Free Web NovelChapter 15: Chapter 15: The Expanded Inventory
The B Grade Inventory Expansion Stone was smaller than Qin Yuheng expected.
It was a translucent gray crystal about the size of two fingers, with tiny spatial ripples moving inside it like water trapped beneath ice. Compared with the dazzling A Grade Black Gold Marrow Liquid or the heavy aura of the battle skill book, the stone looked plain.
But Qin Yuheng understood its value immediately.
Inventory space was one of the most practical foundations for any climber.
A beginner’s twenty-slot inventory seemed sufficient before entering the Tower, but after a few battles, it became painfully limited. Beast cores, herbs, ores, equipment, food, water, emergency medicine, talismans, skill books, mission items—everything required space.
Those with larger inventories could stay longer in dangerous zones, collect more materials, carry more backup equipment, and respond to sudden changes.
Those with poor storage had to abandon resources.
In the Tower, abandoning resources could mean abandoning future strength.
Qin Yuheng held the stone and summoned the panel.
[B Grade Inventory Expansion Stone]
[Effect: Increases basic system inventory capacity by 10 slots.]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
[Please select evolution direction.]
1. Quantity Multiplication
2. Quality Enhancement
Quantity Multiplication would produce many B Grade Inventory Expansion Stones. That was incredibly tempting. The Qin family’s younger generation, and perhaps even family guards, could all benefit.
But Qin Yuheng hesitated.
Could one person use multiple Inventory Expansion Stones?
Usually, yes, but there were diminishing restrictions depending on grade and personal inventory stability. Low-grade stones could only expand a limited amount before becoming ineffective. Higher-grade stones had better compatibility and fewer side effects.
If he multiplied this B-grade stone, he might gain hundreds or thousands of B-grade stones.
That was valuable for the family.
But Qin Yuheng’s own path required carrying many evolved rewards secretly. His inventory would fill quickly, and ordinary storage items could be noticed or stolen. The system inventory was safer.
For his personal foundation, quality was better.
Still, he did not decide immediately.
He took out the other rewards from the chest.
[A Grade Black Gold Marrow Liquid x3]
[A Grade Black Iron Battle Skill Book: Iron Mountain Body Guard]
The Black Gold Marrow Liquid was already A grade. He now had four vials total, including the one he had created earlier. The skill book was also interesting.
He focused on it.
[A Grade Black Iron Battle Skill Book: Iron Mountain Body Guard]
[Type: Defensive body skill]
[Effect: Condenses black iron energy around flesh, bones, and skin to reduce incoming physical damage.]
[Requirement: Strong constitution, metal or earth energy compatibility preferred.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
Qin Yuheng considered its compatibility.
His Primordial Thunder Emperor Body was thunder-based, but it also greatly strengthened flesh and bones. The Iron Mountain Body Guard was not a perfect match, yet it could provide defensive foundation. If evolved, perhaps it could become compatible with thunder or black gold energy.
But he did not want to learn too many skills immediately.
A skill book required practice. A higher-grade skill might be powerful but difficult to master. If he relied on too many advanced techniques too early, he would become unfocused.
The Inventory Expansion Stone had immediate value.
He returned his attention to it.
"Quality Enhancement."
Origin light flowed into the stone.
The gray crystal trembled, then expanded slightly. Its inner ripples deepened into a star-like void. Tiny black-gold spatial lines formed around its surface.
[Evolution successful.]
[B Grade Inventory Expansion Stone]
↓
[SS Grade Spatial Expansion Stone]
[Effect: Increases basic system inventory capacity by 100 slots.]
[Additional Effect: Stabilizes inventory space and increases future expansion compatibility.]
[Use?]
Qin Yuheng’s breathing paused.
SS grade.
Plus one hundred slots.
And future expansion compatibility.
This was far better than he expected.
"Use."
The stone dissolved into silver-black light and entered his palm.
For a moment, Qin Yuheng felt an invisible space inside him expand. It was not physical, but his perception of inventory capacity changed instantly, like a small room becoming a large hall.
The panel updated.
[System Inventory]
[Capacity: 120 slots]
[Stability: Excellent]
[Future expansion compatibility increased.]
Qin Yuheng smiled.
This alone made the Newcomer Trial worth it.
With one hundred and twenty slots, he could store many more items, separate stacks for individual evolution, and carry emergency resources without exposing storage equipment.
Next, he examined the C Grade Sealed Trial Box from the hidden cache.
Unlike the Merit Chest, this box was not part of the final hidden event reward. It had been found in the abandoned watch post. Its aura was weaker but still useful.
[C Grade Sealed Trial Box]
[Contains old academy resource.]
[Seal damaged.]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
[Please select evolution direction.]
1. Quantity Multiplication
2. Quality Enhancement
Again, he chose quality.
The box changed from dull iron to dark silver.
[Evolution successful.]
[C Grade Sealed Trial Box]
↓
[B Grade Restored Academy Resource Box]
[Open?]
Only B grade.
Not every evolution jumped to A or higher. Qin Yuheng was not disappointed. The original box was damaged; restoring it to B grade was already good.
"Open."
The box released a faint light.
[Obtained:]
[B Grade Black Iron Spirit Tempering Manual x1]
[C Grade Spirit Recovery Pill x5]
[D Grade Black Iron Formation Crystal x10]
The manual caught his attention.
