The Tower Simulation Mission began under strict supervision, but Qin Yuheng trusted strict supervision less than most people trusted open danger.

The simulation was built using Tower fragments, illusion arrays, memory records, and combat puppets. It could not truly kill candidates, but it could simulate pain, exhaustion, corruption pressure, and decision consequences. Severe mental backlash was theoretically prevented.

Theoretically.

Elder Su announced the teams.

Unlike the previous strategy trial, this simulation grouped multiple teams into separate but connected instances. Qin Yuheng’s group included Heavenly Gate Academy’s core team, Wei Chen’s defensive unit, one Military Youth Division squad under Lu Sheng, and—unexpectedly—Jiang Yuexuan’s team.

Qin Mo looked at the roster.

"They placed us with Jiang team."

Yu Qingmei’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"That may be protection or pressure."

Lin Xian’er was not entering this time; she remained as an outside analyst.

Zhao Tianyu was also excluded due to recovery monitoring.

Duan Xirong entered another instance.

Bai Yunshen entered a central archive instance.

The scenario briefing appeared.

[Tower Simulation Mission: Fallen Sun Archive Ruin]

Shared Mission:

Recover archive records and evacuate before ruin collapse.

Primary Objectives:

1. Rescue trapped researcher remnants.

2. Retrieve one valid archive record.

3. Prevent corruption exposure from exceeding 50%.

4. Reach extraction point within time limit.

Optional Objectives:

- Seal fallen sun core.

- Identify false archive records.

- Preserve allied teams.

Warning:

Some records may contain true information mixed with simulation corruption.

Qin Mo’s face became grim.

"True information mixed with simulation corruption. That is exactly the trap."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

The simulation began.

They appeared inside a ruined archive hall beneath a red-black sky. Broken pillars leaned over pools of dark gold light. Shelves had collapsed into molten stone. In the distance, a half-buried sun-shaped core pulsed weakly.

The air smelled like burned paper.

A timer appeared.

[Ruin Collapse: 6 hours]

[Corruption Exposure: 0%]

[Researcher Remnants: 12 trapped]

Qin Yuheng immediately took command, but not through class field.

This was a mixed group with strong candidates. He began with structure.

"Lu Sheng, military squad secures left corridor. Wei Chen, defensive center and researcher extraction. Jiang Yuexuan, archive identification with Qin Mo. Qin Lian scouts ahead. Qin Yuchen forward guard with me."

Jiang Yuexuan nodded.

Lu Sheng accepted.

Wei Chen accepted.

Trust started higher than Fourth Gate because these were trained candidates.

But not complete.

The first researcher remnants were trapped beneath collapsed shelves guarded by Fallen Sun Ink Beasts. These creatures released burning record fragments when struck.

Jiang Yuexuan used star-river water to suppress the flames. Qin Mo sealed the burning text. Wei Chen protected the remnants. Lu Sheng’s squad cleared lesser beasts. Qin Yuheng coordinated.

The rescue went smoothly.

[Researcher Remnants rescued: 4 / 12]

Then they entered the first archive chamber.

Several records floated in cracked sun bubbles.

Titles appeared.

[Sun Beast Migration Records]

[Archive Maintenance Log]

[Blood-Sun Corruption Symptoms]

[Crimson Eclipse Anchor Theory — Fragment]

[False Solar Flame Refinement]

Everyone saw the fourth title.

Qin Mo whispered, "There it is."

Jiang Yuexuan looked at Qin Yuheng.

"Do not choose yet."

Qin Yuheng agreed.

They inspected other records first.

Archive Maintenance Log was safe and valid.

Blood-Sun Corruption Symptoms was partly useful but likely designed to attract.

Crimson Eclipse Anchor Theory carried heavier pressure.

The mission required one valid archive record. They could complete the objective with the safe maintenance log.

But optional value lay elsewhere.

The trap was obvious.

Too obvious.

Qin Yuheng selected Archive Maintenance Log as the official retrieved record.

The simulation accepted.

[Valid archive record retrieved.]

[Primary Objective 2 completed.]

Qin Mo smiled.

"We took the boring answer."

But the Crimson Eclipse fragment did not disappear.

Instead, it pulsed.

A hidden optional panel appeared only to Qin Yuheng.

