Free Web NovelChapter 169: Chapter 169: Fourth Gate Settlement
The Fourth Gate settlement took longer than any previous calculation. freewёbnoνel.com
The hall of banners faded, but the Chosen Road Thunder Banner remained visible for several breaths, planted at the center of the light. Around it stood Qin Yuheng’s team and the surviving temporary force.
The Tower panel appeared.
[Floor 40: Fourth Gate — Banner of Many Roads]
[Main Mission: Lead gathered force to Fourth Gate before war storm arrival — Completed.]
[Sub-Mission: Choose one of five roads — Completed.]
[Chosen Road: Shadow Ravine Road]
[Sub-Mission: Keep total casualties below 40% — Completed.]
[Final Casualty Rate: 29%]
[Sub-Mission: Prevent internal conflict from splitting force — Completed.]
[Sub-Mission: Defeat road guardian — Completed.]
[Road Guardian: Shadow Ravine Road Guardian defeated.]
[Sub-Mission: Preserve central banner — Completed.]
[War Storm survived.]
[Banner defined:
Chosen Road Thunder Banner]
[Counter-Banner Manifestation defeated.]
[Fourth Gate cleared.]
[Class Skill unlocked:
Chosen Road Banner Field]
[Calculating final evaluation...]
Qin Mo looked at the panel.
"It is listing everything. This feels important."
Qin Yuchen said, "It was."
The result appeared.
[Final Evaluation: SSS]
Even Qin Mo did not joke immediately.
The reward list unfolded.
[SSS Evaluation Rewards]
EXP +28,000
Tower Coins x400,000
SS Grade Fourth Gate Treasure Chest x1
SSS Grade Chosen Road Thunder Banner Seed x1
SS Grade Road Unity Crystal x1
SS Grade False Loyalty Severing Stone x1
SS Grade War Storm Tempering Core x1 freeweɓnovel.cøm
S Grade Five Roads Memory Crystal x1
Special Mark: Fourth Gate Banner Bearer
Additional reward:
[Temporary Force Survival Reward]
SS Grade Mixed Force Command Manual x1
SS Grade Reluctant Trust Formation Crystal x1
Counter-banner reward:
[Crimson Eclipse Counter-Banner Defeated]
SS Grade Eclipse Dominion Residue x1
SS Grade Anti-Domination Authority Crystal x1
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened at the final item.
Anti-Domination Authority Crystal.
That was likely valuable not only against Blood Sun, but any force attempting to control armies, cities, or bloodline heirs.
The temporary force began to fade.
Ren Qingshan approached before disappearing.
"I followed without trust," he said.
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"You still held."
Ren Qingshan smiled faintly.
"Perhaps trust is not always the first step. Sometimes it is what remains after the road."
He saluted.
Then he and the remnants vanished.
The return light carried Qin Yuheng’s team back.
Heavenly Gate Academy’s sealed observation hall fell silent when the result appeared.
[Floor 40: Fourth Gate — Final Evaluation: SSS]
[Fourth Gate cleared.]
[Class Skill Development detected.]
[Banner Path recognized.]
Yu Qingmei exhaled slowly.
Han Shuren’s eyes were serious.
Principal Shen Taixuan stood from his seat.
The Central Tower delegates were present.
Bai Chengsu adjusted his glasses.
Han Zhaolie looked openly impressed.
Su Mei smiled like someone watching a rare market price rise.
Jiang Yuexuan remained quiet, but her gaze deepened.
Qin Yuheng had crossed the Fourth Gate before the Youth Exchange Assembly.
That changed everything.
Medical inspection came first.
Qin Yuheng’s mental burden was significant but stable. The healer warned against immediate Tower entry. Qin Mo was overdrawn from formation support. Qin Yuchen had several bruised ribs. Qin Lian had shadow backlash from cutting ravine anchors.
All survivable.
All requiring rest.
The debrief was classified.
Yu Qingmei asked carefully, "Your new class skill?"
Qin Yuheng described the public version.
"Chosen Road Banner Field. Similar to command field, but banner-based. Stronger morale and false loyalty resistance. Works best with willing allies. Can also protect neutral allies from domination if they do not resist."
Han Zhaolie’s expression changed.
"That is battlefield-grade."
"Yes," Yu Qingmei said.
Bai Chengsu asked, "Does it control?"
"No," Qin Yuheng said.
Jiang Yuexuan spoke softly.
"Anti-domination principle?"
Qin Yuheng looked at her.
She had guessed from his previous answers.
"Yes."
Han Zhaolie looked satisfied rather than disappointed.
"A commander who cannot dominate but can resist domination is valuable in coalition war."
Su Mei smiled.
"Also valuable in negotiations."
Qin Mo whispered, "Everyone is calculating again."
At the Qin Estate, Qin Wanshan received the Fourth Gate report with solemn pride.
"You reached Floor 40 before the assembly."
"Yes."
"Good. Now the wider stage must treat you differently."
Qin Zhengyuan looked at the Chosen Road Thunder Banner Seed.
"Be careful with this."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
The banner seed was not planted immediately.
After enhancement?
It was already SSS grade.
The panel showed eligibility for evolution but with warning.
[SSS Grade Chosen Road Thunder Banner Seed]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
[Warning:
Current evolution may exceed known grade framework and create high-visibility authority phenomenon.]
[Proceed?]
Qin Yuheng did not proceed.
No.
Not yet.
Some treasures were already powerful enough.
Evolving them too early would draw attention from forces beyond Blood Sun.
Instead, he evolved the SS Grade Fourth Gate Treasure Chest.
[SS Grade Fourth Gate Treasure Chest]
↓
[SSS Grade Ancient Fourth Gate Sovereign Banner Chest]
Contents:
[SSS Grade Fourth Gate Sovereign Banner Core x1]
[SSS Grade Road Command Heart Crystal x1]
[SS Grade Skill Book: Banner Thunder Road Command Art x1]
[SS Grade Coalition Trust Formation Blueprint x1]
[SS Grade War Storm Memory Shield x1]
The Coalition Trust Formation Blueprint excited Qin Mo despite himself.
"This can help mixed forces coordinate without mind control."
Gu Tianhe’s eyes brightened.
"Useful for alliances."
Qin Wanshan nodded.
"And for future wars where Qin family cannot stand alone."
The Anti-Domination Authority Crystal was enhanced.
[SS Grade Anti-Domination Authority Crystal]
↓
[SSS Grade Sovereign Will Anti-Domination Crystal]
Effect:
[Protects command structures, allies, and bonded formations from domination authority, crown control, hostile banner suppression, army possession, and large-scale coercive command fields.]
This became one of the Qin family’s most important strategic treasures.
They placed it deep within the command network, but not fully activated.
Too visible.
Too powerful.
Step by step.
That night, Qin Yuheng stood alone in the courtyard.
He had reached Floor 40.
He had gained a banner.
He had stabilized his class further.
But the higher he climbed, the clearer the danger became.
He was no longer merely growing.
He was becoming a center.
And centers attracted storms.
