Meeting Bibi Dong

In the days that followed, Zeng Wei's life within the orphanage carried on with a comfortable monotony. There were no notable events, no sudden upheavals to disrupt the established routine.

Life flowed steadily, like the tranquil surface of a pond. And while the days were filled with happy memories with his family but they held no grand adventures and they were far too mundane for the spirited young boy.

Ever since Zeng Wei had displayed his remarkable aptitude for chopping firewood to Sister Lee Li, it had become an integral part of his daily life. He approached this chore not as a mundane task but as an opportunity—a chance to refine his strength and hone his mind.

With each swing of the wood axe, he felt himself cleaving through the imaginary adversaries that danced in his mind's eye. He always gave his all in every swing, in hopes that he will train his explosive power too.

For Zeng Wei, the act of chopping firewood had transformed from a chore into a form of training, a daily exercise in discipline and determination. It was as if he were honing his skills for a future yet unknown.

Apart from his daily duties, Zeng Wei spent his time engaged in spirited battles with his older sibling, who worked as guards for one of the local auction houses. This brother, seasoned by life's challenges, had martial spirit of his own—a Tool Spirit known as the Hundred-Ton Halberd.

True to its name, he can increase the weight of his martial spirit to a hundred tons. It was quite a formidable martial spirit and he was one of the lucky children that got innate soul power level of six. 

These training sessions, however, occurred exclusively on the weekends. Yet, this arrangement suited Zeng Wei just fine.

Although, he knew that he stood little chance of prevailing against his older siblings, but he reveled in the learning experience. Each clash brought with it a new lesson, a chance to refine his skills, and a taste of the thrill that combat offered.

On one particular weekend, Zeng Wei found himself engrossed in a protracted duel with one of his older siblings. They sparred from the afternoon's golden hours well into the embrace of the setting sun.

The two combatants reveled in the joy of their battle, their fist clashing in a whirl of punches and unyielding spirit. Zeng Wei, as a battle enthusiast truly love the feeling of trading punches and the adrenaline that the training gave him. 

As the sun's final rays dipped below the horizon, they finally paused, their labored breaths echoing the satisfaction of a well-fought bout. Bruises and scrapes adorned Zeng Wei's frame, a proof to the intensity of their struggle.

His older sibling, seemed less battered, clapped a hand on his shoulder, a knowing look in their eyes. Both of them realized they had pushed themselves a little too hard during today's training.

The aftermath of their training was not without consequence. Sister Lee Li, who had observed their battle from a distance, approached with a stern countenance.

Her eyes bore a mixture of concern and reproach as she examined Zeng Wei's bruises.

"Zeng Wei!"

She admonished, her voice a blend of affection and disapproval,

"What possessed you to engage in such a vigorous taining? You're covered in bruises!"

Zeng Wei, unfazed by the reprimand, grinned sheepishly.

"Sister Lee Li, it was just for fun. I'm getting stronger, you see!"

His older sibling chimed in, defending their actions.

"Sister Lee Li, we were just sparring, and Zeng Wei insisted on continue the spar. He's quite the fighter, you know."

Sister Lee Li sighed, her expression softening. She knew Zeng Wei's fighting spirit all too well.

"I understand your enthusiasm, but you must be careful, Zeng Wei. We don't want you getting hurt."

Zeng Wei nodded, his eyes still gleaming with excitement.

"I promise to be more careful, Sister Lee Li."

As they returned to the orphanage, they grinned and shared a quiet laugh behind Sister Lee Li's back, The brotherhood between Zeng Wei and his sibling remained unshaken, bruised but not broken, they looked forward to the next weekend's training. 

...

A year had come and gone, marking the anticipated moment when Zeng Wei and his companions would undergo the sacred rite of martial spirit awakening, a ceremony held by the esteemed Spirit Hall. This momentous event was an annual tradition that unfolded with great pomp and reverence on the final day of the year.

Today, that very day, had arrived.

The orphans who had reached the prescribed age were bubbling with excitement. The air hummed with anticipation as they prepared for a journey that might very well transform their lives. For young souls like Zeng Wei and his fellow orphans, the prospect of martial spirit awakening held the promise of a brighter future.

Sister Lee Li had often regaled them with stories of ordinary individuals and orphans who had been endowed with remarkable talents during their awakening. These tales of humble beginnings blossoming into greatness had ignited a fervor of hope in their hearts.

The dreams of joining formidable sects and powerhouses danced before their eager eyes. They hoped that they can awaken a powerful martial spirit too!

Under Sister Lee Li's gentle urging, they readied themselves for the pilgrimage to one of Spirit Hall's revered churches. Minutes ticked by, but their youthful enthusiasm allowed for no delay.

Zeng Wei and his siblings, a whirlwind of energy, dashed toward their destination, with Sister Lee Li closely in tow.

She couldn't help but sigh, the tumultuous blend of exasperation and affection evident in her expression. Their boundless enthusiasm was as natural as the sun's rise, an expression of their dreams and aspirations.

As they arrived at the church, they hurriedly entered, their hearts pounding with expectation. It was time for their awakening, today would unravel the mysteries of their martial spirits and set them on their unique paths.

Within the hallowed confines of the church, they joined a gathering of other hopeful souls, each accompanied by their parents or a mentor from their own orphanage. The air was charged with a sense of reverence and nervous anticipation.

Sister Lee Li exchanged knowing glances with her charges, a silent affirmation of their shared journey.

