Douluo:Peerless Tang Sect: Douluo of Peaceful Heaven

A few days later, Zhu Ziyang went to find Cai Meier. After Yan Shaozhe entered seclusion, all affairs of the Martial Soul Department in the Outer Court were now under her management.

"Junior Brother, what brings you here?" Cai Meier asked, surprised.

"Hehe, Senior Sister, sorry to bother you at work," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. "I'd like to take a look at the new students' profiles, if that's alright?"

"Huh?" Cai Meier was momentarily stunned, then asked, "Why? What got you suddenly interested in this year's freshmen? Do you know someone among them?"

"You could say that," Zhu Ziyang thought of Huo Yuhao but quickly shook his head. "I heard that there are three Soul Elders among the new students this year, so I got curious and wanted to take a look."

"Oh, I see." Cai Meier smiled and said, "I didn't expect three Soul Elders to pop up this year either. It's perfectly normal for you to be curious, Junior Brother. Alright, I'll satisfy your curiosity."

As she spoke, Cai Meier retrieved a stack of files from a storage cabinet behind her and placed them in front of Zhu Ziyang. "Normally, this kind of information is classified and not for casual viewing. But you're different. You'll be handling these things sooner or later, so it's good to get familiar early."

"Mm-hmm! Thanks, Senior Sister." Zhu Ziyang nodded eagerly as he looked at the thick stack in front of him.

"This year, we admitted over a thousand new students—the highest number in the past decade," Cai Meier said, smiling with satisfaction. "And more than 30% are from commoner backgrounds. If we can keep this development going, imagine what kind of flourishing future that would be!"

"Over a thousand? That's quite a lot!" Zhu Ziyang was a little surprised.

"These files contain background checks and relationship networks for all the freshmen. You absolutely must not let any of this information leak. Just read it here and don't take it with you," Cai Meier warned. "I have to head out and deal with something. If you finish reading, just leave them here."

"I understand." Zhu Ziyang nodded.

After Cai Meier left, Zhu Ziyang began browsing through the documents.

The top file immediately caught his eye. He picked it up and skimmed through it:

"Ning Tian, eleven years old, Rank 31, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, innate full soul power, no twin martial soul, no soul bone. Young master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. Father: Ning Baicheng, Rank 79 Soul Sage, clan patriarch. Legal mother: Chen Xue, Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul, Rank 87 Soul Douluo, clan elder. Biological mother: Ning Qiang, deceased ten years ago…"

Zhu Ziyang was mildly surprised. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—the continent's most powerful support-type martial soul. With such a background, becoming a Soul Elder at age eleven wasn't surprising. But he also understood now why Cai Meier warned him about the confidentiality—these files contained secrets that were truly shocking.

He narrowed his eyes. If the academy's intelligence network could gather this much on a clan like the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, then what about the Sun Moon Empire? He thought of the numerous soul tool blueprints in the Soul Tool Department that couldn't be replicated—perhaps they were obtained through similar means.

He moved on to the next file—another Soul Elder.

"Dai Huabin, twelve years old, Rank 31, White Tiger Martial Soul, innate full soul power, no twin martial soul, no soul bone. Youngest son of the White Tiger Duke. Father: Dai Hao, White Tiger Duke, Rank 87 Soul Douluo. Mother: Xu Qiqi, Starlight Martial Soul, Rank 55 Soul King, princess of the Star Luo Empire…"

"Dai Huabin?" Zhu Ziyang blinked, then suddenly thought of someone. "Could this guy be Brother Yaoheng's younger brother? Huh, I think he is! Yaoheng's talent is already impressive, but his little brother might be even stronger. Things are about to get interesting—the rules in the White Tiger Duke's household are pretty brutal!"

"Xie Huan Yue, twelve years old, Rank 31, Pipi Elephant Martial Soul, innate full soul power, no twin martial soul, no soul bone. Young master of the Elephant Armored Sect. Father: Xie Zheng, Celestial Elephant Douluo, Rank 93 Titled Douluo, sect master…"

"Pipi Elephant? What kind of martial soul is that? A mutation?" Zhu Ziyang scratched his head. "I thought their martial soul was the Diamond Mammoth. This is wild."

