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

Chapter 278 Xun'er: "But... I was the one who started it..."

Just as Zi Yan was about to say something, she was gently stopped by a glance from Little Fairy Doctor.

Xun'er's gaze shifted between Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan, finally settling on Little Fairy Doctor. Her tone remained calm as she asked, "Little Fairy Doctor, what exactly happened? Brother Yu... besides you and me, he actually..."

Little Fairy Doctor gently set down her teacup and explained softly, "Sister Xun'er, this is a long story. Sister Cailin actually knew Lu Yu back in the Tagor Desert. Later, when she evolved into the Eight-Colored One, by some twist of fate... she lost her virginity to him..."

"As for Zi Yan, she was originally an ancient dragon from the Void. She met Lu Yu at Canaan Academy, and later..."

Xun'er listened quietly, her slender fingers unconsciously gripping the teacup, her knuckles turning slightly white. She interrupted softly, "But... I was clearly the first one to meet Brother Yu..."

She paused abruptly. Thinking of the trials the three women had endured alongside Lu Yu, she sighed softly, swallowing back her unfinished words. A barely perceptible hint of sadness flickered in her usually composed, bright eyes.

A brief silence fell over the bamboo house. Xun'er looked down at the tea ripples in her cup and couldn't help but recall the moments she had spent with the Xiao family in Wutan City many years ago.

Back then, she was an innocent girl who followed the boy she called "Brother Yu" all day long... From Wutan City to today, those youthful years seem like they happened just yesterday.

Thinking of this, she sighed softly, her face regaining its usual gentle expression. After all, she was the young master carefully cultivated by the ancient clan; even with a thousand thoughts swirling in her mind, she maintained a proper smile on her face.

"I see……"

Xun'er raised her eyes, smiled gently at the two of them, and said softly, "Thank you for clearing up my doubts, sister."

She gracefully picked up the teapot and poured hot tea for Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan, her tone calm: "Since things have come to this, there's no point in saying more. But..."

Xun'er suddenly looked up at Little Fairy Doctor and asked, "Little Fairy Doctor, may I ask... is the matter between Brother Yu and Sister Cailin consensual, or..."

She paused, carefully choosing her words: "Or is it due to the circumstances?"

Little Fairy Doctor understood and softly replied, "When Sister Cailin evolved into the Eight-Colored form, she suffered a backlash and her life was in danger. Lu Yu had no choice but to do so to save her life..."

"I see." Xun'er nodded slightly, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes. "In that case, it's understandable."

Zi Yan blinked and suddenly interjected, "So now that I'm facing a bottleneck, can I also...?"

"Zi Yan!" Little Fairy Doctor and Xun'er exclaimed in unison, exchanged a glance, and couldn't help but smile.

Little Fairy Doctor gently shook her head, her tone gentle yet carrying a hint of warning: "Our purpose in coming here is to propose marriage between Lu Yu and Sister Xun'er. It's best to put these irrelevant topics aside for now."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Xun'er, her eyes filled with sincerity: "Xun'er, you know better than anyone how Lu Yu feels about you. We've come here today hoping to help bring this marriage together."

Zi Yan suddenly realized and quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, we're here to help Lu Yu propose marriage!"

She leaned closer to Xun'er and said with a grin, "Sister Xun'er, you have to say yes!"

Xun'er blushed slightly at their words, her earlier displeasure vanishing completely. She lowered her head and gently stroked her teacup, a sweet smile unconsciously curving her lips.

“I naturally agree to this marriage.” Her voice was clear and melodious, with a touch of just the right amount of shyness in her eyes. “However, the specific details still need to be decided by Father.”

She turned to Little Fairy Doctor and nodded slightly: "Sister, you came all this way. I will remember this kindness."

Zi Yan clapped her hands happily and said, "That's great! From now on, we're family!"

Little Fairy Doctor smiled and took out a warm jade bottle from her sleeve, gently placing it on the table: "This is a Supreme Pill that Lu Yu specially refined for you. Take it when you break through to the Dou Sheng realm, and it will help you increase your chances."

Xun'er picked up the jade bottle, sensing the immense energy contained within, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes. She calmly put the pill away, her tone even: "Brother Yu is always so thoughtful."

Zi Yan curiously leaned closer: "What kind of pill is this? It smells so good!"

Little Fairy Doctor gently explained, "This was specially made by Lu Yu for Xun'er, so don't get any ideas."

Zi Yan pouted and pretended to be aggrieved, saying, "I know, I know, he's the most biased one."

Upon hearing this, Little Fairy Doctor lightly flicked Zi Yan's forehead with her finger and scolded, "You silly girl, hasn't Lu Yu treated you well enough? You've wasted all those Dragon and Phoenix Supreme Pills..."

Zi Yan covered her forehead and muttered, "I was just joking..."

Seeing this, Xun'er smiled and poured tea for the two of them.

……

On the other side, after Lu Yu met up with Yao Lao and Xiao Yan at the Yingbin Pavilion, he was surprised to find that Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan had not returned for a long time.

"Brother Yan, where are Xian'er and Zi Yan?" Lu Yu looked around and asked Xiao Yan.

Just as Xiao Yan was about to reply, a figure in gray robes appeared just in time outside the courtyard gate; it was Ling Ying.

