Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

"Honored Child of Light, a group of humans has appeared ahead."

Zhu Ziyang was still immersed in his spiritual sea when the voice of Luoxing Xiya, the elder Starlight Unicorn, echoed beside his ear.

He blinked in surprise and snapped awake. "Where?"

"Just ahead and to the left," the unicorn replied, pointing with her radiant horn.

"Quick, let's go check it out!" Zhu Ziyang ordered.

"Understood." Luoxing Xiya immediately galloped in that direction.

Moments later, a ragged group of people came into view. Zhu Ziyang's face lit up with a mix of joy, relief—and barely restrained fury. Without hesitation, he urged the unicorn to charge forward.

Zhang Lexuan walked with slow, heavy steps. Every footfall was weighed down by exhaustion and fear. Any moment now, a ten-thousand-year soul beast could leap from the shadows—and then it would all be over.

It had taken her an entire day to forcibly absorb the Ghostmoon Python Emperor's soul ring. The ordeal had left her damaged at the core. Though she was now an eighty-first rank Soul Douluo, her combat strength was no better than that of a Soul Elder.

She glanced back at the line of battered disciples following behind her—her fellow Inner Court elites, now reduced to near beggars. None of them were unscathed. Every step forward required the help of a companion just to stay upright.

They were barely stronger than one-ring Soul Masters at this point.

Perhaps, she thought, they had already exhausted all their misfortune when they encountered the Ghostmoon Python. From the moment they set off last night until now, though they had only covered two or three kilometers, they had encountered no soul beasts.

"Senior Sister, let's rest for a bit."

Ma Xiaotao, supporting Zhang Weiwei, looked pale and utterly spent. Her voice trembled. "Weiwei can't go on."

They were out of food. Out of medicine. Everything had already been used to save those who were critically injured. The rest of them had been walking hungry through the forest for a day and a night.

"We're still too close to the Core Zone," Zhang Lexuan said, her face torn with pain as she looked at her comrades' ghostly pale faces. Her heart ached—but she couldn't let them stop.

"If we rest here, we risk attracting soul beasts. If that happens, we're all finished..."

She trailed off. She didn't need to say more. Everyone understood.

"I can still walk, Senior Sister!" Zhang Weiwei forced a smile through cracked lips, though she was on the verge of passing out.

"Let's keep moving," Zhang Lexuan said, steeling herself. "Maybe Elder Xuan has already returned to the Academy and is bringing help. We can't give up on ourselves."

"Elder Xuan... huh," sneered Shen Xu, normally the silent one of the group. His voice was laced with bitterness.

He wasn't alone. Everyone harbored resentment.

Zhang Lexuan, as their Senior Sister, had always defended Elder Xuan. But even she now harbored her own doubts and frustrations. She just couldn't show them—not when everyone was relying on her.

Because she was the Senior Sister.

"Senior Sister!"

Su Meng suddenly cried out in panic, her eyes fixed on the trees ahead. "A soul beast!"

Zhang Lexuan snapped to attention.

Her body reacted instinctively. She summoned what little soul power she had left. If this was their end, she would at least take the beast down with her—no matter the cost.

As the creature approached, its features grew clearer: a golden horn, white fur, and wings wide enough to eclipse the sun.

Zhang Lexuan's heart sank like a stone.

A unicorn?

Could she really fend off such a beast?

Her fingers trembled.

"Senior Sister!"

Just as despair began to take root in her chest, a voice rang out—clear, elated, and familiar.

Her eyes widened.

A boy sat upon the unicorn's back, his eyes shimmering with tears of joy as he spotted them.

"Ziyang…?" she whispered in disbelief.

"Senior Sister! You're all alive—thank the heavens!"

Zhu Ziyang had already leapt from Luoxing Xiya's back and ran toward her, eager to embrace her.

But someone beat him to it.

Ma Xiaotao launched herself forward and wrapped her arms around him. Her teary eyes glowed with relief. Zhu Ziyang awkwardly patted her back while still trying to reach Zhang Lexuan.

Only eight people…

His heart skipped a beat.

"Senior Sister, where are Elder Xuan, Zhu Lie, and Long Yu?"

Zhang Lexuan was still processing the shock of his sudden appearance—and the sight of the two unicorns. She watched them warily.

"Those beasts…?"

"They're Starlight Unicorns, and they won't hurt anyone," Zhu Ziyang explained. "They're with me. They'll help us escape the forest."

"I see…" Zhang Lexuan hesitated—but ultimately nodded. "Can they carry Weiwei and Ruoruo?"

"Absolutely. I'll speak to them now."

Zhu Ziyang turned and looked back at the battered group behind her. All of them were shocked and overjoyed to see him. For a moment, it was as if the clouds had parted.

They had already lost two companions. They couldn't bear to lose another—especially not the one who had saved them all with that decisive moment of control.

Seeing their dreadful condition, Zhu Ziyang's heart ached.

He turned to Luoxing Xiya.

"Can you heal them?"

"I know only simple healing arts," the unicorn replied regretfully. "I can treat minor wounds, but they suffer from internal damage and exhaustion. I'm afraid I cannot help."

"I see…" Zhu Ziyang looked to Zhang Lexuan. "Then let them ride."

"I obey your command," Luoxing Xiya replied gently.

Zhu Ziyang turned back to Zhang Lexuan, voice trembling.

"Senior Sister… why aren't Brother Zhu and Brother Long here?"

"Don't worry," she said with a weak smile. "They're alive. Elder Xuan took them back to the Academy. Their injuries were too serious."

That was the only good news they had.

"Elder Xuan?" Zhu Ziyang's expression darkened. Rage surged up from deep within.

"You mean to say… he left a group of critically wounded disciples behind—just to return alone?! How could he abandon you like that?"

His voice shook with fury.

Was Elder Xuan completely insane?

He left these people—his students, his responsibility—helpless in the most dangerous part of the Star Dou Forest?

Not once. Twice.

Zhang Lexuan felt a surge of warmth at his anger on their behalf. She placed a hand gently on his arm.

"Ziyang… Elder Xuan lost his composure when you disappeared. Don't you know how important you are to the Academy? He only returned after I finished absorbing my soul ring—once I could at least protect everyone for a while. He left to gather reinforcements and search for you."

"…I see."

Zhu Ziyang took a breath, calming himself. His anger faded slightly—but not completely.

"Let's get out of the forest, Senior Sister," he said at last.

"Mm," she nodded. "We must."

Both of them understood: now was not the time to hold anyone accountable. The most important thing—the only thing—was to get everyone out alive.