The walk back to Nuoding Academy was a quiet, contemplative one, the events of the evening settling over Mei, Tang San, and Xiao Wu like a gentle, star-dusted blanket.
The cool night air was a welcome contrast to the vibrant energy of the plaza, carrying with it the faint, sweet scent of night-blooming flowers from the academy gardens. Above them, the moon hung like a polished silver coin, bathing the familiar path in a soft, ethereal light.
"You know," Xiao Wu mused, breaking the comfortable silence as she skipped a little ahead, her shadow dancing playfully on the cobblestones. "I like her. She's stuck-up, but she's fun when she forgets to be all proper."
She twirled around to face them, walking backward with an effortless, innate grace that always reminded Tang San of her rabbit spirit. "Did you see her face when Senior Mei started singing? She looked like she'd seen a ghost, but a thrilled, sparkly one!"
She fell back into step beside them, her brow furrowing in genuine, comical distress.
"But we already hit every food stall and restaurant worth seeing today! The honey-glazed chestnuts, the spicy skewers, that little place with the amazing soup dumplings... I can't just show her the same places tomorrow! A tour guide has to provide new experiences!"
She gestured wildly, as if mapping out the city's culinary landscape in the air before her. "It's a matter of professional pride!"
Tang San, ever practical, considered this with a serious expression, as if analyzing a complex blueprint. After a moment, a thoughtful look crossed his face.
"The Craftsmen's District is quite interesting, and it's mostly active during the day," he suggested.
"It's not just blacksmiths like Master Feng. Woodcarvers are creating intricate spirit beast figures, weavers are making tapestries that tell old stories, and potters are shaping clay with nothing but their hands and a wheel. The sheer skill and dedication on display is a different kind of artistry. It might be something entirely new for her, something she wouldn't see within the walls of her sect."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up; the problem seemed to be solved. "Oh! That's a great idea, Brother San! The noise and the fire from the forges are so exciting! And all the shiny, half-finished things!" She then beamed at both of them, her enthusiasm infectious.
"And it's the weekend tomorrow! No classes! You two should come with us! It'll be more fun with everyone there. We can make a whole day of it!"
Tang San nodded, a small, relaxed smile touching his lips. It had been a while since they'd had a proper day of simple exploration. "I was planning to take a day off from smithing tomorrow. A walk through the Craftsmen's District sounds pleasant. I can accompany you."
Both of them then turned to Mei, awaiting her response. But she had fallen a step behind, her gaze distant, focused on a point in the empty air before her. A faint, ethereal glow, invisible to her friends, reflected in her wide eyes, illuminating the astounding information she was processing.
Current Status:
Age: 7
Spirit: Starlight Stage
Soul Power: 20 (+2)
Fans: 578 (+125)
Idol God Trial: 0/9 <
Mei's heart hammered in her chest. Level 20? Already? The profound surge from the night's performance, the connection with the large audience, combined with the accumulated, diligent cultivation from the past few weeks, had propelled her past the bottleneck with a sudden, silent explosion of power.
And 578 fans... the number was staggering. It wasn't just the plaza; it had to include the members of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, their perceptions of her forever altered by her song.
"Mei?" Xiao Wu's voice, laced with confusion, snapped Mei back to reality. The luminous status screen vanished from her vision, leaving behind the mundane, moonlit path.
Blinking, Mei shook her head slightly, as if clearing water from her ears. "I'm sorry, Xiao Wu. My mind wandered for a moment. What did you ask?"
Xiao Wu pouted, planting her hands on her hips. "You weren't listening at all! I asked if you're coming with us to the Craftsmen's District tomorrow!"
Before Mei could form a reply, a new, urgent voice chirped in her mind.
Ahem! Disciple! A little focus, please!
Ai materialized in her thoughts, hands on her hips in a perfect mirror of Xiao Wu's stance.