[B Grade Black Iron Spirit Tempering Manual]
[Type: Auxiliary training method]
[Effect: Uses black iron energy pressure to strengthen focus, pain resistance, and basic combat will.]
[Suitable for early-stage climbers.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
This was useful for the Qin younger generation.
Not just him.
Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, Qin Mo, Qin Yuze, and even Qin Xue’er in the future could benefit from a method that strengthened focus and combat will.
Should he enhance or multiply it?
Manuals were tricky.
If multiplied, he could provide many copies. But copies of a B-grade manual were still B grade. If enhanced, he might obtain a higher-grade method and then perhaps personally copy or teach parts of it later, though he could not create system-recognized copies with the same effect.
Quality first.
He selected the manual.
[B Grade Black Iron Spirit Tempering Manual]
[Select Evolution Direction.]
"Quality Enhancement."
The manual’s pages turned black-gold, and the rough diagrams became far more refined.
[Evolution successful.]
[B Grade Black Iron Spirit Tempering Manual]
↓
[S Grade Black Gold Battle Will Tempering Method]
[Effect: Uses controlled pressure, pain, and battle intent visualization to strengthen willpower, combat focus, fear resistance, and spiritual endurance.]
[Note: Early-stage users must practice gradually.]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes grew serious.
This was not merely useful.
It was foundational.
A family with strong resources but weak will would collapse under pressure. A method that tempered battle will could shape the Qin younger generation into real climbers, not protected heirs.
He stored it carefully.
Then he looked at the C Grade Spirit Recovery Pills and D Grade Formation Crystals.
The pills could be enhanced later.
The crystals might be better multiplied for Qin Mo.
He left them unchanged for now.
Finally, Qin Yuheng took out the C Grade Black Iron Horned Beast Core.
This was the commander beast core. Its aura was violent and heavy. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
[C Grade Black Iron Horned Beast Core]
[Commander-level core.]
[Contains black iron energy, beast blood force, and charge-type battle instinct.]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
A core like this could be sold for a good price, used in forging, consumed by certain beast-type talents, or used as material for body tempering.
If enhanced, it might become an A-grade commander core.
If multiplied, it could produce many C-grade cores.
For now, Qin Yuheng stored it.
He had already used several evolutions tonight. The power itself did not seem to consume much physical energy, but each decision carried long-term consequences. He needed to avoid evolving items just because he could.
The next morning, official Newcomer Trial rankings were posted at Heavenly Gate Academy.
A large crowd gathered before the ranking board.
At the top, the first name caused immediate uproar.
Newcomer Trial Team Ranking
Rank 1: Qin Yuheng Team
Total Score: 7,920
Rank 2: Wei Chen Team
Total Score: 6,850
Rank 3: Zhao Tianyu Team
Total Score: 6,210
Rank 4: Lin Xian’er Team
Total Score: 5,940
Rank 5: He Jun Team
Total Score: 4,880
The square exploded with discussion.
"Qin Yuheng team is first?"
"They surpassed Wei Chen and Zhao Tianyu?"
"I heard they held Safe Zone Three during the beast tide."
"Wasn’t Qin Yuheng talentless at first?"
"He used a Talent Fruit, but this performance is too strong."
"Maybe the Qin family still has some foundation."
Zhao Tianyu stood in front of the ranking board, face dark enough to drip water.
Beside him, his teammates did not dare speak.
Lin Xian’er stood not far away, reading the ranking with thoughtful eyes.
When Qin Yuheng arrived with Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, and Qin Mo, the crowd unconsciously opened a path.
That was different from before.
Previously, people looked at him with mockery or pity.
Now they looked with curiosity, doubt, and caution.
Qin Yuheng remained calm.
Fame after one trial was shallow.
But it was enough to change how people approached him.
Han Shuren appeared after the students had enough time to discuss.
"Quiet."
The square immediately settled.
Han Shuren looked at the ranking board.
"The Newcomer Trial has ended. Some of you performed well. Some of you performed poorly. Some of you survived only because your teammates had more courage than you."
Several students lowered their heads.
Han Shuren continued, "Rewards will be distributed through your academy badges. Merit points can be exchanged at the Mission Hall starting tomorrow. Core Class and Elite Class students will begin official Tower preparation lessons in three days."
Then his gaze landed on Qin Yuheng.
"Qin Yuheng."
"Yes, Instructor."
"After class placement review, your team will receive additional access to the Gravity Pressure Hall and Skill Practice Pavilion."
The crowd stirred again.
Additional access.
That was a real benefit.
"Use it well," Han Shuren said.
"I will."
The announcement ended, but Qin Yuheng knew the real consequence had only begun.
More resources.
More attention.
More enemies.
And perhaps, more hidden eyes.
High above the square, in the academy’s central tower, Yu Qingmei looked at Qin Yuheng’s trial record again.
Beside her, Hidden Seed Supervisor Xu Chengdao placed a crystal file on the table.
"Should we add him to the Hidden Seed watchlist?"
Yu Qingmei tapped the record lightly.
"Not watchlist."
Xu Chengdao raised an eyebrow.
Yu Qingmei’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Preliminary candidate."
