Free Web NovelChapter 10: Chapter 10: The First Evolution in the Trial
Zhao Tianyu arrived with eleven students.
His own team had six members, while another allied team of five followed behind. Their clothes were dusty, but their breathing was steady. Clearly, they had avoided most difficult fights while pushing pressure toward the Qin team.
When Zhao Tianyu saw the bodies of fourteen Ironhide Wolves scattered across the ridge, his expression changed slightly.
He had expected the Qin team to be tired.
He had not expected them to clear the pack.
His gaze moved from Qin Yuheng to Qin Yuchen, then Qin Lian and Qin Mo. All four showed signs of battle, but none looked seriously injured.
That made Zhao Tianyu uncomfortable.
"Qin Yuheng," Zhao Tianyu said with a smile. "What a coincidence."
Qin Yuheng stood near the collapsed tunnel entrance.
"Coincidence?"
His tone was calm enough to make several Zhao-affiliated students look away.
Zhao Tianyu pretended not to notice.
"This western ridge is dangerous. I did not expect your team to come here."
"Your people guided us well."
The words were light, but the meaning was sharp.
Zhao Tianyu’s eyes narrowed.
One of his teammates immediately said, "What do you mean? The valley is open. Everyone chooses their own route."
Qin Mo yawned. "Yes, and somehow three routes closed at the same time. Very natural."
Qin Lian’s hand rested near her dagger.
Qin Yuchen remained silent, but his gaze measured every opponent.
Zhao Tianyu raised a hand, stopping his teammate.
"There is no need to argue. Since both teams reached this place, we should discuss how to divide the area."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
"Divide?"
Zhao Tianyu smiled.
"This ridge seems to contain a resource point. Your team fought hard and deserves some credit. My team has more people and stronger combat power. If we cooperate, we can extract the resource safely."
Qin Yuheng almost laughed.
Zhao Tianyu wanted to take the lead after arriving late.
"Your suggestion?"
"Simple," Zhao Tianyu said. "We secure the tunnel together. My side takes seventy percent of the resource. Your side takes thirty percent. The monster cores you already collected remain yours."
Qin Mo whispered, "Shameless."
Zhao Tianyu’s smile became colder. "Resources belong to those capable of holding them."
Qin Yuheng nodded slightly.
"That is true."
Qin Yuchen glanced at him.
Qin Yuheng continued, "Then let us test capability."
The atmosphere froze.
Zhao Tianyu’s expression turned sharp.
"You want to fight?"
"No," Qin Yuheng said. "That would waste time and risk academy penalties."
"Then what do you mean?"
Qin Yuheng pointed toward the collapsed tunnel.
"The resource is inside. The tunnel is unstable. There are likely more Ironhide Wolves or something stronger deeper within. Since you believe your side has greater capability, you may enter first."
Zhao Tianyu’s face stiffened.
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
"If you clear the danger, you take seventy percent. If you cannot, we renegotiate."
Several students behind Zhao Tianyu hesitated.
Entering first meant taking the risk.
Zhao Tianyu stared at Qin Yuheng.
He realized Qin Yuheng had pushed the problem back to him.
If Zhao Tianyu refused, his claim of greater capability weakened. If he entered, he might face unknown danger.
At that moment, a low growl came from inside the tunnel.
The ground trembled faintly.
A pair of crimson eyes opened in the darkness.
Then another.
And another.
Qin Lian’s expression changed.
"More wolves."
A larger figure stepped out.
It was nearly twice the size of an ordinary Ironhide Wolf. Black metal plates covered its shoulders, and a jagged horn grew from its forehead.
The recording badge flashed.
[Warning]
[Level 15 Ironhide Wolf Alpha detected.]
[Danger level increased.]
Some students paled.
Level 15.
For new students, this was a boss-level threat.
The Ironhide Wolf Alpha roared.
The sound shook dust from the collapsed tunnel.
Zhao Tianyu’s expression became ugly.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
This was unexpected, but not bad.
A stronger monster meant a better core.
Possibly a better reward.
Han Shuren and the senior observers were likely watching from a distance. As long as the danger remained within trial limits, they would not intervene.
Zhao Tianyu gritted his teeth.
"Fight together!"
This time, no one objected.
The Wolf Alpha charged.
Its speed was terrifying.
A Zhao student raised a shield, but the beast slammed into him and sent him flying. A defensive item flashed, saving him from serious injury, but he still rolled across the ground with a pale face.
Zhao Tianyu roared, crimson energy erupting from his body.
He punched toward the Wolf Alpha’s side.
The strike landed heavily, forcing the beast back half a step.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes narrowed.
Zhao Tianyu’s talent was indeed strong. Likely beast blood or body enhancement. His explosive power was above most new students.
But his rhythm was rough.
Too aggressive.
The Wolf Alpha countered with its claws.
Zhao Tianyu blocked but slid backward.
Qin Yuheng moved.
"Yuchen, left joint."
"Understood."
"Qin Lian, eyes and rear tendon."
"Yes."
"Qin Mo, restrict its second charge."
"I will try not to die."
Qin Yuheng stepped forward.
This time, he released more of the Black Thunder Pattern Sword’s power.
Not full power.
But enough.
The blade flashed with a faint red-violet line.
He cut across the Wolf Alpha’s front leg.
Sparks exploded.
The iron plate did not fully break, but a deep mark appeared.
The Wolf Alpha turned toward him immediately.
Killing intent crashed down.
Qin Yuheng felt his blood heat.
The Primordial Thunder Emperor Body wanted to respond.
