Free Web NovelChapter 8: Chapter 8: The First Resources
The Qin family resource room was hidden behind the old weapon hall.
From the outside, the weapon hall looked neglected. Several ordinary spears, swords, and shields hung on wooden racks. Some were even slightly rusted. A careless visitor would assume the Qin family’s decline had reached its bones.
But when Qin Wanshan pressed his palm against a cracked stone panel near the back wall, the dust-covered weapon rack silently shifted aside.
A narrow passage appeared.
Qin Yuheng followed his grandfather inside.
The passage was not long, but it passed through three layers of formations. Each layer scanned blood, spirit, and aura. Qin Yuheng felt the Primordial Thunder Emperor Body react faintly, but he suppressed it.
At the end was a bronze door.
Qin Wanshan opened it.
The room beyond was smaller than Qin Yuheng expected.
It was not a mountain of treasures. There were no endless piles of Tower Coins, no walls covered with S-grade weapons, no glowing rivers of rare pills.
Instead, the room was organized and restrained.
Shelves held sealed boxes. Weapon racks carried carefully maintained equipment. Jade bottles were arranged by grade. Several storage chests stood near the wall, each marked with formation locks.
The Qin family had resources.
But not unlimited resources.
That made Qin Yuheng respect his grandfather’s gift even more.
An A-grade Talent Fruit was not casual even for them.
Qin Wanshan stood beside him.
"You may choose three items suitable for the Newcomer Trial. Do not choose the highest-value item blindly. Choose what you can use."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
His hidden panel opened quietly.
Many items displayed information when his gaze touched them.
[D Grade Black Iron Sword]
[Type: Weapon]
[Effect: Increased sharpness and durability.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
[E Grade Recovery Pills x10]
[Type: Consumable]
[Effect: Restore minor injuries.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
[D Grade Antidote Powder x5]
[Type: Consumable]
[Effect: Neutralize common low-grade poisons.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
[C Grade Wind Step Boots]
[Type: Equipment]
[Effect: Slightly increases movement speed.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
[D Grade Defensive Talisman x3]
[Type: Talisman]
[Effect: Blocks one low-level attack.]
[Eligible for Evolution.]
Qin Yuheng walked slowly.
The most tempting item was the C Grade Wind Step Boots. If he enhanced them, they might become A grade or higher. Movement speed was extremely valuable in both trials and real Tower floors.
But the boots were also visible equipment. If their quality changed too drastically, others might notice.
Recovery pills and antidotes were safer. Consumables could be used discreetly, shared with the team, and explained as family preparation.
A weapon was necessary, but he did not want something too eye-catching.
After considering for several minutes, Qin Yuheng chose three items.
D Grade Black Iron Sword
D Grade Defensive Talisman x3
E Grade Recovery Pills x10 freēwebnovel.com
Qin Wanshan looked at him.
"No boots?"
"Too noticeable."
"No antidote?"
"The Newcomer Trial is in Black Iron Training Valley. Poison risk is lower than injury risk."
"No higher-grade weapon?"
Qin Yuheng held the Black Iron Sword.
"A weapon that looks ordinary is more useful right now."
Qin Wanshan’s smile deepened.
"You are cautious."
"Caution keeps secrets alive."
The old man laughed softly.
"Good. Take them."
Qin Yuheng returned to his courtyard.
Once alone, he placed the three items before him.
He could use Primordial Origin Evolution once per item or item stack. The question was which direction to choose.
For the Black Iron Sword, quality was best.
For the Defensive Talismans, quantity or quality both had value. More talismans could protect the team repeatedly. Higher-grade talismans could block stronger attacks.
For Recovery Pills, quantity was tempting, but low-grade pills had limited effect. Quality might create fewer but stronger life-saving pills.
He started with the sword.
[D Grade Black Iron Sword]
[Select Evolution Direction]
1. Quantity Multiplication
2. Quality Enhancement
"Quality Enhancement."
A faint origin light covered the sword.
The black blade trembled. Its dull surface darkened, then thin red-gold lines appeared along the fuller. The edge became sharper, but the overall shape remained simple.
[Evolution successful.]
[D Grade Black Iron Sword]
↓
[A Grade Black Thunder Pattern Sword]
[Effect: Increased sharpness, durability, thunder energy conduction, armor-piercing effect.]
[Concealment: Outer appearance can remain as ordinary black iron if energy is suppressed.]
