Free Web NovelChapter 44: Chapter 44: The Resource Contest Begins
The contest zone was announced two days later.
As Lin Xian’er had predicted, it was based on a lake-defense environment.
The academy notice appeared on every major mission board.
[Heavenly Gate Academy Early-Floor Resource Contest]
Contest Zone:
Mirror Reed Lake
Environment Type:
Water-edge camp, reed marsh, shallow lake, hidden resource nodes.
Duration:
8 hours
Team Size:
4–6 members
Main Scoring:
1. Collect Mirror Reed Crystals.
2. Defeat lake beasts.
3. Occupy and defend temporary resource posts.
4. Complete hidden zone tasks.
5. Maintain team integrity.
Special Warning:
Water ambushes, mist reflection illusions, poison reeds, and nightfall wave event possible.
Qin Mo stood in front of the notice and stared at the words "water ambushes."
"No."
Qin Lian said, "You said that last time."
"And I was right last time."
Qin Yuchen studied the notice. "Mist reflection illusions. Similar to Foggy Bone Forest, but water-based."
Qin Yuheng looked at the final warning.
Nightfall wave event possible.
This contest lasted eight hours. If it included a late-stage wave event, teams that exhausted themselves early would suffer.
The key would be pacing.
Their team would remain four members: Qin Yuheng, Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, Qin Mo. Qin Ruyan and Qin Feng could not enter because the contest was limited to students within early-floor active groups, and the team registration had to match recent floor records.
Zhao Tianyu’s team registered immediately.
Wei Chen’s team also registered.
Lin Xian’er formed her own team.
Several other Core and Elite Class teams joined.
The contest became one of the most anticipated academy events of the month.
The day before entry, Qin Yuheng prepared carefully.
He purchased ordinary water-resistance items publicly.
D Grade Water Breathing Pill x4
D Grade Poison Reed Antidote x4
D Grade Waterproof Talisman x4
C Grade Lake Beast Repellent Powder x2
Then he privately evolved them.
The Water Breathing Pills became:
[B Grade Clear Lake Breathing Pill]
[Effect: Allows stable breathing underwater for one hour and improves resistance to water pressure.]
The Poison Reed Antidotes became:
[B Grade Marsh Toxin Cleansing Pill]
The Waterproof Talismans became:
[B Grade Water Barrier Talisman]
He used Quantity Multiplication on the Lake Beast Repellent Powder.
[C Grade Lake Beast Repellent Powder x2]
↓
[C Grade Lake Beast Repellent Powder x1,200]
He would only carry a visible amount.
In addition, Qin Mo prepared floating formation markers. Qin Lian studied reed movement patterns from academy notes. Qin Yuchen practiced fighting on unstable footing.
On contest morning, Mirror Reed Lake opened through an academy-controlled gate rather than the main Tower entrance. It was a controlled zone modeled after early Tower environments but still governed by Tower-like laws.
Students gathered before the gate.
Zhao Tianyu stood with his team, better equipped than before. His armor had been upgraded, and his aura was more stable. Zhao Lan stood behind him, arms folded, giving final instructions.
Her gaze moved toward Qin Yuheng.
Qin Yuheng met it calmly.
Lin Xian’er approached with her team.
"Be careful near the west reeds," she said.
Qin Yuheng looked at her.
"Free information?"
"Consider it goodwill."
"Why?"
"Because the Zhao family seems too confident about that area."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Thank you."
Qin Mo whispered after she left, "If west reeds are dangerous, are we going there?"
Qin Yuheng answered, "Eventually."
"I should stop asking."
Han Shuren stood before the gate.
"This is a contest, not a deathmatch. However, injuries may happen. Resource claims are determined by badge recording, possession, and defense time. Deliberate killing, crippling, or illegal artifacts will result in expulsion."
His eyes swept across the Zhao team and Qin team.
"Do not test my patience."
The gate opened.
[Entering Contest Zone: Mirror Reed Lake.]
The world shifted.
