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

Chapter 13, Half a Year Later, Three-Star Grandmaster!

In the days that followed, Lu Yu's cultivation gradually got on track.

During the day, he studies the seventh-grade alchemist's inheritance bestowed by the old alchemist, while also practicing the Heavenly Dragon Flame Finger technique he obtained in the simulation. At night, he cultivates the Great Floating Pagoda Technique with Little Fairy Doctor, and the illusory image of the Floating Pagoda gradually solidifies.

Of course, some physical contact was inevitable, but that's another story.

Time flies like water, passing in the blink of an eye.

Six months later, the Xiao family square was bustling with activity as the younger generation of the clan gathered in front of the testing monument, waiting to have their cultivation levels tested.

"Xiao Xun'er, one-star Dou Zhe!"

"Xiao Ning, Eighth Stage of Dou Qi!"
As each name was read out, the atmosphere in the room gradually heated up, with some expressing joy and others sighing.

finally--

"Xiao Yan!"

The entire hall fell silent, and countless gazes converged on the young man in black. He remained calm, slowly stepped forward, and placed his palm on the testing tablet.

"Om-"

The stone tablet shimmered with light, then finally froze in place.

"Xiao Yan, Dou Qi... Eighth level!"

After a brief silence, a low murmur of discussion broke out in the room.

"It really recovered?"

"Just last month he was only at the seventh level of Dou Qi! In just one year, he went from the third level to the eighth level, that speed..."

Xiao Yan withdrew his hand, his face showing little joy. He merely glanced around the crowd before his gaze finally settled on Lu Yu in the corner.

Their eyes met, and Xiao Yan nodded almost imperceptibly.

Lu Yu's lips curled up slightly, and he thought to himself, "It seems that Elder Yao's Foundation Establishment Elixir is indeed effective. Xiao Yan's strength has recovered exactly as he remembered."

Just as everyone present was marveling at Xiao Yan's progress, the testing elder's voice rang out again:

"Next up, Lu Yu!"

A hush fell over the arena. This mysterious young man, though not of the Xiao family bloodline, was the most unfathomable among the younger generation of the Xiao family. Under the watchful eyes of countless people, Lu Yu slowly walked towards the testing monument.

"Grand Master, three stars!"

The gleaming golden characters on the test monument instantly caused a stir in the entire square. In the VIP section, several elders from the Jialie family suddenly stood up, oblivious to the teacups shattering on the ground.

"A Grand Master of Dou Shi at... sixteen years old?!"

"How can this be?!"

"Even Nalan Yanran, the pride of the Yunlan Sect, only broke through to the Dou Shi level at the age of sixteen!"

Xiao Zhan crushed the teacup in his hand with a "crack," his face filled with shock. Meanwhile, in the corner, Xiao Xun'er smiled slightly and murmured to herself, "Brother Yu really did have a miraculous encounter..."

"In just one year, he broke through from a two-star Dou Shi to a three-star Great Dou Shi, and his foundation is still so solid. Such speed is not bad even in Zhongzhou."

"Brother Lu's speed is absolutely amazing, it's way better than mine!"

Xiao Yan stared at the radiant golden characters on the testing platform and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

The ancient ring on his finger shimmered slightly, and the old man's helpless voice echoed in his mind: "Don't compare yourself to him, kid. That kid and that girl cultivate together every day, their cultivation efficiency is faster than taking pills."

"Even among the top powers in Zhongzhou, this cultivation speed isn't bad." Yao Chen paused, then said earnestly, "Your most important task now is to break through to the Dou Zhe level as soon as possible. Once I've refined a few special pills for you, at least..."

"Can you help me catch up with Brother Lu?" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up.

The light on the ring suddenly stopped.

After a long silence, the old doctor said quietly, "My disciple... one must be down-to-earth. Instead of aiming too high, you should think about how to break through to the Great Dou Master before the three-year agreement."

