Free Web NovelChapter 114: Chapter 114: Crimson Sand Arena
Floor 17 began with cheering.
Qin Yuheng’s team appeared inside a massive circular arena under a blood-red sun. The ground was covered in crimson sand. Tall stone walls surrounded the arena, and above those walls sat shadowy spectators made of smoke and light.
Other teams appeared in distant sections of the arena.
Not fully together.
Parallel entry.
A mission panel appeared.
[Floor 17: Crimson Sand Arena]
[Main Mission]
Earn 100 Arena Points within 12 hours.
[Sub-Missions]
1. Win 5 arena battles.
2. Keep team defeat count at 0.
3. Defeat at least one elite arena champion.
4. Avoid forced surrender.
[Rules]
- Defeated participants are removed from active combat but not killed.
- Severe injury is limited by Arena Law.
- Arena Points may be earned through monster battles, team duels, champion fights, and challenge events.
[Warning] freёwebnovel.com
Arena may generate shadow challengers based on external hostility.]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes narrowed at the warning.
External hostility.
Blood Sun?
Zhao?
The arena horn sounded.
Their first battle was against sand beasts.
[Crimson Sand Hound]
[Level: 23]
The team defeated them quickly, earning 10 points.
Second battle: armored sand warriors. 15 points.
Third battle: a team duel against a Tower-generated copy team. 20 points.
Qin Mo looked at the scoreboard.
"We need one hundred. This is manageable. Suspiciously manageable."
Then the arena announced a challenge event.
[External Hostility Shadow detected.]
[Generating Shadow Challenger.]
[Defeat challenger for 30 Arena Points.]
Crimson sand gathered at the center.
A figure formed.
Dark clothes.
Short blade.
Blood-shadow mist.
Shen Wuji.
Or rather, a shadow version of him.
Qin Mo stared.
"That is rude."
The real Shen Wuji was not inside the floor, but the arena had generated a challenger based on external hostility connected to Qin Yuheng.
The shadow smiled.
"Qin Yuheng."
It spoke with Shen Wuji’s voice.
Qin Yuheng stepped forward.
"No."
The shadow tilted its head.
"No?"
"This is a team floor."
He sent a silent pulse.
Team pattern.
The shadow Shen Wuji expected a duel.
Instead, the entire team moved.
Qin Mo disrupted its blood-shadow field.
Qin Lian attacked from behind.
Qin Yuchen pressured its blade side.
Qin Yuheng struck only when its rhythm broke.
The shadow was strong, but incomplete. It copied Shen Wuji’s style, not his full mind.
They defeated it in seven minutes.
[Shadow Challenger defeated.]
[Arena Points +30]
The spectators roared.
The next battles became harder.
An elite arena champion appeared: Crimson Sand Gladiator, Level 27. It wielded a massive curved blade and gained strength as sand stuck to its wounds.
Qin Yuheng’s team used rotation tactics. Qin Yuchen drew blade pressure. Qin Lian cut sand channels. Qin Mo hardened the ground beneath it. Qin Yuheng shattered its core armor with thunder.
Champion defeated.
They reached 110 points.
But the arena did not end.
A hidden challenge appeared.
[Perfect Record detected.]
[Optional: Face Crimson Arena Lord.]
[Accept / Decline]
Qin Mo immediately said, "Decline."
Qin Yuheng looked at the team.
Their condition was still good.
Arena Law limited severe injury.
The optional boss likely increased evaluation and rewards.
But the warning about external hostility remained.
Could this optional fight be influenced?
Qin Yuheng used Law-Thread Severing Eye.
He saw no contract trap.
Only Arena Law.
He accepted.
The Crimson Arena Lord rose from the sand.
Level 29.
Heavy armor.
Spear and chain.
This boss tested everything: spacing, team rotation, pressure endurance, and forced duel mechanics. Twice, it tried to isolate Qin Yuheng in a sand circle. Qin Mo broke the circle once. Qin Lian interrupted the chain once. Qin Yuchen took over command when Qin Yuheng was pushed back.
The final strike came from coordinated timing.
Qin Mo locked the sand.
Qin Lian cut the chain.
Qin Yuchen broke the spear guard.
Qin Yuheng pierced the core.
[Crimson Arena Lord defeated.]
[Perfect Arena Record achieved.]
[Final Evaluation greatly increased.]
The settlement came in red-gold light.
SSS again.
Rewards included:
S Grade Crimson Sand Arena Chest
A Grade Arena Champion Core
A Grade Sand Battle Cloak
S Grade Duel Law Crystal
A Grade Combat Ranking Token
Qin Yuheng paid special attention to the Duel Law Crystal.
It could help resist forced duel traps.
Another Blood Sun method weakened before being used.
When they returned, Yu Qingmei read the report and frowned.
"External Hostility Shadow?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Shen Wuji."
Her face darkened.
"Then the arena recognized him as hostile to you."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
That was useful proof.
Not legal proof.
But Tower proof.
Outside the academy, Shen Wuji heard about the shadow challenger and closed his eyes.
"The Tower used me as hostility."
Xue Rong’s expression was unreadable.
"That means your connection is exposed."
"Partly."
"Then leave Heavenly Gate City."
Shen Wuji looked at him.
"And Qin Yuheng?"
Xue Rong’s voice cooled.
"We change tools."
Shen Wuji left that night.
Qin Yuheng did not stop him.
A tool leaving did not mean the hand had withdrawn.