He suppressed most of it.
Not yet.
The battle became chaotic.
Zhao Tianyu’s team attacked from the front with brute force. Qin Yuheng’s team targeted weak points. The allied team threw support attacks from the side, though their courage clearly wavered after seeing the beast’s strength.
The Wolf Alpha was powerful, but it was not intelligent enough to handle coordinated pressure.
Qin Mo placed a small formation trap using black iron dust.
When the Wolf Alpha charged again, one paw sank half an inch into the ground.
Only half an inch.
Only one breath.
But that was enough.
Qin Lian’s dagger struck its rear tendon.
Qin Yuchen’s sword pierced a gap beneath its left shoulder plate.
Zhao Tianyu punched its jaw upward.
And Qin Yuheng stepped in.
For the first time, he allowed thunder to flow through the sword.
A thin violet-gold arc flashed.
The blade entered the crack he had created earlier and cut deep.
The Wolf Alpha roared in pain.
Qin Yuheng withdrew instantly.
He did not deal the final blow.
Instead, he left the opening.
Zhao Tianyu, seeing the chance, shouted and struck with all his strength.
His fist smashed into the wound.
The Wolf Alpha collapsed.
A recording light flashed.
[Level 15 Ironhide Wolf Alpha defeated.]
[Participants recorded.]
[Contribution calculation in progress.]
Zhao Tianyu breathed heavily, blood dripping from his knuckles.
He looked triumphant at first.
But when the contribution ranking appeared, his expression froze.
Battle Contribution:
1. Qin Yuheng Team — 52%
2. Zhao Tianyu Team — 41%
3. Allied Team — 7%
Qin Mo immediately perked up.
"Oh. The badge is fair."
Zhao Tianyu’s face darkened.
Qin Yuheng walked toward the Wolf Alpha’s corpse and extracted the core.
It was dark silver with red lines.
His panel appeared.
[D Grade Ironhide Wolf Alpha Core]
[Contains concentrated black iron and beast blood essence.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
At the same time, the collapsed tunnel shook.
A crack opened near the wall, revealing a small stone basin inside. Within the basin lay twelve drops of dark metallic liquid, each glowing faintly.
The recording badge flashed again.
[Resource discovered.]
[D Grade Black Iron Spirit Liquid x12]
[Resource ownership determined by discovery and contribution.]
[Qin Yuheng Team: Primary claim.]
Zhao Tianyu’s eyes widened.
Primary claim.
That meant the resource legally belonged to Qin Yuheng’s team unless they voluntarily traded or split it.
Qin Yuheng looked at Zhao Tianyu.
"Thank you."
Zhao Tianyu’s expression twisted.
"For what?"
"For helping us secure the resource."
Qin Mo turned away and coughed, trying not to laugh.
Qin Lian’s lips moved slightly, almost forming a smile.
Qin Yuchen remained calm, but his eyes carried clear satisfaction.
Zhao Tianyu took a step forward.
The recording badges on everyone’s chest flashed warning red.
Han Shuren’s voice suddenly echoed from a distant observation talisman.
"Zhao Tianyu. Control yourself."
Zhao Tianyu froze.
His fists clenched.
After several breaths, he forced himself to step back.
"This is not over."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"I know."
Zhao Tianyu left with his team, anger burning in every step.
Only after they disappeared did Qin Mo finally laugh.
"That was wonderful. Dangerous, but wonderful."
Qin Yuheng crouched beside the stone basin and collected the Black Iron Spirit Liquid into twelve small jade vials.
His panel displayed the item clearly.
[D Grade Black Iron Spirit Liquid]
[Effect: Strengthens bones, muscles, and weapon compatibility with metal energy.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
This was the team’s first real resource harvest.
Qin Yuheng considered carefully.
If he multiplied it, he could create a huge amount of D-grade liquid. Useful for family guards, younger generation training, and long-term foundation.
If he enhanced it, he could create a higher-grade marrow liquid, perhaps something useful even for himself and his siblings.
For this first trial, quality mattered more.
He chose one vial.
Not the entire stack.
A single vial was one item.
Could he evolve one and keep the rest ordinary?
The panel confirmed.
[Target selected: D Grade Black Iron Spirit Liquid x1] ƒreewebɳovel.com
[Select Evolution Direction]
1. Quantity Multiplication
2. Quality Enhancement
Good.
He could evolve individual units if separated.
Qin Yuheng looked at his team.
"I need a moment."
The others immediately understood enough to turn outward and guard.
Qin Yuheng held the vial inside his sleeve.
"Quality Enhancement."
Origin light flickered silently.
The dark metallic liquid changed.
Its color deepened to black-gold. Tiny golden particles flowed inside like crushed stars.
[Evolution successful.]
[D Grade Black Iron Spirit Liquid]
↓
[A Grade Black Gold Marrow Liquid]
[Effect: Strengthens bone marrow, muscles, weapon-bearing physique, and metal-energy resistance. Useful for early body foundation refinement.]
[Warning: Strong effect. Consume gradually.]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes brightened.
A Grade. frёeωebɳovel.com
One D-grade resource had become an A-grade foundation treasure.
He looked toward the remaining eleven vials.
Those could be used differently.
Some enhanced.
Some multiplied.
Some saved.
The possibilities opened like a road before him.
Above the western ridge, clouds moved slowly across the sky.
The Newcomer Trial was not over yet.
But Qin Yuheng had already gained his first true harvest outside the family.
The Tower had not even officially begun.
And yet his path of evolution had already started.
