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

Chapter 279 The Grand Ceremony Begins, Goodbye Xun'er
"Really?"

Xun'er paused slightly in her hand holding the teapot, a hint of surprise flashing in her beautiful eyes, "Brother Yu... is he working this hard?"

Ling Ying, who was standing to the side, bowed and reported: "This old servant saw with his own eyes that since Young Master Lu Yu returned, he has been in seclusion in the bamboo house, seemingly studying some kind of profound formation."

Xun'er gently put down the teapot, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the jade bottle containing the Supreme Pill on the table. The smile on her lips deepened: "He was clearly in the wrong first, yet now it seems like we're the ones making things difficult for him..."

She looked out the window at the deep night, her tone tinged with a hint of reproach, but mostly with an unyielding tenderness: "This Brother Yu, sometimes he really is... impossible to deal with."

Ling Ying bowed and waited for her mistress to finish speaking before adding, "Besides that, I heard that the clan leader has specially invited Elder Gu Dao to attend the Black Annihilation Army's grand ceremony tomorrow..."

Xun'er paused slightly in her hand holding the teapot, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "Grandpa Gu Dao? He's come out of seclusion too?"

"Exactly."

Ling Ying said in a low voice, "It is said that Elder Gu Dao came out of seclusion yesterday, and he seems to have some reservations about this marriage."

Xun'er gently put down the teapot, her brows furrowing slightly: "That's impossible. Grandpa Gu Dao dotes on me the most, how could he object to my marriage?"

She hesitated for a moment, a hint of confusion flashing in her beautiful eyes, "There seems to be some misunderstanding..."

"This……"

Ling Ying hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing her words before speaking: "This old servant doesn't know... Elder Gu Dao is in seclusion year-round; perhaps some villain has spoken ill of him..."

Upon hearing this, Xun'er frowned slightly, then stood up and said, "No, I need to go and ask my father for an explanation."

She strode towards the door, her black hair swaying gently at her waist as she turned. Ling Ying quickly followed, saying, "Miss, it's almost midnight; the clan leader has probably already retired for the night."

Xun'er continued walking, her tone firm: "This is of utmost importance; I must find out the truth. If someone is deliberately spreading rumors in front of Grandpa Gu Dao..."

A cold glint flashed in her beautiful eyes. "I will not allow anyone to ruin this marriage."

Ling Ying remained silent upon hearing this. In fact, he had another guess in his heart, but he dared not say it.

He recalled the rumors he had heard some time ago—the clan leader had secretly impersonated an ancient clan elder and fought against Young Master Lu Yu on Mount Tianmu. A one-star Dou Sheng against Young Master Lu Yu, who was then a half-saint, but the outcome of that battle…

Ling Ying glanced furtively at Xun'er's anxious profile, but ultimately swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. These secrets were really not something a servant like him should divulge.

……

Time passed slowly, and three days later.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the clouds, the entire Ancient Sacred Mountain Range was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere. Sharp figures occasionally streaked across the sky, and the deep sound of horns echoed through the valleys, carrying a chilling pressure.

"crunch..."

The bamboo door opened with a click, and Lu Yu emerged fully dressed.

The people in the courtyard had been waiting for a long time. Yao Lao and Xiao Yan stood quietly to one side, while Ling Ying stood respectfully by his side.

"Young Master Lu Yu, please follow this old servant to the ceremony." Ling Ying bowed and then led the way.

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder Ling."

Lu Yu nodded and exchanged glances with Xiao Yan and Yao Lao beside him.

As the group traversed the winding mountain path, Ling Ying explained, "Today is the Black Annihilation Army selection ceremony. The Black Annihilation Army is a gathering place for the elite warriors of our ancient clan, possessing extremely formidable combat power, and is directly under the command of the Elders."

He paused, then continued, "The reason why the Black Annihilation Army holds such a prestigious position in our clan is because the selection criteria are extremely stringent. Not only must they be absolutely loyal to our clan, but they must also reach a certain level of cultivation within a specific age range."

“Strict assessments are conducted every year, and those who do not meet the standards are immediately eliminated.”

"The strong rise, the weak fall; this is the selection ceremony."

Ling Ying's tone carried a hint of pride, "That's why our Black Annihilation Army has always maintained peak combat strength, and has always been a birthplace of the strong."

He paused briefly, his voice now tinged with respect: "Besides the clan leader, our ancient clan's strongest member, Lord Gu Lie, rose to prominence from the Black Annihilation Army. Elder Gu Dao, one of the Three Immortals, also served as the Black Annihilation Army's commander in his youth."

As they spoke, the group arrived at a vast plaza shrouded in an ancient aura. Ling Ying led the way, walking briskly towards the center of the plaza.

Around the plaza, Black Annihilation Army warriors, clad in black armor, stood ramrod straight like javelins, their sharp gazes sweeping across the surroundings like those of hawks. When their eyes fell upon Lu Yu, they paused noticeably for a moment, but then resumed their composure without making any further moves.

The square was now filled with guests who had come to observe the ceremony. Ling Ying bowed and said, "Young Master Lu Yu, we've arrived..."

"Brother Yu!"

Just then, a clear and melodious voice broke the solemnity of the square. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a graceful figure standing quietly in the center of the square. The woman was dressed in an elegant blue dress, which, although not extravagant, exuded a noble air that seemed to transcend heaven and earth.