As they waited for their turn, Zeng Wei couldn't contain his excitement. He turned to his older sibling, the one he had sparred with so many times before.

"Today's the day! I wonder what kind of martial spirit I'll awaken."

His older sibling nodded, a mixture of excitement and trepidation in their eyes.

"Indeed, it's a joyous occasion. All the best, Zeng Wei. I pray that you will awaken a powerful martial spirit!"

Just then, an elderly figure approached, a clergyman of the church who would oversee their awakenings. He welcomed them with a warm smile, his presence imbued with an air of wisdom and authority.

"Young ones, it's time. Prepare yourselves."

Zeng Wei and his fellow orphans took a deep breath, their hearts beating in unison. With hope in their hearts and determination in their souls, they stepped forward into the sacred chamber, ready to unlock the secrets of their martial spirits and embark on the next chapter of their lives.

As they crossed the threshold into the secret chamber, an inexplicable pressure settled upon them. It was a weight that bore down on their shoulders, and yet, strangely, Zeng Wei felt little trepidation. He had always possessed an unconventional outlook — believing that even if he were to awaken a seemingly lackluster martial spirit, if his innate talent could compensate it then he's all good.

The elderly figure who had guided them introduced himself as a Spirit Elder of the revered Spirit Hall, his cultivation reaching the impressive rank of 37. Today, he proclaimed that he had taken a break from his own cultivation, drawn by an inexplicable intuition that whispered of potential among the children gathered before him.

His words and aura were meant to uplift the spirits of the young candidates, though they remained blissfully unaware that this was merely a ploy to alleviate their nervousness.

As the ritual unfolded, the elderly Spirit Elder began awakening the children, one by one. Some of them were bestowed with martial spirits that fell within the realm of acceptability, while others received spirits that were decidedly mediocre.

A few among them, to their dismay, found that they possessed no innate soul power at all — a bitter twist of fate.

Yet, amidst the mixed fortunes of their companions, most Zeng Wei's siblings who had accompanied him that day all awakened martial spirits with spirit energy. Their innate soul power, while not extraordinary, ranged from rank 2 to rank 5, were acceptable as they can still cultivate.

The Spirit Elder offered congratulations to those who had discovered their martial spirits, and words of consolation to those who had not been as fortunate. He was able to empathize with the dreams and the disappointments of these poor children who didn't have spirit energy.

But just as the ritual seemed to be proceeding in the expected manner, an unexpected commotion erupted upon the ritual platform. The Spirit Elder's demeanor shifted from one of calm authority to one of shock and disbelief.

He leaned forward, his eyes widening in astonishment as he attempted to make sense of the inexplicable scene unfolding before him.

There, standing before him, was a girl — a mere child — who possessed not one, but two martial spirits. The world of Douluo Continent had just witnessed an astonishing anomaly, an occurrence that defied the laws of martial spirit awakening.

The Spirit Elder, his heart pounding with a mixture of astonishment and intrigue, found himself staring at an unparalleled enigma that would forever alter the course of their destinies.

The hushed gasps of the onlookers filled the chamber as all eyes fixed upon the girl, who stood at the center of this extraordinary revelation. Bibi Dong, though young, bore an air of quiet confidence, her eyes steady and unwavering as she met the Spirit Elder's gaze.

The Spirit Elder, a figure of great cultivation and experience, found himself at a loss for words—a rarity for one so seasoned. He stammered,

"This... this is unprecedented! Two martial spirits in a single individual!"

The girl offered a serene smile, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. But as a little girl who still preferred cute martial spirits over grotesque martial spirits, she can't help but whined.

"But they're spiders! Why can't they be cuter, hmph!"

Her voice was gentle, belying the contradictory nature of her disatisfaction. The Spirit Elder, now regaining his composure, approached her with a mixture of reverence and curiosity.

"What are your name and your martial spirits' name, child?" he inquired, his tone respectful.

With a graceful motion, she summoned forth her two martial spirits. First, the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor manifested, a sinister and formidable presence that sent shivers down the spines of those present.

"My name is Bibi Dong and this is my Soul Devouring Spider Emperor."

The Spirit Elder observed in awe as the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor exuded an eerie aura, its eight arachnid legs twitching with predatory intent.

"And this is my second martial spirit," she continued, "the Death Spider Emperor."

As she spoke, the Death Spider Emperor emerged, its presence suffusing the chamber with an aura of foreboding. The air grew heavy with the weight of mortality.

The Spirit Elder marveled at the sight, his heart swelling with a mixture of wonder and admiration.

"Child, you possess a unique and extraordinary gift. With two martial spirits of such caliber, you are destined for greatness."

He paused for a moment, then extended an offer that had rarely been made in the history of Spirit Hall.

"I invite you to join Spirit Hall, to nurture your talents and become a beacon of hope for our world. Will you accept?"

Bibi Dong, her face seemed brimmed with excitement, nodded without hesitation.

"I accept your offer, Elder. I wish to learn and grow, to become the best that I can be."

A smile of approval graced the Spirit Elder's lips as he extended his hand, sealing their pact.

"Welcome to Spirit Hall, young one. Your journey is about to begin, and it promises to be nothing short of extraordinary."

And so, amidst the astonished whispers of the onlookers, Zeng Wei was stunned speechless. He felt that this girls was too lucky.

'The thing was, she still complaining and whining about how her martial spirits weren't cute! Come on, lass, please try to understand and empathize with other people too!'

"Hmph, such an ignorant girl!"