First Day as a Rich Second-Gen

"Screech—crash—die, die!"

"Miss, get out of the way! To the left, to the left!"

"Big sister, move!"

Chaotic voices filled her dream, followed by a searing pain. The little girl on the soft bed squeezed her eyes shut, sweat soaking her bangs as she twitched unnaturally before jolting awake with a gasp.

Ming Sui opened her eyes, closed them, then opened them again. She told herself, It's fine, it's fine. You're a doctor. Calm down. Defeat the nightmare.

"Miss, are you thirsty?" the maid on night duty asked softly from outside the door.

"No, thank you, Sister Mary." Ming Sui took a deep breath and brushed back her sweat-dampened hair. Sleep had completely abandoned her. Relying on the martial arts she had practiced for several years, she had stepped in to help on a bus and fought a criminal trying to seize the driver's steering wheel. She had not expected the man to be carrying a knife. When he failed to take the wheel, he began stabbing people indiscriminately. Though she had done her best to avoid vital areas, rescue efforts had ultimately failed. When she opened her eyes again, she had arrived in this neither-Chinese-nor-Western, neither-new-nor-old Douluo Continent, changing from a promising neurosurgeon into a newborn baby.

Ming Sui sighed. After she was gone, her patients would probably be taken over by her senior brother. He was experienced, so that would be better for them. Her teacher and fellow disciples would likely grieve for her, but they all had families and friends and would eventually accept reality. She had neither parents nor relatives, and her assets had been left to the orphanage that had raised her. So be it. She had been here for nearly six years now; she could not keep dwelling on the past forever. She was a child now, and sleeping badly every day would stunt her growth. At that thought, Ming Sui pursed her lips and muttered to herself. In her previous life, she had been a stunning beauty standing 178 centimeters tall, someone who breathed the air above everyone else's heads wherever she went. Yet here, she had become an adorable little thing everyone wanted to squish. Hmph, just wait. She would grow taller. She would reach 180 centimeters. With endless fantasies of the future filling her mind, the little cutie drifted into a deep, sweet sleep.

Mornings at the Ming Residence were always full of life. At daybreak, Steward Ming began assigning the male and female servants their duties for the day, and another wonderful day began. Unlike usual, Steward Ming had specifically arranged for the girls from the clothing team to measure their young mistress Ming Sui and make her new clothes, in preparation for the historic moment awaiting her next month: Spirit Awakening.

That was right. Douluo Continent was a world of spirits. Everyone here awakened a spirit of their own at the age of six. They could be animals, plants, objects, elements, even a part of one's own body or one's faith—there was no end to the possibilities. These spirits could assist people in their daily lives, while particularly outstanding ones could be cultivated for battle, allowing their owners to become glorious Spirit Masters. To prepare the young mistress he had watched grow up for this important moment in her life, Steward Ming naturally had to make every arrangement. Having clothes tailored was merely the most basic part.

In the study of the Ming Residence, Steward Ming, having been busy all morning, reported on the day's work to the master of the residence, Ming Zhen—the level 91 Support System Titled Douluo, Holy Light Douluo.

"With you here, I never need to worry too much," Ming Zhen said with a smile from the seat of honor. He was a fit, capable-looking man, his long black hair tied behind his back, still dressed in fitted robes suitable for morning exercises. "The weather is gradually getting hotter. If there is nothing important in the residence, have the cleaning done in the morning."

Steward Ming's eyes crinkled with a smile. "It is you, my lord, who are considerate of us. Rest assured, this old servant will remind them to diligently fulfill their duties." After speaking, he seemed to recall something, and his smile faded. "My lord, Mary, who was on duty in Miss's room last night, reported that Miss had another nightmare. She woke soon enough, though. Following your previous instructions not to make a big fuss and frighten Miss, Mary only treated it as though Miss wanted water in the middle of the night. After two or three quarters of an hour, when she judged that Miss had fallen asleep again, she returned to attend her."

"That child..." Ming Zhen's handsome brows furrowed. "She is nearly six already, yet she is still so easily startled. Forget it, I'll go check on her." He hurried toward the courtyard of his precious only daughter, Ming Sui, with Steward Ming quickly following behind.

As Ming Zhen walked, he sighed inwardly. In their previous lives, he and his wife Tang Yunhua had been childhood sweethearts. He had gone into business while his wife had joined the military. Though they had spent little time together in their youth, their affection had been deep. Their only regret was that they had never had children. When they were fifty, he and his wife had finally gone on their first trip together. Who could have imagined that an earthquake would strike as soon as they reached their destination? He and his wife had died in an aftershock while saving people. When he woke up, he had come to Douluo Continent and become Ming Zhen, who had been in the middle of awakening his spirit. The young Ming Zhen's soul had been scattered by the shock of Spirit Awakening, giving him the chance to live again. He had successfully awakened a scepter spirit with Innate Soul Power at level eight. He believed that since he could come here, his wife Yunhua must also be somewhere in this world. While increasing his strength and traveling the continent, he had finally found the Clear Sky Sect through the code he shared with Yunhua. After earning their recognition, he and Yunhua had once again become husband and wife. They had even made up for the regret of their previous lives by having their adorable daughter, Ming Sui. Now, the only thing troubling him was that his precious daughter was always plagued by nightmares.

