Free Web NovelChapter 65: Chapter 65: Academy Mission — Broken Seal Ruin
The official academy mission for Broken Seal Ruin opened at the end of the week.
It was no longer a rumor.
Now it had a formal mission board, risk rating, participation rules, and instructor oversight.
[Academy Joint Exploration Mission]
Location: Broken Seal Ruin
Risk Rating: Moderate
Recommended Participants:
Students who have cleared Floor 5 or above.
Team Format:
Multiple academy teams under instructor supervision.
Mission Goals:
1. Map outer ruin area.
2. Collect seal-related materials.
3. Identify unstable seal zones.
4. Avoid entering sealed inner region without permission.
Known Resources:
Seal-Stabilizing Stone Fragments
Broken Seal Dust
Old Formation Plates
Spirit Cores
Low-grade Ruin Metal
Warning:
Seal pressure may interfere with talents, mana flow, and bloodline activity.
The phrase bloodline activity made Qin Yuheng’s eyes narrow.
This mission was definitely bait.
But now the academy had placed it under supervision. Yu Qingmei herself would oversee the mission from the outer command point. Han Shuren would lead the student combat side. Several instructors and senior students would accompany the teams.
That changed the risk.
Blood Sun Hall could still observe and test, but direct action would be harder.
Qin Yuheng applied.
Qin Mo read the mission details and said, "I knew this day would come, but I hoped it would come after I became old."
Qin Yuchen said, "The resources are useful."
Qin Lian added, "And the enemy may reveal traces."
Qin Mo looked at her.
"You say that like revealing enemy traces is not dangerous."
"It is dangerous."
"That was my point."
Their team was accepted quickly because of their record.
Wei Chen’s team joined.
Lin Xian’er’s team joined.
Zhao Tianyu’s team joined, naturally, with Zhao Lan assigned as one of the senior student observers.
That alone confirmed political layers.
Before departure, Qin Wanshan gave Qin Yuheng strict instructions.
"Do not enter the inner seal region."
"Yes."
"If your blood reacts strongly, withdraw."
"Yes."
"If Blood Sun Hall reveals itself, do not chase."
Qin Yuheng paused.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Qin Wanshan looked at him.
"I know you want answers."
"I do."
"Then survive long enough to ask the right questions."
Qin Zhengyuan also spoke to him privately.
"The Broken Seal Ruin may contain energies similar to my wound. Do not let them touch your core."
"How do I avoid that?"
"If you feel your blood heating without reason, or if your talents become sluggish, step back immediately. Seal pressure likes to make people believe they can endure one more breath."
Qin Yuheng remembered that.
Mu Qinglan gave him a small moon-white bead.
"Crush it if you encounter blood-shadow contamination."
Qin Yuheng accepted it.
"What grade is it?"
She smiled faintly.
"Useful."
That was all she said.
The mission caravan left Heavenly Gate Academy the next morning.
Unlike Tower entry, this was real-world travel. Armored vehicles and beast-drawn transport moved along the eastern road under academy escort. The Broken Seal Ruin was located in a restricted valley two hours outside the city.
As they approached, Qin Yuheng felt a faint pressure.
Not Tower pressure.
Older.
Rougher.
The valley ahead was covered in gray mist, and broken stone pillars jutted from the ground. Some were carved with seal patterns. Others were split apart, as if something had broken out from within.
Yu Qingmei stood at the command point.
"All students listen carefully," she said. "This is not a Tower floor. The rules are less predictable. Your badges will record location and emergency signals, but the ruin may interfere with communication. Stay within assigned zones."
Her gaze swept across them.
"No student enters the inner ruin. Any team that violates this will lose mission credit and may face academy punishment."
Qin Mo whispered, "I love clear rules."
Qin Yuheng looked toward the inner ruin.
A broken arch stood in the distance, covered in dark red seal marks. freeweɓnovel.cøm
His blood stirred faintly.
He immediately circulated thunder and calmed it.
The mission began.
Qin Yuheng’s team was assigned to Outer Zone Three, near a collapsed stone field with low seal pressure. Their objectives were to map the area and collect minor fragments. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
At first, the mission seemed calm.
They found Broken Seal Dust, several old formation stones, and one C Grade Seal-Stabilizing Stone Fragment.
Qin Yuheng stored it carefully.
Qin Mo inspected ruins with genuine interest.
"These seal patterns are old. Not academy style. Not modern clan style either."
Qin Yuchen asked, "Dangerous?"
"Dormant. Mostly."
Qin Lian suddenly raised her hand.
"Movement."
A shadow flickered between broken pillars.
Not a beast.
Human.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
"Direction?"
"Inner boundary."
They moved cautiously and found a dropped token near a cracked stone.
Black circle.
Crimson sun.
Blood Sun.
Qin Mo’s face changed.
"They wanted us to find this."
Qin Yuheng looked toward the inner ruin.
The token was too obvious.
A lure.
Then a scream rang out from another outer zone.
A student scream.
The mission badge flashed.
[Emergency alert.]
[Outer Zone Two seal disturbance.]
[Nearby teams assist if safe.]
Qin Yuheng looked at his team.
"We assist. We do not chase beyond boundary."
They ran toward Outer Zone Two.
When they arrived, they found three students trapped inside a ring of glowing seal marks. Their talents seemed suppressed, and gray chains of light wrapped around their legs.
A hooded figure stood beyond the ring.
When he saw Qin Yuheng, he smiled.
Then crushed a blood-red bead.
The seal ring flared.
[Warning: Seal pressure rising.]
Qin Yuheng’s blood stirred violently.
The hooded figure whispered before vanishing into mist.
"Let us see if Qin blood still remembers."
The trap had begun.