On a high platform not far away,
Xiao Zhan slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, the shock in his eyes gradually turning into deep thought. His rough fingers unconsciously rubbed the armrest of his chair as he muttered to himself, "Such a cultivation speed cannot be achieved through mere hard work..."

His gaze unconsciously shifted to the audience, where he saw Xiao Xun'er smiling as she watched the young man in the arena. Her usually cold eyes were now filled with an unusual tenderness. Xiao Zhan frowned slightly, suddenly recalling how inseparable the two had been over the years, and the mysterious methods Xun'er occasionally displayed.

"Could it be..."

A startling guess surfaced in Xiao Zhan's mind, and he nodded thoughtfully.

"Being able to live off a woman is also a skill."

……

Soon after,

The mountain behind the Xiao family.

Lu Yu sat cross-legged on the bluestone, crimson flames flickering in his palms, instantly melting a purple-leafed orchid into emerald-green droplets. His movements were fluid and graceful as he added several more medicinal herbs, causing the liquid within the cauldron to slowly grow larger.

"laugh--"

The blazing flames licked at the medicinal liquid, and impurities dissolved into wisps of smoke under the intense heat. The green liquid, originally the size of a fist, gradually shrunk to the size of a thumb, becoming crystal clear like jade.

"Magic Crystal." Lu Yu reached out his hand without looking up.

Xiao Yan immediately handed over the prepared wood-type magic core. Crimson flames coiled around it, and the iron-hard magic core softened at a visible speed, eventually turning into a pool of pale green spring water.

"Congeal!"

Lu Yu's hand seals changed abruptly, and the medicinal liquid soared into the air. Xiao Yan reacted swiftly, catching all the dripping liquid as the jade bottle traced a graceful arc in the air.

"Tsk tsk, the quality..." Xiao Yan shook the emerald-like liquid in the bottle, his eyes full of amazement. "Brother Lu's alchemy skills are becoming more and more exquisite. This Foundation Establishment Elixir is no less than the one that Teacher made."

Lu Yu put away the medicine cauldron, shook his head and laughed, "I've only just become a second-grade alchemist, I'm still far from being as good as Elder Yao. Brother Yan, you're exaggerating."

Xiao Yan grinned, not arguing, but carefully put the Foundation Establishment Elixir into his storage ring.

Yao Chen's illusory figure drifted over, stroking his beard and laughing, "You're quite modest, kid. With your current skill level, you'd be considered a top-tier second-grade alchemist in any city in the Jia Ma Empire."

"Try to get a badge from the Alchemist Guild when you have some free time."

"What's most frightening about alchemists isn't just their ability to concoct all sorts of pills, but also their extremely vast network of connections. Sometimes, a small alchemist badge can save you a lot of trouble."

The old doctor said meaningfully.

Lu Yu nodded thoughtfully. A night breeze swept across the cliffs, carrying a chill. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned and asked, "When does Brother Yan plan to break through to the Dou Zhe level?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan touched his nose and said, "I'm still far from it. The last stage of Dou Qi is the most difficult to break through, and it will probably take several months."

"Will Canaan Academy's admissions begin in six months?"

Lu Yu's gaze sharpened slightly as he pondered.

"Really? What's wrong, Brother Lu?"

"It's nothing. I plan to visit Canaan Academy in six months."

Xiao Yan's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "That's great news! Canaan Academy is renowned throughout the entire Northwest Continent. I've heard that even the weakest graduates of the Inner Academy are at least Dou Ling experts..."

"Is Brother Yan going?"

Lu Yu narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a deep gaze.

"I……"

Xiao Yan yawned, "Haha, I can't say for sure, maybe I'll go..."

The old man's voice sneered in Xiao Yan's mind: "Foolish boy, do you think people can't see that you don't want to go?"

Xiao Yan's ears turned slightly red, and he quickly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, is Sister Xun'er also going to apply to Canaan Academy?"

Lu Yu smiled and said, "Maybe I'll go..."

"I can't say for sure..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yan was stunned. Why did those words sound so familiar?
(End of this chapter)