Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

With the support of the Starlight Unicorns, Zhu Ziyang and the others reached the edge of the Star Dou Forest by sunset the same day they reunited. The journey was not without challenges, but thanks to Luoxing Xiya and her daughter Xingcai, no further injuries occurred.

Once they crossed into the forest's border zone, the danger level dropped significantly. Here, they no longer faced threats to their lives. With her mission complete, Luoxing Xiya—the elder unicorn—prepared to fulfill her final promise: to become Zhu Ziyang's soul ring.

The Inner Court disciples sat in quiet awe beneath a massive tree, resting as they watched the unbelievable scene unfold before them. None had ever heard of such a thing—a soul beast willingly offering itself as a soul ring. If they weren't seeing it with their own eyes, not a single one of them would have believed it.

Earlier on the journey, Zhu Ziyang had explained, albeit with some omissions, what had happened after he was struck and disappeared during the battle with the Ghostmoon Python Emperor. He had focused especially on Luoxing Xiya's origins and intentions. The students had been shocked—yet with a 50,000-year Starlight Unicorn standing before them, they had no choice but to accept it.

They were stunned. Jealous. And grateful.

For Zhu Ziyang's sake.

And when Zhang Lexuan revealed that he had been accepted as Elder Mu En's personal disciple, no one objected. How could they? His talent, his luck, his achievements—he had earned it all.

Zhu Ziyang sat cross-legged on the grass.

Before him, Luoxing Xiya knelt, lowering her noble head as her gleaming white horn pointed toward him in solemn offering.

Beside her, little Xingcai sobbed silently. She couldn't bring herself to look away from her mother. She knew this was goodbye. Once the process began, she would never see her again.

"You may begin," Zhu Ziyang said softly, expression unreadable, voice steady as still water.

"Yes, Child of Light!"

Luoxing Xiya's voice quivered with emotion. A golden glow radiated from her horn, flowing down her neck, wings, and tail.

"Place your hand upon the tip of my horn."

Though puzzled, Zhu Ziyang didn't hesitate. He extended his right hand and gently pressed his palm against the glowing horn.

Immediately, he felt a soft stream of energy flow from her horn into his hand, traveling up his arm and into his heart.

The moment it touched his heart, Luoxing Xiya's eyes shone with determination.

She gave a final, quiet sigh—then closed her eyes forever.

She had severed her own lifeline.

A deep black soul ring rose from her lifeless horn, dark as the night sky. It hovered for a breath, then shot straight into Zhu Ziyang's arm.

He closed his eyes, letting the sadness pass, and began to absorb it.

The other disciples watched in stunned silence. Even after everything, they were moved by the Starlight Unicorn's sacrifice. So this was… faith.

Xingcai knelt beside her fallen mother, head bowed in sorrow.

As golden light spread from the body of Luoxing Xiya, it enveloped Zhu Ziyang and formed a luminous cocoon around them—a great egg of radiant light. Just before it sealed shut, a final spark of light broke free and flew to Xingcai. The moment it touched her, she fell into a deep sleep.

"Lexuan… do you think Ziyang can withstand the power of a 50,000-year soul ring?"

Ma Xiaotao's voice was anxious.

"We have to believe in him," Zhang Lexuan said, though her tone revealed her own doubts.

Inside the light cocoon, Zhu Ziyang poured every ounce of concentration into the process. Even though Luoxing Xiya's soul power was gentle, the sheer volume was enormous. It pushed his body to its limits.

He couldn't afford a single mistake.

The Scythe of Silent Judgment appeared in his hands. Behind him, his three existing soul rings glowed in succession. His internal soul power surged to life, activating every pathway and meridian as his body entered a state of extreme processing and purification.

It was agonizing.

His limbs strained, muscles tensed. Though the unicorn's power was calm, it was still foreign. And its abundance alone nearly tore his body apart.

His first soul ring, the yellow one, began to flash rapidly. With each flicker, it grew denser, clearer, more crystal-like—imbued now with the life force of the unicorn.

That's when Electrolux stepped in.

He guided Zhu Ziyang through the process, carefully helping him refine the first soul ring. Once the initial portion was complete, the pace improved. Absorption sped up. Relief filled Zhu Ziyang's heart.

Electrolux didn't stop there. He immediately moved on to the second ring, transferring and refining more of the unicorn's life essence. In doing so, his own spirit body became slightly more tangible, benefiting as well.

It became a virtuous cycle.

Zhu Ziyang needed only one thing now:

Time.

Meanwhile—

As Zhu Ziyang's group stepped out of the forest's shadow, far away, Elder Xuan returned to Shrek Academy at last.

He ignored all formalities and raced straight to Sea God Island, depositing the gravely injured Zhu Lie and Long Yu into the care of a disciple before storming into the Sea God Pavilion.

"Elder Mu! I've lost Ziyang!"

He burst into the sacred chamber, yelling without restraint.

"What?!"

Elder Mu En, who had been napping in a reclining chair, snapped awake. Before Elder Xuan could say another word, a furious aura exploded from Mu En's body, launching Elder Xuan into the air.

He crashed into the wall, coughing blood.

But he didn't complain. Not once.

Mu En didn't have time for anger.

"Where?!" he demanded.

"The Core Zone!" Elder Xuan shouted at once.

Mu En vanished instantly.

He didn't say another word. He didn't look back.

But the fury in his heart was like a burning star.

He knew—Zhu Ziyang was the future of Shrek. His most prized disciple. If he died… Mu En would never forgive himself. Or Xuan. Or Yan Shaozhe.

If Ziyang dies, he thought, I'll bury you both myself.

But there was no time for revenge.

Only time to act.

He flew like a golden comet, streaking toward the Star Dou Forest.

Behind him, dozens of Title Douluo-level auras exploded from the academy.

The Sea God Pavilion Elders had been mobilized.

For the first time in over a century, Shrek's most elite force had assembled in full. A dozen terrifying figures tore through the skies, their presence shaking the empire itself.

This sudden and massive disturbance did not go unnoticed.

Within hours, agents across Star Luo Empire, Heaven Dou Empire, Dou Ling Empire, and the major sects began whispering the same news:

Shrek Academy has sent more than ten Title Douluo into the Star Dou Forest.

They're preparing for war.

Meanwhile, deep in the forest, near the Lake of Life—

"...How is the Auspicious Beast?"

The speaker was a man dressed in black, his face cold and severe. His long black hair cascaded to his feet, streaked with two strands of bright gold. His golden eyes were turbulent despite his emotionless voice.

"She's fine physically. But emotionally... she's clearly not herself," said the woman beside him.

She was stunning—emerald eyes full of maternal warmth, long green hair flowing down her chest, and a flowing green gown that accentuated her elegance. A pair of radiant wings shimmered behind her, each feather gleaming like carved gemstones.

At their feet, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay at the lake's edge, dazed and listless. Her eyes stared blankly at her reflection in the water. Her entire body radiated a sluggish, sorrowful energy.

The black-robed man hesitated.

Then he sighed.

"...Fine. Next time she wants to leave, let the Red King or Bear Lord go with her. Don't let her sneak off again."