Inside the dimly lit room, Xiao Tianyang slowly opened his eyes.
For a fleeting moment, a flicker of scarlet fire flashed in his pupils like a dancing lotus flame. But it vanished just as quickly, leaving everything seemingly ordinary once more.
He exhaled a deep breath, releasing a stream of turbid air, and relaxed his tense body.
"The effect of that Small Soul Power Pill is incredible," he muttered, his tone full of awe. "Just one pill pushed me to level 9… If I had a few more, wouldn't I directly break through to Soul Master?"
He couldn't help fantasizing.
But before his thoughts could wander further, the old wooden door creaked open.
A tall, burly man stepped in. His clothes were sloppy and stained with soot, his eyes clouded with fatigue and apathy.
Xiao Tianyang's body tensed immediately. He recognized this man in an instant.
Tang Hao.
Tang San's father. A legendary figure who once shook the continent—and now, a fallen blacksmith.
"You're awake," Tang Hao said flatly.
Then, without waiting for a reply, he stepped aside and spoke over his shoulder. "Village Chief, I'll leave the child to you."
The sound of steady footsteps followed as an old man entered behind him. Dressed neatly with gray hair and a kind demeanor, he looked like a well-respected elder.
'That must be Old Jack… the village chief of Holy Soul Village,' Xiao Tianyang guessed silently.
"Thank goodness you were around this time, Tang Hao," Old Jack said with a sigh, clearly reluctant to say more.
He stepped closer and looked down at Xiao Tianyang with gentle eyes. "Tianyang, do you recognize Grandpa Jack?"
Xiao Tianyang lowered his gaze, trying not to show any emotion.
'So this body really is from Holy Soul Village. That makes things easier—no need to invent an identity just to stay here.'
Even though he now had the strength to protect himself, Xiao Tianyang had no intention of staying hidden in a corner. Tang Hao and Tang San were critical connections in this world—especially Tang San.
'That guy's the future Sea God… With his protagonist halo, just being nearby is a free buff! Even if I don't get a direct benefit, something's bound to happen.'
But Old Jack misread his silence.
Seeing the boy's downcast face, the elderly man's heart ached. He reached out and gently ruffled Xiao Tianyang's hair. "Poor child… I know you're sad, but everything will pass. Come, let's go home first."
Xiao Tianyang quickly composed himself.
'I can't reveal anything suspicious right now. The best thing is to act dazed and traumatized. Just like a child who's shut down from grief…'
Without saying a word, he stood up slowly—stiff, wooden, like a lifeless puppet—and obediently followed Old Jack.
Although he wasn't an actor, his performance was nearly flawless. Even Tang Hao, a former powerhouse, didn't notice anything unusual.
But that wasn't surprising. Tang Hao was still in his period of decline—indifferent to everything around him, even his own son. Why would he spare more than a glance at a random orphan?
The truth was, Xiao Tianyang had always been a background character in the village. If not for Old Jack's diligence in knowing every villager, no one would have even remembered him.
Tang Hao simply returned to his iron anvil, picked up his heavy hammer, and resumed forging with loud metallic clangs echoing into the evening.
The sun sank in the west as dusk painted the skies gold and crimson.
Inside a humble village house, Xiao Tianyang sat silently, still playing the role of a lost child. Old Jack had done his best—talking, comforting, even offering food—but Xiao Tianyang remained unresponsive.
Finally, the old man let out a long sigh.
"Tianyang, why don't you come live with Grandpa for a while? It's not safe to be alone."
His voice was full of concern. In his eyes, Xiao Tianyang was still just a child—a child who had just lost his parents. Letting him stay alone in the house where tragedy struck seemed irresponsible.
But Xiao Tianyang had other plans.
Now that he had the system, and a room to himself, he could begin his cultivation journey uninterrupted. He couldn't afford to be watched 24/7.
So, lowering his voice, he spoke for the first time—his tone deliberately hoarse and choked with emotion.
"Grandpa Jack… I want to stay here. I'll be okay."
Old Jack hesitated, visibly moved by the boy's first words since the accident.
But just in case, Xiao Tianyang added softly, "Don't worry. I won't do anything foolish."
That sealed the deal.
Still pained, Old Jack stood up and walked to the door. Before leaving, he turned back one last time. "Tianyang… if you ever feel sad, just cry. Don't bottle it up. And remember—if you need anything, anything at all—come find Grandpa."
Xiao Tianyang only nodded dully, his face expressionless.
He heard the door close.
Silence returned to the room.
He exhaled slowly, his serious expression fading into a smirk. "Whew… That was close. Good thing I'm quick-witted, or I might've given myself away."
With that, he climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged. His mind shifted instantly into cultivation mode.
'My body's in perfect shape. No internal injuries. The Nine Suns energy is still circulating in my dantian, slowly nourishing my meridians.'
He opened his eyes, focused.
'In this world where danger lurks everywhere, I can only rely on myself. But with this system, I've got a shortcut.'
More importantly, he'd finally gotten some insight into how the system worked.
'The lottery points don't only come from killing. "Defeating" also counts. That's a huge difference—it means there's a broader path for me to take.'
But to truly get stronger, he needed connections.
And there was no better connection than Tang San.
'Getting close to the protagonist is a must. Even standing next to him brings opportunities. Worst case, I leech some good fortune!'
As if responding to his thoughts, the cold system prompt echoed in his mind:
Ding!
Side Mission Triggered: [Establish Contact with Tang San]
Objective: Form a friendly relationship with Tang San.
Reward: +10 Lottery Points.
Xiao Tianyang sat bolt upright, startled.
'So this is how missions are triggered! It really reacts to my thoughts…'
Then another important question hit him.
"How many lottery points do I need for a draw?"
The system answered crisply:
Current Mode: Random Lottery Draw (Unlocked)
Draw Cost: 100 Points per spin.
"100 points for one spin?" Xiao Tianyang's lips twitched.
'That's… more expensive than I expected.'
Still, he laughed dryly and shook his head. "Greedy much? It's fine. At least I know how it works now."
Feeling reassured, he lay back on the bed, his mind brimming with plans.
'System, Red Lotus Flame, Nine Suns Divine Art, and now a mission involving Tang San…'
With these in hand, the road to the top had officially begun.