Qin Yuheng found himself standing on damp ground near a wide lake covered in silver reeds. The water reflected the sky too perfectly, like a mirror. Small islands dotted the lake, connected by muddy paths and wooden platforms. Mist floated low over the surface.
The contest panel appeared.
[Mirror Reed Lake Resource Contest]
Duration: 8 hours
Current Score: 0
Primary Resource:
Mirror Reed Crystal
Resource Posts:
Unclaimed
Hidden Tasks:
Undiscovered
Warning:
Reflections may not always be true.
Qin Mo looked at the lake.
"I dislike reflective water."
Qin Lian crouched near the reeds.
"Movement beneath the surface."
Qin Yuheng activated his Spirit-Sight Mine Lamp Crystal briefly, though it was not designed for water. It still revealed faint energy traces.
Several small creatures swam beneath the reeds.
Lake beasts.
"We move to the nearest resource post first," Qin Yuheng said.
Qin Yuchen pointed toward a wooden platform on a small island.
"That one?"
"Yes. But carefully."
They advanced across the muddy path.
The first ambush came from the water.
A long, flat-headed beast burst upward, jaws opening wide.
[Mirror Scale Water Lizard]
[Level: 10]
[Type: Lake ambush beast]
Qin Lian reacted first, throwing a dagger into its eye.
Qin Yuchen cut its jaw.
Qin Yuheng finished with a thunder-charged slash.
The beast fell back into the water, blood spreading across the surface.
The contest badge flashed.
[Lake Beast defeated.]
[Score +80]
More ripples appeared.
Qin Mo immediately threw a small amount of repellent powder.
The ripples slowed and retreated.
"Useful," he said. freёwebnovel.com
They reached the first resource post.
It was a wooden platform built around a cluster of silver reeds. At the center grew three translucent crystals shaped like water droplets.
[Mirror Reed Crystal]
[Grade: D]
[Contest Resource]
Qin Yuheng collected them.
[Mirror Reed Crystal x3 acquired.]
[Score +150]
[Resource Post One occupied.]
[Defense timer started.]
So resource posts gave points over time.
That meant teams would fight over them.
Qin Yuheng immediately ordered Qin Mo to set defensive markers while Qin Lian scouted.
Within ten minutes, another team approached.
Not Zhao.
An Elite Class team.
Their leader hesitated after recognizing Qin Yuheng.
"Qin team already took it."
One teammate whispered, "Should we challenge?"
The leader looked at Qin Yuheng’s calm expression, then at Qin Yuchen’s sword and Qin Lian’s hidden daggers.
"No. Find another post."
They left.
Qin Mo looked pleased.
"Reputation saves effort."
"For now," Qin Yuheng said.
After twenty minutes, the post defense timer completed.
[Resource Post One secured.]
[Score +300]
They moved again.
Instead of going toward the central lake where most teams would compete, Qin Yuheng led them along a curved path toward the west reeds.
Qin Mo looked at him.
"We are really going there."
"Yes."
"Lin Xian’er warned us."
"She said the Zhao family was confident there."
"That sounds like a reason not to go."
"It is a reason to understand why."
The west reeds were taller than a person and silver-gray in color. Mist hung thicker there. The water was shallow but dark, and the reflections looked slightly delayed.
Qin Lian stopped.
"There are footprints. Zhao team passed here."
Qin Yuchen examined the mud.
"They did not fight much."
Qin Yuheng’s eyes narrowed.
That meant either the area was safe for them because they had special preparation, or they knew a path.
They followed carefully.
After several minutes, they found a hidden platform inside the reeds.
At its center was a larger crystal cluster.
But around it floated faint red threads.
Qin Mo crouched and looked.
"Trap."
"What kind?"
"Not academy standard. It marks whoever touches the crystal. Maybe attracts lake beasts. Maybe records location."
Zhao family.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes cooled.
They had prepared a bait resource.
If his team greedily collected it, they would be marked and attacked.
"Can you reverse it?"
Qin Mo smiled faintly for the first time.
"That is a much better question."
