Duel: Tang Yin vs. Tang San

"Clang, clang, clang."

In the original world, inside a blazing blacksmith's shop, six-year-old Tang San gripped a hammer nearly taller than himself and swung it with all his strength over the furnace.

"Boss, this kid's really something."

"Yeah, he's so young, yet he already has this much strength. No wonder he's a student at a Soul Master Academy. Having Soul Power is great."

"Clang, clang."

Tang San, fully focused on hammering, paid no attention to the voices behind him.

After arriving at Nuoding Academy, he had seized every moment of his time. Aside from cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Purple Demon Eyes, he had spent the past three months training his body in the blacksmith's shop and earning Gold Soul Coins.

Although Tang San of this world had received the system's prompt and entered this duel, the course of his life had not changed in any way.

He had taken Yu Xiaogang as his master, become the head of Dorm Seven, fought Xiao Wu over the same bed, obtained his First Spirit Ring—a four-hundred-year Mandala Snake Spirit Ring—and gained Blue Silver Entanglement. There had also been his conflicts with the self-funded students...

But if there had to be something different...

The countdown constantly ticking away in his mind made Tang San increasingly tense and pressured. Under those circumstances, he had truly pushed himself a little harder in cultivation.

Tang San's Soul Power had risen one level above the original timeline, reaching level fourteen. Yet because he had focused too much on cultivation and forging, he had neglected his relationships with those around him. Even his relationship with Xiao Wu had become much more distant.

Still, Tang San believed it was all worth it for the sake of becoming stronger.

"Good, it's finally done."

As he picked up the cooled Silent Rust Arrow, a trace of joy finally appeared on Tang San's face.

He had received notice that morning that he would be dueling another version of himself today—someone he had never met, yet was destined to become his enemy. For this, Tang San had made special preparations.

Although the system had initially said that this opponent was fundamentally different from him and might simply be an ordinary person...

To be safe, Tang San had still specially reinforced the Silent Rust Sword, greatly increasing its power. The only drawback was that it no longer remained completely silent and would make a faint sound when fired.

With this, Tang San was confident that he feared no opponent!

Holding the Silent Rust Arrow, Tang San returned to a corner of the academy's back mountain. With his eyes lightly closed, he carefully reflected on everything he had experienced over the past three months.

From awakening his martial soul, to becoming Yu Xiaogang's disciple and learning Soul Master techniques, to absorbing the Mandala Snake Spirit Ring at the edge of his limits, then fully upgrading his hidden weapons...

Whether as a Soul Master or as a Tang Sect disciple, he had pushed everything he could do to the utmost limit.

With that, he feared no one.

"I will win this battle!"

In another world, Lin Yue hurried back to Nuoding City Academy.

"Why did Brother Lin Yue suddenly come back today?"

Xiao Wu bounced around beside Lin Yue with a broad smile on her face, though that radiant smile carried a different kind of anticipation.

"Alright, alright, I know this little greedy rabbit can't wait. Here, take them. These are all for you."

Lin Yue had returned to the academy to find Ah Yin at the back mountain, only to run into Xiao Wu the moment he arrived. He could not help but smile as he took out the "carrots" from his storage belt.

"Hehe, thank you, Brother Lin Yue!!"

Receiving all sorts of precious carrot-shaped pastries, Xiao Wu's eyes immediately narrowed into happy crescents. She directly gave Lin Yue a big hug.

Tang Yin's expression remained unchanged as she watched their intimate interaction, though a faintly peculiar glint flashed through the depths of her eyes.

The next instant, her cheeks reddened slightly.

Although Tang Yin had decided that she would belong only to Brother Lin Yue in the future, deep down, she still could not help wanting her father to be proud of her. At the same time, she hoped even more to restore the Tang Sect's glory.

But she could not accomplish that alone. In that case...

Should she have a Tang Sect with Brother Lin Yue?

Having completely decided to become Lin Yue's woman, Tang Yin understood very clearly the duties she bore as his principal wife.

