Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

Zhu Ziyang and his group had advanced several hundred meters deeper into the forest. Along the way, they had destroyed over a hundred Jade-Scale Sevenfold Blooms, and even eliminated three or four Ninefold variants.

The results were astounding.

Zhu Ziyang's first soul ring had already reached 999 years—just one step short of the millennium mark. However, soul rings cannot break their age limit without a significant influx of exceptionally pure life energy and focused refinement. The environment simply wasn't conducive to that level of concentration.

Realizing this, he chose to halt the first ring's refinement and focus on improving the second. It had now reached 3,000 years, and his third had climbed to 5,000.

In addition to the ring advancements, both his body and soul had gained enormous benefits. His physical form could now withstand pressure equivalent to that of a 75,000-year soul beast, and his spiritual sea had expanded significantly. His mental strength—both in depth and clarity—had made marked progress.

Even if they were to turn back now, the journey would still be considered a major victory for him.

But of course, they wouldn't leave just yet.

Their true goal was still the Icefire Yin-Yang Well.

And then—suddenly, the unexpected struck.

BOOM!

A thunderous impact shook the land.

From the dense miasma above, a burly short-haired man dropped like a meteor and landed squarely in front of the group. His arrival unleashed a tidal wave of pressure that uprooted nearby Jade-Scale Blooms and completely dispersed the surrounding poison fog.

The shockwave was so intense that Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er immediately moved to shield Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, stepping in front of them with grim expressions.

They stared at the newcomer.

The pressure radiating from this man… they had only ever felt it from Mu En.

They exchanged a glance, and what they saw in each other's eyes was clear—deep alarm.

The stranger stood with his back to them, completely unfazed by their presence. His voice rumbled like thunder:

"This is not a place you should be. Leave immediately."

Yan Shaozhe narrowed his eyes.

"And who might you be?" he demanded. "As far as I know, Sunset Forest is unclaimed land. Or… are you responsible for the poison fog that covers it?"

"Hmmph!"

The man grunted, and the sound echoed like a sonic boom. The force of that snort shook the air around them.

Even Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er felt the pressure.

As for Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan—they were struck numb, their minds trembling from the sheer force of that sound alone.

The man growled:

"That's none of your business. Leave now—or don't blame me for what happens next."

His words were ice and iron, heavy with threat. As if to demonstrate his seriousness, he turned to face them—and unleashed his full pressure.

Behind him, nine soul rings rose into view.

Black, black, black, black, black, black, black, red, red.

The four stared at the display in shock—as if they were looking at someone who had returned from the dead.

"Ultimate Douluo…"

Yan Shaozhe whispered, his face pale and eyes wide with disbelief.

There was no hesitation. None at all.

He immediately bowed and said:

"We were mistaken. Please forgive us!"

Then he turned around, grabbed Zhu Ziyang by the arm, and fled at full speed.

Cai Mei'er followed instantly, carrying Jiang Nannan.

For the first time in their lives, two Super Douluo of Shrek Academy fled with nothing but urgency and dread.

The stranger stood still, watching their retreating figures.

Only when they disappeared did he murmur:

"Shrek Academy, eh? You've gotten a bit reckless… Never mind. I've done my duty. Time to report back."

With a single leap, he shot into the sky—and vanished.

Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er flew for hundreds of kilometers before finally stopping.

Only when they confirmed they weren't being pursued did they breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"That was too close," Shaozhe muttered, wiping the cold sweat from his brow. "Thank the heavens he didn't pursue us."

Cai Mei'er nodded, still trembling slightly.

"A completely unknown Ultimate Douluo… We need to reassess everything we thought we knew about Sunset Forest."

"I agree," Shaozhe said seriously. Then he turned to Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan.

"Are you two alright?"

"I'm okay, Senior Brother," Ziyang replied. Aside from looking pale, he seemed unharmed—but inwardly, he was shaken.

That man only snorted… and I felt like a mountain had collapsed on me!

"I'm fine too," said Jiang Nannan, regaining her breath.

"Let's return to the academy immediately," Shaozhe said grimly. "We must inform the teacher. A stranger with that kind of power… could change the balance of the entire continent. As for the Icefire Yin-Yang Well—we'll leave it be. For now."

They all understood.

The Icefire Yin-Yang Well was no longer something they could hope to claim.

"Let's go," Cai Mei'er said softly.

With that, the group turned and sped toward Shrek Academy.

On the return journey, Zhu Ziyang retreated into his spiritual sea to speak with his teacher.

"Master," he asked eagerly, "your soul is stable now, right? No more risk of fading?"

Inside his mental realm, Electrolux appeared more radiant than ever. His form was no longer vague or wispy—his limbs were solid, his expression vivid.

"Hahaha! That's right!"

Electrolux laughed heartily.

"And not just that—I've even prepared a gift for you. You'll see once we're back."

"Really? What kind of gift?" Ziyang lit up, all gloom forgotten.

"Haha, patience," Electrolux said. "Before that, let's talk about the man you just met."

"…Teacher, you know who he is?"

Ziyang's heart skipped a beat.

"Pfft!"

Electrolux chuckled.

"He must've left quite the impression on you—your reaction says it all."

"But I don't blame you," he added. "That man… is stronger than Mu En."

"What?!"

Ziyang was truly stunned now.

Mu En was a Rank 99 Ultimate Douluo. To say someone was stronger than that was unthinkable.

Unless… Mu En's physical condition counted against him?

"Don't be surprised," Electrolux said calmly. "That man was hiding his true strength. I sensed a trace of divinity in him."

"Divinity?" Ziyang echoed, confused.

"Yes," Electrolux said gravely. "In my time observing your world, I've learned that such divine presence only comes from two sources:

Either the person is a chosen priest of a god…

Or they've already reached Rank 100—the realm of the gods."

Ziyang's heart nearly stopped.

A god's priest… or someone who's broken through to godhood?!

"Which do you think he is?" he asked, swallowing hard.

"I suspect the former," Electrolux said thoughtfully. "I sensed a divine consciousness lingering in that poison cloud. It didn't match the man's own aura—so I believe he serves the god who left that will behind. Likely, your Senior Brother's attack disturbed it, prompting that god to send him down as a warning."

Ziyang was silent for a long moment.

"…Then does that mean everything in Sunset Forest… is part of that god's domain?"

"It's very possible," Electrolux said. "And I'd wager that god is guarding something hidden within the Icefire Yin-Yang Well."

"Then… then I have no chance of entering it at all?"

Ziyang's shoulders slumped, his heart sinking.

"Not necessarily," Electrolux said with a smirk.

"The god seems confident in his field of poisonous plants. But I sensed no divine presence on the ground level. Only the toxic cloud above had that divine will."

"In that case," Ziyang's eyes brightened, "we just need to avoid disturbing the miasma! As long as we stay on the ground—"

"Exactly," Electrolux nodded. "Just don't attack the cloud, and the god won't intervene."

"Then… we could try again later?"

"You should," Electrolux said with a rare spark of excitement.

"Especially now that I'm back."