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

Chapter 25 Earth Core Flame Evolution, Six-Star Great Dou Master!
Boom!

Just as the Earth Core Flame landed on the azure lotus platform, the entire platform suddenly trembled violently. Countless pale azure fire snakes erupted from between the lotus petals, coiling towards the Earth Core Flame as if they were living creatures.

The scorching flames swept outwards, causing the surrounding magma to boil and churn, creating waves of heat.

However, the fire serpent formed from the Earth Core Flame did not retreat; instead, it excitedly opened its massive maw. As if summoned, the azure flames surged into the serpent's mouth. With each wisp of flame it devoured, the serpent's aura increased dramatically.

"Boy, what's this...?"

Hai Bodong looked surprised.

"The Earth Core Flame and the Azure Lotus Earth Core Fire both belong to the category of earth fire. Those pale blue flames should be ordinary earth fire contained within the Azure Lotus Platform. The Earth Core Flame is devouring them..."

Lu Yu's expression softened slightly. Based on his connection with the Earth Core Flame, he could sense that the Earth Core Flame's power was constantly increasing, like a torrent about to burst forth, with the possibility of further advancement!

He was all too familiar with this feeling. It was the same when the Earth Core Flame devoured the Earth Core Jade Marrow to evolve. Now, this subtle feeling of impending breakthrough surged into his heart once again.

Earth Core Flame is about to evolve again!

Rumble!
As the Earth Core Flame continued to devour the subterranean fire within the Azure Lotus Platform, the entire lava lake began to churn violently. The fire serpent's body gradually expanded, its crimson scales completely covered by blue-red flames.

"Roar--"

Suddenly, a deafening roar like that of a dragon echoed through the cave, and the fire serpent's body twisted and deformed. Before Lu Yu and Hai Bodong's astonished eyes, monstrous dragon horns gradually sprouted from the fire serpent's head, and sharp dragon claws emerged from its slender body. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a majestic fire dragon!

Immediately afterwards, it roared to the sky, and its entire body began to shrink and condense, gradually transforming the majestic fire dragon into a red and blue fire lotus. The flames dancing on the lotus petals were sometimes as red as blood, and sometimes as green as dripping water, the two colors blending perfectly.

The fire lotus slowly rotated, each rotation causing the surrounding magma to swirl. Suddenly, it transformed into a stream of light and entered Lu Yu's body.

"boom!"

A surge of violent fire energy coursed through his meridians. Lu Yu let out a muffled groan, and crimson flames erupted from every pore of his body. Hai Bodong quickly retreated several steps, only to see the young man enveloped in a ball of blazing flames, his aura rising steadily!
Late-stage Four-Star Grand Dou Master!
Peak Four-Star Dou Master!
Five-Star Grandmaster!
Finally, as the flames gradually subsided, Lu Yu's aura steadily stabilized at the level of a six-star Great Dou Master. He slowly opened his eyes, and a faint phantom of a crimson fire lotus appeared deep within his pupils.

"Kid, are you alright?" Hai Bodong asked anxiously.

Lu Yu smiled slightly, and a strange flame, alternating between blue and red, rose from his palm. The flame was exceptionally agile, sometimes transforming into a leaping dragon, sometimes condensing into a blooming fire lotus, emitting a scorching aura several times stronger than before.

"Not only are we unharmed..." He felt the surging battle qi within him, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "we've even turned misfortune into blessing. This Earth Core Flame has successfully evolved."

"It was the feedback that just gave me that allowed me to break through to the sixth-star Great Dou Master."

Turning to look at the Azure Lotus Platform, one sees that the once crystal-clear platform has now transformed into transparent crystal, its surface covered with spiderweb-like cracks. With a crisp sound, the entire lotus platform shattered into dust.

"Pity……"

Lu Yu sighed softly, then his gaze suddenly sharpened. With a flick of his sleeve, five glowing lotus seeds fell into his palm.

"What is this?" Hai Bodong asked curiously as he leaned closer.

"The Earth Fire Lotus Seed only produces one seed every hundred years."

Lu Yu toyed with the lotus seeds in his hand, saying with some regret, "There should have been more; they must have been lost in the explosion earlier..."

