Chapter 1 The Beloved of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
Star Luo Empire, White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
Today is an important day for the awakening of martial spirits, and the entire mansion is filled with a festive atmosphere.
Amidst this commotion, a young man staggered a few steps and collapsed weakly onto the cold steps.
His face was pale, his figure thin, and he exuded a sickly weakness.
Dai Huabin, who was walking ahead, turned around upon hearing the sound and immediately rushed back, reaching out to help him up, full of worry: "Yun Tian, are you alright?"
The young man's breath was weak, and he barely managed to reply: "I'm alright, Second Brother, I can still hold on."
Looking at his younger brother's paper-white face and thin figure, Dai Huabin was filled with self-reproach.
If he hadn't taken away the nutrients that should have belonged to his younger brother in the womb, how could Yun Tian have been so congenitally weak and sickly?
Without hesitation, he crouched down, softening his voice, "Come on, let your second brother carry you."
The boy didn't refuse, gently resting on his broad back, and whispered, "Thank you, second brother."
Dai Huabin smiled and waved his hand, "Hey, we're brothers, why say such things?"
The brotherly affection and tenderness were the envy of many.
But no one knew that the boy, Dai Yuntian, resting on his brother's back, harbored a huge secret.
He was a transmigrator, orphaned in his previous life, dying at the age of twelve in a cold hospital room, never experiencing the warmth of family.
In this life, he was fortunate enough to be reborn as the third young master of the White Tiger Duke's mansion, but fate played a cruel trick on him. He was born weak and frail, and the doctor had predicted he wouldn't live past six.
Fortunately, in this life, he had a loving father and mother, and two caring older brothers, allowing him to experience the warmth of family.
It's just a pity... he might really never see the day he grows up.
Dai Huabin carried Dai Yuntian steadily through the corridor and arrived at the main hall.
The hall was already filled with waiting people.
Among the crowd, a beautiful girl dressed in a fiery red outfit, with bright eyes and a lively demeanor, was clearly impatient. She nudged the tall young man beside her with her elbow and complained, "Hey, Dai Yueheng, why are your two younger brothers taking so long?"
Upon hearing this, the beautiful woman seated at the head of the table—Duchess Zhu Yun'er—immediately frowned, her heart filled with displeasure. If it weren't for the fact that the other woman was a Shrek Academy student, she would have already kicked her out.
Then, she said protectively, "This Shrek Academy student, if you don't wish to wait, please leave."
The young man beside her, called Dai Yueheng, frowned, his tone serious: "Xiao Tao, you know my third brother has a congenital deficiency and difficulty moving around."
An elderly man with white hair and beard, gnawing on a chicken leg, quickly intervened to smooth things over: "Alright, Xiao Tao, say less. Don't forget we're here to recruit students."
This man was none other than Xuanzi of Shrek Academy.
It was widely rumored that the Duke's third son, despite his congenital deficiency, was extremely favored and wouldn't tolerate any criticism from outsiders; seeing him today, it was indeed true.
Ma Xiaotao hadn't expected her unintentional complaint to elicit such a strong reaction from these people. Knowing she was in the wrong, she could only lower her head sheepishly.
Dai Huabin carefully lowered Dai Yuntian from his back.
Zhu Yun'er immediately stepped forward, supporting her young son with concern in her eyes: "Yun'er, why do you still look so pale? Did you feel unwell on the journey?"
As she spoke, she gently wiped the cold sweat from Dai Yuntian's forehead with a silk handkerchief, showing her utmost care.
"Mother, I'm fine. With my second brother carrying me, I'm not tired at all," Dai Yuntian forced a smile at Zhu Yun'er.
His gaze shifted slightly, taking in his elder brother Dai Yueheng and the people from Shrek Academy, especially the girl in red who had spoken earlier.
Dai Yuntian politely greeted them in turn: "Elder brother, Elder Xuan, and all the guests who have come from afar, I apologize for the delay caused by my poor health."
