Free Web NovelChapter 16: Chapter 16: The Hidden Seed File
Qin Yuheng did not know that his name had entered a file most academy students would never hear about.
The Hidden Seed List was not a public ranking.
It was not the Core Class.
It was not a reward board.
It was an internal observation system used by Heavenly Gate Academy to track students whose potential exceeded their visible information. Some were natural geniuses. Some had rare talents. Some possessed abnormal combat instincts. Some came from mysterious backgrounds. Others simply survived situations they should not have survived.
Being placed on the Hidden Seed List did not immediately grant glory.
It granted attention.
And attention could become opportunity or danger depending on how one handled it.
Inside the academy’s central tower, Yu Qingmei sat before a long table made of pale spirit wood. Several crystal screens floated in the air, each displaying battle scenes from the Newcomer Trial.
One screen showed Qin Yuheng stepping into the path of the Black Iron Horned Beast.
Another showed him cutting the beast’s leg joint with terrifying precision.
A third showed his sudden burst of speed when he saved an injured student from an Ironhide Wolf.
Xu Chengdao, the Hidden Seed Supervisor, stood beside the table with arms folded.
He was a thin man with ordinary features, the kind of person one might forget after seeing him once. But his eyes were extremely sharp.
"His public record says he failed natural awakening," Xu Chengdao said. "Three days later, his status changed to Awakened through suspected Talent Fruit."
Yu Qingmei nodded. "The Qin family submitted legal verification. No issue there."
"The talent type?" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
"Not disclosed."
"Estimated?"
Yu Qingmei tapped the screen. "Body enhancement, possibly thunder or metal compatibility. His weapon showed faint energy conduction during the trial."
Xu Chengdao looked at the image carefully.
"The sword is not ordinary."
"No."
"Family resource?"
"Likely."
Xu Chengdao smiled faintly. "The Qin family still has hidden bones."
Yu Qingmei did not respond immediately.
After a moment, she said, "The Qin family has always had hidden bones. The question is whether those bones still have blood."
Xu Chengdao looked at her.
"You think Qin Yuheng is proof?"
"I think he is a beginning."
The screen changed to display Qin Yuheng’s test results.
Qin Yuheng
Public Talent Status: Awakened
Known Awakening Method: Talent Fruit after initial failure
Stat Pressure Test: Sixth Section
Combat Puppet Test: Excellent control
Tower Adaptation Test: Twelve minutes
Newcomer Trial: Team Rank 1
Hidden Event Contribution: Rank 1 at Safe Zone Three
Notes:
- Concealed strength suspected
- Strong battlefield judgment
- High emotional control
- Excellent team command
- Possible body-type combat talent
- Possible high Tower Law compatibility
Xu Chengdao read the notes.
"His visible strength is not outrageous. But his decision-making is too mature for a new climber."
Yu Qingmei agreed.
"During the beast tide, he did not chase kills. He stabilized weak points, assigned roles, preserved morale, used Wei Chen properly, and even saved Zhao Tianyu because losing Zhao would weaken the right side."
"That is not talent," Xu Chengdao said.
"No. That is mind."
Xu Chengdao looked at the screen again.
"Hidden Seed preliminary candidate is reasonable. But do not promote him too quickly. If he is hiding something, pressure will reveal it. If we reward him too much, others may target him before he is ready."
Yu Qingmei smiled slightly.
"Zhao Tianyu has already targeted him."
"Zhao Tianyu is not enough."
"Perhaps not."
Xu Chengdao placed a seal on Qin Yuheng’s file.
[Hidden Seed Preliminary Candidate]
Name: Qin Yuheng
Observation Priority: Medium-High
Direct Interference: Not recommended
Resource Pressure: Moderate
Suggested Method: Assign controlled high-difficulty missions and observe growth.
The file closed.
At the same time, Qin Yuheng was entering the academy’s Mission Hall.
He had come to inspect merit point exchange options.
The Mission Hall was one of the busiest places in Heavenly Gate Academy. Its walls were covered in floating boards displaying missions, exchange lists, training room availability, and Tower preparation notices. Students moved between counters, some excited, some exhausted, some arguing over team assignments.
Qin Yuheng walked to the exchange board.
His academy badge showed his current merit balance.
Academy Merit Points: 120
Additional Team Bonus: 40
Total Available: 160
The exchange list was long.
E Grade Recovery Pill: 2 merit points
D Grade Recovery Pill: 8 merit points
D Grade Defensive Talisman: 10 merit points
C Grade Beast Core: 30 merit points
C Grade Training Room Access: 50 merit points per day
C Grade Skill Book Fragment: 80 merit points
B Grade Tower Entry Preparation Package: 150 merit points
Inventory Expansion Stone Fragment: 100 merit points
Black Iron Body Tempering Liquid: 60 merit points
Tower Theory Advanced Notes: 40 merit points
Qin Yuheng studied the list.
