Free Web NovelChapter 18: Chapter 18: Preparing for the First Floor
The combat ranking challenge gave Qin Yuheng exactly what he wanted.
A visible explanation.
By defeating Zhao Tianyu with controlled thunder energy, he allowed the academy, the Zhao family, and outside observers to form a convenient conclusion: Qin Yuheng had awakened a thunder-body combat talent through the Talent Fruit given by the Qin family.
It was impressive.
It was valuable.
But it was not beyond understanding.
That mattered.
A mysterious, unmeasurable talent would attract fear. A strong thunder-body talent would attract rivalry, recruitment, and caution, but not immediate desperation from major powers.
Qin Yuheng intended to keep it that way.
During the next few days, Heavenly Gate Academy entered the official Tower preparation phase.
Every student who had reached the required age and completed basic evaluation would soon receive permission to enter the first floor of the Heavenly Gate Tower. The first floor was considered an entry-level trial, but the academy repeatedly warned them that "entry-level" did not mean safe.
The Tower was not a game.
It was a law.
A world.
A battlefield.
People died on first floors every year.
In Tower Theory class, Instructor Mei Lian, a calm woman with silver-rimmed glasses and a precise voice, stood before a projection of the Heavenly Gate Tower.
"The first floor you will enter is known as the Black Stone Trial Ground," she said. "This is one of the most common first-floor environments in the eastern region, but each entry may vary slightly."
A map appeared in the air.
Black valleys.
Dead trees.
Broken caves.
Mist-covered ridges.
A central altar marked in gray.
"The main mission is usually survival for twenty-four hours. Additional missions may include monster hunting, resource collection, safe camp discovery, or special object recovery. Hidden missions may exist, but new climbers are not advised to pursue them recklessly."
Her gaze swept across the room.
"Especially those who performed well in the Newcomer Trial. Confidence kills faster than fear."
Several students looked at Qin Yuheng, Wei Chen, and Zhao Tianyu.
Mei Lian continued as if she did not notice.
"Common monsters include Black-Tooth Rats, Black Stone Hounds, Gray Claw Wolves, Stoneback Crawlers, and occasionally elite beasts such as the Black Stone Wolf King."
The projection changed to display monster images and weak points.
"Remember, the Tower’s evaluation does not reward reckless fighting alone. It evaluates survival, mission completion, combat contribution, resource discovery, hidden achievements, and sometimes choices you do not realize are being judged."
Qin Yuheng listened carefully.
The phrase "choices you do not realize are being judged" mattered.
The Tower’s law was ancient and autonomous. It did not simply count kills. It tested adaptability, courage, judgment, and sometimes morality in strange ways.
At the end of the lecture, each student received a first-floor preparation checklist.
Recommended Items for Black Stone Trial Ground:
1. Recovery medicine
2. Mana recovery medicine
3. Antidote
4. Durable weapon
5. Backup weapon
6. Defensive talisman
7. Emergency escape item
8. Food and water
9. Fire-starting tool
10. Simple shelter cloth
11. Monster identification notes
12. Team communication talisman
Qin Yuheng compared the list with his inventory.
He was far better prepared than most students.
But he still needed to decide how to use the remaining evolved resources.
That night, he gathered Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, and Qin Mo in a private room at the Qin Estate. Qin Ruyan and Qin Feng also attended, though they would not enter the first floor with the new team. As older students, they had already passed the early floors, but their experience was useful.
Qin Wanshan allowed the meeting, but did not attend.
This was a test of the younger generation’s own planning. freewēbnoveℓ.com
Qin Yuheng placed a map of the Black Stone Trial Ground on the table.
"First, team roles," he said.
"Me: front-line flexible combat and command."
"Yuchen: tactical support, weak-point attacks, secondary command."
"Qin Lian: scouting, traps, flank control, emergency rescue."
"Qin Mo: formation support, mechanism detection, defensive setup."
Qin Feng grinned. "Good. But you lack a heavy shield."
Qin Yuheng nodded. "That is a weakness."
Qin Ruyan said, "First floor monsters are manageable if you control terrain. But if you meet a boss in open ground, lack of shield pressure may become dangerous."
Qin Yuchen asked, "Should we buy a shield?"
Qin Feng shook his head. "A shield is not useful if no one trains with it. Better to use talismans and terrain."
Qin Mo raised his hand. "I vote for terrain. Terrain does not require me to be hit."
Qin Lian ignored him and looked at Qin Yuheng. "What is our objective? Safe clear or high evaluation?"
Qin Yuheng answered without hesitation.
"High evaluation, but not at the cost of exposing everything."
Qin Ruyan’s eyes sharpened.
"You want hidden missions."
"Yes."
