Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

Jiang Nannan successfully picked a Phoenix Sunflower and returned to Zhu Ziyang's side.

"Oh my, you actually picked that one! How am I supposed to explain this to Kui Kui?" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea exclaimed, startled by the sight of the fiery red blossom in her hand.

"Why? Is this one not allowed?" Jiang Nannan frowned.

The Phoenix Sunflower she held was the largest among all the offshoots, second only in size and height to the main Phoenix Sunflower itself. Although she had already received explanations and reassurances from Moon Laurel Immortal Tea, she still worried that a regular offshoot might not be enough to fully eradicate Ma Xiaotao's martial soul defect. So she had chosen the strongest and most vigorous of them all. After all, with Phoenix Sunflowers, the bigger the better—right?

"No, no, it's not that," Moon Laurel Immortal Tea stammered, sensing Jiang Nannan's displeasure and quickly trying to appease her. She had waited so long for a Yin Jade Rabbit like Jiang Nannan; she couldn't afford to lose her now. "Yes, it's a strong one, but it's still just an offshoot. Kui Kui will definitely be upset—but not too much. I'll explain things to her, so don't worry."

To these immortal herbs that had evolved into soulbeasts, offshoots were dispensable. Although technically sisters by bloodline, so long as the offshoots remained connected to the root, they were nothing more than mindless plants.

"Good." Jiang Nannan's frown eased into a smile. She turned to Zhu Ziyang and said, "Here, brother. Take it and keep it safe."

She handed over the Phoenix Sunflower. Zhu Ziyang took out a jade box, carefully placed the herb inside, then stored it in his Starflame Ring. "Thank you, Nannan."

"You two should go now," Moon Laurel Immortal Tea urged them. "If you stay any longer, someone might notice! And you—silver-haired girl—don't forget our deal!"

"I won't," Jiang Nannan replied solemnly. She had no intention of breaking a promise with a hundred-thousand-year soulbeast. Only a fool would do that—especially when there was a soul ring and soul bone on the line.

"Goodbye, Moon Laurel Immortal Tea," Zhu Ziyang said, casting a glance at all the immortal herbs surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well before settling his gaze back on her. A faint, unreadable smile played on his lips.

"Goodbye!" she answered cheerfully, unaware of the true meaning behind his smile.

"Nannan, let's go." Zhu Ziyang wrapped his arm around her waist. Suddenly, his left eye gleamed with golden light. Space around them twisted—and in the blink of an eye, the two of them vanished.

"Heeheehee~ Finally, I, Chacha, can leave this cursed place!" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea giggled to herself. "Heeheehee~"

"Chacha, I saw everything." A cold voice interrupted her joy. From the Depth Yin Spring, an ice-white plant slowly surfaced.

"Ah! Bing Bing, when did you wake up?!" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea trembled in panic, branches quivering.

"I woke the moment those two humans arrived," replied the plant from the spring. "And I heard every word you said."

"Th-this—" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea was terrified. Although many herbs resented that individual deep in their hearts, no one dared speak out loud. Now that the Eight-Leaf Ice Crystal Grass had heard everything, if it told Youyou, she might be stripped of her sentience!

Plenty of immortal herbs had been wiped of consciousness by Youyou and the others—she didn't want to become one of them!

"I saw it too." Another voice echoed. A fire-red plant rose from the Yang Spring—Fiery Apricot Blossom.

"Oh no... it's over!" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea sank into despair.

"Enough, don't scare her anymore," said a gentle voice—Phoenix Sunflower, who had just lost an offshoot.

"Kui Kui, you're awake too?!" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea's heart plummeted even further, but Phoenix Sunflower's words gave her a sliver of hope.

"Mm-hmm. I woke up the moment that girl picked my offshoot," she said. "Don't worry—we won't blame you. We understand your situation, and we'll keep your secret."

"We will too," added the Eight-Leaf Ice Crystal Grass and Fiery Apricot Blossom.

"Really? Thank you all so much!" Moon Laurel Immortal Tea was moved nearly to tears.

