Douluo: Infinite Lottery System

After leaving the academy, Xiao Tianyang wandered around Nuoding City, stopping to buy dinner for Bubu. Although he had left some money behind when he first arrived, he had carefully managed it over the past three months, and now he found himself feeling a bit sentimental about the modest life they shared.

The courtyard Xiao Tianyang rented was in a remote area, far from the bustling parts of the city. It wasn't that he was picky—he had simply chosen the location because, for Bubu, any fancy accommodations would inevitably turn into nothing more than chew toys.

When Xiao Tianyang pushed open the door and walked inside, he was immediately greeted by Bubu, who barreled toward him and began licking his face enthusiastically.

"Alright, enough already. You're getting drool all over me." Xiao Tianyang grumbled, pushing the dog away and rolling his eyes. "You've done something bad. What trouble did you get into this time?"

Bubu's bright eyes flickered, and his head drooped as though he were a guilty child caught in the act. This was the first time Xiao Tianyang had seen him act this way, and it immediately put him on edge.

Xiao Tianyang's expression darkened. He crouched down, grabbed a tuft of white fur near Bubu's face, and lifted it to get a closer look. His heart sank when he noticed a faint trace of scarlet near the corner of Bubu's mouth.

Without hesitation, Xiao Tianyang plucked a few strands of fur and brought them to his nose. His frown deepened as a metallic tang reached his senses. Turning back to Bubu, he asked gravely, "This is human blood. What on earth did you do?"

Before Bubu could respond—or even react—a sudden bang shattered the tense silence. The door flew open, slamming against the wall, and an angry shout rang out from behind.

"It's this dog that killed the young master."

Xiao Tianyang turned to see a thin-faced young man pointing directly at him, his expression twisted with anger.

"Oh, it doesn't look like a wild dog," came another voice, deep and cold.

A middle-aged man with a large belly entered the room. His sinister gaze swept over Xiao Tianyang and Bubu, while a group of Spirit masters followed close behind. It was clear at a glance—this man was no ordinary person.

"Who are you?" Xiao Tianyang asked calmly, though he had already

guessed the situation.

"Who am I?" The middle-aged man barked a laugh, glancing back at his companions. "He wants to know who I am. Don't you think that's hilarious?" He burst into loud laughter, and the others followed suit.

Xiao Tianyang's expression remained cold. "It's not funny at all."

The laughter stopped abruptly. The killing intent radiating from the group became more palpable, and the middle-aged man's laughter turned into a cruel sneer. Though his face feigned mirth, his eyes burned with hatred.

"Yeah, you're right," the man said, his voice dropping an octave. His expression twisted into one of rage and ferocity. "It's not funny at all. Your dog bit my son to death with a single attack. Now tell me, should I kill this dog? Or you? Or both of you together?"

Xiao Tianyang glanced down at Bubu, who looked back at him, his eyes steady and calm despite the chaos. That one look was enough for Xiao Tianyang to understand everything.

Raising his head, he smirked coldly. "Didn't you already decide before you came here? Why waste time with all this talk?"

The middle-aged man's expression darkened further, his hands trembling with rage as the Spirit masters behind him prepared to strike. It was clear that Xiao Tianyang's boldness only fueled their anger.

"Yes, but that's not enough," the middle-aged man rasped, his voice thick with venom. "Originally, I wanted to skin that dog alive, tear its tendons out one by one, and if that didn't kill it, I'd roast it over a fire and cut it into pieces—"

"Enough!" Xiao Tianyang cut him off sharply, his voice unyielding. "I don't have time for your deranged fantasies. Whatever my dog has done, I take full responsibility. But if you dare try to harm it, I will kill you."

The middle-aged man's lips twisted into a grin as he burst into wild laughter. "Did you hear that? This little brat is threatening me. It's hilarious."

Xiao Tianyang's gaze darkened, his tone laced with sarcasm. "With a father like you, I can only imagine what kind of person your son was. I admit my Bubu might've done something wrong, but his only mistake was dirtying his mouth with someone like that."

He turned to Bubu, giving the dog a light tap on the head. "Remember this—filthy people like that have blood that reeks. Don't waste your teeth on them again. Got it?"

Bubu nodded solemnly, letting out a soft snort from his nose that seemed full of disdain.

