Free Web NovelChapter 91: Chapter 91: After the First Gate
The words First Gate Perfect Clear remained above the return platform long after the light faded.
No one in the Heavenly Gate Tower entrance hall seemed willing to speak first.
The students stared at Qin Yuheng’s team as if they had watched a gate open that should have stayed closed. Some were shocked. Some were excited. Some were jealous. Some were afraid.
Floor 10 was not merely another floor.
It was the first true dividing line.
Anyone could claim talent after clearing early floors. Anyone could gain attention with one lucky reward. But a perfect clear of the First Gate Boss Trial meant something different. It meant the team had not only strength, but balance. Spirit, body, combat, coordination, and judgment had all passed the Tower’s checkpoint.
Yu Qingmei was the first to approach.
Her gaze moved from Qin Yuheng to Qin Yuchen, Qin Lian, and Qin Mo.
"This record will not stay inside the academy," she said.
Qin Mo looked exhausted. "Can we ask it nicely?"
"No."
"I expected that."
Han Shuren crossed his arms. "Medical inspection first. Report second. Celebration later, if your family permits it."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
The academy healers found no severe injuries, but all four of them carried layered strain. Spirit Gate had left faint mental fatigue. Strength Gate had overloaded muscles and tendons. Battle Gate had exhausted reflexes. The Tri-Gate Guardian had pushed all three at once.
The healer looked at Qin Mo.
"You are not injured."
Qin Mo’s expression brightened.
"But you are severely overdrawn in formation focus."
His expression vanished.
"Rest."
"I accept rest."
"For three days."
"I deeply accept rest."
Qin Yuheng’s body had recovered better than before. His improved control, War Thunder Advance, and Origin Thunder Emperor Body Scripture had reduced the old strain from repeated movement bursts. Still, the healer warned him not to enter another floor immediately.
Yu Qingmei later gathered them in a sealed briefing room.
On the table lay the official settlement crystal.
[Floor 10: First Gate Boss Trial]
Final Evaluation: SSS
Special Record: Tri-Gate Resonance Cleared
Title Mark: First Gate Perfect Clear
Yu Qingmei looked at them solemnly.
"From today onward, your team will be treated as a formal academy seed team."
Qin Mo blinked.
"That sounds like more work."
"It is."
He closed his eyes.
Qin Yuchen asked, "What changes?"
"Resource access, mission access, instructor oversight, faction attention, and external invitations." Yu Qingmei paused. "Also pressure."
Qin Lian said quietly, "From families?"
"Families, guilds, merchant alliances, academy competitors, and perhaps organizations that should not be named casually."
Blood Sun Hall.
No one said it aloud, but everyone understood.
Yu Qingmei then turned to Qin Yuheng.
"You received Class Token Fragments."
Qin Yuheng did not deny it.
"Yes."
"Do not use them yet."
"I do not intend to."
"Good. Class path after the First Gate can shape skill compatibility, stat growth, combat style, and future Tower missions. A wrong class is not fatal, but it creates long-term inefficiency."
Qin Mo raised a hand.
"Can someone choose a class called ’safe researcher’?"
Yu Qingmei glanced at him.
"There are formation scholar paths."
Qin Mo’s eyes lit.
"Dangerous formation scholar paths."
His hope died again.
Yu Qingmei gave each of them a booklet.
[Class Path Basics for First Gate Climbers]
"Study this. You are not required to choose immediately. Many climbers gather several fragments before forming a class token."
Qin Yuheng looked at the booklet.
This was important.
His rewards included an A Grade Class Token Fragment and an S Grade Tri-Gate Class Token Fragment. If evolved, they could become something far beyond early class paths. But using them blindly could be dangerous. Class should match not only current power, but future direction.
Thunder.
Evolution.
Spear echoes.
Command.
Qin bloodline.
Mu void moon lineage.
Too many possible paths existed.
He needed patience.
When the meeting ended, the academy officially posted the record.
By evening, the entire Heavenly Gate Academy knew.
By night, Heavenly Gate City knew.
The Qin family estate remained outwardly quiet, but inside the main hall, the atmosphere was different.
Qin Wanshan sat at the head seat, holding the report crystal.
Qin Zhengyuan stood beside him, pale but steadier than before.
Mu Qinglan looked at her son with quiet pride.
Qin Feng laughed loudly enough to shake the beams.
"Perfect clear! Good! Now people will stop pretending Brother Yuheng is lucky."
Qin Mo muttered, "I liked when they thought luck did most of the work."
Qin Ruyan looked at Qin Yuchen and Qin Lian.
"You all cleared all three gates?"
Qin Lian nodded.
Qin Yuchen said, "Barely."
Qin Mo corrected him, "Painfully."
Qin Xue’er ran around Qin Yuheng with shining eyes.
"Elder Brother, does this mean you are famous now?"
Qin Yuze crossed his arms. "He was already famous."
"More famous!"
Qin Yuheng smiled and patted her head.
"Fame is not always good."
Qin Xue’er tilted her head. "Then why do people want it?"
Qin Wanshan answered from the main seat.
"Because they have not lived long enough to regret it."
The hall quieted for a breath.
Then Qin Feng laughed again.
That night, after the family meal, Qin Yuheng entered the private treasury room with Qin Wanshan, Qin Zhengyuan, Mu Qinglan, and Gu Tianhe.
He took out the Floor 10 rewards.
S Grade First Gate Treasure Chest.
A Grade Class Token Fragment.
S Grade Tri-Gate Class Token Fragment.
A Grade Tri-Gate Spirit Crystal.
A Grade Gate Guardian Core.
S Grade Team Battle Formation Crystal.
Qin Wanshan’s eyes deepened as each item appeared.
"First Gate Perfect Clear rewards are never simple."
Qin Yuheng looked at the class fragments. freēwēbnovel.com
"What class path should I pursue?"
No one answered immediately.
Qin Zhengyuan spoke first.
"Not yet."
Mu Qinglan nodded.
"Your visible path is thunder. Your hidden path is not settled. Your bloodline path is dormant. Choosing now may narrow what should remain open."
Qin Wanshan looked at Qin Yuheng.
"Store them. Study them. Evolve only after understanding possible outcomes."
Qin Yuheng accepted that.
He had learned by now that not every reward should be used immediately.
Some treasures were seeds.
If planted too early, they would die.
If kept too long, they might miss the season.
The next step was learning when to plant.
