Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

On the shores of Sea God Lake, Zhu Ziyang played in the grassy fields with Xingcai, until a familiar voice called out behind him.

"Big brother!"

Jiang Nannan came running toward him, her red eyes sparkling with excitement and joy. In a flash, she was standing beside him.

Ziyang blinked, surprised.

"Nannan, you look really happy. Did something happen? A breakthrough, maybe?"

"Mhm!"

Jiang Nannan nodded quickly, a dazzling smile lighting up her face.

"My soul power broke through! I'm at Rank 50 now!"

"What?!"

Ziyang's eyes widened in disbelief. He stepped forward quickly and took her wrist in his hand to confirm it for himself.

"How is that possible? Did the Moon Laurel Immortal Tea really have such a strong effect? You went from Rank 45 all the way to 50? That was only one petal!"

"Pfft—!"

Nannan giggled at his rare loss of composure and explained,

"Of course it wasn't just the petal! After I used it, my soul power did rise four levels, but the reason I hit Rank 50 is because Teacher Song helped me with the last one."

"Ohhh, that makes more sense,"

Ziyang let out a breath of relief.

"If even a single flower petal had such terrifying medicinal power, then the main body of the Moon Laurel Immortal Tea must be unimaginably powerful. A four-level increase from that, and one more level with Elder Song's soul transfer technique—that adds up."

"I didn't expect Teacher to help me like that, either," Nannan said with gratitude in her voice.

"She said the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is coming soon, and the stronger I am, the safer I'll be. Reaching Soul King earlier means I'll have more time to get used to fighting at that level."

"Elder Song really is a wonderful teacher," Ziyang said sincerely.

"Did she tell you when you're going to hunt for your fifth soul ring?"

"Tomorrow morning!" Nannan replied cheerfully, wrapping her arms around his.

"She's going to take me personally this time—so you won't have to worry about it, big brother!"

"Haha, in that case, I'll gladly stay out of her way."

Ziyang chuckled and waved his hand in mock surrender.

"Hehe~"

Nannan giggled, then clutched her stomach.

"Let's go eat—I haven't eaten all day, and I'm starving!"

"Perfect, I'm hungry too."

Ziyang felt his own stomach growl at the mention of food and agreed without hesitation.

Riding atop Xingcai, he reached out and pulled Nannan up into the saddle behind him. He wrapped his arms gently around her waist, and she leaned contentedly into his embrace. Their posture was both intimate and warm.

Xingcai carried the couple gracefully through the skies, heading toward the Inner Court's dining hall.

At the dining hall, Ziyang and Nannan dismounted from Xingcai's back. Ziyang patted her neck affectionately, and the unicorn turned away on her own to find food.

For the Starlight Unicorn, nothing was more delicious than the leaves of the Golden Tree. At first, she had been satisfied with nibbling on the Blue Silver Grass beneath it, but ever since Xian Lin'er once gave her golden leaves as a treat, she had become a picky eater—refusing anything else.

As Ziyang and Nannan walked into the dining hall, a familiar voice called out from near the window.

"Ziyang, Nannan—you two haven't eaten yet either?"

It was Zhang Lexuan, surprised to see them.

"Lexuan-jie!"

Nannan smiled brightly and tugged Ziyang toward her.

"Yeah, we haven't eaten yet. Can we join you?"

"Of course!"

Zhang Lexuan welcomed them with a smile.

"I'd love the company—it'll be nice to have someone to talk to."

"Hehe, then we won't hold back,"

Nannan giggled and dragged Ziyang to sit across from her.

Once seated, Ziyang glanced at Lexuan in curiosity.

"Lexuan-jie, what are you doing eating so late? I thought the Inner Court wasn't too busy right now."

"Oh, I got roped into being a referee by Xiaotao and Wu Ming, so I only just now had time to eat," Lexuan explained, then paused and looked at Ziyang with a probing gaze.

"Did you hear? Xiaotao's martial soul defect has been completely cured."

"Really? That's amazing!"

Nannan's eyes sparkled with joy. Her happiness was pure and genuine.

"I already knew," Ziyang nodded.

"The Phoenix Crestflower that cured her? Nannan and I found it together."

"You did?!"

Lexuan's eyes widened in surprise.

"No wonder! Xiaotao's been troubled by that defect for over ten years, and suddenly it's gone? So it was thanks to you two!"

Ziyang chuckled, but quickly changed the subject.

"You said Xiaotao and Wu Ming were fighting? What was that about?"

"Xiaotao wanted to test her new strength, so she challenged Wu Ming," Lexuan replied with a helpless smile.

"They pulled me in to be the referee. And I have to say, Xiaotao's growth is incredible—Wu Ming didn't stand a chance. She was completely dominated the whole fight."

"That's not surprising," Ziyang nodded.

"Xiaotao-jie's martial soul is now true Ultimate Fire. Wu Ming may be a Rank 69 Soul Emperor, but her Golden Crow martial soul is also fire-type—it would be naturally suppressed by the Fire Phoenix. Losing was inevitable."

"Still," Lexuan sighed, "watching someone who used to follow you around suddenly grow strong enough to stand alone… it's a strange feeling."

Feeling left out of the conversation, Nannan suddenly interjected with a proud tone.

"Lexuan-jie, I've reached Soul King too!"

"What?!"

Zhang Lexuan was stunned. She stared at Nannan with her mouth open, completely speechless.

"Hehehe~"

Nannan was clearly satisfied with her reaction and laughed like a bell.

"Lexuan-jie, your expression is priceless!"

"You little brat," Lexuan finally said with a laugh.

"What did you do this time? It's only been a month—how did your soul power jump five levels?"

"Oh, it's nothing really," Nannan said casually.

"I just came across a piece of immortal grass, that's all."

"'Just a piece of immortal grass'?!"

Lexuan nearly choked. She reached out and tapped Nannan's forehead playfully.

"Do you know how many people go their entire lives without even seeing an immortal herb? You really don't know how lucky you are!"

"Ehehe~ don't be mad,"

Nannan said sweetly, grabbing Lexuan's hand and leaning on her shoulder like a spoiled child.

The two beauties sat close together, one elegant and graceful, the other refined and noble, their smiles like spring blossoms. The scene was so picturesque that even Zhu Ziyang found himself lost in the moment, silently committing it to memory like a timeless painting.

The next day.

Jiang Nannan left the academy with Elder Song to hunt for her fifth soul ring in the Star Dou Forest.

Now that she had reached Soul King level, her requirements for soul rings had shifted. The old rules no longer applied strictly. Any speed-type soul beast was a potential match for her.

Still, with Elder Song personally guiding the hunt, there was no way she would let her disciple "settle." The choice of her first ten-thousand-year ring would be handled with the utmost care and precision.

And that was clear from the fact that they didn't return from the Star Dou Forest for a full month.

In the end, Jiang Nannan's fifth soul ring came from a 25,000-year-old Violet Demonlight Serpent—the smallest and fastest of all snake-type soul beasts, known for its explosive sprinting power. At full speed, its tail could shatter an entire hillside in one strike.

Jiang Nannan's fifth soul skill would be based on that very power.

And that wasn't all—her good fortune continued.

By sheer luck, she had also obtained a left leg bone—exactly the one piece she was missing. When she told Zhu Ziyang the news, he was momentarily speechless.

Jiang Nannan's luck really was something else.

First the Moonlight Spirit Crystal, then the Moon Laurel Immortal Tea, and now a soul bone that perfectly fit her needs. Even Ziyang found himself envious.