Free Web NovelChapter 14: Chapter 14: Hidden Event Rewards
The Black Iron Beast Tide ended as suddenly as it had begun.
After the Black Iron Horned Beast fell, the remaining beasts lost their organized momentum. Some continued attacking for a few minutes, driven by frenzy, but without the commander beast controlling the tide, their formation scattered. The students at the Western Broken Gate, exhausted but encouraged by victory, pushed them back one group at a time.
When the final Black-Claw Hound fled toward the ridge, the valley became quiet except for the heavy breathing of students and the crackle of damaged formation pillars.
No one cheered immediately.
They were too tired.
A few students simply sat down where they stood.
One injured student began laughing softly, then covered his face, as if he could not believe he was still alive.
Wei Chen leaned against his cracked shield.
Zhao Tianyu stood with the help of two teammates, face pale and pride wounded more deeply than his body.
Qin Mo slid down beside the left formation pillar and said weakly, "If another wave comes, I am pretending to be dead."
Qin Lian wiped her dagger clean. "That may not fool beasts."
"It might fool instructors."
"No, it will not."
Qin Mo closed his eyes. "Then I will simply die honestly."
Qin Yuchen checked him briefly. "You are only exhausted."
"That is what dying honestly feels like."
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly despite his own fatigue.
The third wave had pushed them hard.
He had revealed more strength than planned, but not everything. His Primordial Thunder Emperor Body had only been partially used, and Primordial Origin Evolution remained completely hidden. The visible explanation was still acceptable.
A strong body-type talent from an A-grade Talent Fruit.
Good combat foundation.
A sharp sword.
Excellent Tower adaptation.
These were impressive, but not impossible.
The true danger would come if people realized his growth speed and reward quality were abnormal.
That had to remain concealed.
The academy observer descended from the wall and approached the students.
"Safe Zone Three has completed the hidden event defense. All remaining teams will receive additional points based on contribution, survival, and command performance."
His gaze paused on Qin Yuheng.
"For now, gather all beast cores and trial materials. Do not fight over contribution resources. The recording badges have already calculated participation."
Several students looked relieved.
Without badge calculation, the commander beast’s core alone could have caused an argument.
The academy observer raised his hand, and a large floating crystal displayed the current results of Safe Zone Three.
[Safe Zone Three Hidden Event Results]
Commander Beast Slain: Yes
Defense Line Integrity: 63%
Student Casualties: 0 deaths, 7 serious injuries, 19 minor injuries
Primary Contribution:
Qin Yuheng Team
Wei Chen Team
Zhao Tianyu Team
Then team rewards appeared.
[Qin Yuheng Team Rewards]
Team Score +2,800
C Grade Black Iron Horned Beast Core x1
D Grade Beast Core Bundle x30
C Grade Trial Merit Chest x1
Academy Merit Points +120
Qin Mo opened one eye.
"Merit chest?"
Qin Lian’s gaze also sharpened slightly.
Qin Yuchen looked at Qin Yuheng. "This is valuable."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
Very valuable.
The reward chest was especially important.
A C Grade Trial Merit Chest was not a true Tower chest, but it was still a reward recognized by the academy system. If evolved, it might become far better.
Wei Chen’s team received a similar but slightly lower reward.
Zhao Tianyu’s team received fewer merit points and no commander core, which made Zhao Tianyu’s already dark expression even worse.
But he did not argue.
The recording badge had witnessed everything.
If he protested now, he would only embarrass himself further.
The academy observer continued, "The Newcomer Trial will end in one hour. Students may continue collecting remaining tokens within safe range, or return to the extraction platform."
Most teams chose to return.
They had no strength left to compete.
Qin Yuheng considered continuing for a moment, then abandoned the idea.
Greed after victory was dangerous.
They already had enough.
"Return," he said.
Qin Mo immediately stood up with surprising speed.
"Wise decision."
Qin Lian nodded. "The team is exhausted."
Qin Yuchen glanced at the western ridge. "And Zhao Tianyu still has people nearby."
Qin Yuheng looked toward Zhao Tianyu.
Their eyes met.
Zhao Tianyu’s gaze was full of anger, humiliation, and unwillingness.
Qin Yuheng did not mock him.
Mockery was unnecessary.
Victory had already spoken.
The Qin team returned to the extraction platform with Wei Chen’s team and several injured students. On the way, Wei Chen walked beside Qin Yuheng.
"You saved Zhao Tianyu," Wei Chen said.
Qin Yuheng answered calmly, "I saved the defense line."
Wei Chen looked at him for a moment, then nodded.
"Still, not everyone would have done it."
"Not everyone thinks before acting."
Wei Chen seemed to appreciate that answer.
After a moment, he said, "If there is a future team mission, I would be willing to cooperate."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
Wei Chen was not flattering him.
He was not trying to attach himself to the Qin family.
He was simply making a practical judgment after seeing Qin Yuheng’s performance.
Such people were easier to work with than those who smiled too much.
"I will remember that," Qin Yuheng said.
When they reached the extraction platform, Han Shuren was already waiting. frёeωebɳovel.com
His gaze swept across the returning students. When he saw the injuries, his face remained stern, but his eyes softened slightly.
