Free Web NovelChapter 17: Chapter 17: The Challenge Before the Tower
The next three days at Heavenly Gate Academy were anything but peaceful.
The Newcomer Trial rankings had changed the atmosphere around Qin Yuheng completely. Before the trial, most students had viewed him as a failed heir who had barely salvaged his future with a Talent Fruit. After the trial, those same students no longer mocked him openly.
But silence did not mean acceptance.
It meant uncertainty.
And uncertainty was often more dangerous than contempt.
Whenever Qin Yuheng walked through the academy grounds, he could feel gazes following him. Some were curious. Some were cautious. Some were calculating. The Core Class students especially watched him with sharper eyes, trying to decide whether his performance had been a lucky result of teamwork and terrain or proof that he was hiding real strength.
Qin Yuheng did not mind.
He attended Tower Theory lessons, combat foundation lectures, and equipment maintenance classes as usual. He took notes seriously, asked few questions, and never displayed arrogance.
This calmness only made some people more uncomfortable.
Zhao Tianyu was one of them.
On the fourth morning after the Newcomer Trial, the Core Class gathered in the Combat Arena for their first official ranking exercise.
The arena was enormous, built from layered black stone and reinforced by defensive formations. Around its sides were elevated viewing platforms where instructors and students could observe sparring matches. At the center were ten smaller combat stages, each surrounded by faint light barriers.
Han Shuren stood before the class, arms crossed.
"Today’s exercise is simple," he said. "Combat ranking."
The students immediately became alert.
"Your placement in Core Class is not enough. Within the class, rankings determine training priority, sparring partners, instructor recommendations, and certain resource opportunities. You may challenge others, but repeated malicious challenges will be punished."
His gaze swept across the students.
"Private panel disclosure is not required. Talent names are not required. Weapons may be used, but lethal force is forbidden. If an instructor orders you to stop, you stop."
Several students glanced at Zhao Tianyu.
Zhao Tianyu stood with his arms folded, his face cold. The injuries from the Newcomer Trial had mostly healed, but the humiliation had not. Losing to Qin Yuheng’s team, falling behind Wei Chen, and being saved indirectly during the beast tide had all become thorns in his heart.
Han Shuren raised a hand.
"The initial ranking will be based on academy evaluation. Challenges may begin after the list appears."
A crystal board lit up.
Core Class Initial Combat Ranking
Rank 1: Wei Chen
Rank 2: Zhao Tianyu
Rank 3: Qin Yuheng
Rank 4: Lin Xian’er
Rank 5: Guo Nan
Rank 6: Xu Bei
Rank 7: He Jun
Rank 8: Song Yi
Rank 9: Liu Ruo freeweɓnøvel.com
Rank 10: Chen Kang
The class stirred.
Qin Yuheng was ranked third.
Not first, despite his team ranking first in the Newcomer Trial.
That was reasonable. The academy had judged individual visible combat power. Wei Chen’s defense was extremely stable, Zhao Tianyu’s offensive power was publicly strong, and Qin Yuheng’s greatest visible strengths were judgment, control, and Tower adaptation. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Lin Xian’er looked at the board and smiled faintly.
Wei Chen remained calm.
Zhao Tianyu stared at Qin Yuheng.
Then he stepped forward.
"Instructor Han, I challenge Qin Yuheng."
The arena quieted instantly.
Han Shuren looked at him. "Reason?"
Zhao Tianyu said coldly, "Combat ranking clarification."
Han Shuren turned to Qin Yuheng. "Accept or decline. Declining will lower your ranking by one position but will not count as punishment."
All eyes fell on Qin Yuheng.
Qin Yuheng did not answer immediately.
Declining would make him appear weak. Accepting would give Zhao Tianyu what he wanted. But if he handled the fight properly, he could shape the image others had of him.
Zhao Tianyu wanted to force him to reveal his talent.
Qin Yuheng could allow him to see a layer.
Only a layer.
"I accept."
A murmur spread through the students.
Han Shuren nodded.
"Stage One."
Qin Yuheng and Zhao Tianyu stepped onto the combat stage.
A light barrier rose around them.
Zhao Tianyu’s eyes carried obvious hostility.
"Qin Yuheng, team tricks will not help you here."
Qin Yuheng drew his black sword.
"Then do not lose to them."
Zhao Tianyu’s face darkened.
Han Shuren’s voice sounded from outside the barrier.
"Begin!"
Zhao Tianyu moved first.
Crimson energy erupted from his body as he charged forward. His speed was fast, and his pressure was far above most new students. His talent seemed to strengthen blood, muscles, and explosive attack power. Each step cracked the stone beneath him.
Qin Yuheng did not meet him head-on.
He shifted aside and let the first punch pass.
Zhao Tianyu immediately twisted and followed with a sweeping elbow.
Qin Yuheng raised his sword horizontally.
Bang!
The impact pushed him back half a step.
The watching students reacted.
"Zhao Tianyu’s raw power is still higher."
