The early morning light filtered softly through the high windows of Notting Academy, casting long shadows across the training grounds. He walked slowly among the students, Mandala Snake coiling around his ankle like a silent guardian, its scales shimmering faintly with a dark purple hue. The air was crisp, but there was an underlying tension that no one else could sense. Only he, and the diary, were aware of the invisible threads weaving together fate and emotion.
Xiao Wu was the first to arrive on the field. Her pink hair caught the sunlight as she stretched lightly, her playful eyes flicking toward him once before returning to her warm-up. Her movements carried the familiar mix of curiosity and subtle unease — the exact emotional resonance the diary had predicted. Ning Rongrong followed, her normally calm demeanor fractured by tiny gestures of hesitation. She toyed with her gloves nervously, feeling the influence of the diary's subtle nudges pressing her toward action. Zhu Zhuqing arrived last, her expression cool and analytical, yet her careful calculations could not fully suppress the tiny stirrings of attachment that the diary had planted.
He opened the diary, its golden glow illuminating his surroundings as he wrote with deliberate care.
"Multi-copy network operational. Emotional resonance of all holders at peak local efficiency. Continental ripple pending. Subtle influence required to test wider-scale effects."
The diary pulsed, sending waves of energy through the threads connecting the copy holders.
[Multi-Copy Emotional Synchronization: 99%][Reward: Spirit Power +3 Levels — Current Rank: 80][Hidden Condition: Continental Influence Test Initiated][System Alert: Predictive Emotional Mapping Ready for Large-Scale Simulation]
Training began in earnest. He allowed Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to spar naturally, letting their movements interact organically. Xiao Wu's playful aggression nudged Zhu Zhuqing's calculated strikes into slightly more open patterns. Ning Rongrong's subtle hesitation allowed small opportunities for both girls to adjust their strategy unconsciously. Every reaction, every micro-expression, and every heartbeat was being recorded by the diary, amplified, and fed back into the system to strengthen predictive outputs.
Tang San watched quietly from the sidelines, suspicion lingering in his sharp eyes. Something about the timing of movements, the responses of the girls, and even the flow of spiritual energy felt off. But he couldn't place the source. The diary had created an elegant deception, layering subtle influence over natural behavior in a way Tang San couldn't yet detect.
[Multi-Copy Network Feedback Detected]
Xiao Wu: Playful Curiosity → Trust Deepening
Ning Rongrong: Independence Rising → Decision Impulse Strengthening
Zhu Zhuqing: Respect → Attachment and Emotional Curiosity Amplified[Reward Multiplier x4.0 Applied][Spirit Power Compression +4 Levels — Current Rank: 84]
By mid-afternoon, he decided to test the continental ripple. He focused the diary's predictive output on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and minor Spirit Hall observation posts across the continent. He wrote:
"The first large-scale continental ripple begins. Monitor emotional, spiritual, and behavioral deviations. Maintain subtlety — avoid detection by high-fate entities until network stabilization."
The diary flared violently, sending energy ripples beyond the academy. Students nearby felt a sudden surge in their spiritual perception, though none could explain it. Minor deviations appeared: some students executed perfect strikes before receiving instruction, while others unconsciously adjusted defensive stances. The diary recorded it all.
[Continental Ripple Detected][Reward: Spirit Power +5 Levels — Current Rank: 89][Multi-Copy Network Stability: High][Hidden Condition: Continental Influence Seed Growing]
Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong had finished their sparring but lingered nearby, each processing subtle internal changes they couldn't fully understand. Xiao Wu's playful energy had become slightly more focused, her gaze occasionally lingering on him with a mix of trust and anticipation. Zhu Zhuqing's analytical mind registered new respect and faint attachment, her observations now tinged with curiosity that went beyond mere strategy. Ning Rongrong's restlessness was now balanced by a quiet determination; she felt the first real impulse to act on her independence.
Even Tang San began noticing the deviations in behavior with mounting clarity. He frowned, running through mental calculations as he tried to reconcile the anomalies. The shifts were too precise, too coherent — as though someone had anticipated every reaction, every micro-decision.
That evening, he returned to the dormitory, the diary glowing softly in his hands. He wrote deliberately, reinforcing the continental ripple and solidifying network connections.
"First continental-scale test complete. Multi-copy network stable. Emotional and behavioral resonance amplified across academy and adjacent regions. Tang San observes anomalies — future rivalry thread engaged. System recommends preparing predictive interventions for continued expansion."
The diary pulsed, and a subtle warmth spread across the room.
[System Expansion Progress: 85%][Predictive Emotional Mapping Efficiency: 100%][Reward: Spirit Power +6 Levels — Current Rank: 95][Hidden Feature Unlocked: Strategic Continental Influence Management]
Far above the continent, Bibi Dong observed the first continental wave of interference reaching Spirit Hall. Multiple high-level deviations were detected — from academy behavior, minor spiritual fluctuations, and significant emotional resonance shifts among key talents. Her eyes narrowed, a storm of tension forming in her expression.
"The player is no longer confined to local influence," she murmured. "Continental manipulation is underway… and I must respond before the network strengthens further."
Back at the academy, he leaned against the old oak, Mandala Snake coiled calmly beside him. He observed the girls interacting with one another, each subtle glance and fleeting gesture feeding into the diary's network. Tang San's suspicion had reached a threshold, his mind now actively questioning the natural flow of events. The first continental ripple had passed, and yet the web was only beginning to tighten.
The threads pulsed faintly in the dying light, connecting his influence to each copy holder and sending ripples beyond the academy. Emotional resonance, attachment, and trust had all grown stronger, while Tang San's emerging suspicion added an unpredictable variable that the diary now considered a potential reward multiplier.
He closed the diary slowly and allowed a faint smile to cross his face. The first test of continental manipulation had succeeded — and the game was far from over.
The continent was beginning to feel the subtle pressure of his influence.
And nowhere would it remain unnoticed for long.