Free Web NovelChapter 172: Chapter 172: The Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the Central Tower Youth Exchange Assembly was held in the Eastern Sky Arena, a vast circular structure built around an ancient Tower fragment.
The arena could hold tens of thousands of spectators, but the first day was not open to the public. Only candidates, instructors, delegates, family representatives, military officers, merchant observers, and approved guests were present.
That made it more dangerous, not less.
Public crowds created noise.
Private elite gatherings created pressure.
Qin Yuheng entered with Heavenly Gate Academy’s delegation. Qin Yuchen walked beside him, calm and alert. Qin Lian remained slightly behind, eyes scanning every shadow. Qin Mo carried a small notebook and looked as if he wanted to hide inside it.
Wei Chen followed with several academy seniors.
Zhao Tianyu came too, expression colder than before but no longer wildly arrogant. His aura remained unstable at the edges, yet cleaner after the removal of Blood Sun’s recall seed. Some candidates recognized him and whispered about the contamination incident.
He ignored them. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Or tried to.
Qin Yuheng noticed Zhao Tianyu’s fists tightening.
"Do not react," he said quietly.
Zhao Tianyu looked at him sharply.
"I did not ask."
"No. But you needed to hear it."
Zhao Tianyu’s expression darkened, but he did not snap back.
Progress, perhaps.
The arena floor was divided into eight candidate sections.
Heavenly Gate Academy’s section was not at the highest rank, but Qin Yuheng’s presence drew attention from stronger academies. Several gazes lingered on him.
Black Martial Academy candidates wore black and bronze uniforms. Their leader, a tall youth named Duan Xirong, looked at Qin Yuheng openly, without hiding challenge intent.
Central Academy’s candidates were more restrained. Their strongest visible candidate, Bai Yunshen, stood with calm scholarly confidence.
The Military Youth Division candidates stood in precise lines. Lu Sheng, who had dueled Qin Yuheng at Heavenly Gate Academy, gave a brief salute from a distance.
The Merchant Alliance youth representatives wore no uniform, but their storage rings, subtle defensive artifacts, and relaxed expressions revealed wealth.
Ancient family candidates were harder to read.
The Meng Ancient Flame Clan sent two youths with flame patterns on their robes.
The Jiang Celestial River Clan’s group was smaller. Jiang Yuexuan stood among them, quiet and composed, her aura like starlight reflected on deep water.
When she looked toward Qin Yuheng, her gaze did not linger.
That was deliberate.
The ceremony began when a golden bell rang from the central platform.
An elderly man in white and gold robes rose into the air.
He was introduced as Elder Su Tianheng, one of the assembly supervisors.
His voice spread through the arena.
"Young climbers, you have been gathered not to display vanity, but to test whether talent can become foundation, whether strength can become judgment, and whether ambition can survive contact with others of equal ambition."
Qin Mo whispered, "That sounded like a threat wearing poetry."
Lin Xian’er whispered back, "It was."
Elder Su continued.
"This assembly will include five main evaluation categories."
A large panel appeared above the arena.
[Central Tower Youth Exchange Assembly]
Evaluation Categories:
1. Combat Demonstration
2. Team Strategy Trial
3. Resource Judgment Trial
4. Tower Simulation Mission
5. Free Challenge Ranking
Special Assessments may occur depending on candidate performance.
Qin Yuheng focused on the fourth.
Tower Simulation Mission.
That was where interference might happen.
Elder Su’s gaze swept across the candidates.
"Private killing is forbidden. Forced contracts are forbidden. Soul-binding wagers are forbidden. Hidden corruption tools are forbidden. Violators will be punished by assembly law."
The words seemed reassuring.
But Qin Yuheng knew rules only mattered if enforcement was stronger than loopholes.
Su Mei from the Merchant Alliance sat among the observers, smiling.
Han Zhaolie sat in the military section.
Bai Chengsu represented Central Academy.
Yu Qingmei sat with Heavenly Gate instructors, expression calm but watchful.
The ceremony’s first event was candidate verification.
Each core candidate had to step onto the central platform and allow the assembly crystal to confirm basic status: name, affiliation, highest floor range, gate clearance, and class privacy category.
No full talents. No exact stats. No hidden skills.
But even limited information carried weight.
Several candidates caused murmurs.
