Free Web NovelChapter 171: Chapter 171: Central Eastern Tower City
The academy vessel flew for almost two days.
During the journey, Heavenly Gate City disappeared behind clouds, mountains, and distance. The world beneath the vessel changed from familiar forests and academy towns into broader roads, larger trade routes, fortified cities, and Tower-controlled zones guarded by military banners.
Qin Yuheng spent most of the trip in quiet observation.
The real world looked peaceful from above, but the number of fortified roads told another story. Every major route had defensive stations. Every city had Tower-response squads. Every mountain pass contained beacon towers, formation walls, or emergency shelters.
The Tower had changed civilization too deeply.
People spoke of modern society, family politics, academies, auctions, and youth assemblies, but beneath all of it was the same truth: humanity lived under the shadow of ancient Towers, and every strong climber became part of that survival structure whether they wished to or not.
Qin Mo leaned over the vessel railing and looked down at a massive road fortress.
"That is not a road checkpoint," he said. "That is a small war machine."
Yu Qingmei stood behind him.
"Central routes are protected more heavily. Beast outbreaks, rogue climbers, ruin leaks, cult movement, corrupted resources, Tower storms—many threats move along trade roads."
Qin Mo turned pale.
"I liked roads more before this explanation."
Lin Xian’er smiled. "You liked roads because you did not know what roads carried."
"That is not comforting."
Wei Chen, standing nearby, looked toward the horizon.
"Central Eastern Tower City should be visible soon."
As if answering him, the clouds ahead parted.
Qin Yuheng saw it.
Central Eastern Tower City was enormous.
Heavenly Gate City had always felt large to him, but compared to the city ahead, it was like a regional capital beside an imperial fortress. Central Eastern Tower City spread across a wide plain surrounded by three rings of walls. The outer ring held markets, residential districts, transport hubs, and guild compounds. The middle ring contained academies, military barracks, auction towers, administrative halls, and ancient family residences. The inner ring surrounded the Tower itself.
And the Tower...
It pierced the sky like a dark-gold pillar of law.
It was wider than Heavenly Gate Tower, older in aura, and wrapped in layers of rotating runes that could be seen even from the air. Around its base floated platforms, bridges, and suspended buildings built by powerful climbers and formation masters over generations.
Qin Yuheng felt the difference immediately.
This Tower had witnessed more blood.
More ambition.
More secrets.
More history.
A message appeared from the academy vessel’s formation system.
[Approaching Central Eastern Tower City airspace.]
[Identity verification required.]
[Heavenly Gate Academy delegation recognized.]
[Landing route assigned.]
The vessel descended toward a landing platform in the middle ring.
Below, other vessels had already arrived. Some carried academy emblems. Some carried military marks. Some bore merchant alliance symbols. A few had ancient family insignias that made even senior instructors look twice.
Qin Mo pointed at one black-gold vessel shaped like a blade.
"That one looks unfriendly."
Yu Qingmei glanced at it.
"Black Martial Academy."
"Are they unfriendly?"
"They prefer the word competitive."
"So yes."
Another vessel carried flowing blue banners embroidered with river stars.
Jiang Yuexuan stood near the railing of that vessel before it landed on a neighboring platform. She noticed Qin Yuheng’s gaze and gave a small nod. Not friendly, not distant. Acknowledgment.
Lin Xian’er saw it and smiled.
"Jiang family noticed you early."
Qin Yuheng did not respond.
Qin Mo looked between them.
"Should I be worried?"
"About what?" Qin Yuheng asked.
"Everyone noticing everyone. It feels expensive."
Lin Xian’er laughed softly.
"That is a good instinct."
The Heavenly Gate delegation disembarked under Yu Qingmei’s lead.
Central Eastern Tower City’s reception officers wore silver-gray uniforms and carried identity crystals. Each candidate was scanned, registered, and assigned a temporary residence zone.
When Qin Yuheng’s turn came, the crystal paused.
A line appeared.
[Candidate: Qin Yuheng]
[Affiliation: Heavenly Gate Academy]
[Status: Preliminary Core Candidate]
[Highest Recorded Floor: 40]
[Gate Status: Fourth Gate Cleared]
[Class Privacy: Protected]
The officer’s expression changed slightly.
Fourth Gate cleared.
Preliminary core candidate.
Those words carried weight.
The officer became more polite.
"Candidate Qin, your team residence is in Eastern Guest Court Seven. Academy escort access has been approved. Please avoid unauthorized private challenges before the opening ceremony."
Qin Mo muttered, "They say that because people tried." freeweɓnovel.cøm
The officer heard him and replied calmly, "Frequently."
Qin Mo stopped muttering.
Eastern Guest Court Seven was more like a small fortified estate than a dormitory. It had separate courtyards for team members, a training yard, a dining hall, study rooms, medical chambers, and privacy formations. Yu Qingmei inspected the formation layers personally before allowing the students to settle.
Qin Mo inspected them too.
"Decent," he said.
The local formation attendant looked offended.
Yu Qingmei asked, "Any issues?"
Qin Mo pointed toward the southern wall.
"Observation-reflection residue. Not active now, but someone used this formation pattern before to watch guests through decorative water mirrors."
The attendant’s face changed.
Yu Qingmei’s eyes became cold.
"Remove it."
The attendant bowed quickly.
After he left, Qin Mo looked at Qin Yuheng.
"I hate being correct."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Continue being correct."
"That is not comforting."
The first evening in Central Eastern Tower City was not peaceful.
Visitors began sending name cards almost immediately.
Black Martial Academy requested "friendly exchange."
The Merchant Alliance invited Qin Yuheng to a candidate reception auction.
The Military Youth Division sent a formal training observation note.
A family called the Meng Ancient Flame Clan sent a polite greeting.
Another family, the Jiang Celestial River Clan, sent no invitation—only a small sealed card containing one line:
Some doors open because keys arrive.
Some doors open because locks are waiting.
Be careful which one speaks first.
No signature.
But Qin Yuheng knew who sent it.
Qin Mo read the card and frowned.
"That is either helpful or ominous."
"Both," Qin Yuheng said.
Yu Qingmei ordered all unofficial invitations delayed until after the opening ceremony.
That night, Qin Yuheng stood in the guest courtyard beneath unfamiliar stars.
The city around him was alive with hidden movement.
Candidates were arriving.
Forces were measuring one another.
Merchants were setting prices.
Military observers were building lists.
Ancient families were comparing bloodlines, classes, and future value.
And somewhere in the city, Blood Sun Hall was almost certainly watching.
Qin Yuheng felt no fear.
Only clarity.
He had left the familiar board.
Now, every piece was larger.
