Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

When Zhu Ziyang reached his family home, he noticed the front gate was unlocked. A mischievous grin spread across his face.

Perfect, he thought. Time to give Mom and Dad a surprise.

He moved silently, gently pushed the door open, and stepped inside. The front hall was empty. That meant his parents, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying, were likely in their bedroom. He quietly crossed the courtyard, planning to sneak up on them—only to stop dead in his tracks.

There, in the middle of the courtyard, stood Zhu Changhe.

"DAD?!"

Zhu Ziyang's eyes went wide as saucers. His mouth hung open. He pointed at his father and shouted in disbelief:

"What—what's going on here?!"

"Huh? Ziyang, you're back?"

Zhu Changhe turned, equally surprised. But when he saw his son's stunned expression, he burst out laughing.

"You're just in time! Come meet your little brother!"

Zhu Ziyang nearly fainted.

What do you mean—little brother?! I was only gone a year! What happened?!

He wasn't sure how he managed to walk over. Still dazed, he looked down and saw a small, slightly wrinkled baby sleeping peacefully in Zhu Changhe's arms. An odd sense of closeness stirred in his chest.

This little guy… is really my brother?

"Dad, what… how do I have a little brother all of a sudden?"

Zhu Ziyang's voice cracked slightly. He couldn't wrap his head around it.

"An accident," Zhu Changhe said sheepishly. "Your mom and I were hoping for a girl. But we got a boy instead—what a surprise!"

"…"

Zhu Ziyang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"You got home at the perfect time—your brother's full-month celebration is tomorrow!" Zhu Changhe said cheerfully.

From inside the house, Liang Ying's voice rang out:

"Honey, who are you talking to?"

"It's Ziyang—he's home!"

Thump, thump—rushed footsteps echoed from within. A moment later, Liang Ying appeared in the doorway. When she saw her son, she gasped and threw her arms around him.

"Mom!"

Zhu Ziyang managed a stiff smile that looked more like a grimace.

"Don't worry, Yangyang," she whispered. "No matter what, you'll always be Mommy's precious eldest son."

"Mm…"

Zhu Ziyang nodded, not knowing whether he should feel touched or betrayed. His heart was a swirl of emotions.

That night, he couldn't remember how he made it back to his room or climbed into bed. His mind was a chaotic mess. The sudden arrival of a sibling left him at a complete loss.

Maybe I should be happy, he mused. Now I won't need to worry about my parents missing me while I'm at the academy—after all, they have my little brother to keep them company.

He had returned this time hoping to convince his parents to move to Shrek City. But now? There was no longer a need to ask. He already knew their answer.

"Sigh…"

He lost count of how many times he sighed that night.

The next day, the full-month banquet for his baby brother was held. The house was filled with guests, and Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan's return made the celebration even more lively.

Everyone in the area knew that Zhu Changhe's eldest son had been accepted into Shrek Academy, becoming a certified genius soul master. Now that the couple had welcomed a second child, people were eager to curry favor—what if the baby turned out to be a genius too?

The baby's name was announced as Zhu Ziguang, with the nickname Xiaoguang ("Little Light").

Looking at the infant sleeping peacefully in Liang Ying's arms, Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but chuckle at the meaning behind the names.

Zhu Ziyang, Zhu Ziguang—Yang and Guang… sunlight.

A little compensation, I suppose…

One week passed quickly. Zhu Ziyang had finally grown accustomed to the idea of having a little brother.

That evening, just as Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were about to head back to their room, Ziyang stopped them.

"Wait a moment, Dad, Mom."

He reached into his Stellar Flame Ring and pulled out two glimmering spirit herbs, placing them on the table.

"What are these?"

Both parents looked confused. They recognized the herbs as extraordinary, but didn't know their names or effects.

"This one on the left is a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus—it's for you, Mom. The one on the right is a Ground Essence Fruit—for you, Dad."

Zhu Ziyang smiled. "They're both high-grade spirit herbs, capable of boosting your soul power and physical aptitude."

"Oh, by the way—do you still have any of the Spirit Condensation Pills I sent back?"

"No… they're all gone."

Zhu Changhe was still in shock. One year—his son had only been gone for one year, and now he was casually handing out rare, high-level spirit herbs like they were candy. Thinking back on the pills and gold soul coins Ziyang had already sent… Zhu Changhe realized he no longer fully understood his son.

"Yangyang, you keep these herbs," Liang Ying said firmly. "Your father and I don't need them. We're in our late thirties—we'd just waste such treasures."

"It's fine, Mom."

Zhu Ziyang grinned. "Didn't I tell you? I've been taken in as a personal disciple of Shrek Academy's headmaster. These were specially chosen for you two."

Of course, what he didn't mention was that the "headmaster" he referred to was Mu En, the true force behind the academy—not Yan Shaozhe. But it wasn't technically a lie.

Even so, the truth was worlds apart. Being Mu En's disciple versus being Shaozhe's disciple were completely different things.

"This…"

His parents hesitated.

"Come on, don't overthink it," Ziyang said. "I'm already a Soul Ancestor. You think I care about a few herbs?"

To prove his point, Zhu Ziyang summoned his soul rings for the first time at home.

Yellow, purple, purple, black—four soul rings lit up and hovered around him.

Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were stunned. Their eyes couldn't leave the glowing rings. Shock gave way to pride, then joy.

Their son… a twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor.

At last, they accepted the herbs.

Liang Ying immediately began absorbing the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. Zhu Changhe, on the other hand, chose to wait—he planned to use the Ground Essence Fruit after acquiring his fourth ring.

Over the past year, both parents had made decent progress. When Zhu Ziyang left home, Zhu Changhe was at Rank 37. Thanks to the Spirit Condensation Pills, he had broken through to Rank 40 months ago—but had been too busy caring for his wife to seek a soul ring.

As for Liang Ying, her soul power had increased only by two ranks. Despite taking Body Nourishment Pills, pregnancy and postpartum recovery had kept her from cultivating. She had barely reached Rank 35.

Zhu Ziyang estimated that with the Snow Lotus, his mother's power might increase by another three levels, possibly reaching Rank 38—putting Soul Ancestor within reach by the end of the year.

"Dad," Ziyang said seriously, "in a few days, let's go get you your fourth soul ring."

"Alright," Zhu Changhe agreed immediately. "I'm counting on you!"

"Don't worry. I've already picked the perfect soul beast for you," Ziyang said confidently.

Father and son chatted late into the night, waiting until Liang Ying finished absorbing the Snow Lotus.

As expected, her soul power increased by three levels, reaching Rank 38.

She was overjoyed. An instant three-level boost—any soul master would be ecstatic.

Three days later, at the Zhu family home.

"We're ready," Zhu Ziyang said.

Standing beside him were Zhu Changhe, Jiang Nannan, and Hong Zhen.

In terms of cultivation level, Hong Zhen was now the strongest among them—a Rank 57 Soul King. Yes, you read that right. He had broken through two years ago, and with Zhu Ziyang's gift of a high-grade ice-attribute spirit herb, he'd jumped from Rank 53 to 57. If he continued at this pace, he might become Anyang City's first-ever Soul Emperor in just three years.

Jiang Nannan was also in excellent spirits. Her mother's long-standing heart condition had finally been cured thanks to a Brightfire Pill and a week of sustained soul power nurturing. With that burden lifted, Jiang Nannan's mood soared—and her soul power rose naturally to Rank 36.

The four of them departed together.

Their destination:

Tianhui Grand Canyon.