Duan Xirong of Black Martial Academy: Floor 42, Fourth Gate cleared.
Bai Yunshen of Central Academy: Floor 43, Fourth Gate cleared.
Meng Shaoyan of Meng Ancient Flame Clan: Floor 41, Fourth Gate cleared.
Jiang Yuexuan: Floor 44, Fourth Gate cleared.
That drew attention.
Qin Mo muttered, "She is ahead."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
That was expected.
Jiang Yuexuan came from a major ancient clan with deep resources. Her strength would not be ordinary.
Then Qin Yuheng stepped onto the platform.
The assembly crystal scanned him.
For a brief moment, it paused.
Qin Yuheng felt several hidden protections in his storage warm slightly: True Self Soul Anchor, Crownless Authority Heart Fragment, Anti-Domination Crystal.
The scan did not penetrate deeply.
The panel appeared.
[Candidate: Qin Yuheng]
[Affiliation: Heavenly Gate Academy]
[Highest Confirmed Floor: 40]
[Gate Status: Fourth Gate Cleared]
[Candidate Tier: Preliminary Core]
[Class Privacy: Protected Commander-Type]
[Special Note: Recognized Banner Path]
The arena quieted.
Recognized Banner Path.
That line had not appeared for most others.
Duan Xirong’s eyes sharpened.
Bai Yunshen adjusted his glasses.
Han Zhaolie smiled slightly.
Jiang Yuexuan looked unsurprised.
Several observers began whispering.
"Banner Path at Floor 40?"
"Commander-type."
"Heavenly Gate produced this?"
"Preliminary core? Should be core candidate."
"Maybe hidden background."
Qin Yuheng stepped down calmly.
Qin Mo leaned close.
"Special note appeared."
"Yes."
"Can we ask the crystal to be less talkative?"
"No."
The verification ended.
Then Elder Su announced the first real event.
"Combat Demonstration begins tomorrow. Today, candidates may attend approved reception halls, training grounds, and information briefings. Remember: the assembly begins before the first fight."
That sentence was important.
The assembly began before the first fight.
Qin Yuheng understood immediately.
Every conversation was a test.
Every invitation was a move.
Every refusal was a signal.
That evening, Heavenly Gate Academy attended the official candidate reception.
No alcohol was served. Too many young climbers with too many secrets made that unwise.
Instead, there were tea, spirit fruits, light food, and countless polite traps.
Duan Xirong approached Qin Yuheng first.
"Qin Yuheng. I heard you defeated Lu Sheng."
Lu Sheng, standing nearby, looked annoyed but did not deny it.
Qin Yuheng answered calmly.
"A controlled exchange."
Duan Xirong smiled.
"Then perhaps we will exchange too."
"Under assembly rules."
"Of course."
His tone made "rules" sound temporary.
After he left, Bai Yunshen approached.
Unlike Duan Xirong, he was polite and measured.
"I read the anonymized Iron Rain Fortress case. Your command decision at the east breach was efficient."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
"You recognized the case?"
"It was not difficult."
Qin Mo whispered, "So much for anonymized."
Bai Yunshen smiled faintly.
"I am good at patterns."
Then Jiang Yuexuan arrived.
She did not greet Qin Yuheng first.
She greeted Yu Qingmei formally, then Qin Yuheng.
"Candidate Qin."
"Candidate Jiang."
Qin Mo looked between them and wisely said nothing.
Jiang Yuexuan’s voice was calm.
"Tomorrow’s combat demonstration may include pressure selection."
"What kind?"
"Candidates with unusual notes often receive tailored opponents."
"Banner Path?"
"Yes."
She paused.
"Do not reveal more than necessary."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Thank you."
She looked at him for a moment.
"This is not kindness yet. Consider it balance."
Then she walked away.
Qin Mo whispered, "That was helpful and confusing."
Lin Xian’er appeared from nowhere.
"Ancient family communication often is."
As the reception continued, Qin Yuheng noticed one man watching from an observer balcony.
Black-gold mask.
Calm posture.
No obvious aura.
The man looked away after only a moment.
But Qin Yuheng’s instincts sharpened.
He did not know the man’s name.
But he knew the gaze.
Not rivalry.
Not curiosity.
Evaluation.
Somewhere in Central Eastern Tower City, Blood Sun had sent someone more patient.