Her long, flowing black hair was loosely tied up with a pale purple ribbon, cascading down to her waist along her exquisite figure. A gentle breeze blew, and the hair swayed lightly, exuding an ethereal beauty, as if a banished immortal had descended to earth, carrying an inviolable and otherworldly aura.

His gaze slowly moved upwards, settling on that flawless face. Her skin, as smooth as cream, glowed with a healthy rosy hue, and a gentle smile played on her lips, as comforting as a spring breeze. Before such a woman, who embodied the very essence of heaven and earth, even the most outstanding woman would feel ashamed of herself.

Lu Yu gazed at the face etched into his soul, a gentle smile unconsciously appearing on his face.

"Brother Yu".

Under the watchful eyes of thousands, the girl in green gracefully smiled and appeared before Lu Yu in a flash. She raised her delicate face and parted her red lips slightly: "You've finally come."

As she spoke, she naturally took Lu Yu's arm. This intimate gesture immediately caused a subtle commotion in the audience.

Many young members of the ancient tribes looked astonished, their eyes filled with undisguised jealousy. Their beloved Miss Xun'er, whom they regarded as a goddess, was so close to this foreign man.

Even the ancient clan elders sitting in the front row couldn't help but frown slightly. Although the Black Annihilation Army warriors around the square still stood as upright as pine trees, the veins on the backs of their hands, gripping their weapons tightly, were faintly bulging.

Seeing this, Lu Yu subtly took half a step forward, about to speak, when Xun'er gently took his arm and walked towards the center seats. Along the way, whispers could be faintly heard from the guests' seats:
"What merits does this person possess to deserve such favor from Miss Xun'er..."

"I heard he's just a foreigner..."

Just as the discussion began to rise, Lu Yu frowned slightly, and his fighting spirit unconsciously circulated within him.

In an instant, a vast and overwhelming pressure spread out from him, and although it was only fleeting, it silenced the entire square.

The oppressive aura was so palpable that it seemed to freeze the air itself. Those who had been whispering earlier fell silent, the elders' pupils constricted, and the Black Annihilation Army warriors instinctively straightened their backs, their eyes filled with horror.

"A four-star Dou Sheng..."

Someone uttered a soft cry, the sound remarkably clear in the silent square.

Xun'er sensed this aura, her lips slightly raised, and she said softly, "Brother Yu's cultivation has improved again."

Lu Yu smiled calmly, about to speak, when he suddenly sensed something and looked up at the sky.

Several figures descended from the sky. Besides Elder Tongxuan, whom we had seen before, there was also an old man with white hair dressed in a blue robe. This old man always wore a warm smile, seemingly kind, but those with keen eyes could sense the sharpness hidden beneath that smile.

Immediately afterwards, a female elder dressed in an elegant long dress gracefully descended, her face beautiful, her temperament gentle yet dignified.

Whispers suddenly broke out among the spectators: "It's Elder Gu Yun..."

"Even Elder Gu Yang, who has been guarding the ancestral hall, has come..."

Someone else gasped in surprise. Behind Gu Yun, an elderly man with long hair stepped through the air, revealing a pair of seemingly kind eyes through his hair.

With the arrival of these elders, more than ten powerful figures landed on the platform one after another. Each of them exuded a chilling aura, clearly indicating that they were all influential figures in the ancient clan.

Just when everyone thought the ceremony was about to begin, an even more powerful pressure suddenly came from the sky.

An elderly man in a green robe descended through the air, his presence causing ripples in the very space around him. The old man possessed an ancient face, and his eyes seemed to hold the workings of the sun and moon. The aura emanating from him clearly indicated he was a high-level Battle Saint!
"It's Elder Gu Dao!" A chorus of exclamations erupted in the arena, and all the members of the ancient clans were filled with awe and respect.

However, this was not the end. Following Elder Gu Dao, two figures arrived side by side.

The man on the left, dressed in a white robe, exudes a refined and scholarly air; he is none other than the clan chief, Gu Yuan.

On the right was a burly figure, exuding a chilling fighting spirit. He was none other than the supreme commander of the Black Annihilation Army, Black Annihilation King Gu Lie!
The simultaneous appearance of three top experts from the ancient clans caused the entire plaza to tremble with immense pressure.

All the ancient clan disciples present bowed in unison, and even the unruly Black Annihilation Army warriors pounded their chests with their fists to pay the highest respect to these three supreme ancient clan experts.

"Brother Lu Yu, please sit down."

Xun'er gently tugged at Lu Yu's sleeve, gesturing for him to sit in the empty seat next to her.

Lu Yu then noticed that Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan were already seated in the VIP seats. Little Fairy Doctor smiled at him gently, while Zi Yan winked playfully.

Xiao Yan and Yao Lao followed closely behind, taking their seats one after another beside Lu Yu.

Lu Yu calmly took his seat, keenly noticing several pairs of eyes fixed on his group.

Elder Tongxuan gave him a kind smile, while Elder Guyang, though still maintaining a benevolent smile, had a sharp glint in his eyes.

When Lu Yu's gaze met Elder Gu Yun's, he could clearly feel the coldness in the other's eyes.

The female elder frowned slightly, her gaze shifting between Lu Yu and the three women beside him, her eyes filled with obvious dissatisfaction.

On the high platform, Gu Lie took a step forward and his voice boomed: "The selection for this year's Black Annihilation Army shall now begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several dazzling pillars of light lit up in the center of the square, illuminating the entire training ground as if it were daytime.

Squads of warriors clad in black armor marched into the arena in perfect unison, instantly filling the entire area with a chilling aura that made everyone hold their breath.

(End of this chapter)