"Kill him." The middle-aged man's composure finally snapped, his face contorted with rage as he roared the command. "If the brat thinks he's invincible, show him what he's up against. Kill him and that mutt."

"Since the master has ordered it, then you're dead." growled a hulking man standing among the Spirit masters. His massive frame moved like a charging rhinoceros, his hand outstretched in a vicious grabbing motion as he lunged toward Xiao Tianyang.

Boom!

Before the big man could even get close, a dull thud echoed through the courtyard. His massive body was sent flying backward like a broken kite, crashing through the wooden wall with devastating force. The sound of splintering wood filled the air as his body tumbled outside, leaving him motionless on the ground. Whether he was alive or dead was anyone's guess.

Xiao Tianyang stood calmly, not a hint of effort on his face. His eyes bore into the group before him, and his voice rang out, steady and unshaken. "Who's next?"

Congratulations to the host for killing a level 5 Spirit master. Reward: Lottery value x[7].

The system notification echoed in Xiao Tianyang's mind, but his expression remained indifferent.

He knew exactly what had just happened. Not only had he used his soul power, but he had also incorporated a touch of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palm into his strike. If that man had survived, Xiao Tianyang would've doubted his abilities.

"Master, he's dead," another man stepped forward, crouching to check the fallen Spirit master's pulse. After a moment, he shook his head gravely.

"I didn't expect you to have such skills." The middle-aged man's tone betrayed a flicker of surprise, though he quickly regained his composure. His sharp gaze swept over Xiao Tianyang. "You're wearing the uniform of Nuoding Academy. So, you're a Spirit master too?"

His lips curled into a malicious smirk. "But do you think that means I can't deal with you?"

The man stepped back, his voice taking on an icy edge as he waved his hand. "Zhang Liang, take him down. Kill him, and I'll personally reward you with three thousand gold coins."

Out of the shadows stepped a ghostly figure, slender and agile, with an unsettling presence. Zhang Liang.

"This is the final favor I owe you," Zhang Liang said, his voice low and foreboding as he glanced at the middle-aged man. "Are you sure you want to use it on this child?"

The middle-aged man's eyes blazed with fury. "I'm sure," he roared. "He killed my son—he must die. He must die!"

The repetition of his words, dripping with hatred, only made his determination more apparent."

Zhang Liang nodded, stepping fully out of the shadows. Two soul rings, one white and one yellow, appeared around him, pulsating with energy.

'A Spirit Grandmaster,' Xiao Tianyang murmured, his pupils narrowing sharply.

He had just used a minor trick, yet the middle-aged man had sent a Spirit Grandmaster after him. Did they think so highly of him, or were they just this desperate for revenge?

Sure, Xiao Tianyang had technically defeated a Spirit Grandmaster before—Su Yuntao—but the circumstances back then were vastly different.

In that controlled environment, Su Yuntao had held back, with inexperience and hesitation blunting his attacks. This man, Zhang Liang, was nothing like that.

Zhang Liang reeked of bloodlust, his eyes sharp and merciless, a predator who had killed before—likely more than ten people. His very presence reminded Xiao Tianyang of the murderous brown bear he had encountered outside Holy Spirit Village, a beast that had massacred hundreds.

Against Su Yuntao, the threat had been manageable. Here, however, Xiao Tianyang faced a seasoned killer who would show no mercy.

"I'll have to fight," Xiao Tianyang thought, his gaze darting around the courtyard. "But not here. This location gives me no advantage. I need to lure him somewhere else."

He clenched his fists, calculating his options.

The middle-aged man noticed his hesitation and burst into laughter, loud and mocking. "Oh, are you trying to figure out a way to run? I'll tell you right now—it's too late."

"Zhang Liang is a level 26 Spirit Grandmaster. His martial soul is a dagger, perfectly suited for assassinations. His first soul ring allows him to track you, and his second enhances his speed. There's no escape for you. In your next life, don't mess with people you can't afford to offend."

Xiao Tianyang raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on Zhang Liang. "You're just going to let him reveal your true identity like that?"

Zhang Liang casually twirled the dagger in his hand, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, locking onto Xiao Tianyang with cold intensity. "He may have said a lot of pointless things, but for someone on the brink of death, what's the point of knowing any of this?"

...

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