Three years later. In the life of a growing spirit master, three years could feel like an eternity or the blink of an eye.
For Mei and everyone else, it was a period of relentless growth, quiet changes, and the steady accumulation of light, experience, and, surprisingly, a newfound appreciation for dramatic literature.
The most tangible change was in their cultivation.
Tang San and Xiao Wu, the prodigies of their generation, had finally broken through to the twentieth rank two years prior.
And they quickly researched and went to the Nuoding forest to obtain their second spirit rings. The journey was extremely fruitful, with Tang San obtaining a parasitic skill for his second skill and Xiao Wu obtaining a charm skill.
What stood out was that Tang San's skill can absorb the opponent's energy and then transfer that to his allies to heal them. Also, during the absorption, his hair seems to turn more blue, and his facial features become more refined and softer.
Mei almost mistook him for a girl when they returned. And she wasn't the only one, it was funny seeing Tang San being asked out by some of the male students. He himself had to confirm he was still a male when he saw his face.
Shenanigans aside, both were able to reach the twenty-fifth rank in the last three years, making the gap between them and their peers widen into a chasm, solidifying their status as the academy's undisputed top students.
Mei, watching them, felt a familiar, warm pride and burning passion. She had thrown herself into her own training with a quiet determination, not wanting to be left behind.
Her mornings were no longer just about light cardio. She had incorporated Tang San's grueling exercise regimen, from the weighted runs, the precarious tree-top balances, the core-strengthening holds.
At first, it had been pure agony. Her body, built for grace and endurance on a stage, rebelled against the raw, physical demand.
"Ugh! My everything hurts! Is it supposed to feel like my muscles are on fire and being chewed by ants simultaneously?" Mei had groaned internally after the first week, collapsing onto her bed.
"A little pain never killed anyone! Well, except for that one time, but details, details!" Ai chirped, her holographic form doing a playful cartwheel in the air.
"Think of it as building a better stage for your fabulous self! Can't have the main attraction collapsing mid-high note, can we? Now, up you get! Ten more laps!"
"The discipline aligns the vessel with the inner luminescence," Luminous observed, his soft voice a calming counterpoint. His translucent wings, delicate as gossamer, fluttered in a gentle, approving rhythm.
"The body is but the chapel for the spirit's light. To strengthen one is to honor the other."
And slowly, she had. She could now complete the full regimen without passing out, her balance was impeccable, and her reflexes, while still nowhere near Xiao Wu's feline quickness or Tang San's preternatural awareness, were sharp enough to dodge a surprise tackle from her rambunctious friend.
She had gained a lean strength, a resilience that complemented her stage presence. Yet, as always, she still couldn't keep up with the two monsters. Their progress was simply on another plane.
But where she truly shone was in her chosen path. Her dedication to her idol training with Ai had not wavered. It was her sanctuary.
She practiced her vocals daily, her range expanding, her control becoming so fine she could hold a note that seemed to hang in the air long after she had stopped singing. Ai was a relentless, cheeky coach.
"Project from the diaphragm, superstar! We're not whispering secrets to the wallflowers!"
"That high C was flatter than your chest! More passion! Imagine you're declaring your love to a thousand adoring fans, not asking for the time!"
"Work it, girl! That spin was sloppy! The crowd needs to see sparkle from every angle!"
This intense focus on performance had an unexpected, profound effect on her soul power. Without the constant, anxious pressure of "cultivating," simply by pouring her heart and spirit into her music and her domain, her soul power had flowed and expanded naturally.
She would finish a practice session, drenched in sweat and emotion, and only later realize her energy reserves had deepened. It was a realization that came not with a struggle, but with a quiet, dawning surprise.
Before she knew it, she had reached the twenty-seventh rank. She was now a mid-level Spirit Grandmaster, her progress steady and rooted in joy rather than grim determination.
And then, there were the fans.
What had started as a curious trickle in Nuoding City's main square had become a river, then a flood. Her monthly performances became the city's most anticipated events, so she had to sing more songs.
