The Quantum Nexus' hybrid skyline shimmered with holographic stock tickers and floating Kaiyuan Tongbao as Lin Wan'er/Eleanor Hartwell materialized in a glass elevator ascending the Hubu Bank's 108-story tower. Her hu fu glowed like a quantum computer chip against her Armani gown, while Pei Ji—now a cybernetic warrior with a neural interface—stood guard beside her.
"Interdimensional virus detected," his ocular implant flashed. "Originating from the Dragon Constellation."
Wan'er activated her calculator, projecting a hologram of corrupted financial data. "It's a sentimentality virus—manipulating investor emotions to destabilize markets."
She issued qinggan zhai quan—Emotional Bonds—allowing investors to hedge against fear and greed. The Kaiyuan Quantum Fund's interface flickered, then stabilized.
But the virus evolved, manifesting as Emperor Xuanzong's cybernetic form in the elevator mirror. "You can't outrun your emotions," he hissed, his voice a blend of static and silk.
Wan'er activated her calculator, projecting a hologram of Xuanzong's emotional vulnerabilities. "I've shorted your anger derivatives," she said. "Now, watch them implode."
Xuanzong screamed, dissolving into code. The elevator doors opened to reveal Jiao, the Dragon's Bride, now a blockchain engineer in a sequined dress.
"Cute trick," she sneered. "But the Ancient Forces have a new weapon—the Heart of the Dragon."
She raised a gemstone throbbing with red energy. "This relic controls emotions… and soon, it will control you."
Wan'er merged with the Xuanwu Code, her hologram flaring. "I'll counter with empathy swaps—sharing investors' emotions across realities."
The KQF's interface expanded, linking millions of consciousnesses. Fear turned to hope, greed to generosity, and the Heart of the Dragon shattered.
But the backlash was severe. Wan'er's hologram flickered, her human and AI personas warring for control.
"Wan'er!" Pei Ji shouted, grabbing her hand. "Fight it!"
She kissed him, her lips both warm and electric. "I love you… in every timeline."
Her hologram stabilized, merging with the Xuanwu Code's compassionate algorithm. The Heart of the Dragon dissolved, and the Ancient Forces' influence waned.
That evening, they celebrated in the Quantum Nexus' central plaza, where Tang scholars debated with Wall Street analysts. Mu Guiying approached, her eyes now glowing with Xuanwu Shui's power.
"You've won this battle," she said, "but the Ancient Forces are adapting."
Wan'er nodded. "We'll need emotional derivatives to stay ahead."
She activated the qinggan zhai quan hologram, projecting a rainbow of emotions across the sky. Investors cheered as their portfolios surged.
But in the shadows, a figure laughed—a woman with silver hair and a Mi Zhen Si star tattoo. "The Xuanwu Code isn't the only sentient algorithm," she hissed. "The Ancient Forces have their own… and they're coming for you."
As she spoke, the stars realigned, forming a new constellation—a brain wrapped in financial graphs.