"Of course. But... you must agree to one condition," said the Ice Crystal Grass. The Fiery Apricot Blossom nodded beside her.

"No problem!" Chacha, whose mood had swung from despair to elation, agreed instantly without even thinking.

—

Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a flash of golden light appeared, and Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan emerged.

Spatial transfer—Zhu Ziyang's newest ability, inherited from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's power of fate.

Back when he exchanged memories with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, he had absorbed a portion of its power. Since then, his left eye had undergone a special mutation—just like his right eye had changed after the Silvermoon Wolf's sacrifice and its own power of fate.

After six months of development, his left eye had manifested golden dragon wing patterns, mirroring the silver ones on his right. Thus, he named it the Golden Left Eye.

Just as the Silver Right Eye possessed the power of time-stop, the Golden Left Eye possessed spatial transfer—a technique that allowed him to teleport across Douluo Continent using spatial laws.

Currently, he could only teleport 500 meters at a time, but the potential was immense. As he grew stronger, the range would expand endlessly. A step to cross a thousand miles was just the beginning.

"Let's go, Nannan—back to the academy," Zhu Ziyang said.

"Mm!" Jiang Nannan hugged his waist, eyes shining with joy and expectation. "Let's give Sister Xiaotao a big surprise!"

"Hehe, alright." Zhu Ziyang gave a bitter smile. Of course he knew what Jiang Nannan was thinking. But what else could he do? Could he really cut ties with Ma Xiaotao?

Sorry. Maybe two years ago, yes—but now... he truly couldn't.

Perhaps he was a hopeless flirt. But as his teacher Mu En once said, it was normal for young men to admire beautiful women. So be it. As long as he didn't become a scumbag who played with girls' feelings, it was fine. Besides, they were still young—matters of the heart should be left to time.

Holding Jiang Nannan in his arms, Zhu Ziyang flew at low altitude, quickly exiting the Sunset Forest and heading toward Shrek Academy.

"Ziyang, are we just leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well like this?" Electrolux's voice rang in his mind, confused. "That place is a treasure! It's a shame to walk away empty-handed. Even I've never seen a land like that. Truly a land where gods have fallen!"

In Douluo Continent's ancient myths, the nine Dragon Kings were divine-level beings. Electrolux calling the Yin Yang Well "a land where gods perished" wasn't wrong.

"Teacher, don't worry," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile. "This wasn't our last visit. Now that we know how to enter, we can return anytime."

"Sigh... If it were me back in the day, I'd have unleashed an undead army, looted every herb, and moved both springs into the undead demi-plane," Electrolux sighed. "If only I still had my full power... my disciple wouldn't have to act so cautiously."

Of course, Electrolux knew what Zhu Ziyang feared—the Sea God watching over the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He feared it too. Gods, after all, were at the top of the food chain in any world.

"I never intended to destroy the place," Zhu Ziyang said with a wry smile. His teacher really was bold—no wonder he was called the Calamity of the Undead. "My true goal has always been the Ice Dragon King's bones beneath the Depth Yin Spring. Now that I've confirmed they're there, I'll return when I'm fully prepared. I probed earlier, but I'm not yet strong enough to reach the bottom."

"Good. As long as you can judge for yourself, I won't say more," Electrolux replied, satisfied.

Zhu Ziyang nodded.

—

Star Luo Empire – Star Luo City

Behind the Duke's Mansion, a thin and frail boy quietly slipped out and headed north without looking back.

His eyes gleamed with determination—but were shrouded in darkness. Hatred and sorrow filled his young face.

"Mother, I know you're watching from the heavens," he muttered through clenched teeth. "No matter what it takes, I'll return one day and trample everything beneath my feet. From now on... I'll take your surname. I'll be Huo Yuhao."

The boy, Huo Yuhao, fled the Duke's Mansion and ran toward Star Dou Forest—the place where the gears of fate were beginning to turn.

As the figure of young Huo Yuhao faded into the distance, a monumental game began. The chess piece had entered the board—and fate was now in motion.

The battle to determine Douluo Continent's future... had begun.