The academy courtyard felt charged that morning, though no storm had formed in the sky. Students murmured quietly as he moved through the crowd, Mandala Snake coiling subtly at his feet. Every glance, every breath, seemed to carry weight now. It was as if the world had already begun noticing the fracture in canon, even if most were oblivious to it.
He stopped near the training field and observed the three copy holders from a distance. Xiao Wu was stretching lightly, her pink hair catching the sunlight, a mixture of curiosity and unease in her gaze. Zhu Zhuqing practiced alone nearby, her movements sharp and disciplined, each strike radiating focus. And then there was Ning Rongrong, whose usual poise betrayed an undercurrent of excitement and internal struggle; her thoughts about leaving her clan early gnawed at her incessantly.
He activated the diary, letting it glow faintly in his hands. Words formed before he even touched the pages.
"Three threads are active," he wrote carefully. "Three individuals whose fates now intersect. Their choices will determine not just their own paths, but the balance of power on the continent."
The diary flared with power.
[Multi-Copy Interaction Panel Activated][Emotional Synchronization: 32%][Reward: Spirit Power +1 Level][Current Rank: 14]
He smirked. With this new feature, he could observe not just each copy holder individually, but also how their emotional states influenced one another. A single entry could ripple across all three, subtly pushing or pulling attachments, trust, and rivalry in real time.
During morning combat training, he tested it. He moved between Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, deliberately altering his stance and expressions to generate subtle emotional responses. Xiao Wu's playful tension increased; Zhu Zhuqing's analytical caution tightened slightly. He monitored the system panel.
[Emotional Resonance Network Updated]
Xiao Wu: Curiosity High — Trust Increasing
Ning Rongrong: Anticipation Rising — Independence Strengthening
Zhu Zhuqing: Caution High — Respect Emerging[Reward: Spirit Power Compression Enhanced][Hidden Event Trigger Progress: 12%]
Perfect. The threads were beginning to weave into a complex web. And as the girls reacted to one another, he could now anticipate and amplify consequences.
That afternoon, he observed Xiao Wu cornering Zhu Zhuqing during a sparring exercise. It was playful at first, teasing in nature, but she instinctively tested the new dynamics, subtly challenging Zhu Zhuqing's control. The system noted the interaction.
[Multi-Copy Emotional Feedback Detected][Reward Multiplier x2.0 Applied][Attachment Levels Rising]
He didn't intervene. Letting them engage naturally ensured that the emotional resonance remained authentic. Artificial manipulation would reduce system rewards and potentially alert Tang San to anomalies. Speaking of Tang San, he noticed him observing quietly from a distance, his expression unreadable.
Tang San's eyes lingered longer than normal. Subtle unease flickered in the boy's normally composed gaze. He was beginning to notice patterns — threads of influence that could not exist naturally. And the knowledge that someone had disrupted canon so early in the academy's history unsettled him. Tang San was smart. He would adapt, which made him a future threat — but also a source of potential system rewards.
Night fell, and the dormitory was quiet. He opened the diary once more, the golden glow illuminating his face in the dim candlelight. This time, he wrote carefully, not just about individuals, but about their interactions.
"Xiao Wu's trust is growing. Ning Rongrong's ambition is rising. Zhu Zhuqing's respect is emerging. Their emotional states now influence one another. Multi-copy network active. Subtle nudges will accelerate alignment."
The diary pulsed violently.
[System Alert: Multi-Copy Interaction Management Online][Reward: Spirit Power Stabilization +2 Levels][Current Rank: 16][Hidden Condition Progress: 28%]
Across the continent, the three girls experienced faint tremors of perception. Xiao Wu's pulse quickened for reasons she couldn't fully articulate. Zhu Zhuqing's analytical mind felt a subtle tension she couldn't place. Ning Rongrong's heart raced as if anticipating change. None knew why, but each was reacting to him, and more importantly, to one another.
The system provided a suggestion this time:
[High-Fate Entity Awareness Detected — Bibi Dong][Warning: Observation Probability Increasing][Recommended: Maintain Network Stability]
He exhaled slowly. Bibi Dong had not yet been drawn in fully, but her senses were beginning to detect the disturbance. Too much activity now, and she could intervene. Too little, and the network would grow inefficiently. Precision was key.
He paused, considering his next move. He could use the system to accelerate one girl's attachment, subtly influence another's ambition, and even seed rivalry, all without tipping off Tang San or attracting Bibi Dong's immediate attention.
The possibilities were endless.
But he knew one thing: the web was tightening. And the first large-scale continental consequences were about to manifest.