When he arrived at Ming Sui's courtyard, a tall, upright figure was already in the room. It was Tang Yunhua, a level 93 Sky Shaking Hammer Weapon Spirit Master, titled Sky Shaking. Originally an orphan, she had been taken in by the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect during his travels and adopted as his daughter. At six, she had awakened the Sky Shaking Hammer spirit with Innate Soul Power at level nine. It was extremely similar to the Clear Sky Hammer, delighting the sect master, who had her trained alongside his biological children. She was now an honored elder of the Clear Sky Sect. However, the current Clear Sky Sect had sealed itself off from the world, and Tang Yunhua had some friction with the sect's honored elders. So, she simply lived in the Heaven Dou Empire, where she could also look after her younger sister Yuehua.

Ming Sui was acting spoiled with her mother. Yes, the tough-as-nails female college student Ming Sui was acting spoiled, because she wanted to stay in bed a little longer. Madam Tang firmly refused her and explained why: getting up early to exercise would help her grow taller. Left with no choice, Ming Sui got up. Then, seeing her father enter, her eyes lit up. "Dad, I want to sleep a little longer. Please?"

Ming Zhen received an eye roll from his wife. He was the chief culprit behind spoiling their child. Embarrassed, he coaxed his daughter, "How about Dad shows you a new toy today?" Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Ming Sui could only get up and let her parents take her to the training ground.

Ming Sui had begun practicing martial arts with her parents when she was four. Her father was a Support System Spirit Master, while her mother was an Assault System Spirit Master. According to the rules of Spirit Awakening, a child inherited the stronger spirit of either parent. No matter which parent's spirit Ming Sui inherited, she would need strong physical fitness and combat skills to support herself. For their daughter's sake, Ming Zhen and Madam Tang brought out martial arts from their previous lives—military boxing—as well as the combat techniques of Clear Sky Sect disciples in this life. At such a young age, Ming Sui trained through winter's harshest cold and summer's hottest days, developing an exceptionally strong body.

Ming Zhen brought out the new toy. In their previous lives, he and his wife had both loved traditional weapons and even collected many weapons forged by masters. For Ming Sui's sixth birthday, Ming Zhen had found Starfall Iron, and Madam Tang had used her Sky Shaking Hammer to forge a pair of Emei Daggers as weapons for their daughter's protection. Today, they would begin teaching her how to use them.

Her parents really were not hiding anything anymore. Ever since the three of them had laid their cards on the table two years ago, this family of transmigrators had begun living extravagantly. Ming Sui had watched many Soul Tools with functions identical to modern devices appear in their home, while Ming Zhen and Tang Yunhua had started reading "Introduction to Clinical Medicine."

After training came to an end, the family of three happily ate breakfast together. The ever-capable Steward Ming entered while holding his spirit, an account book. "My lord, madam, miss, His Majesty is holding a banquet at the palace tonight to welcome guests from the Star Luo Empire. You are required to attend."

Ming Zhen nodded. "The Star Luo Empire is most likely sending a hostage prince. Heaven Dou still has some strength left, but Star Luo can no longer afford to keep fighting. Good. The Spirit Masters of our clan can return early and cultivate in peace. We have few people; we cannot compare to the grand Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Sect Master Ning hasn't offended you," Tang Yunhua said, rolling her eyes at him. "The agreement between our ancestors and the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family says we fight one hundred battles. Now that they are done, we will not fight again unless it is a battle for life and death. You should be thinking about how to deal with His Majesty. He will definitely want you to continue fighting."

"When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. The two empires fight at the front while Spirit Hall grows and expands in the rear. When I warned Ning Fengzhi last time, that old fellow even complained that I was meddling. I have already made things clear to the clan: if they fight again in the future, they must do so as individuals. I will not stop them from earning noble titles on their own." Ming Zhen grew angry at the thought.

"Sui Sui, you can play with Sister Ning Rongrong tonight," Tang Yunhua said softly to her daughter, ignoring him. Ning Rongrong, the seven-year-old daughter of Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, was an adorable little girl just like her own daughter. She should get along well with Sui Sui.

Ming Sui nodded and returned to her courtyard for lessons. Her classes on soul beasts would be finished after a few more sessions. Then, she could awaken her spirit and begin cultivating as well.

In the imperial palace of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye looked over the battle reports with mixed feelings. The conflict with Star Luo had come to a temporary end, but the Ming Clan's decision not to participate in future battles worried him deeply. Most members of the Ming Clan possessed Healing Scepter spirits. Unlike the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Healing Scepter spirits could greatly restore vitality, though they provided little increase to Soul Power. They were exceptionally suited for military use and had no soul ring restrictions. Their clan leader, Holy Light Douluo Ming Zhen, possessed the Holy Light Scepter spirit, a support spirit even more precious than the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. Most importantly, he was a mere fifty-year-old Support System Titled Douluo with limitless potential. Xue Ye needed to find a way to bind Ming Zhen more firmly to him without causing him resentment. Xue Ye sighed. Being emperor was truly exhausting. A nearby attendant stepped forward. "Your Majesty, it is time. You should proceed to the banquet hall."

Music began to play, and the banquet commenced.