The dawn broke over the sprawling fields of Notting Academy, painting the stone-paved courtyards in warm gold and soft pinks. He walked slowly among the students, Mandala Snake coiled at his feet, its scales faintly shimmering as if sensing the subtle shifts in fate around them. The academy had begun to feel different — not through its structures, but through its inhabitants. Every student, every instructor, every interaction rippled with potential outcomes, though only he and the diary were fully aware of their extent.
Xiao Wu was the first to approach, her light steps barely audible, her pink hair reflecting the morning sun. She had grown noticeably more attentive in recent days, her playful demeanor laced with subtle hints of trust and curiosity that she could neither explain nor fully control. Ning Rongrong arrived next, moving with careful deliberation but carrying an undercurrent of internal rebellion — a drive to assert her independence. Zhu Zhuqing followed, her sharp eyes and analytical mind now tinged with quiet attachment, her subtle movements showing a growing awareness of the invisible network connecting them.
He opened the diary and wrote deliberately:
"Multi-copy network fully stabilized. Emotional resonance of all holders near maximum. Prepare for continental-scale predictive interventions. Monitor rival—Tang San—and maintain network integrity."
The diary pulsed with golden energy, its threads stretching outward, touching not only the three copy holders but subtly influencing minor talent clusters across the continent.
[Multi-Copy Network Status: Fully Operational][Emotional Resonance: 100%][Reward: Spirit Power +3 Levels — Current Rank: 98][Hidden Condition: Continental Influence Network Active][System Alert: Predictive Intervention Ready for Deployment]
Training commenced under his watchful gaze. He allowed Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to engage first, carefully orchestrating their movements to create precise emotional feedback loops. Xiao Wu's playful strikes provoked adaptive responses in Zhu Zhuqing, whose analytical mind adjusted instinctively, reinforcing her emotional attachment while subtly increasing competitiveness. Ning Rongrong observed, the diary subtly amplifying her anticipation and internal decision-making, nudging her toward action while maintaining the natural flow of events.
Tang San, standing at the sidelines, felt a deepening unease. The girls' behavior was not entirely natural, and the flow of spiritual energy around him seemed almost… choreographed. He narrowed his eyes, trying to determine whether this was the result of coincidence, skill, or something else entirely. Every micro-deviation, every hesitation, every instinctive adaptation contributed to the diary's predictive calculations. Tang San was becoming an active variable in the system, his suspicion now adding weight to potential future rewards.
[Multi-Copy Emotional Feedback Detected]
Xiao Wu: Attachment → Emotional Investment Rising
Ning Rongrong: Decision Impulse → Independence Solidifying
Zhu Zhuqing: Respect → Emotional Curiosity Strengthening[Reward Multiplier x4.2 Applied][Spirit Power Compression +4 Levels — Current Rank: 102]
By midday, he decided to test the continental predictive function. He focused the diary's energy across the wider regions, subtly influencing small Spirit Hall monitoring stations and minor academy clusters. Faint deviations appeared: a student executed a perfect strike before instruction, another unconsciously shifted position in response to an unseen threat. These anomalies registered as minor events at first, but the diary recorded every deviation, amplifying its predictive algorithm for larger-scale interventions.
[Continental Ripple Detected][Reward: Spirit Power +5 Levels — Current Rank: 107][Hidden Condition: Continental Influence Seed Growth +20%]
The golden threads pulsed gently around the academy, connecting him to the three copy holders in a delicate web of influence. Each pulse reinforced their trust, attachment, and emotional resonance, while subtly influencing decisions across the continent. Tang San's awareness deepened. He began to question his own perceptions, wondering if the natural flow of fate was being manipulated.
By evening, a subtle continental current began to manifest. Minor clans noted deviations in spirit patterns and emotional responses among their young talents. Ning Rongrong's precognitive advisors noticed shifts in aura dynamics, signaling her early departure from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Xiao Wu's energy subtly influenced nearby students, her playful trust rippling into their decisions. Zhu Zhuqing's analytical tendencies now carried a quiet attachment toward him, creating ripples of influence that the diary recorded meticulously.
He wrote again, solidifying the network and amplifying continental effects.
"Continental ripple stable. Emotional resonance consolidated. Tang San's suspicion noted — potential reward multiplier increased. Prepare for strategic predictive deployment and larger influence tests."
[System Reward: Spirit Power +6 Levels — Current Rank: 113][Multi-Copy Network Stability: High][Hidden Feature Activated: Strategic Continental Influence Management]
High above, Bibi Dong observed the continent's subtle but growing anomalies from Spirit Hall. Multiple key figures were deviating from canonical paths. The threads linking academy behavior, minor clans, and emotional patterns among young talents were visible to her trained senses.
"This is no ordinary disturbance," she whispered, her sharp eyes narrowing. "The player has created a network. Continental manipulation has begun in earnest, and it is growing beyond prediction."
Back at the academy, he watched the girls interact under the soft glow of evening lanterns. Xiao Wu's playful attentiveness, Zhu Zhuqing's analytical curiosity, and Ning Rongrong's restless determination now interwove into a complex tapestry of emotional resonance. Tang San's observation from the sidelines added a layer of unpredictability that the diary considered highly favorable. Each pulse of golden energy reinforced the multi-copy network, extending influence subtly across the continent.
He leaned against the ancient oak, Mandala Snake coiled at his feet, and opened the diary one last time.
"First continental predictive test complete. Multi-copy network fully active. Emotional and behavioral resonance amplified across academy and surrounding regions. Tang San observes anomalies — network influence proceeding as planned. Prepare for next wave of continental-level interventions."
[Reward Multiplier x4.5 Applied][Spirit Power +7 Levels — Current Rank: 120][Hidden Condition: Multi-Copy Network Expansion Pending]
The threads were tightening, the girls' attachments and rivalries strengthening, and the continent — unaware of the unseen hand guiding events — was now a living chessboard.
The first continental-scale test had succeeded. The game was only beginning, and no thread would remain untouched.