing the expressions of the powerful figures outside the barrier to change slightly.

Hun Miesheng's face turned cold, and he said with a sinister smile, "Boy, don't think you're the only one who possesses a different kind of fire!"

He slowly extended his right hand, and a strange black flame rose from his palm. As the black flame churned, it coalesced into a distorted human face, its empty eye sockets pulsating with a ghostly light that seemed to devour everything. A chilling, devouring power erupted from the face's gaping maw, causing even the surrounding space to distort and deform.

"Void Devouring Flame?"

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow. He clearly sensed that the devouring power contained within this Dao Flame far surpassed that of ordinary strange flames. Even more terrifying was that the human face seemed to possess its own consciousness, staring greedily at the three strange flames within his body!

He stared calmly at the strange black flame, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Since you're here, don't leave..."

He calmly raised his hand and summoned the Fallen God Sword. The three different flames flowed and transformed into a fiery sword aura that spanned the heavens and the earth. The scorching sword intent caused the space within the barrier to distort slightly.

"Daluo Tianyan Sword!"

"Pretend to be a ghost!"

Soul Extinction sneered, his hands forming a seal. The Void Devouring Flame instantly surged, transforming into a massive, sky-covering black wave that surged forth. Countless distorted faces roared within that wave, emanating a terrifying aura that devoured everything.

"Playing tricks?"

Facing the towering black waves, Lu Yu merely smiled faintly. A profound rune quietly appeared between his brows, and five illusory chains radiating extreme cold coiled around it. Two of these chains shattered silently, unnoticed by anyone.

Flame Ancestral Symbol, unseal!
The power of the ancestral symbol transformed into specks of starlight, flowing into the Fallen God Sword like rivers flowing into the sea. The sword instantly shimmered with light, and ancient runes flickered on its blade.

"cut."

An understatement.

A condensed, silk-like sword light appeared out of thin air, and wherever it passed, the black flames melted away like spring snow.

The sword light seemed slow, yet it appeared to transcend space, effortlessly grazing Hun Miesheng's body in his horrified gaze.

When the sword light dissipated, Hun Miesheng remained in his forward-charging posture, except for a thin, almost invisible line of blood between his brows.

"This is impossible……"

He uttered his last few words with difficulty, his body slowly split in two, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Just as Hun Miesheng was about to perish, a ball of pitch-black flame suddenly burst out from his remains, attempting to escape through the air.

With a flick of his sleeve, Lu Yu sent out the Floating Pagoda, which precisely suppressed the out-of-control Void Devouring Flame.

Those watching from outside the barrier gasped in astonishment. Mang Tianchi's hand, stroking his beard, trembled slightly, Zi Yan's eyes gleamed with wonder, and Little Fairy Doctor held her breath.

The Soul Emperor's expression remained unchanged, as if the dead were merely insignificant individuals, but the subtle fluctuations in the space around him betrayed the turmoil within him.

Gu Yuan chuckled lightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes: "It seems you've miscalculated today."

"Miscalculation?" The Soul Emperor's lips curled slightly. "It's just the death of a piece of trash."

The two exchanged a smile, and their seemingly peaceful exchange subtly trembled the energy of the entire world. The onlookers held their breath, not daring to even breathe loudly.

With a flick of his sleeve, Gu Yuan dispelled the barrier: "This round, my Gu clan has won."

The Soul Emperor turned away noncommittally, his voice carried on the wind: "Let's leave it at that."

(End of this chapter)