His voice was soft, but his manners were impeccable, and his attitude was neither servile nor arrogant.
This frail yet courteous demeanor pleased and pleased everyone present.
Dai Yueheng nodded to his third brother, his gaze softening.
Xuanzi laughed heartily, "It's alright, little guy, you brothers are the main characters today."
Standing behind Xuanzi, Ma Xiaotao could now see Dai Yuntian's appearance clearly.
The boy's face was so pale it was almost transparent, and his figure was so thin it looked like a gust of wind could blow him over. Only his eyes were clear and calm.
Recalling her impatient complaints just now, and seeing the other person's clearly helpless and frail state, Ma Xiaotao couldn't help but feel a surge of regret and guilt.
At this moment, Ma Xiaotao wanted to slap herself.
"I deserve to die!" she thought. She was indeed a bit impulsive, but not unreasonable. Now she truly understood why Dai Yueheng and the Duchess had changed their expressions because of her words.
Afterwards, Dai Yuntian, supported by his mother, stood in the center of the magic circle.
He could feel all eyes focused on him—curiosity, scrutiny, but mostly pity.
Dai Yuntian took a deep breath. Although he had long since given up hope for the outcome, deep down, wasn't there still a faint glimmer of expectation?
He hoped for a miracle, hoped that this broken body could also nurture powerful strength, enabling him to repay the kinship he had gained in this life, the kinship he had longed for in his previous life.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the system of the protagonists in those online novels from his previous life.
"Are you ready, Young Master Yuntian?"
The old butler presiding over the ceremony asked gently.
Dai Yuntian nodded and slowly closed his eyes.
The light of the magic circle gradually brightened, casting a hazy glow on his pale face.
The hall was deathly silent; everyone held their breath, awaiting the outcome.
The Duchess clenched her hands tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms.
Dai Huabin and Dai Yueheng also looked tense.
The light gradually enveloped Dai Yuntian completely.
However, unlike the intense or powerful energy fluctuations of ordinary awakenings, Dai Yuntian's aura remained pitifully weak.
In the center of the magic circle, only an extremely dim phantom slowly emerged.
Its form… seemed to be a small feline, miniature in size and listless.
It was less like a powerful white tiger and more like a frail kitten.
Seeing this blurry martial spirit phantom, the old butler's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
The Duchess's heart sank instantly, her eyes filled with heartache.
Dai Huabin clenched his fists tightly, his eyes filled with self-reproach, as if his younger brother's "incompetence" was entirely his fault.
Xuanzi shook his head slightly, sighing inwardly, "Alas, just as I thought. His innate foundation is too damaged, and his martial spirit is difficult to strengthen. Alas, what a pity..."
However, just when everyone thought the awakening ceremony would end in a regrettable way, and the dim martial spirit phantom was about to dissipate—a sudden change occurred!
A cold, eerie, and destructive black-gray energy suddenly erupted from Dai Yuntian's body!
The originally gentle light of the magic array was instantly dyed into a deep darkness, and the temperature of the entire hall plummeted, as if even the light was being swallowed up!
"What's going on?!"
Xuanzi suddenly stood up, not even noticing the chicken leg in his hand fall to the ground, his face filled with shock and vigilance.
In the center of that chilling dark energy, a huge, ferocious phantom slowly condensed.
It resembled a fierce tiger, yet its entire body was covered in eerie, dark gray patterns. A pair of tattered bone wings sprouted from its back, and its tail was as sharp and cold as a scorpion's, radiating an extreme evil and savage pressure!
This pressure was so strong that even Dai Yueheng, who possessed the top-tier beast martial soul, the White Tiger, felt his soul tremble—it was a merciless crushing force from the level of life itself!
Xuanzi stared intently at the terrifying phantom, his voice hoarse and distorted with extreme horror, almost forcing out a hoarse cry from deep within his throat:
"This form…this extremely evil aura…could it be the long-extinct…Dark Demon Evil God Tiger!?"
(End of Chapter)