Free Web NovelChapter 101: Chapter 101: A Seed Team’s Burden
After Floor 11, Heavenly Gate Academy officially upgraded Qin Yuheng’s team classification.
The notice was posted on the internal board, not the public city board, but it still spread quickly.
[Academy Seed Team Classification Updated]
Team Leader: Qin Yuheng
Members: Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, Qin Mo
Status: Post-First-Gate Seed Team
Special Record:
First Gate Perfect Clear
Floor 11 SSS Evaluation
Perfect Remnant Survival
The phrase Seed Team changed many things.
Students who once challenged Qin Yuheng casually now hesitated. Some wanted to join future missions. Some wanted information. Some wanted to trade. Some simply watched.
Instructors treated the team differently too.
They were no longer only students to be protected.
They were assets to be developed.
Yu Qingmei assigned them advanced lectures on team command, class path planning, and long-duration floor logistics. Han Shuren increased their combat simulation difficulty. Mei Lian gave them case studies of failed seed teams.
The failed cases mattered most.
One team had collapsed because the leader advanced too quickly and left support members behind.
One had been destroyed by a hidden organization after selling too many rare resources.
One had chosen incompatible class tokens and lost future growth efficiency.
One had gained fame too early and been pressured into a public guild contract.
Qin Yuheng listened carefully.
Success was not rare because people never rose.
Success was rare because many who rose were pulled apart.
Qin Mo was especially disturbed by the support-member collapse case.
"That leader was terrible," he said after class.
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Yes."
Qin Mo looked at him.
"You are not allowed to become terrible."
"I will try."
"That was not firm enough."
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
"I will not."
Qin Mo seemed satisfied.
At the Qin Estate, the Seed Team classification triggered another round of internal planning.
Qin Wanshan approved broader but still controlled resource distribution to the younger generation. Not SSS treasures openly. Not overwhelming boosts. But training resources, improved weapons, resistance pills, and controlled War Intent Tempering Field access.
Qin Feng finally received permission to use a diluted War Intent Heart Fruit training session.
He loved it.
He collapsed after twenty minutes and still loved it.
Qin Ruyan used lightning-compatible Iron Blood materials to stabilize her sword path.
Qin Yuchen began studying command basics, not because he wanted to lead the whole team, but because Qin Zhengyuan insisted that every strong fighter should understand battlefield flow.
Qin Lian trained with Hidden Night Web members of the Silent Heaven Army, learning stealth discipline beyond academy methods.
Qin Mo received the Mechanism Heart Insight Crystal and began disappearing into formation rooms for hours. He complained whenever found, but the results spoke for themselves. The Qin Estate’s minor warning arrays improved rapidly.
The family was changing.
Quietly.
Outside, Blood Sun Hall noticed only fragments.
Xue Rong’s reports became increasingly frustrating.
Qin Estate resource movement: obscured.
Qin Zhengyuan condition: still publicly weak.
Qin Yuheng class selection: delayed.
Qin team growth: confirmed.
Qin Mo support value: rising.
Silent Heaven Army: no direct confirmation.
Xue Rong disliked unknowns.
So he shifted strategy again.
Rather than probe Qin Yuheng directly, he began looking at those around him.
Support members.
Allies.
Merchants. freeweɓnøvel.com
Wei Chen.
Lin Xian’er.
Qin Mo.
Qin Lian.
A strong leader could hide himself.
But teams had edges.
Edges could be cut.
The first sign came through Lin Xian’er.
She met Qin Yuheng in a quiet academy pavilion and placed a sealed note on the table.
"Someone is asking about your team’s support structure."
Qin Yuheng opened the note.
It listed recent information purchases in black-market channels:
Formation support of Qin team.
Qin Mo’s family background. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Qin Lian’s equipment source.
Wei Chen cooperation frequency.
Lin family contact with Qin Yuheng.
Qin Yuheng’s expression cooled.
"They are looking for weak links."
"Yes."
"Blood Sun?"
"Likely. But Zhao family agents are also asking similar questions."
Qin Yuheng folded the note.
"Price?"
Lin Xian’er looked at him.
"Not this time."
Qin Yuheng looked up.
She smiled faintly, but her eyes were serious.
"If Blood Sun begins cutting academy seed teams from the sides, that harms everyone’s business."
"Merchant morality again?"
"Strategic morality."
Qin Yuheng accepted that.
He informed Yu Qingmei.
She did not look surprised.
"Expected," she said. "Seed teams attract indirect pressure. From now on, your members should avoid isolated city travel."
Qin Mo, upon hearing this, said, "I already avoid travel."
Qin Lian simply nodded.
Qin Yuchen said, "We adjust routes."
The Qin family also increased quiet protection.
Not visible guards.
Silent Root Network watchers.
Hidden Night Web shadows.
Qin Yuheng did not see them, but he felt the city around him become slightly safer.
Or perhaps slightly more dangerous.
Because when shadows protected, other shadows gathered.
Meanwhile, Floor 12 information arrived.
[Floor 12: Ashen Market City]
Type:
City floor / trade / investigation / hidden conflict
Known features:
Tower market remnants, disguised hostile factions, resource bargaining, night attack events.
Warning:
Not all enemies are monsters.
Qin Mo read the final warning.
"Finally, the Tower admits it."
Qin Yuheng looked at the floor file.
A city floor.
Trade.
Investigation.
Hidden conflict.
This would not be like defending an outpost.
It would test judgment among people.
Or things that looked like people.
The next floor would be dangerous in a different way.
And for Qin Yuheng, who carried too many secrets, that danger might be sharper than claws.