Merchants would set up stalls hours in advance, families would bring picnics, and the city guard had to be dispatched for crowd control.
The word of the "Starlight Songstress" spread, carried by traveling merchants and wandering spirit masters.
A pink-haired girl whose voice could calm the soul and whose stage of light could make petals drift from a clear sky reached neighboring towns, then other provinces.
Amidst this whirlwind, a different kind of wind blew in the crisp autumn morning. A letter delivered by a Spirit Hall courier found its way to Mei. The parchment was of fine quality, and the seal was elegant, though not one she recognized.
Curious, she broke the seal. The handwriting was flowing and confident.
To, Mei,
I hope this letter finds you well, and that your songs are still bringing joy to that little square we heard about. I have to confess, I've been following your rise to fame with genuine delight.
The stories that reach us here in Spirit City make it sound like pure magic – a girl who can make starlight dance and hearts soar with just her voice. When I first heard this, I thought it was you. Imagine my surprise when it was confirmed that it was you.
Do you remember our meeting in the Forest? I still think about it sometimes. I hope you're doing great and will soon visit the Spirit City. You left quite an impression on both of us, though my brother would rather chew on his own sword than admit it.
(Speaking of Xie Yue, he's developed the most amusing habit of being unusually concerned with the quality of his stationery lately. I wonder why that might be?)
Life at the academy is as demanding as ever, but your stories of Nuoding feel like a breath of fresh air. Tell me more about the friends you made there. What mischief have they been up to? And your performances! What new songs are you singing?
This might sound forward, but I find myself missing our brief conversation. There aren't many people here who understand what it's like to stand in the spotlight while also carrying the weight of expectation. I think you might be one of the few who could truly understand.
Would you consider writing back? I'd love to hear about your world in your own words.
With warm regards,
Your friend,
Liena
P.S. Yan remains as hopelessly dramatic as ever. He actually tried to serenade me during combat training yesterday. I may have "accidentally" tripped him into a mud puddle.
Mei read the letter twice, a smile playing on her lips. The memory of the confident, fox-spirited girl from the forest.
"Ooooh, a fan letter from the big leagues! It's that girl from last time in the forest! What was her name again? Ho Liyeu? No, that's not right, Hu Liena? Yeah, that's it."
Ai crowed, popping into existence to peer at the parchment.
"This is excellent for networking! And what's this about her brother? And who's Yan?"
"The gesture is one of refined courtesy," Luminous countered, fluttering down to gently tap a wing on the elegant script.
"To reach across such a distance simply to foster a connection speaks of a noble and discerning character. Also, I feel like she and I are kindred spirits." His wings quivered with literary anticipation.
Chuckling at both of their comments, Mei immediately sat down to write a reply. She found herself writing as she would speak to a close friend, sharing funny stories about Xiao Wu's latest antics, describing how Tang San could remain perfectly calm even when their teacher was shouting, and confessing her own nerves before big performances.
She included a pressed flower from the academy gardens and promised to send the lyrics of her newest song in her next letter.
This began a warm, steady correspondence that became one of the highlights of Mei's months.
Liena's letters were filled with witty observations about Spirit Hall politics, amusing anecdotes about Yan's continued hopeless devotion, and increasingly transparent (but always deniable) hints about Xie Yue's quiet interest in Nuoding City's postal service.
Mei's replies were filled with the color and emotion of her daily life, her dreams, and her fears. It was an unlikely friendship that bridged the gap between a humble academy girl and a destined pillar of Spirit Hall.
Her fan count exploded. It climbed from the hundreds into the thousands.
When it finally ticked over the ten thousand mark, 10,459 to be exact. Ai had projected a virtual fireworks display across the walls of their dorm room.
"TEN THOUSAND! WE DID IT!" Ai had shrieked, her form zipping around the room like an over-caffeinated firefly.
