Mei ascended the simple wooden steps to the stage, the lantern light catching the subtle shimmer in her pink hair. A hush fell over the plaza as the crowd, which had been milling about, quickly coalesced into an attentive semicircle before her.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, and their distinguished guests found a spot with a clear view, not too far from the front.
A warm, genuine smile graced Mei's lips as she gazed out at the familiar faces and the new, powerful ones. "Good evening, everyone," she began, her voice carrying effortlessly across the square without strain. "Thank you for coming. I hope this song brings a little light to your night."
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin watched, initially with polite curiosity, which quickly shifted to mild astonishment at the size and the attention of the crowd. This was no casual gathering; it was an audience held in anticipation.
Then, the music began—a simple, melodic tune played from a nearby zither by an academy senior. Mei took a soft breath, closed her eyes for a brief moment, and began to sing.
(Song: Snow Fairy - Funkist, English Lyrics)
"Fairy, where are you going?
I'm holding all the light on your way
This light will shine upon a brand-new day!
(Oh yeah!) Now, can you hear the voice that's calling out to you?
(Oh yeah!) Though I know its shouts have caused its overuse
(Oh yeah!) But will it stay until your heart can hear it through?
(Oh yeah! Oh yeah!)..."
From the very first note, something shifted in the air. It wasn't just sound; it was a vibration that seemed to resonate with the spirit power in the atmosphere.
Ning Fengzhi, a man whose cultivation had been stagnant for years due to the inherent limitations of his martial soul, felt a faint, almost imperceptible stir within his martial soul. His eyes widened infinitesimally.
Chen Xin, standing beside him, felt it too—a gentle ripple agitating the vast, deep lake of his spirit power, a feeling he hadn't experienced in decades.
"Snowing, keep going
Be honest and smile as we're
Approaching, evoking, the clock to keep repeating over, but
Fairy, where are you going?
I'm holding all the light on your way
This light will shine upon a brand-new day!"
Ning Rongrong was utterly captivated. The technical perfection of the Moon Pavilion faded from her mind, replaced by something far more profound. The music wasn't just heard; it was felt.
It wrapped around her spirit, warm and encouraging, and she felt her own soul power circulating more vigorously, more joyfully than ever before. She was lost in the melody, her earlier competitiveness completely forgotten.
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance of shared wonder. They were accustomed to Mei's voice, but tonight felt different. It was as if the notes themselves were condensing into tangible energy, seeping into their bodies and gently coaxing their cultivation forward.
"It's strange, but when you smile, I feel much stronger
But when you laugh, it lifts me so much higher
In my heart, it's snowing
I'm trembling, but now you're here
And tightly, you hold me
It's warming me right down to my core..."
As the final note hung in the air, pure and clear, before fading into the night, the plaza was silent for a long moment.
Then, it erupted into enthusiastic applause and cheerful shouts of gratitude before the crowd began to disperse, returning to their nightly routines with lightened steps and brightened spirits.
But Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, Ning Rongrong, and their attending disciple remained rooted to the spot, stunned into silence. The lingering effects of the song were like a pleasant afterglow within their bodies, their spirit power still humming contentedly.
Tang San and Xiao Wu quickly moved to the stage steps. "That was amazing, Senior Mei!" Xiao Wu chirped.
"Truly beautiful," Tang San added with a soft smile.
Ning Rongrong, finally recovering her composure, walked over with a measured pace, trying to reclaim her dignified demeanor. "It... wasn't bad," she conceded, her voice a touch too formal to be completely convincing.
Xiao Wu immediately pounced on the opportunity, grinning. "Oh? So, was it better than the stuffy old performances from the Moon Pavilion?"
A faint blush touched Ning Rongrong's cheeks. She looked away. "It... wasn't any worse," she admitted quietly. Then, her curiosity overcoming her pride, she looked back at Mei. "But it's the first time I've ever felt... stronger, more energized after a performance. Why is that?"
Xiao Wu, bursting with pride for her friend, blurted out, "That's because of Senior Mei's soul sk—"
"Xiao Wu," Tang San interjected gently but firmly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "That is Senior Mei's secret. It's not our place to speak of it."
Mei, however, just giggled, waving a hand dismissively. "It's alright, Tang San. I don't mind." She turned her warm gaze to Ning Rongrong. "It's a unique aspect of my martial soul. When I perform on what I call my 'Starlight Stage,' my soul skills activate automatically. They will remain active for as long as I perform."
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. "A martial soul that... performs? What are its skills?"
"Melodic Rhythm," Mei explained, her voice taking on a slightly more resonant quality as she described it. "When I perform on my Starlight Stage, allies within my stage domain will get a boost in their attack and speed by thirty percent."
This revelation finally snapped Ning Fengzhi out of his stunned reverie. He stepped forward, his composure fully restored, but his mind racing at lightning speed.
"A support-type ability that enhances combat prowess... and cultivation speed?" he said, his voice deceptively calm. "You are pursuing the support route, then?"
Mei nodded. "Yes, Sect Master. I'm not very good at fighting directly. I want to use my voice to strengthen my friends."
In that moment, a monumental opportunity crystallized in Ning Fengzhi's mind. A martial soul that could passively enhance the cultivation of others was not just an asset; it was a treasure beyond compare, potentially more valuable than any spirit bone.
To have such a talent tied to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the greatest support sect on the continent... the possibilities were staggering.
And then, a more personal, strategic thought emerged. If Rongrong cannot break the sect's seventh-rank restriction... perhaps there is another way. His eyes studied Mei—her talent, her gentle nature, her unique bloodline.
If she were to marry into the clan... if she were to have a child with one of my sons... that child could inherit a new potential, a chance to surpass our limits.
As the children continued to chat excitedly, Ning Fengzhi smiled benignly, but behind that smile, a grand plan was beginning to form. He would invest in this girl. He would nurture her talent.
And he would gently guide her towards a future inextricably linked with the future of his own clan. His gaze drifted thoughtfully, already beginning to ponder which of his sons or nephews or young clansmen would be the most suitable match for the girl with the voice that could move the very heavens.