Tang San had thought he would encounter a boy identical to himself, that they would then fight fiercely and give it everything they had. That had been the worst-case scenario he had anticipated.
But now, it seemed that what he faced was even more fantastical than the worst possibility he had imagined.
The so-called version of himself from a parallel world was actually a woman?!
Was this the fundamental difference the system had mentioned?
Faintly sensing the fluctuations of Soul Power coming from the other person's body, Tang San gritted his teeth.
"I'm Tang San. You... should be Tang San too, right?"
"No, my name is Tang Yin."
Keeping a safe distance, the girl pondered the identity of the boy before her, unable to understand why he had ended up in such a state.
According to the system, he was herself from a parallel world. But if that was the case, why did he look so frail?
Could it be that he had gone through many experiences unlike her own?
Curious, Tang Yin's eyes turned purple. She carefully examined every detail of his body.
The moment he saw that flash of purple in her eyes, Tang San's heart sank.
Purple Demon Eyes. He could not possibly be mistaken. Since she also knew Tang Sect techniques, the situation had reached the worst outcome he had anticipated.
She looked delicate and soft, yet the threatening aura radiating from her could not be faked. She too came from the Tang Sect, just like him...
His greatest advantage was utterly meaningless before this girl.
Thinking of this, and looking at her fair, ethereal face and her full, well-developed figure, Tang San even felt a trace of resentment and jealousy.
"Did Father take especially good care of you?"
He had cared for his father since childhood, yet Tang Hao had always treated him as if he did not exist, never willing to spare him even the slightest attention.
But judging by the situation, the difference in the girl's sex at birth must have directly caused Tang Hao's personality to change completely.
Other than that possibility, Tang San could not think of anyone else who could have raised her so well. In his life, the only person capable of causing such enormous changes in his experiences was the father who had been with him the longest.
"Father did not take any better care of me."
Silence. A long silence. After her gaze swept over the boy before her, Tang Yin suddenly realized something important.
Clearly, Brother Lin had taken care of her the most in her life. Yet why had this boy never once mentioned Brother Lin's name, instead treating his father as the only source of help?
Thinking this, Tang Yin slightly parted her red lips and quietly said,
"It seems Brother Lin does not exist in your world."
"Who?" Realizing the root of the difference between them, Tang San's eyes narrowed.
A trace of pity flashed through her eyes as Tang Yin raised a hand. The light of life shimmered faintly upon the Blue Silver Grass.
"Forget it. You do not need to know. Let's end the reminiscing here."
She did not dare imagine how miserable her life would have been without Brother Lin. Yet looking at the gaunt child before her, she could almost see another version of herself.
How pitiful.
It was better to end this quickly. A world without Brother Lin... only made her feel disgusted.
Taking a deep breath, Tang San's gaze instantly regained its resolve as he said coldly,
"Fine. Then there is no need for further words. Let's fight."
Even against this girl, whose physical condition was clearly superior to his, Tang San absolutely did not believe he would lose!
"Tang San, level 14 Control-System Battle Soul Master. Martial Souls: Blue Silver Grass... Clear Sky Hammer!"
Facing another version of himself, Tang San finally straightened his back. At the same time, he revealed both Martial Souls in his palms, his eyes brimming with incomparable confidence!
His Martial Souls were not some useless Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass. He possessed Twin Martial Souls and outstanding talent. This was information he could not reveal to others, but before another version of himself, he could display it freely!
However, when he failed to see even the slightest surprise in her eyes, his heart sank.
Sure enough, upon hearing his words, the girl across from him also slightly raised a hand.
"Tang Yin, level 17 Control-System Battle Soul Master. Martial Souls: Blue Silver King, Clear Sky Hammer."
Tang Yin spread her hands, and that incomparably verdant Blue Silver Grass instantly extended its branches through the air, radiating vast life force!
"What? Soul Power level 17? How is that possible?!"
The instant he saw the Blue Silver Grass in her hand, Tang San's pupils constricted sharply, his face full of disbelief.
And what was Blue Silver King? Should her Martial Soul not have been Blue Silver Grass, just like his?
"How could you possibly reach level 17?"
He looked at the Blue Silver Grass in his own hand, faintly darkened by the Mandala Snake and emitting a trace of poisonous aura. Then he looked at her Blue Silver King, its surface crystalline like jade and glowing with divine light. Tang San clenched his teeth, and intense unwillingness surged within him!
