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

Chapter 98 The Current Situation, The Emergence of the Xiao Family
"Withdraw... withdraw quickly!"

A snake-man commander was the first to recover from his shock, his voice filled with undisguised terror. With his roar, hundreds of snake-man soldiers immediately fell into chaos, scrambling to flee deeper into the desert.

Several guards hurriedly lifted the unconscious Mobas, his thick snake tail dragging weakly on the sand, leaving a winding trail.

Only then did the defenders on the city wall awaken from their daze and erupt in deafening cheers.

On the city wall, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li turned to look at each other at the same time, and both brothers read deep shock in each other's eyes.

"This……"

Xiao Li's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice was a little dry, and he said incredulously, "Brother Lu's strength has become so terrifying?"

Xiao Ding gazed at the proud figure standing in the air, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "When we last met in Stone Desert City, he was clearly only a Great Dou Master..."

In just one year, this young man, who was once a few years younger than them, has now grown to a height that they can only look up to.

The two brothers, without prior arrangement, thought of their equally extraordinary third brother, and were immediately filled with a myriad of emotions.

"You took down Mobas, a nine-star Dou Wang, with a single blow. Brother Lu must be at least a Dou Huang now, right?"

Xiao Li wiped the blood from his face and said with a smile.

Just as Xiao Ding was about to reply, he suddenly felt a gentle breeze on his face. Looking up, he saw Lu Yu's golden battle aura wings flutter gently, and he and the purple-haired girl beside him gracefully landed on the city wall. The girl lightly touched the bricks of the city wall with her bare feet, her purple eyes curiously surveying their surroundings.

"Brother Xiao Ding, Brother Xiao Li, it's been a long time."

Lu Yu retracted his Dou Qi wings, and the cold expression on his face softened instantly. He reached into his robes and took out two jade bottles, saying, "These are from Xiao Yan, who asked me to bring them to you."

Zi Yan skipped over and tilted her head to examine the two injured brothers: "You're Xiao Yan's older brothers? You look much weaker than him!"

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a wry smile. The seemingly petite girl in front of them actually possessed the aura of a Dou Wang level.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar young man before them, the two brothers were filled with mixed emotions. Xiao Li was the first to recover, laughing heartily as he stepped forward and patted Lu Yu on the shoulder, saying with great enthusiasm, "Good lad! It hasn't been that long since we last met, and your cultivation has already..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly coughed violently, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Xiao Ding quickly supported his younger brother, only then noticing a gruesome wound on his back that was bleeding.

Lu Yu's expression immediately hardened, and he quickly stepped forward, saying, "Let me take a look."

A gentle golden light quietly appeared in his palm, and then he gently pressed it on the wound, frowning slightly as he said, "It's poisonous, but not too troublesome."

After speaking, the golden pagoda fire circled around the wound, and the wisps of poisonous blood instantly melted away.

At this moment, the City Lord of Douwang City dragged his injured body over and solemnly clasped his hands, saying, "I am Mu Yuan, the newly appointed City Lord of Shimo City. Thank you for your righteous assistance! If it weren't for the timely arrival of the two of you, Shimo City would probably be in grave danger today..."

Lu Yu nodded slightly and said calmly, "You're too kind, City Lord, but..."

He gazed into the depths of the desert, his brow furrowed, and asked with some doubt, "The snake-people's sudden large-scale attack on the city seems rather unusual?"

Mu Yuan wiped the blood from his face with a wry smile and explained, "It's a long story. According to the intelligence we've received, Queen Medusa has successfully broken through to the Dou Zong level and wants to secure a better territory for the Snake People."

"Among the four empires surrounding the Tagor Desert, Chuyun and Luoyan both have Dou Zong masters in charge, and the Mulan Empire has powerful figures like the Three Elders of Mulan. Only our Jiama Empire..."

Mu Yuan sighed, "It's said that Yunshan, the sect leader of the Yunlan Sect, has been in seclusion for many years in order to break through to the Dou Zong realm, but there's still no news of a breakthrough. That's why Queen Medusa..."

Xiao Ding picked up the conversation and said in a deep voice, "That's why the Snake-People chose to start their probing from the border of the Gama Empire. Stone Desert City is located in a strategic location and is the first to be targeted."

Lu Yu nodded, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "So, the Snake-People and the Gama Empire are bound to go to war? What are the Gama royal family's countermeasures?"

Mu Yuan looked troubled and said with a wry smile, "His Majesty only sent us to guard the border; there are no other decrees yet. However..." He lowered his voice and continued, "Rumors have already spread throughout the Holy City that they intend to cede part of their territory to the Serpent People..."

Lu Yu nodded slightly and turned to Xiao Ding, saying, "Brothers, why don't we find a quiet place to talk in detail? Xiao Yan has some things he wants me to convey."

Mu Yuan immediately understood and cupped his hands, saying, "Please continue your conversation. I still need to arrange city defense matters, so I will take my leave now."

After saying that, he led the garrison away from the city wall.

After a while,

Inside the headquarters hall of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

Xiao Ding personally poured hot tea for everyone. Although the hall was simply furnished, it exuded the rugged atmosphere unique to mercenaries.

The various weapons hanging on the wall gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and several pieces of bloodstained armor, which had not yet been cleaned up, were piled up in the corner.

"The conditions are simple, please excuse the poor state of affairs."

Xiao Ding said apologetically, the bandage on his arm still showing traces of blood.

Zi Yan jumped onto a tiger-skin chair without any hesitation, swung her legs, waved her hand dismissively, and said, "It's much more comfortable than in the desert!"

After saying that, she curiously examined the various weapons in the hall, her eyes sparkling.

Lu Yu took out Xiao Yan's letter and pills from his storage ring, placed them on the table, and solemnly said, "Xiao Yan is doing well at Canaan Academy. He asked me to pass these on to you two."

Xiao Ding eagerly tore open the envelope, and seeing the familiar handwriting, his eyes reddened slightly. Xiao Li picked up the jade bottle and gently stroked it; the bottle was engraved with Xiao Yan's unique flame emblem.

"This kid..."

Xiao Ding's voice choked with emotion as he said, "The letter said he has already entered the inner courtyard?"

Lu Yu smiled and said softly, "That's not all. Brother Yan won first place in the inner court selection competition, and even Instructor Ruolin praised him highly."

"Okay...okay!"

Xiao Ding slammed his hand on the table, tears welling in his eyes, and choked out, "My Xiao family... has finally produced a dragon!"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but couldn't stop the smile from playing on his lips. His rough fingers gently traced the familiar handwriting on the letter, as if he could see his third brother's spirited appearance at Canaan Academy through those ink marks.

Xiao Li eagerly leaned closer and said impatiently, "Big brother, let me see too! What else did Xiao Yanzi say?"

Xiao Ding handed over the letter, then turned to look at Lu Yu, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said solemnly, "Brother Lu, we are so grateful for your help along the way. It is Xiao Yanzi's good fortune to have a friend like you."

"What is Brother Xiao Ding doing?"

Lu Yu quickly helped Xiao Ding up, shaking his head and laughing, "I grew up in the Xiao family, and they treated me like family. Brother Yan even regards me as an elder brother. A little care is nothing..."

Moreover, I only gave Brother Yan a method for obtaining a different kind of fire spirit vein; the rest of the way he went was entirely his own doing.

Thinking this to himself, a trace of emotion flashed in Lu Yu's eyes. Not only had Xiao Yan mastered this secret technique, but he had also given Lu Yu a set of meridian-opening techniques in return. This friendship was so deep that it was impossible to say who owed whom more.

……

(End of this chapter)