The city gates of Spirit City rose before him like a titanic monument of white marble and divine authority, crowned with silver banners that fluttered in the high mountain wind. The road sloped upward in a gentle curve, lined with polished stones, and framed by fields of golden lilies—the sacred flower of the Spirit Hall. From this height, Li Wei could see the city sprawled below, a perfect geometric pattern of buildings and domes arranged in holy symmetry, radiant under the late morning sun.
Li Wei sat upright atop the spirit beast-drawn cart, his expression calm, but his fingers curled slightly around the edge of his seat. He wore a dark cloak over his travel robes, hood down, the breeze brushing back a few strands of his ash grey hair. His eyes, deep and unblinking, scanned the distant spires of the central cathedral.
Spirit City.
The heart of the continent's most powerful force. And, once, his home.
________
The guards at the gate at the most inner side of the Spirit Hall where many cannot enter didn't even attempt to stop him when they saw the Spirit Hall medallion gleaming at his chest. Even so, one of them approached with a deep bow, his gaze sharp and curious.
"Welcome home, young master Wei."
So, word had already reached them.
"I'm expected," Li Wei replied.
"Yes, Your Excellency. Elder Li awaits you at the Inner Garden."
Li Wei gave a nod, stepping down from the cart and walking the remaining distance into the city.
The streets were wide and clean, flanked by carefully tended trees and stone fountains shaped like martial spirits—phoenixes, tigers, dragons—all frozen mid-roar. The people who passed wore ceremonial robes or Spirit Hall uniforms, and many turned to watch him, whispering behind hands.
They do not knew who he was. As his existence can be said to be a secret with only few knew. That guard was one of the people.
But Li Wei paid no mind. His mind was elsewhere, tugged backward to distant memories of a vast estate where he once trained with silent discipline. Where a tall man with golden eyes and a cane carved from swamp jade had stood like a tower of strength beside him.
He passed beneath the archway of the Inner Garden and stopped.
There, standing in front of a shallow reflecting pool surrounded by willow trees and mist, was a tall figure draped in emerald robes lined with silver scales. His hair, long and graying, was bound in a warrior's knot. His presence radiated quiet authority—and an oppressive aura that made the very air feel heavier.
Golden Crocodile Douluo with real name Li Lu.
Li Wei stepped forward.
The man turned slowly, his eyes locking onto the younger one. For a long moment, neither spoke. The only sound was the ripple of wind across the water.
Then—
"You've grown," the Crocodile Douluo said, his voice rough like a stone dragged through mud.
Li Wei bowed low. "Grandfather."
Li Lu brows furrowed slightly, then softened. "So it's still 'grandfather' and not 'Elder Li.' Good."
"I never stopped being your grandson," Li Wei said simply.
"Hmph." The old man studied him in silence, his eyes goes toward Li Wei body and can felt his strength over it. "You've made progress. Level 52. And… you've grown over that strange Martial Spirit of yours."
Li Wei straightened. "Diendriver martial spirit. I've mastered several forms. I can summon a stronger version of them now."
"Still unorthodox," Li Lu muttered. "But powerful."
They stood together, silent again, until the elder spoke once more, his voice quieter.
"She inform me about the Noble suppression at Heaven Dou. Is that true? And also that you now lead a team at Shrek Academy." He paused. "Your mother would have been proud."
Li Wei jaw tightened slightly. "I came because I need your help, grandfather."
"I assumed as much. Spirit City is not a place for sentiment." Crocodile Douluo turned toward a stone bench and sat, motioning for Li Wei to do the same. "Speak."
Li Wei sat beside him, back straight.
"I'm going to Sunset Forest. I need to reach the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. I need to take something from that place with the contract with Dugu Bo poison douluo, I will be able to take some of the herb there but I do not recognize them, so I will need some help."
Li Lu narrowed his eyes. "The herb can help you increase the strength but wrongly taken herb type will make it a dangerous path."
