Tower of Origin: I Evolve All Rewards

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Controlled Combat Demonstration

The combat demonstration took place in Heavenly Gate Academy’s largest inner arena.

This arena was different from the student ranking platforms. It had layered barriers, instructor supervision towers, medical arrays, and observation seats reserved for delegates. The purpose was not entertainment, though many students wished it were.

It was evaluation.

Yu Qingmei selected the formats carefully.

No uncontrolled duels.

No forced grudge matches.

No outsider choosing opponents freely.

The first demonstration was team defense.

Qin Yuheng’s team faced a rotating puppet assault enhanced by academy formations. Qin Mo immediately looked suspicious.

"Why are there so many puppets lately?"

Han Shuren said, "Because they do not complain."

Qin Mo looked offended.

The demonstration began.

The puppets attacked in waves: shield, spear, ranged, flanking, heavy hammer. Qin Yuheng used Gate Thunder Command Field lightly, enough for coordination but not full class exposure. Qin Yuchen held the forward pressure. Qin Lian eliminated ranged cores. Qin Mo controlled terrain with compact formations.

The delegates watched closely.

Han Zhaolie noted battlefield response.

Bai Chengsu noted class aura control.

Su Mei noted resource efficiency.

Jiang Yuexuan watched the spaces between commands.

The team cleared the scenario cleanly.

Not overwhelmingly.

Cleanly.

That was Qin Yuheng’s intention.

The second demonstration paired mixed students against environmental hazards. Wei Chen and Zhao Tianyu joined Qin Yuheng’s group again.

This time, the environment simulated collapsing bridges, false signals, and beast pressure.

Zhao Tianyu performed better than expected.

He still moved aggressively, but he no longer ignored all commands. Once, he almost overextended, then stopped himself before Qin Yuheng spoke.

Qin Yuheng noticed.

So did Zhao Lan, watching from the student section.

So did Mo Cangyan’s hidden observer outside the academy barrier.

The third demonstration was individual controlled combat.

Qin Yuheng was asked to show class-compatible combat against an instructor puppet rated above his level but below lethal danger.

The puppet wielded spear and shield.

Its style resembled fortress guardians.

Qin Yuheng chose not to use overwhelming thunder.

He demonstrated:

War Thunder Advance for pressure.

Limited Thunder Shadow Flash for repositioning.

Command-field self-stabilization.

Sword precision against shield openings.

Controlled response under simulated ally distress signals.

The puppet attempted to bait him with false distress markers.

He ignored two and responded to one real marker.

Bai Chengsu’s eyes lit.

"Judgment under emotional bait remains stable."

Han Zhaolie nodded.

"Battlefield usable."

Su Mei smiled.

"Expensive."

Jiang Yuexuan said nothing.

At the end, the puppet’s shield cracked, and Qin Yuheng stopped his sword one inch from its core.

Demonstration complete.

Applause came from students.

The delegates discussed quietly.

Then something unexpected happened.

A senior student from another visiting group stepped forward.

He was not one of the main delegates, but an aide under Han Zhaolie. Tall, spear-wielding, with military posture.

"Captain Han," he said, "requesting controlled exchange with Qin Yuheng."

Yu Qingmei’s expression cooled.

Han Zhaolie frowned.

"This was not scheduled."

The aide saluted.

"Understood. But as a military youth representative, I wish to test commander response in direct pressure."

Qin Mo whispered, "Unscheduled duel. Suspicious."

Qin Yuheng looked at the aide.

No Blood Sun aura.

No obvious hostility.

But ambition, yes.

Jiang Yuexuan watched silently.

Yu Qingmei was about to refuse when Qin Yuheng spoke.

"I accept under academy rules."

Qin Mo turned to him.

"Why?"

"Because refusing every public test creates other problems."

The rules were set: no lethal force, no hidden artifacts, instructor stop authority active.

The aide introduced himself.

"Lu Sheng. Military Youth Division."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

"Qin Yuheng."

The duel began.

Lu Sheng was strong.

His spear style was disciplined, direct, and battlefield-trained. Unlike Zhao Tianyu’s aggression or Shen Wuji’s probing style, Lu Sheng fought with military pressure. Every thrust aimed to control space. Every step protected his centerline.

Qin Yuheng respected it.

He used sword and movement, not heavy class field.

Lu Sheng pressed.

Qin Yuheng yielded twice, then shifted angle.

The spear followed.

Good.

Lu Sheng was not easily baited.

After twenty exchanges, Lu Sheng suddenly increased pressure, forcing Qin Yuheng toward the barrier edge. It was a clean tactic.

Qin Yuheng responded with War Thunder Advance.

Not retreat.

Forward.

His sword struck the spear shaft near Lu Sheng’s grip, disrupting leverage. Then he stepped inside spear range.

Lu Sheng abandoned the long grip instantly and used the spear butt.

Qin Yuheng blocked with his forearm guard. freёwebnovel.com

Impact rang.

The audience quieted.

This was no longer a simple display.

Lu Sheng smiled slightly.

"You are controlled."

Qin Yuheng answered, "You are testing that."

"Yes."

Lu Sheng’s spear aura changed.

Not hostile.

Sharper.

Han Zhaolie’s eyes narrowed.

"Lu Sheng."

Warning.

Lu Sheng lowered his pressure slightly but continued.

Qin Yuheng decided to end it cleanly.

He activated a brief Gate Thunder Command Field—not on allies, but as self-command clarity. His timing sharpened. He watched Lu Sheng’s shoulder, wrist, foot, breath.

The next spear thrust came fast.

Qin Yuheng stepped half a pace left, caught the spear shaft with his sword guard, and struck Lu Sheng’s chest armor with his palm.

Thunder pulsed.

Controlled.

Lu Sheng staggered back three steps. freёwebnovel.com

Before he recovered, Qin Yuheng’s sword stopped at his throat.

Han Shuren called, "Match."

Lu Sheng lowered his spear and saluted.

"I lost."

Qin Yuheng withdrew his sword.

"You tested well."

Lu Sheng looked surprised, then laughed.

"Commander answer again."

The tension eased.

Han Zhaolie reprimanded Lu Sheng lightly but did not seem truly angry. The duel had revealed Qin Yuheng’s control without forcing secrets.

Jiang Yuexuan finally spoke to Bai Chengsu.

"He knows when to end without humiliating."

Bai Chengsu nodded.

"That may be rarer than talent."

The demonstrations ended.

The delegates would remain for several days, but their first assessment was complete.

That night, Yu Qingmei gave Qin Yuheng the unofficial result.

"They will recommend you for Youth Exchange Assembly candidacy."

Qin Mo looked miserable.

"Can we fail politely?"

"No," Yu Qingmei said.

Qin Yuheng asked, "Timeline?"

"Not immediate. You have time to continue floors and prepare. But the wider forces have seen enough."

Outside the academy, Mo Cangyan’s observer sent a report.

Qin Yuheng: controlled under public test.

Commander class stable.

No obvious arrogance trigger.

Possible value: key-level abnormality.

Recommendation: do not confront before Youth Exchange stage.

Mo Cangyan read the report and smiled.

"Good. Let the wider stage gather the locks. A key is most useful when many doors appear."

At the Qin Estate, Qin Yuheng stood beneath the quiet night.

Floor 31 to 35 had strengthened him.

Floor 36 to 38 had deepened the Crimson Eclipse map.

The delegates had arrived.

Jiang Yuexuan had warned him.

Blood Sun had become patient.

And somewhere ahead, the Youth Exchange Assembly waited like a battlefield wearing silk.

Qin Yuheng looked toward the Tower.

He was still only at the beginning.

But the world had finally begun to move around him.