Free Web NovelChapter 151: Chapter 151: Before the Third Gate
Heavenly Gate Academy treated Floor 30 differently from Floor 20.
The First Gate tested foundation.
The Second Gate recognized class path.
The Third Gate tested whether that path could survive contradiction.
That was how Yu Qingmei explained it.
"Many climbers awaken strong classes at Floor 20," she said. "Then they spend the next ten floors believing strength means correctness. Floor 30 breaks that belief."
Qin Mo raised a hand.
"Can we choose not to have beliefs?"
"No."
"Unfortunate."
Yu Qingmei displayed the known Floor 30 patterns.
[Third Gate Known Trial Themes]
- Class burden confrontation
- Team dependency pressure
- Authority temptation
- Unresolved emotional weight
- Path contradiction
- Enemy interference if previously marked
The final line mattered.
Qin Yuheng’s team had been repeatedly marked by Blood Sun interference, rival corruption, class contamination, and Crimson Eclipse clues. The Third Gate might use those traces.
Or Blood Sun might attempt something again.
Yu Qingmei said, "We will secure entry timing and monitor external fluctuations. But inside the gate, your choices matter most."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
The team spent three days preparing.
Qin Yuchen focused on independent defense scenarios. If Floor 30 separated them, he needed to protect himself and others without waiting for Qin Yuheng.
Qin Lian trained against memory-shadow traps.
Qin Mo prepared anti-law, anti-contract, anti-separation, and anti-knowledge backlash tools, then complained that his storage looked like "a paranoid scholar’s funeral kit."
Qin Yuheng trained with Gate Thunder Command Field, but only lightly. He did not want to enter Floor 30 mentally fatigued.
At the Qin Estate, Qin Zhengyuan gave him one final piece of advice.
"The Third Gate may show you me."
"I expected that."
"It may ask you to choose between healing me and protecting your team."
Qin Yuheng’s face changed slightly.
Qin Zhengyuan continued, "If it does, choose correctly."
Qin Yuheng did not answer immediately.
His father smiled faintly.
"Your team is alive inside the trial. I am outside it. Do not sacrifice the living present to a projected burden."
Qin Yuheng lowered his eyes.
"I understand."
Mu Qinglan placed another moon mark on his wrist, stronger this time.
"If a vision of me tells you to use void moon records, ignore it."
Qin Yuheng looked at her.
She smiled faintly.
"One day I will explain."
"Not now?"
"Not before the Third Gate."
Qin Wanshan gave no long speech.
He only placed a hand on Qin Yuheng’s shoulder.
"Return."
A simple word.
Not a vow.
A hope.
The team entered Floor 30 under heavy academy supervision.
The Tower gate opened into darkness.
A message appeared.
[Entering Floor 30: Third Gate — Path and Burden Trial.]
[Class: Tri-Gate Thunder War Commander detected.]
[Unresolved burdens detected.]
[Crimson Eclipse knowledge detected.]
[Team path anchor detected.]
[Trial adapting.]
Qin Mo stared at the messages.
"It is reading everything."
The darkness split.
Four roads appeared.
One for each team member.
But unlike the Hall of Thousand Paths, this time the roads did not offer individual power.
They showed burdens.
Qin Yuchen’s road led to a gate under attack.
Qin Lian’s road led to a shadow bridge.
Qin Mo’s road led to a collapsing formation hall.
Qin Yuheng’s road led to a treatment chamber where Qin Zhengyuan lay beneath a black-red eclipse.
A panel appeared.
[Third Gate Trial Phase One]
[Each member must face personal burden.]
[Team link limited but not severed.]
[Warning]
Helping another before stabilizing yourself may transfer burden instability.
Qin Mo swallowed.
"So we cannot rush to help."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Stabilize first. Then reconnect."
Qin Yuchen gripped his sword. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
"Clear."
Qin Lian vanished into her road.
Qin Mo looked at his collapsing formation hall and sighed.
"Of course mine is work."
The four roads separated.
Qin Yuheng walked toward the treatment chamber.
Inside, Qin Zhengyuan lay surrounded by Crimson Eclipse chains.
A voice whispered:
"Heal him now."
Before Qin Yuheng appeared a reward panel.
[Offer: Immediate Anchor Suppression]
[Cost:
Abandon team link for remainder of trial.
Accept / Refuse]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes became cold.
The Third Gate had begun exactly where his father warned.
