A few days had passed since Kuangshen's duel with Feng Xuan, yet the lessons from that battle still lingered like ripples across still water. The morning sun had barely risen above the jagged peaks surrounding the Yan estate when Kuangshen awoke, stretching fluidly as though his small frame already moved in anticipation of the day's exercises. Though only four and a half, his movements held the elegance and precision of a seasoned cultivator, each step deliberate, each breath measured. His snow-white hair shimmered like frost in the soft light, while his abyssal eyes held the same depth of understanding as always—a mind several lifetimes ahead of his body.
"Father, Mother," he called softly as he passed through the private corridors leading to the western training hall, "I wish to continue my exercises with Feng Xuan. I want to test new strategies and refine yesterday's lessons."
Yan Tianhuo, seated in meditation, opened one eye. "You seek to challenge your rival again? So soon?"
Kuangshen's lips curved faintly. "Growth requires constant refinement, Father. A mind and body that do not face resistance stagnate."
Mei Xueling appeared beside her husband, her aura of icy grace brushing lightly over the courtyard. "He is correct," she said. "But remember, Kuangshen, a true cultivator respects his opponent. A duel is not merely about victory—it is about understanding both oneself and the other."
Kuangshen inclined his head respectfully. "I understand, Mother."
---
By the time he arrived at the western courtyard, whispers had already spread among the young disciples and junior elders. Word of the previous duel had traveled fast, and everyone wanted to see how the legendary child would fare today. Kuangshen did not seek attention, yet he noted the subtle shift in focus from observers—it often revealed hidden weaknesses, a fact he cataloged silently.
Feng Xuan was already waiting, his amber eyes sharp, body coiled like a spring. "Yan Kuangshen," he said with a competitive grin, "I've been thinking about yesterday's duel. Today, I will not allow you to predict my moves."
Kuangshen's abyssal gaze met his. "Good. I do not seek certainty. I seek evolution."
---
The duel began with a rhythm different from the previous day. Feng Xuan combined wind and fire techniques in new sequences, his footwork irregular and designed to break patterns. Kuangshen adapted instantly, integrating observation, intuition, and subtle spatial manipulations. He no longer simply reacted—he predicted not only movements but intentions, bending perception around him while maintaining perfect stability.
"You're… different," Feng Xuan admitted breathlessly after a flurry of complex strikes. "You anticipate not just actions, but intent."
Kuangshen's gaze softened slightly. "Intention is the unseen pathway to action. Predict it, and you control the battlefield; ignore it, and even strength is wasted."
The duel stretched for hours. Wind, fire, and subtle distortions of space intermingled as the children tested each other's limits. Kuangshen began introducing minor innovations, synchronizing his qi with Feng Xuan's elemental fluctuations. Temporary distortions forced Feng Xuan to adapt in real time, while Kuangshen's body absorbed every nuance of the interaction. These were lessons coded into motion—subtle, powerful, and permanent.
Feng Xuan too was evolving. Kuangshen's presence forced him to refine his techniques, discard unnecessary movements, and integrate improvisation into his attacks. Even the observing elders could not hide their astonishment: two children, scarcely four years old, shaping each other's cultivation in ways seasoned disciples rarely managed in decades.
---
As the sun climbed, a minor threat appeared—a rogue wind elemental drawn to the extraordinary concentration of qi. Disciples panicked, unable to control the surge. Kuangshen reacted instinctively. A subtle flick of his wrist guided the elemental into a harmless spiral above the treetops. Feng Xuan mirrored his actions, reinforcing the control and preventing any damage. The brief cooperation was unspoken, unplanned, yet perfect—a dance of mastery and adaptation.
By late afternoon, both children were exhausted but unbroken. Kuangshen's body had subtly expanded in capability, his meridians integrating the adaptive strategies absorbed during the duel. Even Feng Xuan, though still competitive, had refined his perception of timing and elemental coordination.
The elders approached cautiously. "Remarkable," one said, bowing slightly. "Few cultivators achieve this level of insight even in their teens. You two have surpassed ordinary boundaries."
Kuangshen inclined his head politely. "Mastery is not a destination," he said softly. "It is a path defined by challenge, observation, and reflection."
Feng Xuan extended a hand, smiling faintly despite fatigue. "Next time, Yan Kuangshen, I will not give you this advantage."
Kuangshen met it with a spark of genuine excitement in his abyssal eyes. "Nor will I expect it. That is how growth occurs."
---
As dusk settled, Yan Tianhuo and Mei Xueling watched their son and his rival from a distance. "This rivalry," Yan Tianhuo said quietly, "will temper him as no other challenge could. He will learn not only strength, but strategy, patience, and foresight."
Mei Xueling's gaze softened. "And Kuangshen will push Feng Xuan just as far. Together, they will evolve faster than anyone can imagine."
That night, Kuangshen returned to his meditation chamber. Every movement, every strike, every subtle fluctuation of energy was cataloged in his mind. The Primordial Chaos Physique resonated with the lessons of the day, integrating improvisation, adaptability, and strategic foresight. He was growing—not only stronger, but smarter, sharper, and more perceptive than before.