Great Firmament Celestial Art

Ning Tian and Wu Feng led Nezha through the long corridors deep within the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, finally arriving before a secluded courtyard halfway up the main peak.

Standing at the courtyard entrance, Nezha looked up and froze.

In the center of the courtyard stood a three-story building, with soaring eaves, interlocking brackets, carved beams, and painted pillars. Its gilded decorations gleamed in the setting sun, every detail revealing exquisite craftsmanship.

Nezha stood at the entrance, his mouth slightly open, unable to say a word for a long while.

This mountain didn't look all that big. How did the sect's disciples get such good treatment?!

In his previous life, he had been an ordinary corporate drone living in a partitioned room in an urban village. When had he ever seen luxury like this? After transmigrating to the Douluo Continent, he had always lived with his parents in an ordinary home in Nine Treasures City. Suddenly confronted with a "villa" with its own private courtyard, he could hardly wrap his head around it.

"Is this standard accommodation for disciples of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?" He turned toward Ning Tian, his voice carrying a disbelief even he had failed to notice.

Ning Tian's large, dark eyes curved in amusement, and her ponytail swayed as she gently shook her head. "Of course not. Ordinary disciples aren't qualified to live in these courtyards on the main peak. Even most core disciples don't get accommodations like this."

She paused, a touch of distinction entering her voice without a trace of arrogance. "Among people our age, I'm currently the only one who gets this treatment and has a private courtyard to live in."

Nezha's heart stirred, and he inwardly clicked his tongue in wonder.

Ning Tian glanced at him, her smile deepening as she added, "But now there's you, too."

She raised a hand and pointed toward another small building nestled among the trees nearby. "I live right next door. If you have any problems, you can come find me anytime."

"Thank you." Nezha nodded in gratitude.

"Oh, right."

As though suddenly remembering something, Ning Tian took a small porcelain bottle from her waist and casually tossed it to Nezha.

Nezha caught it and looked down. The bottle had no markings and felt cold in his hand.

"This is a Mystic Water Pill."

Ning Tian explained casually, as though giving him some insignificant trinket. "It can increase a person's innate soul power. Besides that, it cleanses the sinews and marrow and nourishes the meridians. Although you have innate full soul power, taking this pill will still benefit you."

Holding the porcelain bottle, Nezha felt a stir of interest. Increasing innate soul power offered little room for improvement when his was already full, but cleansing the sinews and marrow sounded anything but ordinary.

Yet Ning Tian had simply tossed him a bottle, her tone as casual as if she were giving him a cabbage.

"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect really does live up to its reputation as a great sect. The treatment here is wonderful."

Nezha offered his heartfelt praise, then carefully tucked the porcelain bottle into his clothes.

"Come on, let's look inside." Ning Tian pushed open the gate and stepped through first.

Ning Tian pushed open the building's door, and the three filed inside.

The first floor was a spacious reception hall, its floor paved with smooth jade that felt slightly warm underfoot rather than chilling their feet.

The hall had every kind of fine furnishing: rosewood tables and chairs, brocade cushions, and several soul guidance lamps set into the walls. Their soft, warm light made the entire room bright and inviting.

What delighted Nezha even more was that Ning Tian walked to a wall at the far end of the reception hall and pressed a spot on it. The wall slid open soundlessly, revealing stone steps leading underground.

"There's also an underground chamber specifically for cultivation." As she spoke, Ning Tian headed down the steps first.

Nezha followed her down. The moment he entered the chamber, his entire body felt lighter.

The air brimmed with abundant energy, countless times denser than outside.

He instinctively drew a deep breath and felt that energy flow into his body through his nose and mouth. Every limb and bone seemed to loosen, like a parched riverbed suddenly welcoming a gentle rain.

As expected of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. They truly spared no expense.

After returning to the first floor, Ning Tian led them upstairs. The second floor was a study, with bookshelves lining all four walls from floor to ceiling, densely packed with all kinds of texts.

The third floor was the bedroom.

There was a soft, large bed. When the window was opened, the cool evening breeze swept in, carrying the fresh fragrance of the mountain's trees and grasses.

Nezha leaned out for a look and took in the entire Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. The setting sun dyed the horizon gold and crimson, its lingering rays scattering across the glazed roof tiles in glints of shattered gold.

"Isn't this lifestyle a little too extravagant...?"

Nezha murmured to himself. Leaning against the window and gazing at the scenery before him, he couldn't help clicking his tongue. "These are practically sugar-coated cannonballs."

At his words, Ning Tian turned to look at him, her dark eyes brimming with amusement.

"This is nothing yet."

She lifted her chin, her ponytail taking on a soft sheen in the sunset's lingering glow. Her voice held a composure beyond her years.

"Once you've settled in, I'll take you both to the sect's Grade-A Canteen. I wouldn't dare claim the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has the best food on the entire continent, but we can certainly hold third, contend for second, and aim for first."

Wu Feng nodded vigorously beside her, her fiery red eyes startlingly bright. "The dining hall is great! It's really great! The young mistress isn't lying. The soul beast meat in the Grade-A Canteen smells incredible."

Looking at Wu Feng, who seemed on the verge of drooling, then at the calm, composed smile on Ning Tian's lips, Nezha inwardly marveled.

Coming to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect really was the right choice.

Night fell.

Nezha sat cross-legged on the bed in his third-floor bedroom, but he wasn't the least bit sleepy.

Earlier, while they were having dinner in the Grade-A Canteen, Ning Tian had told him someone would take them to hunt for soul rings tomorrow. She had advised him to rest early and build up his energy.

But Nezha had no intention of resting.

Ever since his martial soul awakening, the Fire-Tipped Spear had been sending him a faint, elusive sensation without pause.

It was just that one thing had followed another today: the awakening, joining the sect, meeting the sect master, revealing his second martial soul, and settling into his accommodations. He hadn't had a moment to examine it closely.

Now that he was finally alone, he wanted to see just what was waiting for him.

Nezha closed his eyes, slowed his breathing, and rested his hands before his knees, attempting to sense it.

In the darkness, the outline of the Fire-Tipped Spear floated silently. Its crimson shaft glowed faintly, like an ancient weapon slumbering in lava.

Soon, a white pearl separated from the Fire-Tipped Spear.

The pearl was small, about the size of his thumbnail, with a smooth, lustrous surface. He couldn't tell what it was made of.

"What is this...?"

Nezha froze. He had thought the Fire-Tipped Spear contained some inherited memories or a lingering wisp of divine consciousness, but what was this pearl? Had it formed inside his martial soul?

Before he could work it out, the white pearl suddenly trembled.

Then it transformed into a streak of light and plunged straight into the depths of his mind.

The next moment, Nezha went rigid.

He remained motionless in his cross-legged position. Though his eyes were closed, his eyeballs moved rapidly beneath his lids. An exceedingly faint white light shone between his brows, flickering over his young face.

After an unknown length of time, he opened his eyes in disbelief.

"The Great Firmament Celestial Art."