Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

Shrek Academy.

Upon returning to the academy, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan immediately went to report in with Xia Yu. During their conversation, Zhu Ziyang formally requested to participate in this year's Inner Court entrance exam.

Xia Yu wasn't the least bit surprised. He agreed right away and even joked:

"If you fail, don't forget you still have to return to Class One and continue as class monitor!"

Zhu Ziyang simply chuckled. Fail? Not a chance.

Truthfully, the exam was nothing more than a formality for him. If not for the sake of upholding the academy's rules, he wouldn't even bother participating.

The Inner Court's entrance exam was held at the same time as the Outer Court's annual admissions. Generally speaking, both first-year Inner and Outer Court students were considered "newcomers," though almost all Inner Court freshmen came up from the Outer Court.

Only a rare few were admitted directly into the Inner Court—exceptional geniuses who bypassed the usual route altogether. Those individuals were extraordinarily gifted, and exceedingly rare.

That day, Zhu Ziyang arrived at the Sea God Island's combat arena, the designated location for the Inner Court entrance trials.

The exam itself was simple: a one-on-one real combat challenge. Only those who met the benchmark in battle would pass and officially become Inner Court disciples.

The arena was already buzzing with students waiting to be tested. Dressed in the yellow uniform of a second-year, Zhu Ziyang stood out sharply among the black and purple uniforms around him. Many candidates turned to glance curiously at the unfamiliar youth. Zhu Ziyang remained calm and composed, ignoring their stares.

Just then, an exam match was underway.

In the center of the field stood a tall boy in a black school uniform. His face wore a wild, arrogant grin. Muscles bulged across his body, and his hands had transformed into massive tiger claws covered in white fur.

But what truly caught Zhu Ziyang's attention was the young man's heterochromatic pupils—dual-colored eyes that radiated raw dominance.

His name was Dai Yueheng, a sixth-year student in the Outer Court. At Rank 51, he was a power-type Battle Soul King. His martial soul: White Tiger.

He was also the eldest son of the White Tiger Duke of the Star Luo Empire. Though long qualified for the Inner Court exam, he had intentionally waited until reaching the Soul King realm to challenge it—testament to both his pride and strength.

Interestingly, he had once been Ma Xiaotao's classmate and co-representative of the academy's reserve team in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

His opponent was an Inner Court senior—a Soul Saint with seven rings.

To pass, Dai Yueheng needed to survive fifteen minutes without losing.

"Roar!"

With a thunderous tiger's roar, Dai Yueheng activated his first, third, and fifth soul rings all at once. His body expanded with explosive force, muscles swelling, and a terrifying aura erupted from him, distorting the air itself.

"So this is the strength forged over thousands of years by the White Tiger clan?"

Zhu Ziyang's eyes narrowed, genuinely impressed.

The White Tiger martial soul had been honed by generations of the Dai family, forming a nearly complete combat system: from offense to defense, from first to seventh soul skills—all optimized.

With decent talent, any Dai family member could reach the level of Soul Emperor or Soul Saint.

Dai Yueheng, unsurprisingly, lived up to the family name. Arrogant and fearless, he took the initiative and launched the first strike.

With a mighty leap, he soared into the air and brought down a massive tiger claw toward his opponent.

The examiner showed no emotion. He calmly summoned his martial soul—a Blackwater Serpent Spear.

The jet-black weapon glistened with menace. A coiled serpent was etched along the shaft, its jaws wide open, tongue curled into a jagged, deadly spearhead that shimmered with eerie light.

The Soul Saint's rings emerged: two yellow, two purple, three black—seven total.

As his first ring lit up, a cold ripple of water coated the spear's blade. He thrust forward—fast as lightning—and the serpentine weapon clashed with Dai Yueheng's tiger claw.

Clang!

A crisp metallic echo rang out.

Dai Yueheng recoiled, flipped midair, and launched a side kick at the spear. The Soul Saint parried with practiced ease. With a flick of the wrist, the spear danced like a live snake, darting at Dai's vital points.

