That night, after bathing and changing, Xiao Tianyang sat cross-legged on his bed, his expression calm on the surface—but deep in thought.
Oddly enough, he wasn't thinking about how to beat Tang San.
There was no need. If he simply took the match seriously, Tang San had no chance of winning.
What had caught his attention was something else—a system notification that had appeared the moment Tang San agreed to the duel:
Side Mission Triggered: [Defeat Tang San]
Objective: Defeat Tang San in a sparring match.
Reward: +5 Lottery Value
"…Only five?" Xiao Tianyang had frowned. "System, why so little?"
[Due to the clear disparity in strength, reward value reduced.]
So what exactly were the conditions for a mission to generate?
No response.
The system went quiet—completely unresponsive. Like a stubborn rock.
So Xiao Tianyang had to think it through on his own.
"The first mission was triggered when I decided to approach Tang San. That makes sense. He's the protagonist—being around him benefits me. So the system nudged me with a reward."
"Now the second mission also involves him—but this time, it's to defeat him. The reward is small, but it still triggered."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. A pattern was emerging.
"And if I'm not wrong… Su Yuntao will be coming to Spirit Hall's branch in Holy Spirit Village in just a few days."
A smile played on his lips.
"If my theory's correct, that'll be another trigger."
His heart beat a little faster. If confirmed, this meant one thing—interacting with key characters or events in the original plot could unlock side missions and rewards.
It wasn't just about power. It was about playing the system.
Satisfied, Xiao Tianyang laid back and soon drifted off to sleep, the gears in his mind still turning.
The Next Morning
Before dawn, Xiao Tianyang was up, dressed, and moving through his daily routine. After some light stretching and a short run, he made his way up the hill.
He'd thought he was early. But when he reached the halfway point, he stopped short.
Tang San was already there—doing warm-ups. His expression was bright, eyes filled with excitement, like he'd already won the fight.
"Brother Tianyang, you're finally here!" Tang San waved, clearly in high spirits.
"I can see someone's happy." Xiao Tianyang raised an eyebrow, then glanced down at the ointment placed neatly nearby. "You prepared this?"
"Yeah." Tang San grinned.
"Good. At least you're taking care of yourself. That deserves praise." Xiao Tianyang smiled.
Tang San: "…"
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. That medicine… was prepared for Xiao Tianyang. He had said so yesterday, but now? Tang San was feeling more and more unsure.
Still smiling, Xiao Tianyang waved him forward. "Come on, let's begin."
Without hesitation, Tang San attacked. His toes touched the ground, launching him forward in a swift motion. His fist whistled toward Xiao Tianyang's face.
"Didn't I say no hitting the face?" Xiao Tianyang muttered, but still raised his arms to block. He caught the punch—and immediately felt a kick coming in from the side.
Tang San's leg swung hard toward his waist.
But Xiao Tianyang knew it was coming. His body bent backward, dodging with fluid ease. Tang San's foot passed close enough to kick up a gust that loosened his waistband.
"Hey!" Xiao Tianyang jumped back, tugging his pants back into place. "Bad move! Who taught you that one?"
Tang San didn't respond—he'd learned not to talk during fights. He twisted in midair, landed, and dove in again, relentless.
Their duel began in earnest.
Blow after blow, dodge after dodge—the clash of fists and feet echoed through the hillside. Their movements were smooth, precise, and unbelievably fast.
If any adult had been watching, they would've been stunned.
Are these really two six-year-olds?
Tang San's heart sank as the exchange continued. The longer they fought, the more he realized—he was losing.
He'd hoped that his techniques might give him an edge. But except for that one moment where Xiao Tianyang nearly lost his pants, he hadn't landed anything meaningful.
In terms of strength? Not even worth comparing.
Out of breath, Tang San finally backed away and dropped to one knee. Sweat beaded down his forehead. He raised his hand and called out:
"Brother Tianyang, get ready. I'm about to use hidden weapons!"
A sneak attack would have worked better, but this wasn't a real battle—it was sparring. Hurting Xiao Tianyang by accident would make him feel guilty, not proud.
"Go ahead. I've been waiting for this." Xiao Tianyang's eyes lit up with interest.
Tang San had offered to teach him before, but he'd declined. Not out of disinterest—but because he knew Tang San wouldn't pass on the core Tang Sect secrets unless he became a disciple. That was just how sect rules worked.
So instead, he waited.
With a flick of his wrist—
Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!
Three pebbles flew through the air like arrows, forming a deadly triangle aimed at Xiao Tianyang's chest and flanks.
The attack was brilliant.
But Xiao Tianyang didn't move.
He didn't need to.
The Nine Yang Divine Art provided passive defense—like an invisible armor of internal strength.
Thud!
One pebble struck directly against his chest.
Tang San's lips curved into a small smile.
Even with blunt stones, the force behind those shots could take down a bull. If it hit, Xiao Tianyang would at least be winded.
And yet—
Xiao Tianyang stood calmly, brushing off his shirt.
"That's it?"
Tang San's smile vanished.
"You're… completely fine?" he said, dumbfounded.
He'd used full strength—twice! No human body should've taken that kind of punishment and stayed standing like nothing happened.
Xiao Tianyang chuckled.
"Little San'er," he said as he walked forward slowly, "I forgot to tell you. My soul power's a little strange. So… sorry, but this time—you're going to lose."
He yawned.
Tang San, pale and panting, leaned heavily on a wooden bar. His hands trembled slightly.
It wasn't fear of pain. It wasn't fear of defeat.
It was the kind of awe a little brother felt when facing an older brother who'd completely surpassed him.