Qin Feng laughed. "Ambitious!"
Qin Ruyan frowned. "Dangerous."
"Both," Qin Yuheng said.
He then took out several items.
D Grade Defensive Talismans.
D Grade Mana Recovery Pills.
D Grade Antidote Pills.
B Grade Jade Marrow Recovery Pills.
And four small black-gold vials.
The moment Qin Ruyan saw the vials, her expression changed.
"What are those?"
Qin Yuheng said calmly, "Black Gold Marrow Liquid. Body foundation resource. Strong effect. Must be consumed gradually."
Qin Feng leaned forward.
"Grade?"
"A grade."
The room became silent.
Qin Mo rubbed his forehead.
"I knew the answer would be troublesome."
Qin Yuchen looked at Qin Yuheng. "Brother, this is too valuable."
Qin Yuheng met his eyes.
"Then use it properly."
He pushed three vials forward.
"One for Yuchen. One for Qin Lian. One for Qin Mo."
Qin Mo immediately straightened.
"Me too?"
"You used formation support until your mana nearly collapsed during the beast tide. Your body is weaker than the rest of us. If you enter the Tower like that, you become the first target."
Qin Mo opened his mouth, then closed it.
That was true.
Qin Lian looked at the vial but did not take it.
"Why not save it for yourself?"
"I have another."
Qin Yuheng did not say he had more ways to create them.
Qin Ruyan studied him silently.
She clearly suspected something, but did not ask.
Qin Feng scratched his head. "Yuheng, giving A-grade foundation liquid before the first floor... even our Qin family did not train like this before."
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
"Then we start a new standard."
Those words made the room quiet again.
A new standard.
For some reason, everyone present felt that this was not empty pride.
Qin Yuchen accepted the vial first.
"I will not waste it."
Qin Lian followed.
Qin Mo sighed and took his vial carefully.
"If I become too strong, do I still have to run formations?"
"Yes," Qin Yuheng said.
"Unfortunate."
Over the next two days, the three consumed the Black Gold Marrow Liquid in small diluted portions under family supervision.
The effects were obvious.
Qin Yuchen’s sword grip became steadier, and his body could handle longer bursts of movement. Qin Lian’s endurance improved, reducing the weakness of her scouting style. Qin Mo’s pale face gained healthier color, and his mana circulation became more stable under physical strain.
Qin Yuheng consumed his own vial as well, though the effect on him was less dramatic because of the Primordial Thunder Emperor Body. Still, it strengthened his bones and improved his compatibility with the Black Thunder Pattern Sword.
On the final night before Tower entry, Qin Yuheng sat alone in his room.
He took out the D Grade Mana Recovery Pills from the preparation package.
Five pills.
[D Grade Mana Recovery Pill x5]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
For a first-floor mission, mana recovery could be crucial, especially for Qin Mo.
This time, Qin Yuheng chose Quantity Multiplication.
[Quantity Multiplication selected.]
[D Grade Mana Recovery Pill x5]
↓
[D Grade Mana Recovery Pill x12,500]
Twelve thousand five hundred.
Qin Yuheng silently stored most of them.
Then he took out only twenty for team use, disguising them as family reserve pills.
Next, he enhanced the D Grade Antidote Pills.
[D Grade Antidote Pill x5]
↓
[B Grade Hundred Toxin Cleansing Pill x5]
He enhanced one stack of D Grade Recovery Pills.
[D Grade Recovery Pill x10]
↓
[B Grade Blood Restoration Pill x10]
Finally, he checked the A Grade Spatial Retreat Talisman.
It could mark up to three allies.
His current team had four people including himself. The talisman counted the user plus three marked allies.
Perfect.
The next morning, the Qin team gathered before the Heavenly Gate Tower.
The Tower’s entrance was a giant black gate surrounded by ancient runes. Students from Heavenly Gate Academy stood in organized lines, each wearing their academy badge and carrying supplies.
Han Shuren stood before them.
"Once you enter, the Tower will separate teams according to registration. Your team has been confirmed. You will have twenty-four hours to complete the first-floor trial."
His voice became heavy.
"Do not assume the first floor is harmless. Do not chase hidden rewards blindly. Do not trust unknown strangers inside. And above all..."
He paused.
"Do not forget that returning alive is also a victory."
Qin Yuheng looked up at the towering gate.
His blood quietly surged.
The real Tower.
The place where humanity’s fate had been rewritten.
The place that gave rewards.
The place where his talent would truly begin.
The gate opened.
A cold ancient voice echoed in every student’s mind.
[Heavenly Gate Tower entry detected.]
[Team registration confirmed.]
[Entering Floor 1: Black Stone Trial Ground.]
White light swallowed Qin Yuheng’s vision.
