First Sunday Diary Theme (Seeking Readership)

Though he had long suspected that the diary might not be seen by him alone, when the system made it explicitly clear, a faint ripple of unease stirred in Yu Tiancheng's heart.

At the same time, the Diary Copy displayed a new prompt:

[This week's theme designator: Dugu Yan]

At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, by a quiet little lake.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling sat side by side on a bench, each holding a faintly glowing Diary Copy in their hands.

It had been some time since they first obtained the copies. As early as the first few diary updates, through each other's reactions and subtle probing, they had confirmed that the other shared the same secret.

But they had always kept their distance from the diary's protagonist, Yu Tiancheng. Aside from occasionally glimpsing some startling spoilers, they had never been mentioned nor triggered any of the rewards mentioned in the diary.

Until just now, when the rules updated, and Dugu Yan was lucky enough to be chosen as the first week's theme designator.

"Lingling, what do you think we should write about for the first week?"

Dugu Yan's emerald serpentine eyes gleamed with excitement, her fingertips unconsciously twirling a strand of hair. "This is the first chance we've had to actively influence what he writes."

Ye Lingling's cool gaze withdrew from the window and fell upon the copy in her hand. Her voice was calm but thoughtful: "The lucky audience and theme designator are random—we can't control that. The only thing we might be able to secure is the basic reward for having our names mentioned the most each week."

She paused, looking at Dugu Yan. "So the theme should be something that naturally makes him mention us multiple times."

"Mention us..." Dugu Yan tilted her head, tapping a finger against her fair cheek, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

"Got it. How about setting the theme as 'Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team'? Doesn't he say we're in a novel world? Then he definitely knows our team. Writing about the team means he can't avoid us members. And he can't avoid the two of us."

Ye Lingling frowned slightly. "But this is your chance, Yanyan. You're the one designating the theme, and the reward would have to be split with me..."

"Oh, don't be so polite with me." Dugu Yan wrapped an arm around Ye Lingling's waist—slender and supple.

"We're good sisters, aren't we? Joy shared is joy doubled. Besides, I'm letting you have this one. Next time you get the chance, just write my name, right? Don't let good fortune flow to outsiders."

Seeing Ye Lingling still hesitant, Dugu Yan made the final call: "It's settled. This theme is specific enough and leaves plenty of room. He'll have to write something."

At Blue Tyrant Academy, Courtyard Seven.

Yu Tiancheng looked at the new text appearing on his diary:

[This week's theme has been confirmed: Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team]

[Please write around this theme during the next diary update]

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team?" Yu Tiancheng raised an eyebrow slightly. He didn't need to guess—the person who proposed this theme was definitely a team member.

Was it Dugu Yan, or Ye Lingling?

He couldn't be bothered to dwell on it. With a thought, he withdrew the diary into his sea of consciousness, his expression relaxed.

After all, the settlement wasn't for another week. He'd deal with it later.

The other holders of Diary Copies felt a twinge of sourness when they saw the new theme.

But what could they do? They couldn't designate the content this week.

Of course, that excluded Liu Erlong. She saw Yu Tiancheng every day, so she had no worries about being mentioned in the diary.

Elsewhere, at Martial Soul City, the Pope's Palace.

Deep within the vast, imposing hall, Bibi Dong sat high upon the Pope's throne, her eyes half-closed as if resting.

From outside the hall doors came a soft, measured knock.

"Teacher." It was Hu Liena's voice.

"Enter." Bibi Dong did not open her eyes, merely uttering a single word.

Hu Liena pushed the door open gently and stepped in with graceful steps.

She had only recently returned from the Star Dou Great Forest and had been summoned here, a hint of unease in her heart as she wondered what her teacher wanted.

Reaching the foot of the imperial steps, Hu Liena bowed respectfully: "Teacher."

Bibi Dong slowly opened her eyes. Those deep purple pupils seemed capable of seeing through a person's soul, and the intangible pressure made the air in the hall feel heavier.

Her gaze fell upon Hu Liena as she spoke calmly: "Nana, first tell me about this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Yes, Teacher." Hu Liena steadied herself and began a detailed report.

From her team entering the forest, assisting her elder brother in successfully obtaining his fifth Spirit Ring, to her own breakthrough in cultivation, and later the process of finding a suitable Spirit Ring for herself.

Her account was clear and well-organized.

But when she mentioned "encountering" a young Spirit Master in the Mixed Zone and temporarily keeping him by her side to avoid unnecessary complications, her tone had an extremely subtle pause, and she unconsciously omitted some specific details and conversations.

"...That is roughly how it went. Your disciple has successfully obtained her fifth Spirit Ring, and her cultivation is stable." Hu Liena finished her report and stood with her head bowed.

On the throne, Bibi Dong's long fingers tapped the armrest in a steady, rhythmic beat.

Her gaze seemed not to focus on Hu Liena but wandered idly over the murals on the hall's dome. Her voice betrayed no emotion:

"That young man—his name is Yu Tiancheng, from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family."

Hu Liena's delicate body trembled violently. She abruptly looked up, her enchanting eyes filled with disbelief, meeting Bibi Dong's purple eyes—eyes that seemed to see through everything, tinged with a hint of amusement.

An impossible thought surged into her mind, nearly making her blurt out:

"Could it be... that Teacher, you also possess a Diary Copy?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Hu Liena immediately regretted it. Cold sweat instantly soaked her back.

She clearly remembered the ironclad rule of the Diary Copy—no revealing the diary's existence or related content to non-holders! Violators would suffer unbearable punishment!

What had she just said? She had directly asked her teacher if she had a copy!

What if... what if her teacher had only learned Yu Tiancheng's name and basic information from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family? Wouldn't this be a self-betrayal, actively breaking the rule?

Thinking of the suffocating punishment that might descend, Hu Liena's face paled slightly. She closed her eyes in pain, waiting for that terrible sensation to arrive.

Yet, the anticipated pain never came.

After a few breaths, she cautiously opened her eyes and saw Bibi Dong's peerless yet icy face, a faint, ambiguous smile curling at the corners of her lips.

Could it be... that her words had been automatically obscured by the diary's rule power? Had her teacher not heard anything?

She tested, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor: "Teacher... did you hear what your disciple just said?"

The curve at the corner of Bibi Dong's lips seemed to deepen slightly. She looked at her disciple, sharp-witted yet flustered in this moment, and slowly, clearly repeated that word:

"Diary."

Those three simple words struck like thunder in Hu Liena's heart!

Not obscured! Her teacher had heard! And... her teacher knew about the "Diary"!