The controlled mission site was an old training ruin owned secretly by the Qin family.

It lay two hundred kilometers from Heavenly Gate City, hidden in a forest valley under Silent Heaven protection. Publicly, it was an abandoned stone quarry. Privately, Qin Wanshan had used it decades ago to train Outer Mountain Guard recruits.

Its dangers were real but controlled: low-level stone beasts, illusion corridors, pressure gates, and formation traps that could be adjusted from outside.

Qin Yuze would enter with a small team of Qin younger generation members, including two cousins and three guard youths. Qin Yuheng would observe but not interfere unless necessary. Qin Zhengyuan would supervise combat. Gu Tianhe would control external security.

Qin Yuze looked both excited and nervous.

"Brother, if you observe, I will feel pressure."

Qin Yuheng said, "Good."

"That is not helpful."

"It is accurate."

The mission objective was simple:

Retrieve a stone banner from the inner training hall within six hours while preserving team condition.

Qin Yuze wanted to charge.

He did not.

That was the first success.

He assigned roles.

Cousin Qin Rui handled scouting.

Guard youth Chen Bao held shield position.

Qin Yuze took forward spear role but rotated leadership during puzzle sections.

Qin Yuheng watched through a formation screen beside Qin Zhengyuan.

"He improved," Qin Zhengyuan said.

"Yes."

"Still wants to solve everything with attack."

"Yes."

"But now he notices."

That was the difference.

The first provocation trap used false enemy insults.

Qin Yuze ignored them.

The second used a trapped teammate illusion.

He verified before rushing.

The third offered a shortcut through a red-lit corridor promising faster completion.

He refused.

Qin Yuheng nodded.

Good.

At the inner hall, the stone banner was guarded by a Level 18 equivalent stone beast. Qin Yuze’s team could defeat it, but the beast grew stronger if attacked continuously from the front.

Qin Yuze noticed after three exchanges.

He stepped back.

"Rotate!"

His team attacked from sides, disrupted footing, and used shield control.

Qin Yuze delivered the final spear strike only after the beast’s core exposed.

Victory.

Mission completed in four hours and twelve minutes.

No severe injuries.

Qin Yuze walked out carrying the stone banner, trying very hard not to smile too broadly.

Qin Zhengyuan gave the evaluation.

"Pass."

Qin Yuze’s shoulders straightened.

Qin Yuheng added, "Good restraint."

That meant more to him than he wanted to show.

The Talent Maturation Timing Crystal was used again.

[Subject: Qin Yuze]

Body Readiness:

83%

Soul Readiness:

84%

Combat Foundation:

86%

Talent Rhythm Stability:

82%

Second Talent Integration Risk:

Low-Moderate.

Recommendation:

Eligible for carefully supervised second talent integration if high compatibility and stabilization resources are prepared.]

Qin Yuze stared.

"Eligible."

Qin Wanshan nodded slowly.

"Then we prepare. Not today."

Qin Yuze groaned.

But this time, everyone smiled.

The SSS Grade Thunder Spear War Body Talent Fruit was brought from deep storage.

It was sealed in a crystal box, radiating faint thunder-spear pressure.

Qin Yuze swallowed.

Even Qin Feng became quiet.

Qin Wanshan spoke seriously.

"If you consume this, you may awaken a second powerful combat talent. You will also carry heavier expectations. You may refuse."

Qin Yuze looked at the fruit for a long time.

Then said, "I want it. But not because others pressure me."

Qin Yuheng watched carefully.

"Why?"

"Because my path is spear combat. Because I have trained. Because I can wait if you say wait. But if the crystal says I am eligible and family protects me, I choose to try."

Good.

A choice.

Not greed.

Not pressure.

Not false spring.

They scheduled the integration for three days later.

Every protection tool was prepared.

Blood Sun made no visible move.

That worried everyone.

On the night before the integration, Qin Yuheng found a black-gold message outside the estate barrier.

It had not entered.

It lay burned at the boundary.

The message read:

Second fruits make second doors.

Some doors open inward.

Qin Yuheng destroyed it.

He did not delay the integration.

The timing was chosen by their tools, family, and Qin Yuze’s readiness.

Not by Mo Cangyan’s warning.

Rightful time had arrived for this step.