Qin Yuheng’s eyes brightened.
Concealment.
That was perfect.
He picked up the sword and circulated a small amount of mana.
The blade remained plain.
But when he allowed the Primordial Thunder Emperor Body to resonate slightly, red-violet lightning flashed along the hidden patterns.
Good.
Very good.
Next were the Defensive Talismans.
[D Grade Defensive Talisman x3]
If he enhanced them, perhaps they would become B or A grade. Three powerful shields.
If he multiplied them, the team could use many low-grade defenses during the trial.
The Newcomer Trial should not contain attacks beyond low-level danger. Quantity was more useful.
"Quantity Multiplication."
[Quantity Multiplication selected.]
[D Grade Defensive Talisman x3]
↓
[D Grade Defensive Talisman x1,500]
[Copied items cannot be evolved again.]
Qin Yuheng stared silently at the stack of talismans that appeared in his inventory.
One thousand five hundred.
Even though they were only D grade, this was absurd.
A small family could treat such talismans as a significant defensive reserve.
He immediately stored most of them in his inventory and kept only a small portion visible.
Finally, the Recovery Pills.
[E Grade Recovery Pills x10]
Quantity could produce a ridiculous number of weak pills. But weak pills were not enough if someone suffered a serious wound.
"Quality Enhancement."
Origin light flowed.
The ten pale pills became deep green with faint golden lines.
[Evolution successful.]
[E Grade Recovery Pills x10]
↓
[B Grade Jade Marrow Recovery Pills x10]
[Effect: Rapidly heals moderate external injuries, stabilizes internal shock, restores minor blood loss.]
B grade.
For a newcomer trial, these were life-saving pills.
Qin Yuheng stored them carefully.
The next day, he gathered Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, and Qin Mo in a private training room.
He placed a small number of talismans and pills on the table.
"These are for the trial."
Qin Mo’s sleepy eyes opened slightly.
"D Grade Defensive Talismans... this many?"
Qin Yuheng had only taken out forty.
Ten for each person.
Qin Lian looked at the pills.
"B Grade recovery pills?"
Qin Yuchen frowned. "Brother, are these from the resource room?"
"Some are."
Qin Mo looked at him.
"That answer is suspicious."
Qin Yuheng smiled.
"Then pretend not to notice."
The room became quiet.
Qin Yuchen looked at Qin Yuheng seriously.
"You have a secret."
Qin Lian said nothing, but her eyes showed she had reached the same conclusion.
Qin Mo leaned back.
"Everyone in this family has secrets."
Qin Yuheng did not deny it.
"I cannot explain everything now."
Qin Yuchen nodded slowly.
"Then do not explain."
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
Qin Yuchen’s voice was calm.
"You are our elder brother. If you wanted to harm us, you would not give us life-saving items before a trial."
Qin Lian picked up the talismans.
"I will use them properly."
Qin Mo sighed and took his share.
"I will try not to waste them, but if I am forced to run, I will use five at once."
Qin Yuheng said, "Use ten if needed. Survival comes first."
The three looked at him.
Qin Yuheng’s expression became serious.
"In the trial, do not fight for pride. Do not chase enemies blindly. Do not trust obvious paths. If Zhao Tianyu targets us, let him think we are retreating. Our goal is not to defeat him publicly."
Qin Yuchen asked, "What is our goal?"
Qin Yuheng placed a map of Black Iron Training Valley on the table.
His finger landed on the western ridge.
"Our goal is to take the resources he thinks are guarded by danger."
Qin Lian’s eyes sharpened.
Qin Mo looked at the map, then at Qin Yuheng.
"You already found something."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
According to the academy records, Black Iron Training Valley contained several resource points. Most were ordinary. But the western ridge had old mining veins and unstable beast activity. Students avoided it because the danger-to-reward ratio was poor.
But Qin Yuheng’s Tower theory lecture had mentioned one detail.
Ironhide Wolves gathered near black iron energy sources.
If there were more Ironhide Wolves than usual, there might be a stronger source nearby.
Perhaps only a D-grade resource.
Perhaps a C-grade resource. frёewebnoѵēl.com
But in Qin Yuheng’s hands, even a low-grade resource could become something else.
He looked at his team.
"Let Zhao Tianyu push us toward the western ridge."
His eyes were calm.
"We will turn his trap into our harvest."
