The walk back from the spirit forest was a quiet, contemplative one, the weight of the day's events settling upon the four friends.
By the time they reached the edge of the tree line, the sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of orange and violet. The familiar sights and sounds of Nuoding City felt both comforting and strangely distant after the raw, primal experience of the forest.
As they passed a bustling restaurant, its warm light and savory aromas spilling into the street, Xiao Wu's stomach growled loudly. She grinned, not an ounce of embarrassment on her face.
"Alright, that's the final sign! My stomach, Senior Mei's stomach, and the setting sun all agree. We need food. My treat!" she declared, her earlier generosity with Ning Rongrong's silver coin apparently extending to her friends.
They found a quiet corner table in the lively establishment, the clatter of dishes and murmur of conversations creating a cozy atmosphere. As they waited for their order, Ning Rongrong, playing with the edge of her sleeve, turned her thoughtful gaze to Mei.
"Hey, Senior Mei," she began, her tone more casual now, the formality of the day slowly melting away in the warm restaurant air. "Now that you've hit level twenty, what are you gonna do? You know you can graduate anytime, right? You don't have to wait until you're twelve like the rest of us."
The question hung in the air. Mei blinked, setting down her cup. "To be honest, I haven't thought that far ahead," she admitted. Her focus had been so intensely on cultivation and her daily idol training that the administrative future felt vague.
Before she could ponder further, Xiao Wu leaned forward, nearly knocking over her teacup. "Of course she'll wait! We'll all graduate together when we turn twelve! It wouldn't be any fun without you, Senior Mei!" The idea of their little group splitting up was clearly unthinkable to her.
Mei felt a warm fondness for the younger girl. "That… doesn't sound like a bad idea at all," she said softly. The thought of continuing this journey with Tang San and Xiao Wu was deeply appealing.
But Tang San, ever the voice of reason, gently interjected. "Xiao Wu, don't be selfish," he said, though his tone was kind.
"We can't ask Senior Mei to hold back her own potential for our sake. Staying here when she's ready for more advanced training could slow her down. Her future is what's most important."
Xiao Wu's face fell for a moment before she nodded, seeing the logic. "Yeah, you're right, Brother San. I wasn't thinking."
Ning Rongrong, twirling a strand of her hair, then asked the natural follow-up question. "Okay, but even if you do wait, what happens after? Graduation's not the finish line, you know. So, where are you going to go next?"
The question settled over the table like a tangible weight. Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Mei exchanged glances. For Tang San and Xiao Wu, from small villages, and for Mei, a transmigrator with no roots in this world, the path beyond Nuoding City was a vast, uncharted map.
"What…" Tang San began, his voice thoughtful, "is the normal path for a spirit master after a primary academy?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, happy to be the source of valuable knowledge. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a more confidential tone. "Oh! My dad told me all about this. Basically, the best move is to get into an Advanced Spirit Master Academy."
She gestured with her hands as she spoke. "You know, places like the famous Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, or any of the bigger schools in Heaven Dou City. It's not just more classes. It's where you meet everyone who's anyone. You make friends—and rivals—with all the other talented people from all over."
She glanced around at their rapt faces. "And that's when the big leagues start noticing you. Sects, noble families, even the Spirit Hall—they all have people watching the advanced academies for new talent. If you're good, they'll want you. They'll give you all the stuff you need—spirit tools, herbs, help finding spirit rings—so you can just focus on getting stronger. The academy itself will pour resources into you, 'cause you make them look good."
The trio listened, their expressions shifting from curiosity to open excitement and amazement. A path where their cultivation was not just supported but actively championed? It sounded like a dream.
"But wait, that's not even the coolest part," Ning Rongrong continued, her eyes sparkling. "If you get into a proper advanced academy, you get to compete in the big one…" she paused for dramatic effect, lowering her voice to a whisper, "…the Martial Spirit Competition."
The name landed in the middle of the table.
The rest of the group looked at her, utterly bewildered.
"The… Martial Spirit Competition?" Xiao Wu repeated, scrunching her nose. "What's that? Like some huge tournament?"
Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously, barely containing her excitement. "It's only the biggest thing ever for young spirit masters! All across the continent, academies form teams of seven and duke it out for ultimate bragging rights, insane prizes, and glory! It's where people become famous! Everyone watches it!"
The concept was staggering. A continent-wide stage. For Mei, the words resonated deeply, echoing the stages of her past life. For Tang San, it represented the ultimate test of skill and theory. For Xiao Wu, it sounded like the most fun imaginable.
Luminous, who had been a silent, shimmering presence near Mei's shoulder, let out a soft, psychic hum that only Mei could hear. [A stage… how perfectly fitting for us.]
The food arrived, but for a moment, it went unnoticed, their minds already racing towards a future filled with dazzling new possibilities.
Just a little reminder! If you enjoy what I create, you can support me at https://ko-fi.com/chesse_cake_is_life, and you can buy early access to my next chapters.