The settlement appeared around the Black Glass Oasis.

The mirror dunes froze, then dissolved into harmless sand. The false roads vanished. The black glass pool remained, reflecting the true sky above the Tower floor.

The panel appeared.

[Floor 42: Mirror Sand Expanse]

[Main Mission: Cross Mirror Sand Expanse and reach Black Glass Oasis — Completed.]

[Sub-Mission: Identify 5 false routes — Completed.]

[Sub-Mission: Defeat 25 Mirror Sand Beasts — Completed.]

[Sub-Mission: Keep heat mirage corruption below 35% — Completed.]

[Final Heat Mirage Corruption Average: 21%]

[Sub-Mission: Avoid route collapse — Completed.]

[Sub-Mission: Discover true oasis marker — Completed.]

[Hidden Route Type: True path leading to false destination discovered.]

[Floor Boss: Mirror Sand Route Devourer defeated.]

[Calculating final evaluation...]

The result appeared.

[Final Evaluation: SSS]

Qin Mo nodded with tired satisfaction.

"We defeated geography deception."

The rewards appeared.

[SSS Evaluation Rewards]

EXP +23,500

Tower Coins x340,000

SS Grade Mirror Sand Expanse Chest x1

SS Grade Black Glass True Reflection Water x1

SS Grade Route Devourer Mirror Spine x1

S Grade Mirage Heat Resistance Fruit x3

S Grade False Route Detection Crystal x1

S Grade Mirror Sand Beast Core Bundle x1

Special Mark: False Destination Breaker

Additional hidden reward:

[True Path to False Destination Identified]

SS Grade Destination Verification Compass x1

Qin Yuheng immediately valued the compass.

A false route was dangerous.

A true route to a false destination was worse.

Blood Sun’s information leaks had been exactly that kind of path.

True fragments leading toward enemy-defined urgency.

The return to the academy was smooth.

Yu Qingmei read the hidden route discovery and looked thoughtful.

"This floor was timely."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

"It gave a name to a strategy."

"True path, false destination."

"Yes."

At the Qin Estate, the rewards were evolved and distributed carefully.

The Mirror Sand Expanse Chest became:

[SS Grade Mirror Sand Expanse Chest]

↓

[SSS Grade Ancient True Mirage Desert Chest]

Contents:

[SSS Grade True Mirage Heart Crystal x1]

[SS Grade Skill Book: Mirage-Breaking Thunder Road Step x1]

[SS Grade False Destination Severing Compass x1]

[SS Grade Black Glass Reflection Shield x1]

[S Grade Mirror Sand Route Map x1]

The Destination Verification Compass was evolved separately.

[SS Grade Destination Verification Compass]

↓

[SSS Grade True Destination Law Compass]

[Effect:

Distinguishes true routes leading to false destinations, corrupted endpoints, baited paths, and destination substitution traps.

Warning:

Cannot identify unknown destinations without sufficient reference pattern.]

Qin Wanshan’s eyes sharpened when he read the effect.

"This will be essential when the external ritual center appears."

Qin Mo agreed.

"If someone gives us a real map to the wrong ’false sun’ site, this may detect mismatch."

The Black Glass True Reflection Water was not used immediately. After enhancement, it became SSS Grade True Sky Black Glass Water, capable of reflecting whether a viewed authority source was genuine, false, corrupted, or substituted—under controlled conditions.

Qin Mo integrated a small diluted portion into the Crimson Eclipse Anchor Map chamber, improving their ability to distinguish genuine moon counterweight from reflected false moon traces.

The map updated slightly.

[Moon Counterweight Trace clarity improved.]

[False reflection contamination: none detected in current moon trace.]

[External false solar source remains unmatched.]

Mu Qinglan looked relieved.

Her moon trace was still confirmed protective.

Not false.

Not corrupted.

Used by the ritual, yes—but not born from it.

That mattered.

Floor 43 file arrived two days later.

[Floor 43: Bloodless Iron Arena]

Type:

Combat trial / no bloodshed condition / weapon mastery / restraint.

Warning:

Victory gained through excessive injury may count as failure.]

Qin Feng, upon hearing the file, looked disappointed.

"No bloodshed arena? That is unfair to arenas."

Qin Ruyan said, "It tests control."

Qin Yuheng saw the usefulness immediately.

After all the command, authority, and ritual floors, the Tower now tested personal combat restraint.

Duan Xirong’s duel had shown Qin Yuheng direct combat pressure.

Floor 43 would refine it.

The Bloodless Iron Arena began with a circular platform surrounded by weapon racks.

The mission:

[Main Mission]

Defeat five weapon masters without causing lethal or severe bleeding wounds.

[Sub-Missions]

1. Use at least three weapon responses.

2. Avoid being disarmed more than twice.

3. Preserve arena honor rules.

4. Defeat final Iron Arbiter.]

Qin Yuheng fought alone for most of the floor while the team handled support puzzles and honor rule interpretation.

Weapon masters appeared one by one: sword, spear, axe, chain, and shield.

Each punished killing intent.

Qin Yuheng had to use flat strikes, joint locks, thunder paralysis, disarms, and controlled pressure.

The final Iron Arbiter wielded all five weapon styles.

Level 42.

The fight was long and technical. Qin Yuheng could have ended it faster with stronger thunder, but the floor punished excess. He won by disarming, breaking stance, and placing his blade at the Arbiter’s throat without cutting.

SSS evaluation.

Rewards included Bloodless Victory Iron Token, Weapon Restraint Manual, Iron Arbiter Core, and No-Kill Combat Insight Crystal.

After evolution, the SSS Grade Sovereign Restraint Combat Insight Crystal became a training treasure for the Qin younger generation.

Qin Wanshan approved strongly.

"Power without restraint exposes secrets and creates enemies."

Qin Feng was forced to train with it.

He suffered.

Qin Mo enjoyed watching.