After the three Soul Elders, the next profile shocked him—it was Wang Dong.

Zhu Ziyang raised an eyebrow. He remembered Wang Dong being only Rank 21. Ranked fourth? Was the talent level this uneven this year?

He began reading with curiosity, and was immediately surprised by the difference in format.

"Wang Dong, eleven years old, innate full soul power, twin martial souls: Goddess of Light Butterfly and Clear Sky Hammer. Rank 21. Heir of the Clear Sky Clan. Father: unknown. Mother: unknown…"

Now he understood. Despite only being Rank 21, Wang Dong came after the Soul Elders because he possessed twin martial souls. No wonder the format was different. Clear Sky Hammer, heir of the Clear Sky Clan—this was incredibly rare. The clan had been secluded for millennia, and this was their first disciple to attend Shrek Academy.

But why the surname Wang? Shouldn't it be Tang?

And the Goddess of Light Butterfly martial soul… Zhu Ziyang's eyes widened. That soul was known for a strong gender bias—passed only to girls, not boys. So how did Wang Dong have it?

Could it be… Wang Dong was a girl in disguise?

Honestly, it was very possible! Zhu Ziyang recalled Wang Dong's subtle, feminine mannerisms at dinner. It all made sense now. A girl disguised as a boy, living in the same dorm, with twin martial souls, and from a hidden clan—wasn't that the perfect setup for a female lead in a novel? Classic cliché, though.

The Clear Sky Clan sure was interesting. Secluded for thousands of years, only to suddenly send out a crossdressing heir? Strange.

And the academy's intel department still hadn't figured out who Wang Dong's parents were? Not very thorough…

"I wonder when Huo Yuhao will find out that his dear roommate is actually a girl?" Zhu Ziyang thought with a grin.

The fifth file followed the same format—it was another student with twin martial souls.

"Xiao Xiao, eleven years old, innate full soul power, twin martial souls: Phoenix Melody Flute and Soul Suppressing Cauldron of Three Lives. Rank 23. Father: Xiao Ding, Phoenix Melody Flute Martial Soul, Rank 82 Soul Douluo, expelled from Lingxiao Sect. Mother: Xiao Chuchu, Soul Suppressing Cauldron Martial Soul, Rank 77 Soul Sage, expelled from Xuan Cauldron Sect…"

"Phoenix Melody Flute? Three Lives Soul Cauldron?" Zhu Ziyang made a strange face. "Weren't those two sects mortal enemies? No wonder both parents were expelled."

He continued skimming through the rest of the profiles. Most weren't noteworthy. After reviewing a few dozen, he figured out the sorting system and pulled out the files at the bottom—he wanted to see Huo Yuhao's.

Unsurprisingly, Huo Yuhao's profile was the very last. His soul power was the lowest of all new students—so low that he never would've entered the academy through normal means.

"Huo Yuhao, eleven years old, Rank 11, Spiritual Eye Martial Soul. Innate soul power: rank 1. Tang Sect disciple. Suspected to be a born servant of the White Tiger Duke's household. Father: unknown. Mother: Huo Yuner, Moth Martial Soul, no soul power, deceased."

It was a typical commoner profile. Only the most basic, verifiable facts were included. Anything more difficult to confirm was simply ignored—why waste resources on ordinary backgrounds?

"Wait, what?! Huo Yuhao has ties to the White Tiger Duke?" Zhu Ziyang was shocked. So he was a jia sheng zi—a child born to a noble's household servant. His parents were servants, and such children usually became servants too.

Was Peerless Tang Sect actually a story about a servant child rising up and defeating the master's family?

Also, how did a Moth Martial Soul produce a Spiritual Eye martial soul? Was it a mutation? Or did his father have an eye-type martial soul? Could Huo Yuhao be the Duke's illegitimate son? That wouldn't be surprising—noble households were full of shady affairs. Zhu Ziyang speculated.

Innate soul power of rank 1? Rank 11 upon entry? This might be the lowest-ranking student in Shrek's entire recent history. But rather than being put off, Zhu Ziyang only grew more intrigued.

He was truly looking forward to seeing how Huo Yuhao would shock the upper echelons of Shrek Academy in the future.