To help Brother Lin Yue continue his bloodline and produce a Tang Sect, perhaps she could not do it alone.

Xiao Wu possessed Innate Full Soul Power. Although her martial soul was only a Soft Bone Rabbit, her talent far surpassed that of her peers. She also looked quite good—lively, cheerful, and guileless. She was very suitable to become Brother Lin Yue's secondary wife.

In a corner Lin Yue did not notice, Tang Yin had already fixed a hunter-like gaze on the girl with a smile, plotting an earth-shaking plan in her heart to revive the Tang Sect.

"Ah Yin, these are for you. Your favorite mapo tofu, and sweet osmanthus cakes from Heaven Dou Imperial City."

After dealing with the energetic Xiao Wu, Lin Yue came to Tang Yin's side and took out the food he had purchased from the merchant association.

At that moment, Tang Yin was gently stroking the dark mechanism in her hands. She was clearly maintaining a Godly Zhuge Crossbow.

With the endless supply of Gold Soul Coins Lin Yue provided, Tang Yin had almost never lacked food or resources.

This delicate young girl had even forged common hidden weapons such as Silent Sleeve Arrows and Godly Zhuge Crossbows.

On the path of cultivation, her Soul Power had reached level seventeen. She had long since used two mental enhancement potions, and her Purple Demon Eyes had made astonishing progress.

Lin Yue had raised her into a fair, tender girl while also giving her more time for cultivation and insight, allowing her talent to be brought to its fullest potential.

"With this, there shouldn't be any problems."

Sitting beside Tang Yin, Lin Yue watched as she silently rested her head on his shoulder and inhaled his faint scent. He also closed his eyes slightly, his mind relaxing.

Sensing the familiar smell of the person beside her, Tang Yin wore a gentle expression. But in the next instant, a calm voice suddenly rang out in her mind.

[Ding, the three-month period has ended. The duel officially begins.]

In an instant, Tang Yin felt as though her consciousness had entered a special domain.

Lin Yue, who had likewise been dragged into this mysterious space by the system, widened his eyes, a trace of incredulous alarm appearing on his face.

An illusory space, a twisted barrier, and beyond that barrier, endless gray haze.

Wait! Wasn't this Iron Man's Realm of Death?

At the center of this arena created by the system, an enormous beast-fighting arena suddenly appeared!

The central dueling area was perfectly circular, spanning several hundred square meters—nearly the size of two football fields. There was more than enough room to fight freely.

Yet Lin Yue's consciousness was not within the arena. Instead, he had been placed outside it. Although he could clearly see everything inside, his own body was wrapped in a mass of shadow.

Tang Yin inside the arena frowned as she looked around, but she did not spot him. Clearly, those inside the arena could not see anything outside it.

"This arena can even bring in spectators."

Lin Yue's heart stirred. What other tricks did this system have?

Since it could pull him in, did that mean it could also pull in other people? Others from his world, or perhaps others from Tang San's original world?

"Has it finally begun?"

Feeling himself placed in a mysterious world, Tang San opened his eyes. His sharp gaze swept toward the opposite side, piercing through layers of mist, only to reveal a tall, beautiful woman.

Huh?

A momentary look of dullness flashed across Tang San's face. The dark-skinned little boy could not understand what sort of character he had encountered.

Overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all, the boy could not help asking in his mind:

"Wait, system, didn't you say I'd be dueling another me from a parallel world?"

[Correct.]

"Then who is this?"

For a moment, Tang San could not even summon the desire to fight. He stared intently at his opponent, while ten thousand horses named confusion galloped wildly through his mind.

"Me? My name is Tang Yin."

After figuring out the so-called system rules in her mind, Tang Yin also realized that the one she was fighting seemed to be herself from a parallel world.

But as she looked at the dark, skinny little boy, who was a full head shorter than her, Tang Yin could not help furrowing her brows.

Was this guy really her?