"We've hit the big leagues! Province-wide fame, baby! Next stop, the Imperial Capital! I'm already designing your tour wardrobe! So many sequins! So much glitter!"
"A most auspicious number," Luminous had remarked, his wings fluttering with a refined elegance. "Each soul touched by our melody is a star joining our constellation. Their collective admiration is a gentle, sustaining power, like moonlight on a still lake."
Mei had become Nuoding City's main attraction. The city lord, seeing the economic and cultural boon she represented, had even offered her a permanent, city-funded stage.
She had politely declined, preferring the spontaneity of the main square. The connection felt more real there, more immediate. But, they did pay her more money as a sign of gratitude.
It was during the quieter moments, however, that a new, unexpected dynamic had blossomed.
To relax, Mei sometimes indulged in reading webnovels from her past life, losing herself in tales of adventure and, occasionally, dramatic romance.
One evening, as she was resting on her bed, she felt a curious presence.
"I say," Luminous's voice intruded, unusually intrigued.
"This 'cold duke of the north'... his behavior is most discourteous. To ignore a lady's heartfelt letter? A true gentleman would, at the very least, pen a reply acknowledging her sentiments, even if he does not reciprocate them."
Mei had blinked. "Luminous? What are you reading ?"
"I'm truly remorseful for doing so, but Lady Ai was showing me some of your memories of an entertainment you used to indulge in, and the intricacies of mortal courtship were just too fascinating," he had admitted, his tiny form alighting on the edge of the book.
His wings quivered with interest.
"The strict protocols, the unspoken yearnings, the delicate dance of propriety and passion. It is a symphony of social nuance."
Since that day, Luminous had developed a refined taste for noble romance. He would often flutter excitedly when Mei picked up a found a book in this world that fit his taste.
"Ah, a classic misunderstanding born of pride and poor communication," he would sigh during a tense scene.
"If only they would engage in a frank conversation during the afternoon tea hour, all would be resolved."
"Oh, for heaven's sake," Ai would groan, rolling her non-existent eyes.
"He's locked in the tower because he's an idiot, not because it's 'tragically poetic'! Just kick the door down, girl! Show some initiative!"
Amidst this whirlwind of personal growth and Luminous's literary critiques, there were quieter, more subtle shifts in the world around them.
A few months after the fraught lunch and Yu Tianxin's blushing departure, Yu Xiaogang had quietly resigned from his position at the Academy branch in Nuoding City.
The news had trickled down to them through the academy grapevine. He had packed his few belongings, his countless notebooks and scrolls of theory, and left for Soto City.
Rumor had it he had gone to an academy run by an old friend.
Tang San, upon hearing the news, had simply nodded, his expression unreadable. But Mei knew him well enough to see the slight hint of regret in his eyes.
The constant rejections had undoubtedly worn the man down, but it was the public confrontation with his nephew, the tearing open of old family wounds, that seemed to have been the final blow.
Yu Xiaogang had not just been seeking a disciple; he had been seeking validation, a chance to restore his name. In Nuoding, he had found only repeated failure and a painful reminder of the family he had lost.
Now, standing on the precipice of their final year at Nuoding Academy, Mei looked back on the three years with a sense of profound accomplishment. The depressed, lonely girl was gone.
She stood in front of the school and saw Xiao Wu practicing handstands, her long braid brushing the floor, while Tang San meditated cross-legged in the corner, the air around him shimmering faintly with the energy of the Mysterious Heaven Method at the gates.
"Not bad, kid, not bad at all," Ai said, materializing to poke playfully.
"But the encore is always the best part. You ready for the main stage?"
"The overture has been most pleasing," Luminous added, fluttering down to land gently on Mei's shoulder, his wings a soft pulse of light.
"But I have a feeling the most compelling chapters of our story are yet to be written."
Xiao Wu saw Mei and quickly straightened herself and then yelled," Mei, come on, we don't want to miss the carriage to Heaven Dou City!"
Mei smiled brightly, "Coming!".