Free Web NovelChapter 157: Chapter 157: Floors of Preparation
Floors 34 and 35 passed, but neither was simple.
Floor 34 was Hollow Iron Mine, a deep underground mining battlefield where metal-eating worms hollowed out tunnels beneath ancient ore veins. The main mission required stabilizing three mine pillars and extracting Hollow Iron without causing collapse.
Qin Mo was central again.
He mapped vibration patterns, identified false ore walls, and prevented two tunnel collapses. Qin Yuheng’s Gate Thunder Command Field helped coordinate miners and team members under pressure. Qin Lian scouted worm tunnels. Qin Yuchen held defensive choke points.
The hidden boss was a Hollow Iron Devourer, Level 37, whose body absorbed metal weapons. Qin Yuheng had to switch tactics, using thunder pulses and stone-supported strikes rather than letting his sword remain in contact too long.
SSS evaluation.
Rewards included Hollow Iron Core, Mine Stabilization Blueprint, Metal Devourer Tooth, and Earth Pulse Crystal.
After evolution, the SSS Grade Earth-Iron Pulse Stabilization Core became valuable for Qin Estate underground defenses and Crimson Eclipse anchor mapping. Qin Mo used it to stabilize the observation chamber so that Qin Zhengyuan’s ritual map could be studied with less risk.
Floor 35 was more dangerous emotionally.
Weeping Hero Memorial.
A battlefield memorial floor where fallen heroes repeated their final battles. The mission required identifying which memorial spirits were true heroes and which were false glory parasites feeding on worship.
Qin Feng would have loved the heroic atmosphere.
That made Qin Yuheng cautious.
The floor tried to lure him with praise.
"Commander, lead us."
"Hero, accept the banner."
"Savior, let your name be carved."
After Silent Ash Monastery and Mist Crown City, he recognized the trap.
True hero spirits did not demand worship. They wanted unfinished truths corrected.
False glory parasites wanted names, statues, and oaths.
The team freed seven true memorial spirits and destroyed the Glory-Eating False Hero, Level 38.
SSS evaluation.
Rewards included Hero Memory Crystal, False Glory Severing Blade, Memorial Banner Fragment, and Spirit Honor Stone.
The evolved SSS Grade True Honor Memory Crystal became important for the Silent Heaven Army. Gu Tianhe used it in training not to create blind heroism, but to teach soldiers the difference between sacrifice and vanity.
Qin Yuheng’s class responded subtly. freewebnovel.cσ๓
Commander’s Chosen Burden became smoother.
Not upgraded fully, but stabilized.
By now, he had reached Level 11.
Crossing Level 10 moved him formally beyond the earliest novice levels, though his actual combat foundation far exceeded most at his level.
The academy’s attitude changed again.
Heavenly Gate Academy began limiting his public floor result details. SSS evaluations still appeared in internal records, but specific hidden objectives were classified. Yu Qingmei argued successfully that repeated detailed exposure endangered a seed team.
Some city factions complained.
She ignored them.
The Central Tower Youth Exchange Assembly sent a second letter.
More formal.
More insistent.
Candidate Qin Yuheng’s post-Third-Gate achievements qualify him for preliminary observation.
Delegates may visit Heavenly Gate Academy within one month.
Yu Qingmei was displeased.
"They are coming whether invited or not."
Qin Mo looked horrified.
"Observers?"
"Yes."
"From major forces?"
"Yes."
"Will they ask questions?"
"Many."
Qin Mo turned to Qin Yuheng.
"I vote we enter the Tower and stay there." ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
"Not a solution."
Lin Xian’er provided names of possible delegates:
Jiang family observer.
Central Academy instructor.
Military youth division captain.
Merchant alliance representative.
Possibly ancient family scouts.
Jiang family.
Qin Yuheng noted the name.
Not because of romance yet.
That was far away.
But the Jiang Celestial River Clan would matter in the middle period. For now, any Jiang observer meant high-level background.
At the same time, Mo Cangyan released the second Crimson Eclipse fragment.
This one reached Yu Qingmei’s secure channel rather than the black market.
It contained useful but incomplete information about Moon Counterweight Trace.
Yu Qingmei showed it to Qin Yuheng.
"It may be bait."
"Yes."
"It may also be true."
"Yes."
The fragment stated:
Crimson Eclipse anchors require a counterweight if the target bloodline possesses strong seal resistance.
Moon-type counterweights are used to prevent premature ritual collapse.
If counterweight is removed before blood-sun layer is weakened, anchor backlash may consume the host’s spirit.
Mu Qinglan read the fragment and became silent.
Then she finally spoke.
"The moon trace may be from me."
No one moved.
Qin Yuheng looked at his mother.
Mu Qinglan’s eyes were calm but distant.
"When your father was wounded, I used my lineage power to stop the ritual from fully taking him. I thought I was sealing it externally."
Qin Zhengyuan whispered, "Qinglan..."
She continued.
"But if this record is true, Blood Sun may have adapted. My moon power became a counterweight inside the anchor."
Qin Yuheng felt the room grow heavy.
The unknown moon trace was not enemy-made.
It was his mother’s desperate protection.
And now removing it carelessly could harm his father.
The trap of truth had opened another door.
Mo Cangyan’s second leak had worked.
Not by deceiving them.
By revealing something painful.
