The sun started to sink when they arrived at the Nouding City gate. So Chrysanthemum Douluo quickly escorted them to the spirit hall branch to help register Mei.
As they went inside and reached the receptionist desk. They were greeted with a friendly yet tired voice.
" Hello, what can I do for you?" The receptionist asked, without replying, Chrysanthemum Douluo showed him his Elder token.
"P-Please excuse me for a minute." The receptionist replied in a quick yet nervous manner and went away to call the head of the branch.
They didn't have to wait too long when an elderly man came in and greeted them politely.
" Good evening, I'm Li Ha, the head of this spirit hall branch and How may I be of service to the Elder of the spirit hall?"
" I'm here to help this little one register as a spirit master and to make sure there is no mistake in her registration process." Chrysanthemum Douluo said while gently pushing Mei forward.
" Rest assured, esteemed elder, we will make sure that her registration process goes smoothly." Li Ha replied confidently.
" Make sure that it does." Chrysanthemum Douluo replied coldly that it sent a chill down Li Ha.
Li Ha wasn't sure if someone had made a mistake that could have offended the Elder so badly, but when all the soul masters that were dispatched to awaken children's martial spirits in various villages returned, he would find out no matter what.
Li Ha then bowed his head and escorted Mei into a chamber where he would be measuring her martial spirit.
"Could you introduce yourself and where you're from?" Li Ha said gently.
" I'm Mei and I'm 7 years old. I'm an orphan who came from the village outside the city."
" Hmm, can you say the village name?"
" Umm," Mei was nervous, not knowing any village name from here, that was until Ai's voice was heard ' Say that you're from Melody Phoenix Village '
" I'm from Melody Phoenix Village."
" Okay, wait a minute, I'll find your file first." Li Ha then goes into a separate room and brings out a book with many files in it.
" Here, it is Mei from Melody Phoenix Village. Born with an innate spiritual power of 5 with the spirit of a board plank?"
Hearing the information, Mei can only nod in hesitation. Seeing Mei's response, Li Han began to feel that something was wrong with the information he was given.
"I see, can I ask you some questions about your martial spirit. In case the spirit master didn't record it correctly." Li Ha explained, and Mei nodded her approval. This has rarely been needed, but with Mei and the Elder's reaction, he knows that something was wrong.
" First, what is your spirit call, and what type is it?"
" It's called the Starlight stage, and as for its type, I don't know."
" What? Didn't the soul master who awakened your martial spirit explain anything?" Li Ha asked in frustration and realised the blunder that might have angered the elder.
" No, he didn't tell me much; he said that my spirit was a bit unique, so the typing would be a bit hard to determine," Mei explained.
" I see, could you please show your martial soul?"
Mei nodded, and a glittering stage manifested under her, a yellow spirit ring appeared, and her domain expanded. Li Han was shocked when he saw this and wanted to kill the person who wrote this report.
This spirit is more than unique; not only does it have an innate domain like the ruyi ring, but unlike the ruyi ring, it can be cultivated. Mei then retracts her martial spirit. Li Han's shocked look was evident, but he quickly composed himself.
" I see now, can you explain your martial spirit?" He asked.
Mei was more confused, but suddenly, information on her martial spirit popped up inside her head. Ai must have given it to her.
" My martial spirit skill can only be activated if I sing, and my spirit skill only affects people inside the domain if they hear my voice. My domain skill is to amplify my voice so that everyone in the domain can hear my voice." Mei explained.
" I see, does your domain grow as you become stronger?"
Mei nodded. Li Han can see why the Elder is interested in her and why he was angry that the soul master here didn't recruit her. Her domain skill may not be impressive, but it can grow, and the effect can be planned.
" Hmm, okay, now that we updated your information. Put your hand right here on this orb, so and put your spirit power in it that we can know your spirit level." Li Han instructed.
Mei did so, and the orb shone with a bright light, and Li Ha exclaimed, " Good, your spirit level is 13. Just wait outside for a minute for your soul master ID and your monthly compensation."
Mei just nodded and went outside the room. As Mei went outside, she was greeted by an energetic Hu Liena.
" So how did it go ?"
" Umm, it went great. And it seems that my information was a bit mixed up."
" I suspected as much. I'll have them write up an incident report and have them compensate you." Chrysantemum Douluo said to Mei. Before Mei could answer, the door opened, and Li Han came out carrying some items.
" I will give the incident report tomorrow morning, Esteem Elder, and as for the compensation, I have prepared some gold coins in the hope that it will suffice."
" Hmm, please add a recommendation letter and a note that states that the spirit hall will cover her expenses for her years in the junior academy."
Chryanthemum Douluo replied, shocked Li Han thinking that Mei was going to the Spirit Hall Junior Academy. After hearing this, Li Han replied, " I'll have it ready by tomorrow."
After giving Mei a card that has the balance of 100 gold coins, they said their farewell and looked for a place to rest.
They soon come to the doorstep of a well-furnished hotel and book 2 rooms. Before going to bed, they all had dinner in the hotel's restaurant.
The dinner was nice, and after they finished, she dan Hu Liena went to their room to take a bath and rest up, but not before teasing Xie Yue about changing room with her or joining them in the bath.
As they finished up and were ready to go to sleep. Hu Liena dragged Mei to have a girl-on-girl talk.