Dodging proved difficult. Dai Yueheng was forced to leap back, trying to gain space.

But the Soul Saint was relentless. His second ring lit up, and his speed surged. The spear lunged again, a blur of shadow and steel.

Pressed to the limit, Dai Yueheng activated his second soul skill, releasing a blinding wave of white energy—White Tiger Fierce Light Wave.

The serpent spear was engulfed in radiant energy.

But to Dai's shock, the weapon pierced through the light and shot straight toward his face. He dropped to the ground, narrowly evading the deadly thrust.

Flat on his back, Dai Yueheng's eyes lit up with opportunity.

He sprang to his feet in a smooth flip and lashed out with a powerful kick. But the Soul Saint caught his leg with one hand and gently pushed him away, unfazed.

Undeterred, Dai Yueheng regained his footing and unleashed his fourth soul skill.

Golden orbs—each the size of a fist—materialized around him. They flew at his opponent like a barrage of artillery shells.

The Soul Saint calmly spun his spear, creating a swirling wall of defense. The golden orbs were effortlessly deflected, one after another.

The two continued exchanging blows. One gave everything he had; the other, while clearly stronger, held back just enough to keep the battle close.

Fifteen minutes passed in a flash.

Dai Yueheng had survived.

He passed the trial and officially became an Inner Court disciple.

No one present objected. His strength spoke for itself. Everyone understood that the exam, while formal, wasn't rigid. It was a threshold—but not one meant to exclude the truly qualified.

After Dai Yueheng, several more sixth-year students took the test. While none were Soul Kings, they all passed with little trouble. The most powerful among them was Chen Zifeng at Rank 45. The weakest, Yao Haoxuan, was Rank 42. All of them were among the Outer Court's best.

Time passed quickly.

Finally, it was Zhu Ziyang's turn.

Every gaze turned toward him.

This was the moment everyone had been waiting for. They were all eager to see the 12-year-old second-year prodigy who had somehow qualified to take the Inner Court exam so young.

Zhu Ziyang walked calmly into the arena, face serene, every movement graceful and composed.

From the examiner group, one person stepped forward.

Zhu Ziyang paused, and his expression turned slightly odd.

It was… someone he knew.

"Ziyang, I knew you wouldn't let me down," the woman said with a warm smile. Her voice was soft and soothing, like sunlight through a window.

It was none other than Han Ruoruo!

"Ruoruo-jie?"

Zhu Ziyang laughed helplessly. "Aren't I supposed to be tested by a Soul Emperor? You're a Soul Saint! Are they really having a little Soul Ancestor like me fight you?"

Han Ruoruo giggled. "Don't worry. I won't bully you. Your exam is very simple: just get within one meter of me in under five minutes. That's it."

"Oh, that's easy."

Zhu Ziyang smiled.

"Very well. Then let's begin."

Han Ruoruo released her martial soul.

Dozens of shimmering Golden Binding Ropes materialized around her, partitioning the air into tiny sealed zones—a spatial trap formation.

"Watch closely, Ruoruo-jie," Zhu Ziyang called.

Without hesitation, he summoned his Judgment Scythe of Eternal Rest.

Four soul rings emerged: yellow, purple, purple, black—stunning everyone present.

As his right leg glowed faintly, Zhu Ziyang stepped forward, walking through the air. With each step, space rippled. When he reached three meters above the ground, Han Ruoruo frowned, unsure what he was planning.

But then—he took his final step.

A wave of spatial distortion spread toward Han Ruoruo. Her concentration wavered for a split second, and the ropes loosened.

Zhu Ziyang didn't miss the opportunity.

He activated his second soul skill, raised the Judgment Scythe, and descended like a shooting star. He slashed clean through the golden ropes and landed smoothly within one meter of Han Ruoruo.

She blinked—then smiled wryly.

"Well then… looks like I walked right into that one."