Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

"Teacher, you're awake!"

Zhu Ziyang was overjoyed. The disappointment of failing to enter the Icefire Yin-Yang Well instantly vanished.

Six months ago, Electrolux had voluntarily fallen into deep slumber to stabilize his soul. Before sleeping, he had told Ziyang that once he awoke, his soul would be fully stabilized, and there would no longer be a risk of fading.

Now, with Electrolux's awakening, that promise had clearly been fulfilled.

"Mhm," Electrolux replied, his voice both pleased and slightly irritated. "We'll discuss everything else later. First, let's resolve the issue right in front of you."

"Teacher, you have a way to deal with these poisonous plants?"

Ziyang asked excitedly.

"You little rascal," Electrolux snapped. "You must've neglected your necromancy training this entire half-year, haven't you? Otherwise, even this pathetic vegetation wouldn't trouble you!"

"Ah…"

Ziyang blushed with guilt. Then a realization struck him like lightning.

"That's right! How could I forget?"

His sudden reaction caught the attention of Yan Shaozhe, Cai Mei'er, and Jiang Nannan.

"Junior Brother, what's wrong?"

Shaozhe asked curiously. "Did you remember something?"

"I did!"

Ziyang smiled brightly. "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, Nannan—I've figured out how to deal with these Jade-Scale Blooms!"

"Really?!"

All three stared at him in shock.

Ziyang just grinned smugly. "Watch and see!"

He summoned the Judgment Scythe of Eternal Rest. Behind him, four soul rings appeared. His first ring lit up. As the others looked on in confusion, Ziyang swung his scythe, releasing a slash infused with aura of death.

It struck a Jade-Scale Sevenfold Bloom directly.

With a soft boom, the blade's aura exploded on contact, creating a five-meter-wide grey field. The plants caught within began to wither before their eyes.

To the others' astonishment, the bright green flowers swiftly turned yellow… then grey… and finally, bone white. The entire patch of lush, vibrant poison flora crumbled into dust, decaying into lifeless dirt within minutes.

The Power of Death.

Had it not been for Electrolux's timely reminder, Ziyang would've completely forgotten that the power of death was the natural bane of plant life.

All plants, at their core, rely on vitality. But death magic devours that life force. Once infected, plants have no defense—they simply rot away.

Even these rare and potent Jade-Scale Blooms were still plants. Against the death energy of Ziyang's scythe, they crumbled like snow before fire.

"This is… the power of death!"

Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er immediately understood, their expressions a mixture of awe, seriousness—and joy.

"This is incredible, Junior Brother!"

Shaozhe exclaimed. "With this, the Jade-Scale Blooms can't threaten us anymore!"

"Exactly!"

Cai Mei'er added. "We could even completely purge this field—maybe put an end to Sunset Forest's miasma crisis once and for all!"

But Zhu Ziyang didn't respond. He was entirely focused on refining the plants' life energy.

The vitality from the Jade-Scale Blooms surged into his body through the scythe—some tempered his physique, some strengthened his soul, and some directly flowed into his soul rings.

His Radiant Divine Sense, infused with ultimate light, illuminated his spiritual sea, ensuring that his core consciousness remained unaffected—resisting the seductive pull of devouring life.

In the quiet of his spirit world, Electrolux watched him work with pride and satisfaction.

Fifteen minutes later, Zhu Ziyang had completely refined the life energy of every plant in that five-meter radius.

His first soul ring advanced to 600 years, a jump of 100 years. The second and third increased slightly—by about a dozen years each. The fourth remained unchanged due to the higher requirements of its tier.

Though his expression remained composed, his heart throbbed with exhilaration.

This was the first time he had ever used death energy to raise soul ring years—and it awakened him to just how terrifying this power could be.

If not for his unwavering will and the guidance of ultimate light, he might've already begun slipping into corruption.

He was truly lucky—to have both the light to cleanse his mind, and a reborn teacher who had once walked the path of darkness.

"Junior Brother, are you alright?"

Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er asked, worried.

"I'm fine," Ziyang said with a smile. "I think we can move forward now."

"That's wonderful!"

The two seniors visibly relaxed.

"We should clear these poisonous flowers first," Cai Mei'er suggested. "Then we can go look for the Icefire Yin-Yang Well."

"No," Shaozhe said firmly. "We should locate the Icefire Yin-Yang Well first. This forest is too unpredictable. Better to act swiftly and avoid complications."

"I agree with Senior Brother," Zhu Ziyang said. "We'll come back to deal with the plants later."

Truthfully, he had already set his sights on this massive Jade-Scale field. It was the perfect training ground for mastering death energy.

So long as it existed, he could continue absorbing and refining—without guilt, since the plants were harmful to all living things.

"Alright then," Cai Mei'er conceded.

"Nannan, you're up!"

Ziyang called.

"Got it!"

Jiang Nannan had been idle far too long. Now she jumped to action. Activating her martial soul, she immediately sensed the spiritual energy of rare herbs in the area.

"That way!" she shouted, pointing ahead.

The group moved quickly.

Each had a role—Nannan led the way, Ziyang cleared out the Sevenfold Blooms using death magic, and the two seniors protected the group and restrained any Jade-Scale Ninefold Blooms that appeared.

Though progress was slow, it was steady and safe. After a few hours, they had advanced hundreds of meters—now deep in the center of the poisonous field.

Morale soared.

At this rate, they'd reach the valley hidden within the Jade-Scale forest by nightfall.

The Icefire Yin-Yang Well was within reach.

At the same time—

Back when Yan Shaozhe had failed to breach the miasma cloud with his attack…

Far atop a sky-piercing mountain, in a majestic ancient fortress—

In an ornate hall, a blue-gold wind chime suddenly rang without wind.

The sound summoned two figures.

One was a middle-aged man with long, sea-blue hair cascading over broad shoulders. His turquoise eyes were calm but radiated a hidden pressure—one that suggested he was barely containing his overwhelming power.

The other was a sturdily built man with short, bristly hair like steel needles. His angular face was carved like stone, with piercing brown-yellow eyes that flashed faint golden light. His grey robe barely concealed the muscles rippling beneath it.

"Why would he issue a command at this moment?"

the short-haired man asked in confusion.

"Someone is attacking that place," said the long-haired one, eyes closed.

"What? That place was sealed with his formations, wasn't it?"

"Seems someone wandered in and triggered them. Go check it out, Second Brother," said the long-haired man calmly.

"Seriously?" the muscular man grumbled. "He's making such a fuss over a minor intrusion?"

"He probably set a sliver of divine sense there," the other replied. "You know how critical that site is to his plan. We can't risk it. Just drive them away—but don't harm anyone. We need to remain low-profile until his preparations are complete."

"…Fine. I'll go," the short-haired man relented, though clearly annoyed. "I'm not his errand boy, you know."

"Second Brother!"

The long-haired man's tone hardened.

"Alright, alright, I get it!" the other grumbled. Then with a flash of light, he vanished from the hall.