The old man bowed respectfully and replied, "Young Master Lu Yu, Miss Little Fairy Doctor and Miss Zi Yan are currently guests at Miss's residence. Miss asked me to convey that she wishes to have the two ladies stay for a few days and will meet you again in three days."

Lu Yu was taken aback at first, then seemed to understand something, and couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile. He could naturally understand the deeper meaning in her words; Xun'er clearly knew something and deliberately kept the two women by her side to teach him a small lesson.

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder Ling."

Lu Yu smiled helplessly, then said, "Please tell Xun'er that I will definitely pay a visit in person in three days."

After Ling Ying left, Xiao Yan leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Lu, is your wife angry?"

Lu Yu rubbed his temples and sighed softly, "It's alright, it's good for the sisters to talk more."

He gazed at the deepening twilight in the distance, a helpless yet gentle smile playing on his lips. "It's rare to see Xun'er acting so childish."

……

Soon after,

Inside an elegant bamboo house,
Lu Yu sat cross-legged, with a vast thunder array floating in front of him, countless bolts of lightning flowing and intertwining within it, emitting a deep and majestic thunderous sound.

This is precisely the high-grade Earth-level spirit array—the Great Annihilation Thunder Sound Sword Array.

Although he was confident that with his peak strength as a four-star Dou Sheng, he would be hard-pressed to find an opponent among mid-level Dou Shengs, the ancient clans had a deep foundation, and it was always good to have an extra powerful means in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

The way of spirit arrays, which borrows the power of heaven and earth for one's own use, is a shortcut to significantly improve combat power in a short period of time.

Lu Yu closed his eyes and concentrated, his soul power surging out like a tide, completely immersing his mind in this profound array.

Since he began cultivating, his mastery of spirit arrays has become far beyond what it used to be.

From the initial low-level Fire Burning Heaven Sword Formation, to later completing the inheritance and creating the Five Elements Annihilation Formation, and then mastering the mid-level Earth-grade Zhou Tian Star Locking Spirit Formation, he has accumulated extremely rich insights and practical experience in the Dao of Formations along the way.

At this moment, facing this more complex and advanced Thunder Sword Formation, he did not feel any strain whatsoever.

The seemingly complex lightning trajectories in the array diagram were like familiar faces to him; he could immediately see that many of them overlapped with other spirit arrays.

"All paths lead to the same source, and nothing surpasses this..."

Lu Yu's lips curled slightly, and he understood. He lightly tapped the void with his fingertips, and countless spiritual seals flowed out from his fingertips like stars, accurately disappearing into each node of the array diagram.

The next moment, the entire array seemed to be activated instantly, and the powerful thunderous force responded and transformed into hundreds and thousands of incredibly solid lightning sword shadows.

Sword shadows swirled orderly within the bamboo house, weaving into a solemn sword domain. With a thought from Lu Yu, thousands of lightning swords converged in an instant, instantly condensing into nine anciently styled thunder swords. The swords were wrapped in annihilating divine lightning, emitting a series of chilling hums.

The nine thunder swords slowly swirled within the bamboo house, their energy interconnected, subtly conforming to the number nine. Once the sword formation was complete, the entire space within the bamboo house solidified, even halting the flow of energy in the heavens and earth.

"As expected of a high-grade Earth-level spirit array..."

As Lu Yu sensed the terrifying power contained within the sword formation, a look of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. "Such power is enough to make even a six-star Dou Sheng wary."

He changed the subject, his brow furrowing slightly: "However, it's not enough to deal with a Seven-Star Dou Sheng..."

Once the idea took hold, it took deep root in his heart.

Lu Yu pondered for a moment, rubbing his chin, and muttered to himself, "Why not try to improve this Great Annihilation Thunder Sound Sword Formation? Let's see if we can increase its power a bit more?"

"With my current soul level, I am indeed not capable of comprehending a Heaven-grade spirit array. However, it is not impossible to combine this sword array with other familiar sword arrays to form a more powerful combined sword array."

"The more sword formations you integrate, the greater the power will be..."

Having made up his mind, Lu Yu did not rush into anything. He slowly closed his eyes and first repeatedly went through the process in his mind.

The diagrams of the Great Annihilation Thunder Sound Sword Formation and the most familiar Blazing Fire Heaven-Burning Sword Formation slowly unfolded in his mind. He carefully analyzed the direction of each array pattern and the connection of each node.

"Thunder and fire are inherently opposing forces..."

Lu Yu muttered to himself, "How can we make the raging thunder and the blazing flames coexist perfectly and complement each other?"

With a slight thought, he simultaneously formed hand seals. His left hand pressed down, and the Great Annihilation Thunder Sound Sword Formation appeared in his palm, with thousands of electric snakes darting within it; his right hand gently lifted, and the Blazing Heaven Sword Formation slowly unfolded, with scorching waves of heat surging endlessly.

Under his exquisite control, the two distinct sword formations began to slowly merge, lightning and flames intertwined, and countless spiritual seals surged forth, rearranging and recombining in the void...

……

While Lu Yu was diligently studying in the bamboo house, making thorough preparations for the test three days later, a completely different scene unfolded in Xun'er's residence in another part of the Ancient Sacred Mountains.

(End of this chapter)