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

Chapter 42 A Gift for Xun'er

Soon after,

In the courtyard, Lu Yu leisurely finished the breakfast prepared by Little Fairy Doctor—several delicate side dishes with a bowl of perfectly cooked rice porridge, and two nourishing red dates at the bottom of the bowl.

"His skills have become increasingly refined."

He smiled, put down his chopsticks, and took the silk handkerchief Qinglin handed him to wipe his mouth.

Little Fairy Doctor's ears turned slightly red as she lowered her head to tidy up the tableware: "Brother Lu, are you going out today?"

"Okay, let's go see Xun'er."

Lu Yu straightened his clothes, his third-grade alchemist badge gleaming in the morning light, and said unhurriedly, "After being away on training for so long, that girl is probably going to throw a tantrum again."

His tone was somewhat indulgent.

Then he got up and left, passing through several courtyards, his clothes damp with morning dew, and he could see Xun'er's elegant little courtyard in the distance.

"Dong dong!"

A light knock was made on the courtyard gate, and hurried footsteps immediately came from inside. The gate creaked open, revealing Xun'er's stunningly beautiful face.

She wore a light purple dress, and the white magnolia hairpin in her hair swayed slightly. A hint of surprise flashed in her beautiful eyes, but she deliberately put on a stern face: "Oh, isn't this our busy brother Yu? You still know to come back?"

Lu Yu chuckled and casually reached out to ruffle her hair: "Weren't you just missing our Xun'er?"

Xun'er gave a soft hum, but couldn't hide the smile on her lips, and stepped aside to make way.

On the stone table in the courtyard was a set of celadon tea set, the aroma of tea wafting through the air: "Come in, I just brewed your favorite oolong tea."

Lu Yu stepped into the courtyard, his gaze lingering briefly on a shadowy spot before he smiled and sat down.

After taking her seat, Xun'er held the teapot in her delicate hand, the tea tracing a graceful arc in the air: "Brother Yu, have you found the strange fire yet?"

Lu Yu sighed softly, "We did find a clue, but..."

As he spoke, he recounted the words he had told Elder Yao yesterday, and when he mentioned Queen Medusa, a hint of solemnity flashed in his eyes.

Xun'er nodded thoughtfully: "So, the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame is now in Queen Medusa's hands?"

Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she asked with concern, "Is this strange fire very important to Brother Yu?"

"Not really."

Lu Yu smiled slightly, and a ball of blue and red flames suddenly rose from his palm. The flames were exceptionally agile, sometimes transforming into a leaping dragon, sometimes condensing into a blooming fire lotus, exuding a rich spirituality amidst their intense heat.

"Although I did not obtain the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, this Earth Core Flame has evolved considerably through a series of fortuitous events."

He flicked his fingertips, and the flame traced a graceful arc in the air. A smile flashed in his eyes as he asked, "What does Xun'er think of this fire?"

Xun'er stared at the cyan-red flames dancing in Lu Yu's palm, a hint of surprise appearing in her beautiful eyes. She pondered for a moment, then said softly, "In Xun'er's opinion, Brother Yu's strange fire should be ranked between fifteenth and twentieth on the Strange Fire Ranking."

She paused, then said with a firm tone, "At least the three ranked strange flames are far inferior to the one in Brother Yu's hand."

"The fifteenth to twentieth place..."

Lu Yu nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled mysteriously: "But this time, I brought Xun'er a special gift."

After saying that, he took out an exquisite jade box from his storage ring and gently placed it on the stone table.

The box was opened, revealing three jade slips of different colors lying quietly inside.

"What is this...?" Xun'er tilted her head curiously, her black hair falling over her shoulders.

Lu Yu took out one of the fiery red jade slips and explained, "This contains a method called the Strange Fire Spirit Vein, which can improve one's aptitude by using strange fire. It is a rare and wonderful method in the world."

After saying that, he picked up the second white jade slip and said, "This is a secret technique called the Danxin Tongming Method. Practicing this secret technique can continuously improve the soul's perception, although it is not a pure soul technique that can directly improve the soul's realm."

"But precisely because of this, it's easy to learn and of high enough quality to be used all the way up to the peak of the Dou Zun realm." "As for the last one..."

Lu Yu looked at the last golden jade slip, and his expression suddenly became somewhat subtle.

He hesitated for a moment, then pushed the jade slip to Xun'er, saying, "Xun'er, it would be better if you studied it alone tonight. This cultivation method... is somewhat special."

"A secret technique that can improve one's aptitude?"

"A secret technique that can enhance soul perception?"

"Is there another strange cultivation technique that requires memorization at night?"

With each item Lu Yu mentioned, Xun'er's eyes widened further. As the young lady of an ancient clan, what kind of cultivation techniques and secret methods hadn't she seen...?

However, the secret techniques that Lu Yu took out were top-tier even among the ancient clans!

As for whether the items were genuine or not, she had never doubted Lu Yu.

Thinking of this, Xun'er took a deep breath, gently pushed the jade box back, and said softly, "Brother Yu, these things are too precious, I can't accept them."

Lu Yu smiled and shook his head, then pushed the jade box back in front of her: "Between you and me, why be so formal?"

As they exchanged words, Xun'er's expression suddenly shifted. Golden light flashed at her fingertips, and an ancient jade slip appeared in her palm: "Since Brother Yu insists on giving it to me, Xun'er cannot be stingy. This is a fighting technique from my clan… one I obtained by chance…"

"When this fighting technique is cultivated to a high level, it can rival a Heaven-rank fighting technique. I will give it to Brother Yu today."

"I hope Brother Yu will not refuse, but Brother Yu must remember not to tell anyone."

"It's also best not to use it too much in front of outsiders, but to use it only when a crisis occurs."

"However, there are restrictions on this, and Brother Yu can only open it after he reaches the Dou Wang realm."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu was taken aback, and then thought to himself, "It's comparable to a Heaven-Rank Battle Technique, could it be the Emperor Seal Technique of an ancient clan?"

Thinking of this, he glanced subtly at the shadowy corner of the courtyard—where everything was calm and undisturbed.

"Did I guess wrong?"

As he was muttering to himself, he suddenly felt a slight tugging on his sleeve.

Turning his head, he was met with Xun'er's pretty face so close to his. The girl had somehow gotten close, her bright eyes brimming with mischief: "What are you daydreaming about, Brother Yu?"

Her unique, delicate orchid fragrance lingered faintly in the air.

Lu Yu's heart warmed, and he suddenly stretched out his arms to pull the beauty into his embrace. Xun'er let out a soft gasp, but did not struggle. Only the tips of her ears turned blush at a visible speed, like pink cherries.

"It just suddenly occurred to me..."

Lu Yu lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "Our Xun'er is getting more and more considerate."

"What nonsense are you talking about..."

Xun'er buried her burning cheeks in his chest, her voice muffled, but her arms around his waist tightened unconsciously.

Meanwhile, on the treetops in the corner of the courtyard.

Ling Ying, who was hiding awkwardly above, wiped away a cold sweat with lingering fear: "This kid... when did his senses become so sharp? I almost gave myself away..."

He tugged at his collar with a distressed expression, looking like a wronged old butler: "If this continues, I, a dignified Dou Huang, will truly become a lewd voyeur spying on young ladies' love affairs..."

Feeling increasingly aggrieved, Ling Ying couldn't help but take out a communication jade talisman, hesitating whether to report it to the clan. But then she thought, what if the clan found out that her young lady had given away the Emperor's Seal Technique...

"Ugh……"

He sighed heavily, stuffed the jade talisman back into his hand, and thought to himself, "This job is getting more and more difficult..."

(End of this chapter)