Free Web NovelChapter 225: Chapter 225: The False Excavation
The news came through official channels.
A ruin excavation team under Central Exchange license had discovered a sealed site near the Northwest Broken Ridge, on the outer edge of the Silent Wastes.
The site was not called Crimson Eclipse.
It was not called false sun.
It was called:
[Ancient Shadow Road Outpost]
The name alone was enough.
Yu Qingmei forwarded the report to Qin Yuheng with only one note:
This is likely connected and likely bait.
Qin Wanshan’s reaction was cold.
"They are building a road for us."
Qin Mo looked at the report.
"It might be a false road to a false destination."
"Or a true road fragment in enemy hands," Qin Yuheng said.
"Even worse."
The excavation was legal. Central Exchange had registered it. Several neutral families invested. The Merchant Alliance planned a supervised survey. Central Academy requested archive access.
Blood Sun had learned from previous failures.
Hidden bait failed.
Illegal bait failed.
Legal bait worked better.
If enough righteous forces investigated the Northwest Broken Ridge, Qin Yuheng would face pressure to participate.
Not immediately.
But eventually.
The Qin family decided not to act.
Instead, they gathered information.
Lin Xian’er tracked investors.
Yu Qingmei tracked academy channels.
Gu Tianhe tracked hidden movement near travel routes.
Jiang Yuexuan sent a formal warning:
Ancient Shadow Road Outpost may be genuine outer structure but unlikely to be true center. Treat as substituted destination.
Substituted destination.
That matched the True Destination Law Compass category.
Qin Yuheng did not go.
This frustrated Mo Cangyan’s lower agents.
But Mo Cangyan expected patience.
He allowed the excavation to proceed.
If Qin Yuheng would not come for rumor, perhaps he would come for consequence.
Meanwhile, Qin Yuheng continued climbing.
Floor 61: Hollow Sun Tax City.
A city floor where false authorities taxed citizens’ warmth, memory, and labor in the name of maintaining an artificial sun. Qin Yuheng exposed the tax system, protected civilians, and defeated the Warmth-Tax Collector Sovereign.
SSS rewards included False Tribute Severing Ledger and Civic Warmth Restoration Core.
Floor 62: Black Reed Listening Marsh.
A stealth and information floor where reeds repeated secrets and lies. Qin Lian excelled. The team learned to distinguish overheard truth from planted whispers.
Reward: SSS Whisper Provenance Crystal, able to identify whether information was witnessed, repeated, planted, or corrupted.
This became extremely useful against Blood Sun leaks.
Floor 63: Chainless Prison Mountain.
A prison with no visible chains, where prisoners remained because they believed release was forbidden. Qin Yuheng broke invisible sentence doctrines and defeated the Warden Without Chains.
Reward: Invisible Binding Detection Stone.
The Qin Estate’s defense network deepened further.
The Northwest Broken Ridge excavation continued.
At first, nothing dramatic happened.
Then the first official team disappeared.
Not dead.
Missing.
A Central Exchange notice requested assistance from regional academies and candidate-level climbers.
Yu Qingmei read the notice and closed her eyes.
Qin Mo cursed.
"There it is."
Qin Wanshan’s message arrived:
Do not move yet.
Let larger forces respond first. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Qin Yuheng agreed.
Central Academy sent a team.
Military scouts arrived.
Merchant Alliance secured the outer camp.
Jiang Clan sent observers but did not enter the core.
Three days later, Central Academy confirmed the site contained false solar authority residue, shadow road markings, and substituted destination traps.
Now it was no longer rumor.
It was a real problem.
Yu Qingmei summoned Qin Yuheng.
"They are requesting your participation due your Shattered Sun and Sixth Gate experience."
Qin Yuheng expected it.
"Who requests?"
"Central Exchange, supported by Central Academy. Jiang Clan has not objected. Military division wants a coalition."
Qin Mo whispered, "They built a legal, multi-force trap with paperwork."
Yu Qingmei nodded. "Yes."
Qin Yuheng looked at the map.
Northwest Broken Ridge.
Not the true center, likely.
But a dangerous outer false road site connected to the pattern.
Could they refuse?
Yes.
Should they?
Not automatically.
The site was now involving many forces. If mishandled, it could worsen. If Qin Yuheng entered with strong coalition and clear limits, they might gather more pattern safely.
He sent the report to Qin Wanshan.
The reply took longer than usual.
Finally, it came.
Participate only if:
1. Official multi-force supervision.
2. No descent beyond outer shadow road layer.
3. No bloodline resonance tests.
4. No private record opening.
5. Immediate withdrawal if sleeping seal reacts.
Take Silent Heaven shadow support nearby.
This is not the true center.
Treat it as battlefield, not answer.
Qin Yuheng accepted the conditions.
The Northwest Broken Ridge arc began.
