The announcement of the spirit hunt changed the atmosphere of Notting Academy overnight.
Excitement spread among the students, but beneath it ran a current of tension. Only those who had reached Rank 10 were eligible to obtain their first spirit ring, and this marked the true beginning of a soul master's path.
He stood quietly in the courtyard as the instructor read out the selected names.
Tang San.
Him.
Two others.
The moment his name was called, he felt the golden threads in his chest tremble.
That night, before departure, the diary appeared earlier than usual.
He began writing calmly, but his thoughts were sharp.
"The first spirit ring defines direction. Power type. Growth potential. Compatibility."
He paused before continuing.
"In canon, Tang San chooses a Mandala Snake."
He deliberately wrote the name.
Tang San
The diary pulsed.
[Fate Anchor Identified: Tang San — Primary Protagonist Weight High][Altering Corresponding Event Will Trigger Large Multiplier]
Good.
He leaned back against the wall.
So the Mandala Snake was a fate anchor.
Which meant if he disrupted that hunt — even slightly — the system would reward him heavily.
But he couldn't simply steal it recklessly. That would create direct hostility too early.
No.
He needed something better.
He continued writing.
"The forest is unpredictable. Some beasts hunt the hunters."
The page glowed brighter.
[Foreshadow Condition Activated][Hidden Reward Pending — Based on Outcome]
Interesting.
The system was evolving alongside his manipulation.
The next morning, they departed for the Spirit Hunting Forest.
The air grew thicker as they entered the outer perimeter. Ancient trees stretched high above them, filtering sunlight into fractured beams. The ground was uneven, littered with roots and fallen leaves.
He walked slightly behind the instructor, observing quietly.
Tang San was calm as always, eyes alert, movements measured.
But he noticed something different.
Tang San was watching him too.
Evaluating.
Two future titans walking side by side.
Only one aware of the full script.
Deep within the forest, a faint rustle echoed through the undergrowth.
The instructor raised a hand.
"Stay close."
Spirit pressure flickered faintly in the distance.
His senses sharpened. The system-enhanced perception allowed him to feel subtle vibrations through the ground.
Then—
A shadow darted between trees.
A serpent-like shape.
Mandala Snake.
Right on schedule.
But something was off.
The snake's aura was unstable — agitated.
He felt it immediately.
It wasn't hunting randomly.
It was fleeing.
Before anyone could react, another roar exploded through the forest.
A larger presence.
Stronger.
Predatory.
The Mandala Snake burst into the clearing, wounded, scales torn.
Behind it—
A massive spirit beast crashed through the trees.
Not canon.
Not supposed to be here.
His eyes narrowed.
This was the ripple.
[Major Fate Divergence Triggered][Canon Event Disrupted][Reward Multiplier x2.5]
The instructor shouted for defensive formation.
Tang San moved instantly, hidden weapons flashing.
But the larger beast ignored them all.
Its gaze locked—
On him.
For a split second, confusion flickered in his mind.
Then realization hit.
The system's earlier foreshadow line.
"Some beasts hunt the hunters."
Had that influenced the forest's spiritual flow?
Had it drawn stronger prey?
Or was this a test?
The beast lunged.
He didn't panic.
He stepped forward instead.
Xiao Wu's face flashed briefly in his thoughts.
So did another distant presence.
Ning Rongrong
Watching through golden pages.
He circulated spirit power.
Level 10 foundation compressed.
Dense.
Controlled.
The beast's claw descended—
He pivoted, narrowly avoiding it, and drove a concentrated strike into the wounded Mandala Snake instead.
Precise.
Efficient.
Calculated.
He wasn't stealing recklessly.
He was claiming opportunity.
The snake collapsed with a final hiss.
At the same moment, Tang San's hidden weapon pierced the larger beast's eye, forcing it to retreat deeper into the forest.
Silence fell.
Heavy breathing.
Leaves settling.
The instructor stared in shock.
The Mandala Snake lay dying at his feet.
Tang San's expression darkened almost imperceptibly.
In canon—
That snake was his.
Now—
Fate had shifted.
A black spirit ring began to form slowly above the serpent's corpse.
He stepped forward without hesitation.
The moment he sat cross-legged and began absorbing it, the diary flared violently within his consciousness.
[Primary Fate Anchor Altered][Tang San Canon Path Disturbed][Reward Multiplier x3.0 Applied][Bonus: Spirit Ring Age Enhancement +300 Years]
His heart pounded as energy flooded into him.
The ring's aura deepened.
Strength intensified.
Pain lanced through his body, but his foundation held firm thanks to prior compression upgrades.
The system panel expanded again.
[Hidden Condition Completed][System Expansion Progress: 30%][New Passive Unlocked: Emotional Resonance Amplification]
He gritted his teeth as the ring finally stabilized around him.
First Spirit Ring.
Mandala Snake.
But stronger than canon.
When he opened his eyes, the forest felt different.
Sharper.
Clearer.
Tang San stood a short distance away, watching silently.
There was no open hostility.
But there was recognition.
This was no longer a predictable side character.
This was competition.
Back in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Rongrong felt the diary surge violently in her hands. Her heart raced as images of danger flickered across the pages.
In Notting Academy's girls' dormitory, Xiao Wu felt a strange sense of relief wash over her chest without knowing why.
Golden threads pulsed across the continent.
And in a distant, majestic hall—
A woman seated upon a grand throne opened her eyes faintly.
Bibi Dong
Something in fate had shifted.
And she felt it.
The hunt was over.
But destiny had already begun to crack.