I haven't been weaving connections across the spiritual network for my health! Your second soul ring, a perfect, shimmering match for your Starlight Stage, is being gently guided to the forest outskirts as we speak. It will be there soon. You cannot be gallivanting around the city looking at pots and pans! You need to go and claim your destiny! This is non-negotiable!
Mei's polite smile became a touch strained. She looked back at Xiao Wu and Tang San, their expectant faces bathed in moonlight.
"I... I'm afraid I must decline tomorrow," she said, her voice filled with genuine regret. "I have a very important matter to attend to. I've reached a breakthrough." She took a steadying breath. "I need to go and obtain my second soul ring."
A stunned silence greeted her words, broken only by the chirping of crickets.
"Your... second ring?" Tang San repeated, his calm demeanor cracking with open astonishment. He could sense spirit power, and while he knew Mei was advanced, the speed of this progress was dizzying.
"Mei, you only just advanced to the eighteenth rank a few weeks ago. To reach the twentieth so quickly... that's incredible."
Xiao Wu's jaw had dropped. "Level 20?! Already?! That's not fair!" she wailed, though her exclamation was more awed than jealous. "You're leaving us in the dust! How are you so fast?!"
"Congratulations, Mei," Tang San said, his expression shifting to one of sincere respect and concern. Obtaining a spirit ring was always a pivotal, dangerous moment. "Do you have a specific spirit beast in mind? The selection is critical."
Mei nodded, relying on the script Ai was feeding her. "Yes. I've... done some research. There's a specific one, I believe, that will be a perfect match for my martial soul's development. I've arranged to find it tomorrow."
The lie felt strange on her tongue, but the truth was far too complicated to explain.
It was then that a brilliant, and typically impulsive, idea sparked in Xiao Wu's eyes. "Then that's it!" she declared, clapping her hands together with a sharp sound that echoed in the quiet night.
"Forget the Craftsmen's District! Tomorrow, we'll all go with you to help you get your second soul ring!" Her face was alight with the promise of adventure. "Helping a friend is way more exciting than looking at grumpy old men hammering metal! It'll be like a real spirit master mission!"
Tang San's brows immediately furrowed. "Xiao Wu, that's not a good idea," he said, his voice low and serious.
"Obtaining a soul ring is a serious and dangerous endeavor. It requires focus and a calm environment. Besides," he added, hitting the most practical obstacle, "we can't just take Ning Rongrong along on something like that. Her father would never agree to let his daughter, the heir of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, go spirit beast hunting with us. It's an unacceptable risk."
But Xiao Wu was already bouncing on the balls of her feet, her mind made up and immune to logic. "We can ask! It'll be fine! It'll be an adventure! She's a spirit master too, isn't she? She should see what it's really like!"
Without waiting for a further rebuttal, she spun around, her long hair fanning out. "I'm going to go plan! We'll leave first thing in the morning! This is going to be so much fun!"
And with that, she shot off like a pink firework, disappearing into the dark doorway of the dormitory building before either of them could get another word in.
Tang San let out a long, weary sigh, the sound full of a deep, brotherly exhaustion. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Mei offered a sympathetic, slightly helpless smile.
"We can only hope she forgets about it by morning or that Ning Rongrong's father firmly says no," Tang San said, though his tone held little conviction. He knew Xiao Wu's stubbornness all too well.
In Mei's mind, Ai let out a melodious snort.
Hope all you want. That little rabbit's mind is set. When she gets an idea, it's as unmovable as a mountain. Trust me, I've seen enough idols with 'determined' personalities to know the type. Your peaceful, system-orchestrated soul ring hunt just got a lot more... complicated.
Mei could only sigh in agreement, looking up at the impassive, starry sky. What was supposed to be a simple, discreet, system-arranged acquisition had just been transformed into a potential chaotic group expedition.
The weight of responsibility for everyone's safety and the success of her own advancement suddenly felt very heavy on her shoulders. Tomorrow, she feared, was going to be a very, very long day.