Free Web NovelChapter 58: Chapter 58: The Seal-Stabilizing Stone
Qin Wanshan’s expression changed when Qin Yuheng showed him the Ancient Seal-Stabilizing Stone.
The old man took the stone carefully and examined the golden cracks within it. For a long time, he said nothing. Then he looked at Qin Yuheng.
"Where did this come from?"
"Zhao Lan’s exchange gathering. A student from Floor 6 traded the original fragment. I improved it."
Qin Wanshan’s gaze became sharp.
"Did Zhao Lan notice your interest?"
"Yes."
"Did you explain?"
"Formation material for Qin Mo."
Qin Wanshan nodded slowly.
"Reasonable. Not perfect."
"I know."
The old man placed the stone on the table.
"Seal-stabilizing materials are not common in early floors. For one to appear at a Zhao-hosted exchange gathering at this timing..."
"Bait," Qin Yuheng said.
"Most likely."
Qin Zhengyuan, who had been listening quietly, looked at the stone.
"But bait can still be real."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"That is why I took it."
Mu Qinglan’s eyes were cold.
"They may be testing whether the Qin family still seeks seal materials."
Qin Wanshan’s expression darkened.
"Blood Sun Hall."
The room fell silent.
Qin Yuheng looked at his grandfather.
"If they are testing, should we avoid using it?"
Qin Zhengyuan answered first.
"No."
Qin Yuheng turned to him.
His father’s voice was calm.
"If a starving man refuses food because an enemy placed it on the road, he may avoid poison but still die of hunger. The answer is not refusal. It is inspection, purification, and controlled use."
Mu Qinglan nodded.
"We will cleanse it first."
Qin Wanshan agreed.
"No resource touches Zhengyuan’s wound before passing through three layers of examination."
The Ancient Seal-Stabilizing Stone was placed into a purification formation for an entire night. Mu Qinglan used moonlight energy to remove hidden traces. Qin Wanshan checked for curse marks. Gu Tianhe inspected aura residue.
Only after confirming it was clean did they prepare the third stabilization treatment.
This time, the Soul Lantern Heart, Moon-Cleansing Spirit Lotus residue, and Ancient Seal-Stabilizing Stone were used together.
The underground seal chamber glowed with three colors.
Silver-blue soul flame.
Moon-white cleansing light.
Gold-gray seal stability.
Qin Zhengyuan sat at the center, eyes closed.
Qin Yuheng watched the system panel carefully.
[Ancient Seal-Stabilizing Stone applied.]
[Broken Seal Backlash reacting.]
[Stabilization in progress.]
[Blood Sun Corrosion suppressed by residual Moon-Cleansing Spirit Lotus.]
[Soul backlash contained by Soul Lantern Heart.]
[Seal turbulence reduced.]
For the first time, the second layer of the wound showed meaningful change.
[Layer 2: Broken Seal Backlash — instability reduced by 7%.]
Seven percent.
Again, not cure.
But real progress.
Qin Zhengyuan’s aura steadied.
A faint spear intent appeared around him, then vanished.
Qin Wanshan’s eyes showed emotion.
Mu Qinglan quietly exhaled.
When the treatment ended, the Ancient Seal-Stabilizing Stone had cracked in half, its energy mostly consumed. Still, its effect remained.
Qin Zhengyuan opened his eyes.
This time, he did not cough.
Qin Yuheng noticed.
His father noticed too.
A faint smile appeared on Qin Zhengyuan’s face.
"Better."
One word.
But it carried years of weight.
After the treatment, Qin Wanshan spoke privately with Qin Yuheng.
"The enemy gave us bait. You turned it into medicine. That is good. But do not grow arrogant. Next time, the bait may carry hooks even your ability cannot remove."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
Qin Yuheng thought for a moment.
"I understand that my talent can improve resources, but it does not automatically erase schemes. I still need caution, inspection, and family support." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Qin Wanshan smiled faintly.
"Good answer."
Then the old man handed him a small black token.
"This is not for now. Keep it."
Qin Yuheng looked at it.
The token was plain, with only one character carved into it.
Silent.
"Silent Heaven Army?" he asked.
Qin Wanshan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"You know the name?"
"Only guessed."
"Do not use this token unless your life, your team, or the Qin family core is under threat outside academy protection. It can summon help once within Heavenly Gate City’s outer region."
Qin Yuheng accepted the token carefully.
"Who will come?"
Qin Wanshan’s answer was simple.
"Enough."
The weight of the token was heavier than its size.
Qin Yuheng stored it in his hidden inventory layer.
The next day, Zhao Lan sent another message.
Not an invitation this time.
A trade offer.
If the Qin family requires more seal-related materials, the Zhao family may help acquire them through merchant channels.
In exchange, Zhao family requests access to Floor 1–4 hidden mission route summaries.
Qin Yuheng read it once and smiled faintly.
Now the test had become open.
Qin Mo looked at the message.
"They are fishing."
Qin Yuchen said, "If we refuse too strongly, they confirm we care. If we accept, we expose routes."
Qin Lian added, "If we ignore, they may try other channels."
Qin Yuheng took a brush and wrote a reply.
The Qin family does not currently require Zhao assistance.
Hidden mission information is not for sale.
If the Zhao family wishes to trade ordinary resources, use academy market rules.
Polite.
Firm.
Unrevealing.
When Zhao Lan received the reply, she showed no anger.
Instead, she smiled.
"He did not deny interest in seal materials."
Zhao Tianyu frowned.
"Why does that matter?"
Zhao Lan looked at him.
"Because sometimes what a person refuses tells you more than what he accepts."
The disguised attendant behind them lowered his eyes.
That night, Xue Rong received the exchange report.
He read Qin Yuheng’s reply and laughed softly.
"Careful boy."
Then he opened a new instruction.
Do not pressure Qin Yuheng directly for now. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Prepare a ruin rumor involving seal materials.
Let the academy hear it first.
The game was changing.
Blood Sun Hall no longer wanted to simply observe.
They wanted to guide Qin Yuheng toward a place of their choosing.
