The invitation arrived one week later.

It was official.

Heavenly Gate City’s annual Young Spear and Sword Gathering would be held for newly awakened youths and pre-academy combat talents. Families sent their promising younger members to exchange pointers, display basic foundation, and receive instructor feedback.

Qin Yuze’s name was included.

Publicly, this was normal.

He was sixteen.

Awakened.

From a prominent family.

Privately, everyone saw the trap.

Not because the event was fake.

Because real events could be used.

Yu Qingmei inspected the gathering’s organization.

Clean.

No forged signatures.

No suspicious funding.

No Blood Sun trace in the main structure.

Lin Xian’er inspected sponsors.

Mostly clean.

One minor equipment sponsor had unclear intermediaries.

Removed.

Gu Tianhe inspected venue security.

Reinforced.

Qin Wanshan considered refusing.

Qin Yuze spoke first.

"If I never attend anything, people will think something is wrong."

That was true.

Qin Zhengyuan looked at him.

"And do you want to attend for pride?"

Qin Yuze hesitated.

"Yes. A little."

Good honesty.

"And for training?"

"Yes." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"And to prove you do not need the second talent yet?"

Qin Yuze paused longer.

Then nodded.

"Yes."

Qin Yuheng looked at him.

"That is a better reason."

They allowed participation under strict conditions.

Publicly, Qin Yuze would show solid but not extraordinary strength. He would not reveal full talent nature. He would not use deep battle-pressure accumulation. He would not accept private spar challenges outside official rings.

Qin Yuze disliked restrictions but accepted.

The gathering took place in an academy-affiliated training arena.

Qin Yuheng attended quietly as elder brother, not participant. Qin Mo came because he distrusted all public events. Qin Lian watched shadows. Qin Yuchen stood near Qin Yuze as support.

Many young talents gathered.

Some were nervous.

Some arrogant.

Some wealthy.

Some hungry for recognition.

Qin Yuze drew attention immediately.

"Qin Yuheng’s younger brother."

"Awakened."

"Probably strong."

"Wonder what talent."

Public privacy rules prevented direct questioning, but curiosity remained.

The first rounds were basic weapon exchanges.

Qin Yuze fought with a training spear. He won cleanly, using good fundamentals. He restrained his Crimson Spear Battle Heart, letting only a faint battle rhythm show.

Qin Zhengyuan’s training paid off.

He did not overextend.

He did not chase.

He did not crush weaker opponents.

Qin Yuheng nodded slightly.

Good.

Then came a youth from a minor family named Shen Kai, a spear user with aggressive style. His aura carried no obvious corruption, but Qin Lian noticed something strange.

"His shadow reacts late."

Qin Mo inspected from distance.

"Could be a delay marker."

During the match, Shen Kai repeatedly provoked Qin Yuze.

"Is Qin family only famous because of your brother?"

"You fight like you are afraid."

"Did they tell you to hide because your talent is weak?"

Qin Yuze’s grip tightened.

But he held.

The Living Values Compass in Qin Yuheng’s storage trembled faintly.

Emotional pressure trap.

Shen Kai attacked fiercely, trying to force Qin Yuze into prolonged frontal combat. That would stimulate Crimson Spear Battle Heart and reveal more.

Qin Yuze nearly responded.

Then remembered.

Enemies will make you keep attacking in the wrong direction.

He changed style.

Instead of building momentum, he broke Shen Kai’s rhythm with short spear taps, footwork, and defensive counters.

Shen Kai grew impatient.

His delayed shadow flickered.

A hidden talisman activated.

Not on Qin Yuze.

On Shen Kai himself.

It amplified aggression and forced him beyond safe limits.

Qin Yuheng’s eyes turned cold.

The trap was layered: not to corrupt Qin Yuze directly, but to make an opponent lose control so Qin Yuze either revealed strength or caused injury.

Qin Yuze saw Shen Kai’s eyes redden.

He made the correct choice.

He retreated three steps and raised his spear defensively.

"Judge! His state is abnormal!"

The arena judge reacted immediately.

Qin Yuheng moved at the same time.

Yu Qingmei’s security formation suppressed the talisman.

Shen Kai collapsed, unconscious but alive.

The crowd erupted.

Qin Yuze stood breathing hard, face pale with anger.

But he had not lost control.

Qin Yuheng reached him.

"You did well."

Qin Yuze looked at Shen Kai.

"He was used."

"Yes."

"I wanted to beat him."

"I know."

"I stopped."

"Yes."

Qin Yuze’s shoulders loosened.

This was more important than winning.

The talisman was traced to the removed equipment sponsor’s secondary channel.

Mo Cangyan’s fingerprints again, but not enough for public proof.

The gathering was suspended.

Qin Yuze’s public reputation rose—not as overwhelming genius, but as disciplined young spear talent who noticed opponent abnormality.

That was better.

Mo Cangyan’s attempt failed.

Worse, it strengthened Qin Yuze’s control.

Qin Yuheng watched his brother leave the arena under guard.

The seed had waited.

And because it waited, its roots grew deeper.