"I need that danger," Li Wei said. "My team growing fast. The tournament is coming. We can't fall behind."
The old man looked into his grandson eyes, seeing not arrogance, but determination. Quiet, tempered, and forged in fire.
"You're not the boy that left the Spirit City before anymore," he said at last. "Very well. You might want to speak to Elder Yue. He also want to meet you."
Li Wei frowned slightly. "Chrysanthemum Douluo?"
"Yes. He has been curious about your progress. And I suspect he knows something about the herb that you seek. He has studied spirit herb reactions more than anyone else in the Hall."
Li Wei stood. "Then I'll go speak with him."
Crocodile Douluo stood with him, but then reached into his robes and produced a jade amulet carved with the symbol of a crocodile biting its own tail.
"Take this. It will let the escorts know you have my protection. And…" He hesitated. "You can also use it when you're in danger, break it. I'll come." Li Lu can trust that Li Wei able to solve most of the problem and now with him in Heaven Dou City, there will be extra protection with her there.
Li Wei accepted the amulet quietly. His fingers brushed the worn edge, warmed by the old man grip.
"Thank you, grandfather.
They talk a little more after that as his grandfather ask about the life in Shrek academy after he came back there. He also tell about the training that they done in Great Spirit Arena and the match that they had with Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
After sometime, he said goodbye to his grandfather as he turned and left the garden, cloak trailing behind him as the guards outside the gate straightened in alarm at his approach.
He didn't look back.
______________________
The interior of Chrysanthemum Douluo greenhouse wing was an entirely different world.
Li Wei stepped through a silken curtain into a hall of golden petals and warm mist. Exotic herbs glowed faintly under spirit lamps. Vines dangled like strands of hair, and the air smelled sweet with spiritual fragrance.
A voice drifted through the garden.
"Step lightly, young Li Wei. My children bruise easily."
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan emerged from between rows of blossoms, his violet robes gleaming. He was as elegant as ever, his face untouched by time, lips painted to match the lavender mist in the air.
"Elder Yue," Li Wei greeted.
"Ah, so stiff. Just like your grandfather," Yue Guan sighed dramatically. "And here I thought the young prodigy would bring a little flair to my halls."
Li Wei chuckle a little. "If I do that, it will be hard to escape scrutiny and I was told you wanted to speak with me."
"I did," Yue Guan admitted, stepping closer, fingers tracing a glowing vine. "But only because I was curious. The boy who came back almost dead years ago now wields five rings and can summons strange warriors. Not something one sees every day."
"I'm going to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
Yue Guan's hand paused. "Dugu Bo lair?"
"I have his permission. But I need to identify the herbs. And perhaps… use some of them to help my teammates. Some are pushing their limits. Some… aren't sure how far they can go."
A twinkle appeared in Yue Guan's eyes. "So noble. So dramatic. Very well, I'll help. But know this—some of those herbs react explosively with certain spirits. They don't just strengthen. They transform. Sometimes into something you may not recognize anymore."
"I understand."
Yue Guan stepped closer, lifting a tiny white flower that shimmered like snow. "I'll give you a guidebook. And… a few samples for resistance training. If you're going to test your limits, best you know what pain feels like."
"Thank you," Li Wei said.
Yue Guan eyes narrowed in amusement. "Hmm. I see now. You don't just fight like your grandfather. You burn like your mother."
Li Wei flinched—but only slightly.
Yue Guan smiled.
_______________
Later, when he stepped back into the open courtyard beyond the greenhouse, Li Wei paused.
The jade amulet rested in his pocket. A guidebook on spirit herbs was tucked in his cloak. The scent of chrysanthemum still lingered faintly in his clothes.
The Spirit Hall—his former home—no longer felt like a cage.
He had entered as a stranger.
He left as someone they would remember.
And soon, the forests of Sunset awaited.
With danger.
With power.
And with the next step toward the storm that would change the world.