Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

Tianhui Grand Canyon.

Zhu Ziyang's party passed through the canyon's outer rim and entered the middle zone. As a soul beast habitat, the Tianhui Canyon shared many features typical of such territories—most notably, its tiered ecosystem.

The canyon had three zones.

The outer layer, the largest, was home to soul beasts ranging from ten to one hundred years old. This layer spanned nearly 70% of the entire canyon.

The middle zone was home to soul beasts under five thousand years old. Zhu Ziyang had obtained both his second and third soul rings here.

The core zone, located deepest within the canyon, housed beasts over five thousand years old—a forbidden area for the weak.

At the moment, they were moving through the middle zone, searching for a suitable soul beast for Zhu Changhe's fourth ring.

"Ziyang, you once said Shrek Academy's dorms are worse than our Anyang City Junior Academy's—is that really true? Or were you just trying to make me feel better?"

Hong Zhen, who led the group, glanced over with a skeptical smile.

"Uncle Hong, you don't believe me?"

Zhu Ziyang chuckled. "Shrek's dorms really are awful—just two beds and two desks per room, and no bathroom."

"No way."

Hong Zhen's image of Shrek Academy—sacred, perfect—was instantly shattered.

People always imagined things they admired to be flawless.

"Giggle~ Uncle Hong," Jiang Nannan added playfully, "Shrek might be the continent's top academy, but not every aspect is number one. The cafeteria doesn't even have tables—we eat standing up!"

"Wha—"

Hong Zhen was dumbfounded.

"Is that… is that how Shrek trains its students? Harsh environments to forge their spirit? Should we try that at Anyang Academy too?"

Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan both froze, giving each other a look of disbelief and exasperation.

Clearly, Hong Zhen was a die-hard Shrek loyalist. His admiration ran deep—perhaps this was part of the academy's enduring appeal. Across the continent, both minor noble and civilian soul masters like Hong Zhen often held romanticized views of Shrek. This idealization was part of what kept Shrek standing strong for over ten thousand years.

"Uncle Hong, don't copy them blindly," Jiang Nannan said. "Shrek's outer court dorms may be lacking, but the inner court facilities are top-notch. And the cafeteria is split into levels—some areas have tables."

"Inner court?"

Hong Zhen and Zhu Changhe were both hearing this term for the first time, eyes filled with curiosity.

"Yup. Shrek has an outer and inner court," Jiang Nannan explained. "Only those who reach Soul Ancestor level before the age of eighteen can enter the inner court—it's the core of Shrek Academy."

"Eighteen years old… Soul Ancestor?!"

Zhu Changhe and Hong Zhen were speechless. They had no idea the standards were that high.

"Then… Ziyang, you qualify for the inner court?"

Zhu Changhe asked, eyes gleaming with pride.

"Yes," Zhu Ziyang nodded with a smile. "Once I return, I'll begin training there."

"This is incredible!"

Hong Zhen clapped his hands with joy. "Anyang City is about to raise a true powerhouse!"

"Actually, there are two of us," Jiang Nannan said smugly. "I'm going too!"

In a dry, thorny riverbed deeper in the canyon, a massive boar-like beast with razor-sharp bone spines on its back staggered forward, fleeing for its life. A bloody gash split open its abdomen, trailing fresh blood across the cracked stones.

This was a Thornspine Razorhog.

Behind it, about five hundred meters away, a pack of ferocious wolves gave chase—eleven in total.

They had sleek blue-black fur marked with faint golden stripes. Each one measured over 1.5 meters long, with two pairs of gleaming fangs, dagger-like claws, and glowing purple eyes that radiated cold malice.

These were Saberfang Shadow Wolves. The largest among them was over two meters in length—clearly the alpha.

The Thornspine Razorhog was soon cornered. With no escape, it lashed out in desperation, slamming into a lunging wolf and killing it instantly.

Its cultivation level was roughly 4,000 years, while the wolves ranged from 2,000 to 3,500 years, with only the alpha nearing its level.

Despite its injury, the Razorhog's strength made the wolves wary. They circled cautiously, seeking an opening but daring not to rush in.

The Razorhog was no fool either. It kept its back pressed against the rocky canyon wall to prevent being ambushed from behind. Its sharp eyes locked onto the alpha wolf.

Neither side realized a more dangerous predator was already watching.

From the riverbank above, Zhu Ziyang and his group quietly observed.

They had already set their sights on the Razorhog.

It was a light-attributed beast with incredible physical strength. Its tusks and spines could pierce steel. It was a perfect match for Zhu Changhe's martial soul.

"What do you think—should we act now?"

Hong Zhen whispered.

Though a Soul King, he naturally deferred to Zhu Ziyang, who had led the operation so far.

"Let's wait," Ziyang replied coolly. "Let them wear each other down. Then we'll step in and reap the rewards."

"What if the wolves kill the Razorhog?"

Jiang Nannan asked, frowning.

"They won't," Ziyang said confidently. "Unless they starve it out for an entire day and night, it's not going down."

"Then we'll wait," Zhu Changhe agreed.

Jiang Nannan and Hong Zhen nodded.

Time passed. The sun dipped westward, casting the canyon in glowing red light. Just then, Zhu Ziyang's eyes narrowed.

He spotted two figures emerging from the left bank—a pair, one old, one young.

"Uncle Hong—look over there!"

Ziyang alerted the group.

The elder was a white-haired woman in her sixties or seventies, though her posture was straight and regal. The younger one appeared to be a girl around twelve or thirteen, with long golden hair, graceful posture, and a slender back.

"A potential beauty," Jiang Nannan muttered under her breath.

"Can you sense their power?"

Ziyang asked.

"The old woman's on my level," Hong Zhen said. "The girl's around Rank 30."

"So… they're also here for the soul beasts," Ziyang murmured. "Question is—are they after the wolves or the Razorhog?"

"If it's the wolves, we stay out of it. If it's the Razorhog… we may have a conflict," he added calmly. "And if it comes to that, Uncle Hong—we'll need your strength."

"Don't worry," Hong Zhen said, slapping his chest with confidence. "Even if she were a burly man, I could hold my own. A frail old lady? No problem!"

At that moment, the old woman noticed them. Her expression grew serious as she sensed Hong Zhen's strength. Uncertain of their intentions, she quickly made a decision. She took the younger girl's hand and began walking toward Zhu Ziyang's group.

She had decided to speak first—to test the waters. If conflict was unavoidable, so be it.

"Grandma, what are we doing?"

The girl asked softly, confused.

They had walked several meters before she noticed the group up ahead. Her pretty face quickly filled with anxiety and unease.

Zhu Ziyang immediately spotted the shift in their body language and warned the others. The group braced for potential conflict.