Free Web NovelChapter 37: Chapter 37: The Old Record Vault
The old record vault did not reveal everything.
Qin Yuheng had expected that, but the feeling still left a heavy pressure in his chest.
The three documents Qin Wanshan permitted him to read were restricted summaries, not complete truths. Many names were covered by black seal marks. Some dates were blurred. Certain sections became unreadable when Qin Yuheng tried to focus on them, as if the information itself required a higher authority to view.
But even the fragments were enough.
Blood Sun Hall had existed for centuries, perhaps longer. It rarely acted under its own name. Instead, it used outer families, ruin exploration groups, black-market guilds, wandering healers, and even desperate nobles as cover.
Its known interests were consistent.
Ancient bloodlines.
Seal wounds.
Forbidden ruins.
Tower fragments.
Talent extraction.
Blood memory experiments.
The words made Qin Yuheng’s expression grow colder with each page.
One section described how Blood Sun Hall tested whether an ancient family’s bloodline remained active. They did not always attack directly. Sometimes they provoked younger generations. Sometimes they arranged ruin accidents. Sometimes they triggered old wounds. Sometimes they introduced corrupted resources into markets to see who reacted.
The Qin family had likely been under such observation for years.
The second record, the Crimson Eclipse Expedition summary, was even more disturbing.
Qin Zhengyuan had participated in the expedition many years ago, alongside several powerful climbers from different forces. The expedition entered a ruin called the Crimson Eclipse Ruins, believed to contain seal-related materials and remnants from a pre-Tower-era battlefield.
The official record said the expedition failed due to ruin instability.
The restricted summary said otherwise.
The expedition was compromised before entry.
Blood Sun agents confirmed inside support team.
Primary target unknown.
Secondary target suspected: seal-bearing bloodlines. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Qin Zhengyuan suffered Primordial Seal Wound after contact with corrupted seal altar.
Survivors reported crimson sun manifestation before evacuation.
Qin Yuheng read that line many times.
Primary target unknown.
Secondary target suspected.
That meant his father might not have been the only target.
Or perhaps the expedition had been used to locate something else entirely.
The third record explained seal wounds.
Ordinary seal wounds damaged meridians, mana flow, or spiritual circulation. Advanced seal wounds could suppress talents, corrode blood, distort memories, or trigger backlash when the victim tried to use power.
Primordial Seal Wounds were rarer and far more dangerous.
They involved ancient laws.
A wound like Qin Zhengyuan’s was not just injury.
It was a lock.
Something had been sealed.
Something had been suppressed.
Something had been prevented from awakening.
Qin Yuheng left the vault with more questions than answers.
At sunrise, he stood in the courtyard, watching pale light spread over the Qin Estate.
The estate looked old and quiet.
Servants swept paths. Younger guards changed shifts. Qin Xue’er’s laughter came faintly from another courtyard as she argued with Qin Yuze about morning training. Qin Mo was probably still asleep somewhere he should not be. Qin Yuchen was already practicing sword forms.
Life continued.
But beneath it, shadows moved.
Qin Yuheng closed his eyes.
He could not chase Blood Sun Hall yet.
Qin Wanshan was right.
Without strength, truth was poison.
So he would grow.
Faster.
Smarter.
More carefully.
At the academy that day, Qin Yuheng attended a special lecture on floor progression. Instructor Mei Lian explained that after completing the first two floors, students had two general paths.
"First," she said, "continue regular Tower floors according to entry cooldown."
A projection displayed the early floor schedule.
Floors 1–10:
Standard entry interval: once every three days, depending on recovery and Tower access permission.
"Second," Mei Lian continued, "accept academy missions related to known floor environments. These may include resource gathering, rescue support, scouting, or special event participation."
Her gaze swept across the Core Class.
"Do not rush floors blindly. The first ten floors build your survival habits. Bad habits formed early will kill you later." ƒreewebɳovel.com
Qin Yuheng wrote that down.
Bad habits.
That included overusing high-grade resources, relying on his evolved rewards, and hiding so much that his team could not coordinate properly.
He needed balance.
After class, Yu Qingmei’s assistant approached.
