Free Web NovelChapter 121: Chapter 121: A Commander’s First Field
Qin Yuheng’s first use of Gate Thunder Command Field did not happen in the Tower.
It happened in the Qin Estate’s underground training ground.
Gu Tianhe insisted.
"If a commander cannot control a field in training, he should not test it in battle."
Qin Yuheng agreed.
Participants were limited: Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, Qin Mo, Qin Feng, Qin Ruyan, and twelve Heaven Silence Core candidates. Qin Wanshan, Qin Zhengyuan, Mu Qinglan, and Gu Tianhe observed. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Qin Mo stood inside the training field and whispered, "I dislike being part of experiments."
Qin Feng grinned.
"I like it."
"That is why we are different people."
Qin Yuheng stood at the center.
The class skill rested inside him like a folded banner of thunder and gate light. He could feel its structure: not domination, not command chains, not forced obedience. It required willingness. The allies inside the field had to accept his command intent.
That limitation reassured him.
A power that could control unwilling allies would have been dangerous.
He activated the skill.
A faint gate-shaped halo opened beneath his feet.
Thunder lines spread outward across the ground, forming a thirty-meter field. They were not violent. They pulsed like signals.
Qin Yuchen’s eyes sharpened.
Qin Lian’s posture shifted.
Qin Mo blinked.
"Oh. That is... actually clear."
Qin Feng rolled his shoulders.
"I feel faster."
Qin Ruyan frowned.
"Not faster. More synchronized."
The twelve candidates adjusted almost instantly, their formation becoming tighter.
Qin Yuheng felt all of them.
Not their thoughts.
Positions.
Readiness.
Pressure.
Delays.
It was like seeing a battlefield map through instinct.
Gu Tianhe’s eyes brightened.
"Begin."
The first drill was simple: defend against puppet attackers.
Tie Zhenshan had prepared six early guardian puppets based on Stone Puppet Hall blueprints. They were weaker than Tower bosses but strong enough for formation training.
The puppets attacked.
Qin Yuheng gave short commands.
"Left hold."
"Right shift."
"Feng, break center."
"Ruyan, lightning cut after impact."
"Mo, anchor."
"Lian, rear mark."
The response was immediate.
Not perfect.
But smoother than ever.
Qin Feng charged too aggressively, but Qin Yuheng sensed it and corrected before the formation opened.
Qin Mo placed a formation half a breath faster because the command field clarified timing.
Qin Lian moved into blind spots without needing spoken instruction.
Qin Yuchen supported gaps with calm precision.
The puppets were defeated quickly.
Then Gu Tianhe increased difficulty.
Twelve puppets.
Then mixed ranged attacks.
Then confusion smoke.
The command field resisted confusion, but Qin Yuheng felt the burden rise. Every ally inside the field added weight. Twelve candidates plus Qin younger generation was far harder than four teammates.
After fifteen minutes, sweat formed on his forehead.
Mu Qinglan noticed.
"Enough."
Gu Tianhe nodded.
"Stop."
Qin Yuheng released the field.
The gate halo faded.
His mind felt heavy but not damaged.
Qin Zhengyuan approached.
"What did you learn?"
Qin Yuheng thought for a moment.
"Four-person team is easy. Ten to twenty allies is possible but tiring. More than that is dangerous for now."
Gu Tianhe nodded.
"Good. Do not command an army with a skill meant for a squad until your spirit grows."
Qin Wanshan looked pleased.
"The class is strong."
"Yes," Qin Zhengyuan said. "But it will punish arrogance."
Qin Mo walked over.
"I have feedback."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
"The field is useful. I hate admitting it. It made timing clearer without making me feel controlled."
"That is important."
"Also, please do not include me in twelve-puppet drills without warning."
"No promise."
Qin Mo sighed.
Qin Feng was excited.
"With this field, group battles will be amazing."
Qin Ruyan looked at him sharply.
"Only if you listen."
"I listened!"
"You almost broke left formation."
"I fixed it."
"Because Yuheng corrected you."
Qin Feng laughed.
"Then the field works."
The training confirmed the class’s value.
It also confirmed its limits.
Later, Qin Yuheng recorded the skill notes:
Gate Thunder Command Field — Initial Findings:
Best with 4–8 allies.
Usable with 12–20 trained allies for short duration.
Mental burden rises sharply with untrained or emotionally unstable allies.
Cannot force unwilling targets.
Improves timing, confusion resistance, and minor thunder reinforcement.
Works best with clear command phrases and pre-trained formations.
This was not merely a combat skill.
It was the foundation of future team and army tactics.
Gu Tianhe began designing a Silent Heaven squad formation compatible with Qin Yuheng’s field, but Qin Wanshan forbade large-scale testing.
"Too early," he said.
Qin Yuheng agreed.
At the academy, he reported only the public version of his class skill: improved team command field with thunder attribute. Yu Qingmei accepted that without pressing for all details.
She did, however, warn him.
"Commander classes attract followers."
"I know."
"No. You will know when people begin asking to follow you for the wrong reasons."
That came sooner than expected.
Within a week, three students requested to join Qin Yuheng’s team.
Then seven.
Then a small group proposed forming a Qin-led academy faction.
Qin Yuheng refused all.
Politely.
Firmly.
His current team was not expanding casually.
A larger force required structure, trust, and purpose.
Not admiration.
This refusal disappointed many students but impressed some instructors.
Wei Chen approved.
"Too many followers weaken a team if they only follow reputation."
Lin Xian’er smiled.
"You are rejecting influence."
"I am delaying it."
"Better."
Meanwhile, Floor 21 opened in the academy records.
[Floor 21: Iron Rain Fortress]
Type:
Siege defense / weapon storm / fortress command
Recommended:
Commander class, formation support, defensive equipment.
Warning:
Fortress command authority may be offered.
Accepting authority increases reward and responsibility.
Qin Mo stared at the file.
"Commander class, fortress command, responsibility. The Tower saw your new class and immediately found work."
Qin Yuheng looked at the warning.
Fortress command authority may be offered.
Accepting authority increases reward and responsibility.
Commander’s Burden had begun.
Qin Zhengyuan’s words returned.
Burden is different from missions.
Qin Yuheng closed the file.
"Then we prepare properly."
The first twenty floors had built the foundation.
From now on, the Tower would test what kind of commander he would become.