He looked around to make sure nothing was missed, then nodded to Hai Bodong and said, "Elder Hai, this place is no longer of any value. Let's go up."

Hai Bodong nodded, and the two quickly ascended along the passage they had come from, soon rushing out.

Once he got up there, Hai Bodong waved his hand to dispel his ice-type battle aura. The ice crystals in the passage immediately turned into water vapor and dissipated. Then, he pressed his palm lightly, and the entire passage collapsed and was buried in the sandstorm.

"Old Hai is indeed cautious."

A hint of approval flashed in Lu Yu's eyes.

"Hmph, how can we not be careful in such a treasure land that can give birth to strange fire?" Hai Bodong snorted lightly, his eyes still scanning the surroundings warily. Only after confirming that no one was around did he relax slightly.

"This harvest has been quite substantial." Lu Yu felt the surging power within him, and his cultivation as a six-star Great Dou Master boosted his confidence. "Next, it's time to return to Stone Desert City."

Hai Bodong stroked his beard and said, "I remember you said that your men were there?"

“Exactly.” Lu Yu nodded with a smile, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. “It’s a good opportunity to go and see how their cultivation is progressing.”

After saying that, the two sped off across the scorching desert.

Lu Yu unfurled his Purple Cloud Wings, while Hai Bodong unfurled his Azure Ice Crystal Wings. With each flap of his wings, a trail of frost was left in the scorching air.

Under the blazing sun, the two figures left two streaks of purple and blue light on the golden sand.

Half a day later, the outline of a majestic stone city gradually became clear. The mottled city walls gleamed with a bronze luster in the sunlight, and the three powerful characters "Shimo City" remained conspicuous despite the erosion of wind and sand.

Lu Yu abruptly stopped a hundred feet outside the city gate, his robes fluttering as the flames subsided. Looking at the flow of people at the gate, he smiled and said, "Let's go, Elder Hai."

Hai Bodong nodded and then followed.

……

Soon after,

Desert Iron Mercenary Group.

As soon as the two stepped into the Mo Tie Mercenary Group's encampment, the guard at the gate suddenly widened his eyes and shouted excitedly, "It's Guest Elder Lu who's back!"

The shout was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly igniting a frenzy within the mercenary group. However, when Lu Yu stepped into the inner courtyard, the scene before him caused his pupils to shrink in shock—

Little Fairy Doctor leaned against a pillar, her face pale, with a blood-stained bandage wrapped around her left shoulder. Qing Lin was changing her dressing with red eyes.

Upon seeing Lu Yu enter, the little girl burst into tears: "Young Master... it's all Qing Lin's fault..."

"What's going on?" Lu Yu's voice instantly turned cold.

Xiao Ding strode forward and said in a deep voice, "Three days ago, the Mo family tried to forcibly take Qing Lin away. It was thanks to Miss Little Fairy Doctor's desperate protection..."

Little Fairy Doctor managed a weak smile: "It's alright, the other party didn't gain any advantage either..." Before she could finish speaking, she coughed violently, and traces of blood seeped from between her fingers.

Lu Yu's eyes suddenly blazed with crimson flames, and his body temperature soared. Seeing this, Hai Bodong quickly erected an ice wall to prevent the heatwave from harming others.

"What a fine example of the Mohists..."

Lu Yu's voice was as cold as the depths of hell, each word carrying a chilling killing intent. He gently grasped Little Fairy Doctor's slender wrist, and the profound energy of the Great Floating Pagoda Technique's Yang Scroll flowed into her body like a gentle spring breeze.

"Where are they?"

The question was asked very softly, yet it sent a chill down the spines of everyone present. Cold sweat beaded on Xiao Ding's forehead as he gritted his teeth and said, "Those three old dogs from the Mo family… two were seriously injured, and one was slightly injured, but they escaped. Before they left…"

He clenched his fists, his voice trembling: "The leader said... said he wanted to gouge out Qinglin's eyes and soak them in wine, and also wanted to turn Little Fairy Doctor into a medicine slave..."

"Click——"

The bluestone slab beneath Lu Yu's feet instantly turned to dust.

"court death!"

(End of this chapter)