Why? Why had he endured so much suffering over the past three months—killing the Mandala Snake beyond his limits, enduring the blacksmith shop, working day and night, doing nothing but cultivating when he was not forging iron—yet even after all that, he still could not catch up to this girl...
Overwhelming fury and resentment churned in the boy's heart as Tang San gritted his teeth and said,
"Could it be that your Martial Soul was naturally a Blue Silver King?!"
An innate gap was the only possibility Tang San could find!
He believed he had already done everything to the utmost. It could not possibly be because of his own shortcomings that he was weaker than someone else!
Tang Yin shook her head, her expression calm. "No. My Martial Soul was also only Blue Silver Grass at birth."
Tang San's eyes flew open in fury as he said in disbelief, "How is that possible?! Then did Master teach you some special method that allowed your Martial Soul to evolve?"
Blue Silver Grass at birth had become Blue Silver King. Martial Soul Evolution was something even Master had never taught him. Why?
Could it be that she had done something special that he had not? Had Master Yu Xiaogang held something back from him and concealed some information?
The more he thought about it, the gloomier Tang San's face became, and even traces of hatred emerged in his heart.
Why? Had he been too focused on cultivation and offended his teacher with his words? Otherwise, why would his teacher withhold even such important information from him?
No, that was absolutely impossible. His teacher had practically treated him as his own son. It could not be that.
Seeing Tang San's dazed expression, as though the transformation of a single Martial Soul had already shaken his mind, his face twisted with anguish, Tang Yin revealed a pitiful expression.
"If it is something that does not exist, you would not understand even if I told you, would you?"
He had found so many reasons, yet had never thought of Brother Lin.
Having fully realized that Lin Yue likely did not exist in the other person's life, Tang Yin's gaze toward Tang San grew increasingly sorrowful.
"Give it everything you have. Let me see just how far you can grow without Brother Lin."
Brother Lin?
Hearing that name again and seeing the tenderness in her eyes, Tang San's body jolted. A terrible thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Could it be... that something had happened between her and this Brother Lin...
No, it did not matter. None of it mattered. As long as he went through this battle, he would be able to observe everything Tang Yin had experienced and naturally find the root cause of Blue Silver King's evolution!
Gritting his teeth, Tang San's figure flashed as Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track erupted into motion.
And even if her Soul Power and Martial Souls were superior to his, he did not believe he was bound to lose!
If his Martial Soul had flaws, then he would settle the matter through Tang Sect techniques!
In an instant, several throwing knives appeared in Tang San's hands and shot toward Tang Yin like a rainstorm of pear blossoms.
Her brows rose slightly. Purple Demon Eyes activated, turning Tang Yin's eyes purple, while her hands instantly took on a jade-like hue as well.
Bang bang bang bang!
Explosive sparks scattered through the air. The two who had struck simultaneously caused countless hidden weapons to collide midair, streams of light spreading like raindrops from their Mysterious Jade Hands.
The two figures facing one another traced parallel paths across the dueling arena. With every step, countless hidden weapons shot from their hands and collided precisely in midair!
Though he moved with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track beneath his feet, no matter how Tang San tried to find an angle, he could not break through his opponent's defense at all.
Sweat beaded on the boy's forehead, and his hands were already trembling slightly. He was exhausted!
She had remained on the defensive and had not actively attacked. Yet he could still feel the bone-chilling pressure she gave off. It seemed he could not drag this out any longer!
"First Soul Skill, Blue Silver Entanglement!"
Hearing that somewhat familiar name, Tang Yin frowned. Her body flashed as she too activated Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, evading the clump of Blue Silver Grass that burst through the air and tangled toward her.
"You took Yu Xiaogang as your master?"
"That's right!"
Speaking of his teacher, traces of pride appeared on Tang San's face.
His teacher had recognized his Twin Martial Souls at a glance and chosen the optimal Spirit Rings for him. Tang San believed that with his teacher's help, he would never be inferior to the woman before him!
Especially since her mouth was always full of Brother Lin this and Brother Lin that, yet she had not mentioned Master Yu Xiaogang at all. It seemed she did not have such a wise mentor by her side.
His master, Yu Xiaogang, might not be inferior to the Brother Lin she kept talking about!
"How pathetic..."
Shaking her head slightly, Tang Yin raised a hand. Her orange-yellow Spirit Ring suddenly flashed.
First Soul Skill, Growth!
Blue Silver Grass several times taller than the boy burst forth from the ground around him, intertwining into dense nets that lunged straight at Tang San!