[Relevant unresolved knowledge detected.]

[Optional Personal Objective]

Read Crimson Eclipse Anchor Theory — Fragment.

Reward: Unknown.

Risk: Unknown.

Qin Yuheng’s expression did not change.

He refused.

The panel faded.

Then the ruin reacted.

The fallen sun core pulsed, and corruption spread through the chamber.

[Corruption Exposure: 0% → 11%]

Qin Mo’s face darkened.

"It punished refusal?"

Jiang Yuexuan shook her head.

"No. The simulation expected desire. Refusal triggered alternate pressure."

Qin Yuheng looked toward the fallen sun core.

"Then the core is the real objective."

They continued rescuing remnants.

At the second trapped zone, false researcher remnants tried to lure them into a corruption pool. Qin Lian identified them by shadow mismatch. Wei Chen blocked their sudden attack. Lu Sheng’s squad restrained rather than killed until simulation confirmed hostility.

Good discipline.

Researcher count reached eight.

Corruption rose to twenty-one percent.

The fallen sun core pulsed harder.

At the central archive, they found the remaining four researchers suspended around the core, each tied to a record chain. One chain led to Crimson Eclipse Anchor Theory.

The simulation had moved the bait into the rescue objective.

Qin Mo cursed softly.

"Now we cannot ignore it."

Jiang Yuexuan’s expression became cold.

"Careful."

A panel appeared.

[Final Archive Chamber]

Options:

1. Extract researchers without sealing core.

Risk: corruption follows extraction route.

2. Seal fallen sun core.

Requires identifying true and false records.

3. Read central record to gain sealing phrase.

Risk: knowledge backlash.

Qin Yuheng studied the chamber.

There had to be another method.

He used Law-Thread Severing Eye.

The Crimson Eclipse record chain was connected to one researcher, but not as a necessary seal. It was a lure chain. The sealing phrase could be reconstructed from other records if combined.

"Qin Mo, Jiang Yuexuan," he said. "Can you reconstruct without reading central record?"

Qin Mo stared.

"That is hard."

Jiang Yuexuan looked at the surrounding archive fragments.

"Possible."

"Time?"

Qin Mo looked at the collapse timer.

[Ruin Collapse: 2 hours 11 minutes]

"Too little."

Jiang Yuexuan said, "Enough if protected."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

"Then we protect."

The final battle began.

Fallen Sun Archive Guardians emerged from the core. Corruption waves tried to force open the Crimson Eclipse record. Qin Yuheng planted Chosen Road Banner Field for the first time in a real assembly mission.

The banner protected allied teams from domination and knowledge compulsion.

Lu Sheng’s squad accepted the banner quickly.

Wei Chen accepted fully.

Jiang Yuexuan’s team accepted partially, enough to gain protection without submitting command.

Qin Yuheng felt the burden but held steady.

Qin Mo and Jiang Yuexuan reconstructed the sealing phrase from safe records.

Qin Lian cut lure chains.

Qin Yuchen guarded the suspended researchers.

The core released one final pulse.

The Crimson Eclipse record opened slightly.

Qin Yuheng saw only four words before the Forbidden Concept Sealing Bookmark activated.

Key beneath false—

The title sealed shut.

Qin Mo shouted, "Phrase ready!"

Jiang Yuexuan completed the final line.

They activated the seal.

The fallen sun core cracked.

Golden-black light collapsed inward.

[Fallen sun core sealed.]

[Researchers rescued: 12 / 12]

[Crimson Eclipse central record unread.]

[Knowledge compulsion resisted.]

[Simulation corruption contained.]

The extraction gate opened.

They escaped with thirty minutes remaining.

The simulation ended.

Evaluation appeared.

[Mission Evaluation: Excellent]

Primary Objectives: All completed.

Optional Objective: Fallen sun core sealed.

Corruption Exposure: 34%.

Researcher Survival: 12 / 12.

Forbidden Record Compulsion: Resisted.

Qin Mo sat down as soon as the simulation released them.

"I hate archives now too."

Jiang Yuexuan looked at Qin Yuheng.

"You refused the record twice."

"Yes."

"Good."

But Qin Yuheng remembered the four words.

Key beneath false—

Not enough.

Too much.

Exactly what the enemy wanted.