"Qin Yuheng, Vice Principal Yu requests your presence."
The surrounding students immediately looked over.
Qin Yuheng nodded and followed.
Yu Qingmei’s office was located in the academy’s central tower. It overlooked the training grounds, mission hall, and distant Heavenly Gate Tower. Books, maps, and crystal records filled the room. A large projection of the first ten floors floated above one table.
Yu Qingmei stood beside it.
"You are recovering well?"
"Yes, Vice Principal."
"Your arm?"
"Mostly healed."
She looked at him for a moment, then pointed to the projection.
"Your team has completed Floor 1 with SSS and Floor 2 with SS. That is rare."
"We were fortunate."
"You say that often."
"Because fortune helps reduce suspicion."
Yu Qingmei paused.
Then she laughed softly.
"At least you are honest about being careful."
Qin Yuheng did not respond.
Yu Qingmei handed him a file.
"Floor 3 is Iron-Claw Mine. Most teams treat it as a resource collection floor. Mine ores, avoid collapse, escape before the mine beast wakes fully. But recently, several teams reported abnormal tremors."
Qin Yuheng opened the file.
[Floor 3: Iron-Claw Mine]
Main Mission:
Mine 20 Iron Blood Ores and escape.
Known Threats:
Iron-Claw Mine Beasts
Ore Burrowers
Cave collapse
Toxic mineral dust
Low visibility tunnels
Recent Abnormality:
Increased tremors.
Unusual metallic heartbeat sounds.
Possible hidden vein awakening.
Yu Qingmei watched him.
"The academy wants a capable team to enter under observation and confirm whether Floor 3 has changed. Your team is suitable."
Qin Yuheng understood.
This was both opportunity and test.
"Is this an assignment or invitation?"
"Invitation. Refusal will not affect your standing."
"What is the reward?"
Yu Qingmei smiled.
"Direct academy merit. Priority access to forging resources. If abnormality is confirmed, additional reward based on contribution."
Qin Yuheng asked, "What is the risk assessment?"
"Higher than standard Floor 3. Lower than an uncontrolled hidden floor."
A precise answer.
Qin Yuheng considered.
Iron Blood Ore would be useful for weapons, armor, and formation materials. His Black Thunder Pattern Sword might need future upgrades. The Qin family could use forging resources. Qin Mo could use formation-compatible metals.
And abnormal hidden vein awakening sounded like an opportunity.
"I accept, pending team agreement."
Yu Qingmei nodded approvingly.
"Good. Discuss with them. Entry window opens in two days."
As Qin Yuheng left, Yu Qingmei spoke again.
"Qin Yuheng."
He stopped.
"Ambition is useful. But a leader must know the difference between courage and appetite."
Qin Yuheng turned slightly.
"I will remember."
He left the office.
Yu Qingmei watched the door close.
Xu Chengdao stepped out from a side room.
"You warned him?"
"I reminded him."
"Do you think he will restrain himself?"
Yu Qingmei looked toward the distant Tower.
"He will try. Whether the Tower allows him to is another question."
That evening, Qin Yuheng told the team about Floor 3.
Qin Mo listened silently until he heard the words "mine," "collapse," and "abnormal tremors."
Then he lay backward on the bench.
"I miss the fog."
Qin Lian looked at him.
"You hated the fog."
"I hated it before hearing about the mine."
Qin Yuchen studied the file carefully.
"Iron-Claw Mine has resource value. If we prepare against collapse and toxic dust, it may be manageable."
Qin Mo sat up slightly.
"Manageable is what people say before disaster."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
"Will you go?"
Qin Mo sighed.
"Yes."
Qin Lian nodded. "I go."
Qin Yuchen said, "I go."
Qin Yuheng closed the file.
"Then we prepare for Floor 3."
Inside his hidden inventory layer, the unevolved rewards waited.
Cores.
Fruits.
Materials.
Talent Fruit.
Tower Coins.
Now, another resource floor was opening.
Iron-Claw Mine.
A place of ore, metal, collapse, and hidden veins.
For Qin Yuheng, it might become the foundation of the Qin family’s first equipment upgrade.