"Qin Yuheng is avoiding direct force."
"That means his body talent may not be pure strength."
Zhao Tianyu attacked again.
Punch.
Kick.
Palm.
Shoulder charge.
His offense was aggressive and continuous. Crimson beast energy wrapped around his limbs, making each strike heavy enough to break stone.
Qin Yuheng defended and retreated.
But he did not look overwhelmed.
His footwork was precise. Every retreat was angled. Every block reduced force rather than taking it completely. Every counterattack landed near Zhao Tianyu’s wrist, elbow, shoulder, or knee—not enough to injure seriously, but enough to disrupt rhythm.
After thirty exchanges, Zhao Tianyu became irritated.
"Do you only know how to dodge?"
Qin Yuheng’s eyes remained calm.
"No."
At that moment, Zhao Tianyu stepped too far forward.
Qin Yuheng’s sword suddenly changed direction.
A faint violet-gold spark flashed along the black blade.
The sword struck Zhao Tianyu’s forearm.
Clang!
A crimson energy layer blocked most of the cut, but Zhao Tianyu’s arm still went numb.
His expression changed.
Thunder?
Before he could fully react, Qin Yuheng stepped in.
His speed increased sharply.
One strike landed on Zhao Tianyu’s shoulder guard.
Another on his ribs.
A third at his thigh.
Each strike carried a tiny thread of thunder, not enough to seriously wound, but enough to paralyze his muscles for a fraction of a second.
Zhao Tianyu roared, crimson aura expanding violently.
"Crimson Beast Break!"
His fist blasted forward with far more force than before.
Han Shuren’s eyes narrowed but did not stop the match.
Qin Yuheng finally stopped retreating.
He planted his foot, lowered his center of gravity, and circulated a controlled portion of the Primordial Thunder Emperor Body.
Violet-gold light flashed in his eyes.
His sword met the fist from the side, redirecting rather than blocking.
At the same time, his shoulder slammed into Zhao Tianyu’s chest.
Boom!
Zhao Tianyu staggered back.
Qin Yuheng’s blade stopped at his throat.
The arena became silent.
Zhao Tianyu froze.
A thin line of blood appeared where the sword edge touched his skin.
Han Shuren spoke.
"Match over. Winner, Qin Yuheng."
The barrier dropped.
Whispers exploded.
"Qin Yuheng won?"
"He defeated Zhao Tianyu one-on-one?"
"That thunder energy..."
"So his Talent Fruit awakened a thunder-body talent?"
"Maybe A-grade compatibility?"
Zhao Tianyu’s face turned pale, then red.
He stepped back and clenched his fists.
"I was careless."
Qin Yuheng sheathed his sword.
"Then be less careless next time."
Zhao Tianyu’s eyes burned with anger, but Han Shuren’s presence forced him to remain silent.
On the viewing platform, Lin Xian’er watched Qin Yuheng with thoughtful eyes.
Wei Chen crossed his arms.
"He held back," Wei Chen said quietly.
Lin Xian’er smiled. "Of course he did."
"You noticed too?"
"He wanted everyone to conclude that his talent is thunder-body enhancement."
Wei Chen looked at her. "Is it not?"
Lin Xian’er’s smile deepened slightly.
"It might be. But Qin Yuheng seems like someone who lets others see the answer he wants them to believe."
Below, Han Shuren updated the ranking.
Core Class Combat Ranking Updated
Rank 1: Wei Chen
Rank 2: Qin Yuheng
Rank 3: Zhao Tianyu
Rank 4: Lin Xian’er
Zhao Tianyu dropped to third.
Qin Yuheng rose to second.
The result spread through the academy before noon.
By evening, it had already reached the Zhao family.
And deep in a quiet room outside Heavenly Gate Academy, a man in a dark red robe listened to a report from a kneeling subordinate.
The man’s face was pale, and a black circle with a crimson sun symbol was embroidered on his sleeve.
Blood Sun Hall.
The subordinate said, "Qin Yuheng was first recorded as Not Awakened. Later, his status changed after suspected Talent Fruit consumption. Today, he defeated Zhao Tianyu and displayed faint thunder energy."
The man tapped the table lightly.
"Only thunder?"
"Yes, Envoy Xue."
Xue Rong’s eyes narrowed.
"The Qin family would not waste an A-grade Talent Fruit on a useless body talent unless they had no choice. Continue observing."
"Yes."
After the subordinate left, Xue Rong opened a thin file.
At the top was Qin Zhengyuan’s name.
Below it was written:
Primordial Seal Wound — unstable but contained.
Qin family bloodline activity — dormant.
Next generation observation — low priority.
Xue Rong dipped his brush into red ink.
After a moment, he changed the last line.
Next generation observation — medium priority.
The brush stopped.
Then he added another note.
Qin Yuheng: growth speed abnormal. Verify whether Talent Fruit explanation is sufficient.
Outside the window, the evening sky darkened.
Qin Yuheng had won a simple academy challenge.
But far beyond the arena, another eye had opened.