"You survived," he said. "Good."
Some students lowered their heads, feeling strangely emotional.
Han Shuren continued, "Do not become proud. This was a controlled trial. In the real Tower, no instructor stands above the wall waiting to save you."
The emotional atmosphere disappeared immediately.
That was Han Shuren’s style.
He refused to let students become comfortable.
The airship returned near sunset.
Inside the cabin, many students fell asleep from exhaustion. Qin Mo was among the first. Qin Lian sat quietly with her eyes closed, recovering mana. Qin Yuchen reviewed the battle in silence.
Qin Yuheng sat near the window, looking down at the fading valley.
His inventory contained the real gains.
[D Grade Black Iron Spirit Liquid x11]
[A Grade Black Gold Marrow Liquid x1]
[D Grade Ironhide Wolf Alpha Core x1]
[C Grade Black Iron Horned Beast Core x1]
[D Grade Beast Core Bundle x30]
[C Grade Sealed Trial Box x1]
[C Grade Trial Merit Chest x1]
[D Grade Black Iron Formation Crystals x4]
[D Grade Stability Talismans x3]
This was more than enough to change his early foundation.
But he had to use them carefully.
When the airship arrived at Heavenly Gate Academy, the results were not announced publicly yet. The academy needed time to calculate all zones and hidden event contributions.
However, rumors spread faster than official rankings.
By the time the students left the airship, many people already knew that Qin Yuheng’s team had taken first contribution at Safe Zone Three.
Qin Ruyan approached them at the landing field.
Her eyes swept over the team, stopping on Qin Yuheng’s torn cloak and bloodstained sleeve.
"You fought the commander beast?"
Qin Mo pointed weakly at Qin Yuheng. "He did. I suffered emotionally."
Qin Ruyan ignored him.
Qin Feng walked up behind her, grinning.
"Good! That is how Qin family youths should fight!"
Qin Ruyan glared at him. "They are injured."
"Injuries heal. Cowardice does not."
Qin Lian said quietly, "That sounds like something Uncle Haoran would say."
Qin Feng laughed. "Because Father is right."
Qin Yuheng smiled slightly.
The Qin younger generation did not gather often like this outside the estate. Seeing Qin Ruyan’s pride, Qin Feng’s open excitement, Qin Yuchen’s calmness, Qin Lian’s silence, and Qin Mo’s lazy complaints, Qin Yuheng felt the shape of something forming.
Not just individual strength.
A generation.
If they grew properly, the Qin family would no longer need to hide behind old glory forever.
That night, after returning to the Qin Estate, Qin Yuheng reported the trial process to Qin Wanshan, Qin Zhengyuan, and Mu Qinglan.
He did not mention Primordial Origin Evolution.
But he did show the public rewards.
Qin Wanshan listened quietly.
When Qin Yuheng described the Black Iron Horned Beast, Qin Zhengyuan’s gaze sharpened slightly.
"Level 18 commander beast in a newcomer trial," his father said. "The academy pushed this batch harder than usual."
Mu Qinglan said softly, "Or something in the valley changed."
Qin Yuheng looked at her.
His mother’s words carried deeper meaning.
Qin Wanshan tapped the armrest of his chair.
"The Towers have been restless in recent years. Even controlled trial zones may show abnormal energy fluctuations."
Qin Yuheng remembered the beast tide’s strange organization.
The commander beast had been too intelligent.
Perhaps it was not simply a hidden event.
Perhaps the academy had also noticed this.
Qin Wanshan looked at him.
"You did well. But you exposed some strength."
"I know."
"Can you bear the attention?"
Qin Yuheng answered after a moment.
"I can bear moderate attention. Complete invisibility would limit resources. Excessive attention would be dangerous. I will stay between the two."
Qin Wanshan’s eyes revealed approval.
"Good."
After the meeting, Qin Yuheng returned to his room.
He sealed the door.
Activated the small privacy formation.
Then he took out the C Grade Trial Merit Chest.
The chest was dark bronze, with the academy emblem on top. It radiated a faint reward aura.
His panel appeared.
[C Grade Trial Merit Chest]
[Contains academy-approved trial reward.]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
[Please select evolution direction.]
1. Quantity Multiplication
2. Quality Enhancement
Qin Yuheng’s eyes became focused.
A chest was best enhanced.
"Quality Enhancement."
Origin light covered the chest.
The bronze surface darkened, then brightened with black-gold lines. The academy emblem transformed into a more ancient-looking mark.
[Evolution successful.]
[C Grade Trial Merit Chest]
↓
[A Grade Black Gold Trial Merit Chest]
[Open?]
Qin Yuheng exhaled slowly.
"Open."
The chest dissolved into light.
Three items appeared before him.
[A Grade Black Gold Marrow Liquid x3]
[A Grade Black Iron Battle Skill Book: Iron Mountain Body Guard]
[B Grade Inventory Expansion Stone x1]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes lit up.
Inventory Expansion Stone.
Exactly what he needed.
And because the items had come out of the evolved chest, they were separate products.
His panel confirmed it.
[New items detected.]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
Qin Yuheng looked at the B Grade Inventory Expansion Stone.
A slow smile appeared.
His first storage limitation was about to change.
