# Chapter 2: The Battle Maniac's Hunt
**One Year Later - Holy Spirit Village**
"Little Feng! What in the blazes are you doing now?!" Old Jack's exasperated voice echoed across the village square as he watched his five-year-old adopted grandson pin down another child twice his size.
Lin Feng released his grip on the defeated village boy, offering him a hand up with a surprisingly mature smile. "Sorry about that, Da Niu. You fought well."
The larger boy, tears in his eyes from both pain and embarrassment, scrambled away without taking the offered hand. As soon as Da Niu was out of earshot, Lin Feng's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
**[OPPONENT DEFEATED! PLUNDER INITIATED...]**
The familiar system notification appeared in his vision, causing his heart to race with excitement. This never got old.
**[DA NIU (VILLAGE CHILD) DEFEATED! ANALYZING POTENTIAL PLUNDER...]**
**PLUNDER OPTIONS AVAILABLE:**
1. **Physical Trait: [Enhanced Grip Strength]**
- *Original Effect:* Da Niu's naturally strong hands from helping his father with heavy farm work
- *System Description:* "Basic physical enhancement. Choosing this will strengthen your natural grip and hand strength."
2. **Technique: [Wrestling Pin - Village Style]**
- *Original Effect:* A crude but effective pinning technique learned from watching older village boys
- *System Description:* "A foundational grappling technique. Choosing this will enhance your close-combat capabilities."
3. **Talent: [Thick Skin - Minor]**
- *Original Effect:* Da Niu's natural resistance to minor cuts and bruises from rough play
- *System Description:* "A minor defensive trait. Choosing this will slightly improve your physical durability."
Lin Feng barely hesitated. *Option 1. I need to build my physical foundation.*
**[YOU HAVE PLUNDERED [ENHANCED GRIP STRENGTH]! INTEGRATING... INTEGRATION COMPLETE!]**
**[EFFECT: Your natural grip strength has been enhanced to twice Da Niu's original strength and integrated with your martial arts knowledge. You can now apply precise pressure points more effectively.]**
Lin Feng flexed his small fingers, feeling the subtle but noticeable increase in strength. It wasn't much, but after a year of systematic battles, these small improvements were adding up significantly.
"That's the seventh child this week!" Old Jack marched over, his weathered face showing equal parts concern and exhaustion. "Lin Feng, what's gotten into you? You used to be such a quiet, well-behaved boy!"
*If only you knew, Grandfather,* Lin Feng thought with dark amusement. The King's Plunder System had turned him into something he'd never been in his previous life—a true battle maniac. The ability to grow stronger with each victory was intoxicating beyond measure.
"I'm just... practicing, Grandfather," Lin Feng replied innocently. "Father always said a man should know how to defend himself."
Old Jack's expression softened slightly at the mention of Lin Feng's supposed father—a fabricated backstory they'd created for the mysterious child he'd found. "But you're only five years old! And you're beating children two and three years older than you!"
Over the past year, Lin Feng had systematically challenged and defeated nearly every child in Holy Spirit Village. His mental catalog of plundered abilities was growing impressive:
From **Xiao Ming** (Age 7), he'd plundered **[Quick Reflexes]** - doubling his reaction time and integrating it with his martial arts experience to create an almost supernatural ability to dodge attacks.
From **Liu Wei** (Age 6), he'd acquired **[Steady Balance]** - giving him twice the natural equilibrium of a child who spent his days walking on narrow fence posts, enhanced further by his previous life's training.
From **Chen Hu** (Age 8), the village's strongest child, he'd taken **[Explosive Leg Strength]** - transforming his kicks into devastating weapons that could send opponents flying despite his small stature.
Each victory had made him stronger, but also more hungry for greater challenges. And there was only one opponent left in the village who truly interested him.
Lin Feng's gaze drifted toward the modest courtyard where Tang San could usually be found practicing his mysterious exercises. The protagonist of this world, blessed with the memories of a Tang Sect assassin and techniques that defied conventional understanding.
*He's the real prize,* Lin Feng mused. *If I can defeat Tang San and plunder from him...*
The system had shown him tantalizing glimpses during his observations of the other boy. Tang San possessed techniques and knowledge that far exceeded what any normal child should have. Hidden weapons mastery, internal energy cultivation, poison knowledge—all remnants of his past life as a Tang Sect disciple.
"Grandfather," Lin Feng said suddenly, "I want to spar with Tang San."
Old Jack nearly choked on his pipe smoke. "Tang San? But he's such a quiet, gentle boy! Why would you want to fight him?"
"Not fight," Lin Feng corrected smoothly. "Spar. To test our skills against each other. It's what martial artists do."
The old village chief looked at his adopted grandson with growing concern. Where had this obsession with martial arts come from? Lin Feng had always been mature for his age, but lately, he seemed almost... predatory when it came to combat.
Three days later, Lin Feng finally approached Tang San during the boy's morning routine. Tang San was practicing what appeared to be a series of breathing exercises, his small form moving with a precision that spoke of hidden depths.
"Tang San," Lin Feng called out respectfully. "Would you like to spar with me?"
Tang San paused in his exercises, turning to study Lin Feng with intelligent eyes that seemed far too old for his six-year-old face. "Spar? Why?"
"I've heard you're very skilled," Lin Feng replied honestly. "I want to test myself against someone worthy."
Something flickered in Tang San's expression—recognition of a kindred spirit, perhaps. Another child who was more than he appeared to be.
"Very well," Tang San agreed. "But we should be careful not to hurt each other seriously."
