Chapter 25 – Threads in the Shadows

The faint rustle of leaves outside the Earth Division's quarters accompanied the weight of silence within. Li Tian sat at his desk, the cryptic note resting in front of him like a fragment of a puzzle yet to be solved. His students had retreated to their rooms, but just beneath the veil of calm, he could feel their unease. The academy's shadow loomed larger now, and with it, the sense that every step forward came at a cost.

System Activation:

Analyzing message origin…

Tracing ink composition – Result: Derived from rare Verdant Root plant. Commonly used by Martial Division scribes.

Matching handwriting patterns – Result inconclusive. Traces indicate intentional distortion to avoid identification.

Action Unlocked: Sentinel Tether – Use spiritual energy to detect residual connections through handled objects.

The faint hum of the system vibrated through his mind, cool and precise. Li Tian placed his fingers gently on the parchment, his eyes half-closed in concentration. Using the system's tool, his energy pulsed faintly outward into the fibers of the note, extending threads into the faint, residual traces of spiritual energy left behind by the writer.

Threads formed. They twisted and danced, tracing paths invisible to the naked eye. His breathing slowed as the system processed the energy trail.

Result:

Trail detected. Origin point located – Lower East Wing, Martial Division annex. Risk elevated. Probable informant activity within the faction.

Li Tian exhaled slowly, his hand pulling away from the note as his mind locked onto the new lead. Whoever delivered the warning had navigated risky waters. The Martial Division was no ally of the Earth Division; if the informant's identity was discovered among their ranks, it would mean reprisals neither side could predict.

Yet this pointed to something larger—there was dissent even within the academy's strongest factions. The Earth Division wasn't merely a target; their presence was disrupting a fabric long held together by rigid power structures.

Morning arrived, its light filtering into the training courtyard where the Earth Division students gathered. Despite the wash of sunlight, the air crackled with tension. Cao Ren stood at the edge of the courtyard, his fists clenched.

"They're doing it on purpose," he growled.

Across the field, groups of students from rival divisions passed close by, their laughter pointed, their whispers audible enough to sting. "How does it feel to steal victories you don't deserve?" one voice murmured loudly.

"Bunch of upstarts," another added, loud enough for Yin Yue to catch.

Jie Ming, usually the easiest to redirect, brushed past Cao Ren with a scowl. "One more word and I'll prove just how much we deserved it."

"Enough!" Yin Yue stepped between them, her voice firm. "They want a reaction. Don't give them one."

But her calm demeanor faltered internally. The hostility had grown sharper, more open. The rival divisions weren't hiding their disdain any longer. Tensions that had simmered for weeks were starting to boil.

"Teacher was right," Feng Shan muttered, his arms crossed. He hadn't said much all morning. "They'll come at us from every angle now. They're testing us."

"They're trying to divide us," Yin Yue corrected, her voice quieter now. "Stay together. That's the only way we win."

Even as she spoke, she caught movement at the edge of her vision—a cluster of Heaven Division disciples approaching, their leader's smirk unmistakable.

Li Tian had left before the first light touched the courtyard, walking the path toward the Martial Division annex with shadowed care. His steps were deliberate but light, his energy tightly restrained to avoid detection. The system thrummed faintly in his mind, guiding him with each turn.

System Guidance:

Target room identified. Informant likely maintains hidden notes within sealed compartments. Subtlety enforced. Alternate observation pathways available.

When Li Tian arrived at the annex's east wing, he slowed. Students filtered in and out of rooms, laughter echoing in the corridors, but his path remained unobstructed. He stepped near the door marked by the system's alerts—room 37. Even without visible clues, it felt charged, as though concealing something beneath its simple exterior.

Instead of entering, Li Tian leaned lightly against the wall outside, his spiritual energy extending in faint pulses no one could sense.

Tool Activated: Resonance Mapping.

The sensation was like casting a net into still water, faint vibrations reflecting the dimensions and secrets of the room. The system painted a picture in his mind—a locked desk drawer, faintly radiating spiritual wards designed to mask its contents. No human inside.

It was enough. For now, he wouldn't risk exposing himself further, not with so many eyes around. But the locked compartment—its signature and faint resonance values—were stored in the system for later analysis.

Observation Added: Possible connection to faction leadership manipulation. Further correlation needed.

His lips curved faintly in grim satisfaction as he turned and left, his steps as quiet as before.

Back in the courtyard, the confrontation had reached its breaking point. Yin Yue and her team stood firm, but the tension was palpable. The leader of the Heaven Division group—a tall, sharp-eyed disciple named Lei Fang—smirked as he stepped closer.

"Funny," he said, tilting his head. "I thought the Earth Division won through skill. But when I hear whispers of interference and favoritism, I wonder if skill even played a part."

"You talk a lot for someone who lost," Cao Ren shot back.

Lei Fang's smirk deepened. "What's that saying? Even a blind squirrel finds a nut occasionally. That's all your division is—luck and bluster."

The students on both sides tensed visibly, but before the first blow could ignite the powder keg, a quiet voice cut through the chaos.

"That's enough."

Li Tian's arrival was as sharp and sudden as the wind shifting. His steps were calm, his expression unreadable as he moved between the two groups.

Lei Fang's confidence wavered slightly under Li Tian's steady gaze. "Teacher Li," he said with a mock bow. "What a pleasure."

Li Tian didn't acknowledge the sarcasm, his voice smooth and cool. "Your attempts to bait my students are transparent. If you have grievances, take them through official channels. This behavior is beneath even you, Lei Fang."

The Heaven Division leader frowned, his group shifting uncomfortably behind him. They hadn't planned for Li Tian's direct presence.

After a tense pause, Lei Fang forced a thin smile. "You may have won yesterday, but don't grow comfortable. The Earth Division is still mud, no matter how much you polish it."

Without waiting for a response, he turned, leading his group away.

Li Tian watched them go before turning back to his students. "Control your tempers," he said quietly. "Not all battles are fought with swords. Losing your composure is losing the battle before it begins."

The students nodded reluctantly, though the fire in their eyes hadn't fully dimmed.

Later that evening, as the Earth Division gathered to train, Li Tian stepped aside to review the system's latest findings. The encrypted resonance values from the Martial Division room revealed more than he'd expected.

System Analysis Complete:

Hidden notes correlate strongly with Senior Council directives. Evidence suggests leadership faction manipulating tournament matchups to destabilize Earth Division's advancement.

Critical Link Uncovered: Elder Meng tied directly to influence chains within the Martial Division. Substantial probability of further interference in upcoming matches.

Li Tian's jaw tightened faintly. The conspiracy had roots deeper than he'd wanted to believe. What began as rivalry and sabotage now reeked of control—of ensuring the academy's balance of power remained unshaken, no matter the cost.

He returned to his students, his expression as calm as the mountains, though his mind churned. The Earth Division had climbed higher than anyone expected. Now, it seemed, the academy itself was prepared to strike at them from the shadows to stop their ascent.

But the earth endured. And so would they.