"Young Master! Today is the day of your Spirit Awakening. Let's hurry—Master and the two Spirit Guardians have decided to personally conduct the ceremony for you."
A cute young girl with a delicate face and her hair tied in a bun was knocking on the grand door of an elegant room. The girl looked to be about ten years old. After knocking for a while with no response, she furrowed her brows in frustration.
"Young Master, we're going to be late! Get up quickly."
"I know, I know! I'm coming! It's just a Spirit Awakening ceremony for me anyway. If I don't go, they won't just break it off."
Hearing the lazy voice from inside, the girl smiled happily and opened the door, stepping in.
Inside was a boy of about six years old with short chestnut hair.
He was rubbing his eyes and yawning as he looked at the girl.
Seeing the boy still lounging in bed, the girl puffed out her round, chubby cheeks.
"You don't care at all, Young Master! If you're late, I'm the one who'll get scolded."
"Alright, alright, Ning Tao, I'm getting up now. You're so noisy," the boy muttered helplessly.
After a while, fully dressed and freshly washed, the clear-faced young boy, accompanied by his attendant Ning Tao, headed toward the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's council hall.
Yes, this was indeed one of the top three sects on Douluo Continent—the prestigious Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. The boy's name was Ning Bei, the youngest son of the current sect leader Ning Fengzhi, the unquestioned precious jewel of the sect.
Ning Bei had an older brother, Ning Fan, aged twelve. This character isn't mentioned in the original story, and Ning Rongrong from the main team hasn't even been born yet.
In his previous life, Ning Bei was a Level 5 blue star—an ordinary nobody—who, after getting drunk with friends, was suddenly transported painlessly to Douluo Continent by a drunken dump truck driver.
When he first arrived, Ning Bei found himself transformed into a baby, which made him quite uncomfortable. After all, a 30-year-old soul trapped in an infant's body is awkward, especially when being cared for and fed by a cheap mother his own age, causing him to feel deeply embarrassed.
But as he grew older, Ning Bei gradually adapted to this second chance at childhood.
Having been an orphan in his previous life, he now savored the joy of family.
Besides, can you imagine the happiness of living in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect? In his past life, that was basically like being born into Rome's wealth and splendor.
At least until he reached adulthood, Ning Bei's days would be carefree, with no worries about food or clothing.
Walking toward the council hall, Ning Bei admired the grand buildings paved with expensive, seven-colored bricks. The whole sect exuded lavishness and extravagance, as if afraid anyone might forget just how wealthy the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was.
Inside the hall, five people were already waiting: Ning Bei's adoptive parents, his adoptive older brother Ning Fan, and the two Spirit Guardians, Sword and Bone.
Spirit Guardians Chen Xin and Gu Rong held highly esteemed positions within the sect, guarding it faithfully for decades. Thanks to them, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect maintained its place among the top three sects.
Now in their seventies, they stood at Spirit Master levels 95 and 94, still a way off from the strength depicted in the original story.
A beautiful woman sitting beside Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly when Ning Bei entered and beckoned him over.
Ning Bei politely greeted his father, older brother, and the two Guardians before moving to the woman's side.
"Good morning, Mother."
The woman smiled, pulling him into her lap. Ning Bei lazily leaned against her firm figure. Ever since his birth, this spot had been his special seat—though he wondered if he'd keep it once Ning Rongrong was born.
"You lazy monkey, it's hardly morning anymore! It's almost noon. So many of us have been waiting for you. How can you be so shameless?"
Ning Bei's face flushed with embarrassment.
"Mother, I'm at a crucial growth stage now. If I don't get enough sleep, it will stunt my height. If I'm short, it'll affect your grandson's height—your grandson's height!"
"Oh, enough! Such a small age and already so cheeky."
Ning Fengzhi beside her interrupted with a helpless expression. If Ning Bei kept talking, the awakening ceremony might have to be postponed until tomorrow.
"Now hurry and stand in the middle. Your brother will help you awaken your Spirit. Try to awaken a good one and make your mother happy."
Ning Bei grumbled quietly, displeased at being interrupted:
"It's never anything other than the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Tower or the Flame Bow. What else could I possibly awaken? If I awakened something else, you'd surely deal with me harshly."
The Flame Bow was Ning Bei's mother's Spirit. According to some expert theories, one's Spirit often inherits from the parents' Spirits, with occasional mutations.
Ning Fengzhi listened to his son's muttering, exasperated:
"What are you saying?"
"Nothing, let's just get on with it."
Gu Rong smiled kindly at Ning Bei, though the smile stretched thin over his gaunt face, making it look somewhat eerie:
"Bei'er has always been different from others. Maybe he can break the sect's limits."
Ning Bei sneered. Breaking the sect's shackles wasn't that easy.
In the original story, Ning Rongrong's innate spirit power was level 9, and she still had to rely on fairy herbs! Ning Bei himself had no warrior Spirit. Awakening a Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Tower and buffing teammates from behind was good enough—and, most importantly, Ning Bei was afraid of pain. Spirit Masters often get injured and bleed during hunts and battles.
Taking his place in the center of the hall, Ning Fan stepped forward.
Twelve years old, with spirit power already at level 25, Ning Fan would assist Ning Bei with the awakening.
"Little Bei, Spirit Awakening is extremely important for us Spirit Masters. Most likely, you'll awaken the same Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Tower as me. Brother will now help you awaken your Spirit."
He placed several black stones around Ning Bei and then stood before him.
"Raise your right hand and try to trigger your Spirit."
Ning Bei closed his eyes and extended his right hand.
Ning Fan began pouring his spirit energy into him, aiding his awakening.
Suddenly, Ning Bei felt a warm sensation throughout his body, as if something inside was struggling to burst out from his right hand.
Everyone in the hall, including the attendant Xiao Tao, watched Ning Bei's hand tensely, silent with anticipation.
After half a minute, a small tower of mysterious yellow hue appeared in Ning Bei's hand.
The tower had nine levels, exciting Ning Fengzhi and the others.
"Nine layers… hmm? What kind of tower is this?"
"Why is it yellow?"
Meanwhile, on Douqi Continent, Central Plains:
Xuan Kongzi, Xuan Yi, and Tian Leizi looked at each other in confusion.
The three great masters of the Dan Tower stood silently in the empty square, deep in thought.
"Where did my massive Dan Tower go?"
Xuan Kongzi gestured the height of his Dan Tower with his hands.
"Damn it, it must be the Soul Hall scoundrels again."
A harsh mocking laughter seemed to echo in their ears.
"Hehehehe…"