*Oh, I intend to win decisively,* Lin Feng thought, but he nodded solemnly. "Of course."
They met in a secluded grove outside the village the next morning. Lin Feng had spent the entire night strategizing, reviewing every technique he'd observed Tang San practice, every movement pattern, every possible weakness.
"Ready?" Tang San asked, settling into a deceptively relaxed stance.
Lin Feng nodded, immediately dropping into a combat position that combined elements from all his previous life's martial arts knowledge, enhanced by a year's worth of plundered physical abilities.
The fight began explosively.
Tang San moved like flowing water, his techniques smooth and precise in ways that defied his age. But Lin Feng had been expecting this. His enhanced reflexes, plundered from Xiao Ming, allowed him to dodge the first series of strikes. His explosive leg strength from Chen Hu powered a devastating counter-kick that Tang San barely managed to deflect.
*He's strong,* Lin Feng realized with growing excitement. *Stronger than I anticipated. This is what I've been waiting for!*
Tang San's eyes widened as Lin Feng pressed his attack. The younger boy was fighting with techniques and instincts that seemed impossible for a five-year-old. More than that, there was something predatory in his movements, as if he was studying every technique Tang San used.
The battle raged for nearly ten minutes—an eternity for children their age. Tang San's superior technique and internal cultivation methods gave him an edge, but Lin Feng's systematic enhancement through plundered abilities kept him competitive. His enhanced grip strength allowed him to break Tang San's holds, his steady balance kept him upright through techniques that should have sent him sprawling.
In the end, it came down to a single moment. Tang San, breathing heavily, attempted to use a hidden weapon technique—a handful of small stones thrown with deadly precision. But Lin Feng's enhanced reflexes caught the movement just in time. He rolled aside, came up in a tackle that his explosive leg strength powered forward, and managed to pin Tang San for exactly three seconds before the other boy could reverse the position.
Both children lay on the ground, exhausted and bruised, but Lin Feng was grinning wildly.
**[OPPONENT DEFEATED! PLUNDER INITIATED...]**
*Yes!* Lin Feng's heart pounded with anticipation. *Finally!*
**[TANG SAN (REINCARNATED TANG SECT DISCIPLE) DEFEATED! ANALYZING POTENTIAL PLUNDER...]**
**WARNING: HIGH-VALUE TARGET DETECTED. ENHANCED PLUNDER OPTIONS AVAILABLE.**
**PLUNDER OPTIONS AVAILABLE:**
1. **Cultivation Technique: [Mysterious Heaven Skill - Foundation Level]**
- *Original Effect:* Tang Sect's most precious internal cultivation method, allowing for rapid soul power development and internal energy circulation
- *System Description:* "A legendary internal cultivation art. Choosing this will provide you with a powerful foundation for soul power development and energy manipulation."
2. **Combat Technique: [Hidden Weapon Mastery - Basic Level]**
- *Original Effect:* Tang Sect's signature fighting style using concealed projectiles and precision throwing techniques
- *System Description:* "Ancient assassination techniques adapted for combat. Choosing this will grant you mastery over hidden weapons and throwing techniques."
3. **Talent: [Poison Immunity - Partial]**
- *Original Effect:* Tang San's built-up resistance to various toxins from his Tang Sect training
- *System Description:* "Inherited resistance to poisons and toxins. Choosing this will provide significant protection against harmful substances."
Lin Feng's eyes widened. These were exactly the kinds of abilities he'd hoped for—techniques that could truly set him apart in this world of Soul Masters.
*The Mysterious Heaven Skill,* he decided without hesitation. *That's the foundation of Tang San's future power. With that technique enhanced by the system...*
**[YOU HAVE PLUNDERED [MYSTERIOUS HEAVEN SKILL - FOUNDATION LEVEL]! INTEGRATING...]**
**[INTEGRATION COMPLETE! EFFECT: The Mysterious Heaven Skill has been enhanced to twice its original effectiveness and merged with your martial arts knowledge from your previous life. You now possess the [Hermit's Profound Heaven Art] - a unique cultivation method that combines Tang Sect internal energy techniques with your lifetime of martial arts mastery. Cultivation speed doubled, energy efficiency doubled, and integration with physical techniques enhanced.]**
Lin Feng gasped as knowledge and power flowed through him. The cultivation technique settled into his body like it had always belonged there, but enhanced beyond what Tang San possessed. He could feel pathways for soul power that hadn't existed moments before, and his understanding of internal energy cultivation deepened exponentially.
"Are you alright?" Tang San asked, sitting up and looking at Lin Feng with concern. "You look... different."
*Different is an understatement,* Lin Feng thought, marveling at the energy flowing through his meridians. "I'm fine. That was an excellent fight, Tang San. You're very skilled."
Tang San studied him carefully. "You are too. Where did you learn to fight like that?"
"Here and there," Lin Feng replied vaguely. "Perhaps we can spar again sometime."
As they walked back to the village together, Lin Feng could barely contain his excitement. The Hermit's Profound Heaven Art was already working, circulating energy through his body in ways that felt natural yet profound. When his martial soul awakened in one more year, he would have a foundation that might rival even the most talented prodigies.
*Tang San,* he thought, glancing at his unwitting benefactor, *you have no idea what you've just given me. But don't worry—I'm sure we'll have many more opportunities to... exchange techniques.*
The King's Plunder System pulsed contentedly in his consciousness, already analyzing potential future targets. One year remained until the martial soul awakening ceremony, and Lin Feng intended to make the most of every single day.