" So Mei, do you have any idea where you're going to study?"
" Hmm, I don't know much of the outside world yet. So I was thinking of going here to study, this city does have an academy, right?"
" Yeah, I asked around the spirit hall branch, and they said that the Nouding Academy is in its enrollment period. But you truly don't want to come with us to the spirit hall?"
" I want to see the world first, before settling in. Especially since I've been cooped up in one place all my life." Mei replied with a hint of melancholy, remembering her trainee days.
" Okay, I won't push you anymore. Now let's change the subject to a happy one. So, what type of guy do you like?"
" W-What's with the question suddenly?" Mei stammered a response while blushing a bit.
" Why not?"
" I'm I-I don't know," Mei said, confused, and tried to think about the type of guy she finds attractive. She tried to remember any male trainee who caught her eye or any senior idol whom she found attractive, but there was none.
" I think since I'm focusing on completing my goal, I haven't thought about it. But maybe I like someone who can stand by me." Mer replied, a bit confused.
" Enough about me, how about you? What type of guy who you like?"
" Uhhh." Hu Liena was also a bit taken aback also about this interrogation. The talk continues late at night until they fall asleep.
As the morning hour came and many were still fast asleep, Ai woke up Mei with a cheerful yell.
'Wakey ~ Wakey ~ Mei, it's time to get up. Your training to be a legendary idol starts now.'
As Ai voice grew louder, Mei woke up and started heading out. She's already well adapted to waking early to train. When she was already outside, Ai continued explaining her training plan.
' Firsting ~ First, as an idol, you must have enough stamina. Now I'll send you the running root, and you have to run around the root about 10 times.
Mei nodded and started to stretch her muscles and joints, then she started to run. As she began running, she felt the cold morning air around her, which made her feel alive and somewhat happy.
As she was about to finish her run, she found a small store selling some handkerchiefs. Thinking of how the spirit hall people who helped her, she bought 3, one with a chrysanthemum pattern, one with a fox, and one with a crescent moon. She paid the shopkeeper and returned to the hotel.
When she reached the hotel entrance, she saw all three were outside, and she could see that they were a bit panicked. When they saw her, they were relieved.
" Where have you been?" Xie Yue ran up to her and said in a panicked.
" I was exercising, I'm sorry if I worried you." Mei apologize.
The panic in Xie Yue's voice melted into relief as Mei apologized, her cheeks flushed from the morning run. Chrysanthemum Douluo stepped forward, his sharp gaze softening imperceptibly. "Disappearing without notice is unwise in a world where shadows covet talent," he chided, though his tone lacked its usual frost. "But discipline is its defense. Remember that."
Mei bowed her head. "I'll be more careful, Elder."
Hu Liena looped an arm around Mei's shoulders, her earlier worry replaced by playful curiosity. "Sooo, what's this about a secret morning adventure? Don't tell me you've already got admirers in this city!"
"Ah! N-No! I just…" Mei fumbled in her pocket and pulled out the three embroidered handkerchiefs. "I wanted to thank you all. For everything." She held them out—the golden chrysanthemum for the Elder, the sly crimson fox for Hu Liena, and the silver crescent moon for Xie Yue.
Chrysanthemum Douluo stared at the offering, his fingers hovering as if the delicate fabric might dissolve. A lifetime of loyalty to the Spirit Hall had earned him fear, obedience, power—but rarely gratitude so disarmingly sincere. He accepted it with a curt nod, the ghost of a smile fleeting across his lips. "A frivolous gesture," he muttered, yet tucked it into his robes with uncharacteristic care.
Hu Liena squealed, immediately tying the fox-patterned cloth around her wrist like a trophy. "It's perfect! I'll wear it always—proof I've got a cute junior ever!" She crushed Mei in a hug, laughing as the girl squirmed.
Xie Yue's ears turned pink as Mei handed him the crescent moon handkerchief. "I… um. Thank you," he mumbled, avoiding her eyes. When his fingers brushed hers, he jerked his hand back as if scalded, stuffing the gift into his sleeve. 'Idiot. She's just being kind,' he scolded himself, though the fabric's faint lavender scent (had she perfumed it?) lingered in his thoughts.
Mei clasped her hands, steeling herself. "I've decided to stay in Nouding City. The academy here… I want to learn who I am outside and what the whole world has to offer."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's brow arched. "A risky choice. Not all who wander thrive."
"But those who never wander never truly rise," Mei countered, echoing words Ai had whispered during her run.
The Elder studied her, then sighed. "Stubborn as a phoenix. Very well. But heed this—when your stage outgrows this provincial backwater, the Hall's doors will open." He flicked a sealed scroll toward her—Li Ha's recommendation letter, stamped with the Spirit Hall's crest. "Use it wisely."
As the trio prepared to depart, Hu Liena squeezed Mei's hands and hugged her goodbye. Xie Yue offered a stiff bow, his cheeks still warm, while Chrysanthemum Douluo simply turned, his cloak billowing like gilded wings in the dawn light.
Mei watched their carriage vanish down the cobbled road, the handkerchief's chrysanthemum thread glinting in her palm. 'This isn't goodbye,' Ai murmured. 'It's an intermission.'
In the quiet that followed, Mei glanced toward Nouding Academy's distant spires. Somewhere beyond those walls, her starlight stage awaited its audience—and its legend.