Free Web NovelChapter 117: Chapter 117: The Second Gate Approaches
Heavenly Gate Academy treated Floor 20 with the seriousness of a ceremony.
The Second Gate threshold was not as famous as the First Gate among ordinary people, but among climbers it mattered deeply. Floor 10 proved foundation. Floor 20 began path recognition. Many climbers awakened or solidified class paths around this stage.
Yu Qingmei summoned Qin Yuheng’s entire team.
"Floor 20 will adapt heavily to your records," she said. "Given your First Gate Perfect Clear, repeated SSS evaluations, team command performance, and delayed class selection, the Tower may generate a class resonance trial."
Qin Mo looked alarmed.
"May?"
"Likely."
"That is worse."
The file displayed:
[Floor 20: Second Gate Path Trial]
Known Structure:
Variable.
Common objectives:
- Prove class direction.
- Defeat path guardian.
- Resolve team role trial.
- Pass Second Gate resonance.
Special warning:
Unstable class fragments may trigger abnormal trial difficulty.
Qin Yuheng asked, "Should we fuse before entry?"
Yu Qingmei looked at him.
"That depends on your materials. Most students should fuse before Floor 20 if ready. You are not most students."
She did not ask what materials he had.
That restraint earned Qin Yuheng’s respect.
"Then I will wait."
Yu Qingmei nodded.
"If a class resonance event occurs, do not accept the first token offered unless you understand its cost."
Again, the same warning.
Power offered by the Tower was not always free.
At the Qin Estate, preparations became solemn.
Qin Wanshan opened an old family chamber not used since Qin Yuheng was a child. Inside stood weapon racks, command flags, sealed boxes, and a stone wall carved with old Qin characters.
No bloodline activation.
No inheritance opening.
Only preparation.
Qin Wanshan placed a hand on the stone wall.
"The Qin family once had many class paths. Spear commanders. Seal guardians. Formation generals. War alchemists. Bloodline sovereign paths much later. Most are not suitable now."
He turned to Qin Yuheng.
"You must not chase ancient glory before building present strength."
"I understand."
Gu Tianhe gave him a small command flag.
Not high grade.
Symbolic.
"This is a training flag. Carry it into Floor 20 if allowed. Not as an artifact. As a reminder."
Qin Yuheng accepted it.
Qin Zhengyuan gave him different advice.
"If the Tower asks whether you lead for power or protection, do not answer too quickly. Both answers can be traps."
"What is the right answer?"
His father smiled.
"You will know if you are honest."
Mu Qinglan placed a moon-white mark on his wrist.
"Temporary protection. If a class vision tries to bind your soul, this will sting."
Qin Mo saw the mark and whispered, "I want one."
Mu Qinglan looked at him.
"You may have a weaker one."
Qin Mo immediately offered his wrist.
"I accept all maternal anti-death blessings."
Qin Lian and Qin Yuchen received marks too.
Before entry, Qin Yuheng prepared the class materials in hidden storage but did not fuse them.
Core materials:
S Grade Tri-Gate Class Token Fragment
A Grade Gate Resonance Fragment
S Grade Purified Broken Spear Class Token Fragment
A Grade Class Token Fragment
S Grade Team Battle Formation Crystal
S Grade Beacon Command Crystal
S Grade Black Wind Route Command Token
S Grade Caravan Soul Banner
S Grade Victory Banner Fragment
A Grade Duel Law Crystal
Remnant Captain’s Spear Art Fragment
He had more, but these formed the main theme.
Gate.
Thunder.
Command. freewёbnoνel.com
Team.
Spear support.
Law resistance.
He did not include dream, echo, poison, ice, or market fragments. Those would support equipment and defenses, not class identity.
The class soup would not become poison.
On entry day, more instructors than usual gathered.
Han Shuren stood with arms crossed.
"Remember, clearing is enough."
Qin Mo nodded vigorously.
Qin Yuheng smiled.
Han Shuren sighed. freewebnoveℓ.com
"You never fully agree with that sentence."
Yu Qingmei said only, "Return with yourselves intact."
The Tower gate opened.
The light was neither white nor gold.
It was layered.
Red.
Blue.
Black.
Gold.
Gray.
Many colors from their previous floors twisted together.
A message appeared before entry.
[Floor 20: Second Gate Path Trial]
[Unawakened class path detected.]
[Multiple compatible class fragments detected.]
[Composite class resonance possible.]
[Proceed?]
Qin Yuheng looked at his team.
Qin Yuchen nodded.
Qin Lian nodded.
Qin Mo sighed and nodded.
Qin Yuheng selected yes.
The world changed.
He stood alone in a vast hall of gates.
Thousands of gates.
Some made of thunder.
Some of spear.
Some of shadow.
Some of blood.
Some of moonlight.
Some of gold.
Some of chains.
Some of crowns.
A voice like Tower law echoed.
[Choose your path.]
Qin Yuheng looked at the gates.
Then at his empty hands.
The training flag Gu Tianhe had given him appeared in his grasp.
He planted it into the ground.
"I do not choose alone."
The hall trembled.
Three lights appeared behind him.
Qin Yuchen.
Qin Lian.
Qin Mo.
The team trial had begun.
