Free Web NovelChapter 104: Chapter 104: Ashen Market Rewards
The exit from Ashen Market City was a black paper gate.
The permit burned in Qin Yuheng’s hand, forming a rectangle of pale ash light. The market behind them continued as if nothing had happened. Merchants called prices. Customers argued. Collectors vanished into alleys. Red Scarf marks were scrubbed from walls by gray-robed children.
The floor did not end dramatically. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
It simply allowed those who had paid correctly to leave.
The settlement panel appeared.
[Floor 12: Ashen Market City]
[Main Mission: Survive 48 hours and obtain valid Ashen Market Exit Permit — Completed.]
[Sub-Mission: Earn or trade for 1,000 Ashen Coins — Completed.]
[Sub-Mission: Identify at least one hostile hidden faction — Completed.]
[Sub-Mission: Prevent team debt from exceeding safe limit — Completed.]
[Team Debt: 0]
[Sub-Mission: Survive Night Collection event — Completed.]
[Hostile Faction Exposed: Red Scarf Debt Gang.]
[Market Law Favor: 5]
[Calculating final evaluation...]
The panel flashed.
[Final Evaluation: SSS]
Qin Mo looked relieved.
"I survived capitalism."
Qin Lian tilted her head slightly.
"Ashen Market Law is not exactly capitalism."
"It took my coins and threatened my soul. Close enough."
The rewards appeared.
[SSS Evaluation Rewards]
EXP +3,600
Tower Coins x45,000
S Grade Ashen Market Chest x1
A Grade Market Law Coin x1
A Grade Contract-Breaking Talisman x3
A Grade Trade Insight Crystal x1
A Grade Ashen Ledger Fragment x1
Special Mark: Debtless Witness
Additional reward appeared.
[Market Law Favor Reward]
S Grade Lawful Trade Token x1
S Grade Ash-Wrapped Chest discount recognized.
Future market-type floors may react differently.
The return light carried them back to Heavenly Gate Tower.
This time, the platform light was gray and gold, with faint coin-like patterns.
The academy staff read the record.
"Floor 12... Ashen Market City... SSS evaluation... Team Debt: 0... Hostile faction exposed..."
Yu Qingmei looked pleased.
"This is a good result."
Qin Mo looked suspicious.
"No warning?"
"Many warnings," she said. "But later."
He sighed.
The medical inspection was minimal this time. The floor had caused fatigue and mild contract-pressure residue, but no severe physical injuries.
Mei Lian requested a full report for Tower Theory classes.
"A debtless SSS clear of Ashen Market City is an excellent case study."
Qin Mo whispered, "We are becoming homework."
After returning to the Qin Estate, Qin Yuheng opened the rewards privately.
First, the S Grade Ashen Market Chest.
[S Grade Ashen Market Chest]
↓
[SSS Grade Ancient Ashen Law Market Chest]
Opening it produced:
[SSS Grade Ashen Law Coin x1]
[SS Grade Skill Book: Contract Severing Eye x1]
[SS Grade Lawful Trade Seal x1]
[S Grade Debt Immunity Talisman x3]
[S Grade Market Shadow Cloak x1]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
Contract Severing Eye.
Lawful Trade Seal.
These were not combat tools, but they could be priceless in future city floors, merchant dealings, and trap contracts.
He inspected Contract Severing Eye.
[SS Grade Skill Book: Contract Severing Eye]
[Effect: Allows user to detect contract flaws, hidden debt clauses, binding law threads, and weak points in low-to-high grade agreements.]
[Warning: Requires high perception and spirit stability.]
Very useful.
He enhanced it?
He hesitated.
If enhanced to SSS, learning difficulty might increase. But Qin Yuheng’s perception and spirit were strong, and this skill did not reveal his combat secrets.
He enhanced it.
[SS Grade Contract Severing Eye]
↓
[SSS Grade Law-Thread Severing Eye]
He learned the first layer.
A cool sensation entered his eyes.
For a moment, the room filled with faint lines—formation contracts, ownership marks, sealed storage permissions, and oath traces. Then the vision faded as he controlled it.
First layer effect:
[Law-Thread Severing Eye — First Layer]
Can detect simple hidden clauses, ownership bindings, weak contract threads, debt marks, and low-grade oath traps.
This would protect him from floors like Ashen Market and from external schemes.
The Ashen Law Coin was next.
[SSS Grade Ashen Law Coin]
[Type: Market-law treasure]
[Effect: Can serve as payment, contract anchor, law negotiation token, or special currency in market-type Tower floors.]
He stored it carefully.
Then he took out the Ash-Wrapped Chest he had purchased during the floor.
It was not part of settlement, so it had not been opened.
[Ashen-Wrapped Chest]
[Grade: A]
[Origin: Ashen Market City]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
He enhanced it.
[A Grade Ash-Wrapped Chest]
↓
[SS Grade Hidden Market Treasure Chest]
Opening it produced:
[SS Grade Merchant’s Hidden Storage Pouch x1]
[S Grade Contract Cleansing Ink x1]
[S Grade Black Market Disguise Token x1]
[A Grade Rare Resource Appraisal Lens x1]
The storage pouch interested him.
[SS Grade Merchant’s Hidden Storage Pouch]
[Capacity: 300 cubic meters]
[Effect: Concealed storage, trade-item preservation, anti-tax law masking in low-to-mid market floors.]
Qin Yuheng nearly laughed.
Anti-tax law masking.
Ashen Market truly had rules for everything.
The Black Market Disguise Token was also useful but dangerous. It could allow entry into hidden trade spaces.
He did not use it immediately.
Instead, he brought the Lawful Trade Seal and Contract Cleansing Ink to Qin Wanshan.
His grandfather listened carefully.
"These are not glorious treasures," Qin Wanshan said. "But they prevent glorious families from dying to paper."
Qin Mo, who had been called to inspect the seal, nodded deeply.
"Paper is terrifying."
The Lawful Trade Seal was placed under Qin family treasury management. It would be used for future high-value trades to avoid hidden clauses.
The Contract Cleansing Ink went to Qin Mo for study.
Floor 12 had given them something different from strength.
Protection against agreements.
In a world where Tower contracts could bind life and soul, that was a weapon.
Later that night, Qin Yuheng reviewed the next floor file.
Floor 13.
[Floor 13: Hollow Beast Valley]
Type:
Beast hunting / tracking / territory conflict
Known features:
Hollow beasts, echo caves, territorial leaders, hidden beast eggs.
Warning:
Some beasts imitate human voices.
Qin Mo read over his shoulder.
"Human voices again."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Yes."
"I hate how often that is dangerous."
Outside the estate, under a moonless sky, a Blood Sun messenger sent a report to Xue Rong.
Qin Yuheng had cleared Ashen Market City with no debt.
He had gained market-law rewards.
He had not fallen for contract traps.
Xue Rong read the report and slowly crushed the paper.
"Even contracts fail," he murmured.
Then he smiled.
"Very well. Then beasts next."