For ordinary students, 160 merit points was a strong starting amount but not enough to buy everything. They would need to choose between pills, equipment, training access, and Tower preparation.
For Qin Yuheng, every item had another layer of value.
Even low-grade items could become treasures.
But merit points were publicly recorded. If he bought strange quantities, someone might notice.
He needed purchases that made sense.
After considering, he selected three things.
B Grade Tower Entry Preparation Package — 150 merit points
Tower Theory Advanced Notes — 40 merit points
He did not have enough for both with his personal points alone, but team bonuses could be partially transferred by agreement. Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, and Qin Mo each contributed some points after discussion, because the advanced notes could be shared.
The package contained practical items.
[B Grade Tower Entry Preparation Package]
Contents:
D Grade Recovery Pill x10
D Grade Mana Recovery Pill x5
D Grade Antidote Pill x5
D Grade Defensive Talisman x5
D Grade Emergency Return Talisman x1
C Grade Beginner Tower Map Fragment x1
For academy students preparing to enter the first Tower floor, this was extremely useful.
For Qin Yuheng, it was even better.
Each stack could be evolved later.
The Emergency Return Talisman especially caught his attention.
[D Grade Emergency Return Talisman]
[Effect: After activation, creates a short-distance emergency escape mark within permitted low-level Tower zones.]
[Limitation: Cannot bypass sealed boss arenas or special mission restrictions.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
Escape items were life-saving.
Quality Enhancement might make it powerful enough to save him in a critical moment.
He stored it carefully.
The Tower Theory Advanced Notes were delivered as a crystal tablet. Qin Yuheng browsed them briefly and found information about early Tower floors, reward evaluation, hidden mission signs, altar mechanisms, and survival mistakes made by new climbers.
This was worth the cost.
Knowledge could increase the value of every evolution decision.
As Qin Yuheng left the exchange counter, he saw Lin Xian’er waiting near a mission board.
She smiled when he approached.
"Rank one of the Newcomer Trial. Congratulations."
"You already congratulated me once."
"That was before you took first place."
Qin Yuheng looked at her.
"What information are you selling this time?"
Lin Xian’er’s smile became more genuine.
"You learn quickly."
"Information merchants do not wait without reason."
"Fair." She handed him a folded paper. "This one is free."
Qin Yuheng did not take it immediately.
Lin Xian’er said, "It concerns the Zhao family."
Qin Yuheng accepted the paper and opened it.
There were only a few lines.
Zhao Tianyu met Zhao Lan after the trial.
Zhao family dissatisfied with public loss.
Possible challenge during Core Class combat ranking.
Zhao side may attempt to force weapon or talent exposure.
Qin Yuheng folded the paper.
"Why give this to me?"
"Because if Zhao Tianyu suppresses you, the Zhao family gains momentum. If you suppress Zhao Tianyu too hard, the Zhao family becomes reckless. Both outcomes affect Heavenly Gate City’s balance."
"So you want me to win, but not too much."
Lin Xian’er smiled.
"I want to see whether you can."
Qin Yuheng looked at her for a moment.
"You are honest in a complicated way."
"I will take that as praise."
Before leaving, Lin Xian’er added, "Be careful. Zhao Tianyu is prideful, but he is not the only Zhao in the academy."
After she walked away, Qin Yuchen emerged from the side.
"She is using us."
Qin Yuheng nodded. "Yes." freeweɓnøvel.com
"Then why listen?"
"Because useful information remains useful even when the source has motives."
Qin Yuchen thought about that.
Then he asked, "Will Zhao Tianyu challenge you?"
"Probably."
"What will you do?"
Qin Yuheng looked toward the Combat Arena visible beyond the Mission Hall windows.
"I will let him think he forced me to reveal something."
Qin Yuchen’s eyes moved.
"But not the real thing."
Qin Yuheng smiled.
"Exactly."
That night, Qin Yuheng returned to his room and opened the Tower Entry Preparation Package.
He separated each item carefully.
The Emergency Return Talisman came first.
[D Grade Emergency Return Talisman]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
"Quality Enhancement."
The talisman glowed silver.
[Evolution successful.]
[D Grade Emergency Return Talisman]
↓
[A Grade Spatial Retreat Talisman]
[Effect: Instantly retreats user and up to three marked allies to a pre-set safe point within allowed low-to-mid level Tower rules.]
[Limitation: Cannot escape absolute sealed domains, death trials, or Tower Law punishment zones.]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes softened slightly.
User and up to three marked allies.
That meant his current team.
A life-saving card.
He stored it in the safest inventory slot.
Then he looked toward the distant silhouette of the Heavenly Gate Tower outside his window.
The Newcomer Trial was over.
The academy had noticed him.
The Zhao family was moving.
And soon, he would enter the real Tower for the first time.
The thought did not frighten him.
It made his blood quietly heat.
Because inside the Tower, every danger would carry a reward.
And every reward could evolve.
