"So, these indigenous people are the real enemies of this trial."

Upon realizing this, Jeming heightened his vigilance.

Instead of relying on the Talisman Witchcraft for high-speed flight, he focused more on stealth, moving solely on foot.

Finally, during one of his ventures into the valley, Jeming spotted them from a distance.

It was a group of about twenty people, dressed in coarse animal hides and bark.

Each of them moved swiftly as they hunted a magical beast as large as a van.

Jeming silently floated into the treetops, concealing himself while observing these people from afar.

"Interesting... they're not savage, are they?"

Jeming quickly noticed something was amiss. Although their appearance resembled a primitive society, the weapons the indigenous people held were genuine metal products.

From their interaction, he could tell they had a complete language and were capable of releasing techniques that seemed somewhat rudimentary to him.

For example, brief speed boosts, simple earth wall defenses, or poison arrows with paralyzing effects.

However, what they used most frequently was a special power similar to body enhancement.

Under the influence of this special power, they could instantly unleash strength and speed several times their physical capacity.

"What is this? Knights?"

In addition, Jeming found some intricately made small ornaments on them—something not found in primitive civilizations.

He watched as they cleverly drove the boar into a corner, using thrown spears to wear it down, eventually teaming up to kill it.

After the hunt, they even knew how to divide tasks, with some keeping watch, others cleaning the scene, and some responsible for carrying the prey.

The eyes of these indigenous people carried a vigilance and hostility towards the outside world.

While transporting the prey, a few indigenous people occasionally scanned their surroundings, their gazes alert and full of caution, as if guarding against something.

Silently following them, Jeming soon arrived at their dwelling place.

It was a fairly large cave, well-concealed.

Surprisingly, there weren't many people. Including the hunters, there were fewer than a hundred people in the entire cave.

This number... it could only barely be considered a small gathering point.

However, Jeming gained a lot since he discovered two indigenous people inside the cave wearing heavy armor, with slight energy fluctuations emanating from their weapons.

Other relatively weak residents around them, although donned in animal hides and leaves, also utilized metal goods for labor or gathering food.

Outside the cave, there were even some newly fired clay pots.

"Is this... the remnants of a civilization devastated, forced to survive in the wilderness?"

Jeming understood.

Nonetheless, these people held little value for him at the moment, their energy manipulation methods too crude. He swiftly discerned most of their energy flow paths with just a glance using the Deciphering Skill.

"But if there's a stronger indigenous person, perhaps their cultivation techniques might be more valuable to me."

After observing from afar for a while, ensuring he hadn't been noticed, Jeming silently departed from the valley.

...

...

In the depths of the Gray Rock Realm, in a secret valley concealed by twisted trees and massive stone pillars.

A campfire crackled and popped, illuminating faces worn by weather and hardship.

This place was considerably larger compared to the simple gathering point Jeming had accidentally discovered earlier. It was a temporary encampment secretly built by survivors from several different "Kingdoms."

In the council hall, the atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.

Though called a council hall, it was merely a giant tent.

A few warriors with resolute faces, wearing simple half-armors, sat together, their sturdy bodies exuding a fierce power.

On the other side sat some shamans and priests with retracted auras, holding bone staffs or scepters.

These people sat around the fire, their expressions grim.

They represented the survivors of different kingdoms destroyed in the Gray Rock Realm, united at this moment by mutual hatred and the desire for revenge.

They were once the true masters of the Gray Rock Realm, ancient kingdoms, glorious civilizations, and faiths guarded for generations... until those self-proclaimed "Wizards" arrived.

It was a nightmare-like catastrophe.

The wizards wielded incredible powers, mastering elements and bending space.

Their kingdoms were destroyed, their homes burned, countless compatriots reduced to dust under the cold and potent witchcraft.

The survivors were forced to hide in the most secret corners of the Gray Rock Realm, living like wild beasts, barely surviving, just to continue the kingdom's bloodline and await a chance for revenge.

And this time, the large-scale entry of the Nolun Academy apprentices into the Gray Rock Realm undoubtedly reignited their hatred and vigilance.

"They've come again!"

"Just like last time, crawling in like insects!"

"Those guys are getting closer, they will eventually discover our existence!"

"Folks, our scouts have confirmed that this time, the outsiders entering the Gray Rock Realm are merely 'cubs' that are yet to mature." A Knight Commander with a grim scar on his face spoke solemnly.

His voice held a metallic hoarseness, a mark left by prolonged hiding and battles: "Their power isn't weak, but they're nowhere near the wizards who decimated our kingdoms!"

"This is an opportunity!" Another Shaman Leader tightly gripped his bone staff, his voice filled with the fire of hatred, "Our ancestors told us, when foreign enemies foolishly step onto our land again, it will be time to wash away our shame!"

"But those wizards are cunning. We must not underestimate them," a female knight warned with a frown, "According to the information brought by others, they have a special movement ability. Once in danger, they disappear... making it hard for us to annihilate them completely."

"They use spatial abilities..."

A voice drew everyone's attention, turning to see a somewhat disheveled priest retrieving an intricately designed ring from his belongings:

"Those guys call themselves wizard apprentices. I got this from one arrogant wizard apprentice. They use this to escape our world at will when in danger."

"Spatial abilities..."

Upon hearing the priest's explanation, several others exchanged glances, unable to suppress dejected expressions.

In their world, spatial abilities were the prerogative of the Divine.

Yet, those divine spirits, who once upheld the Divine Kingdom and sat among the stars, had long disappeared during the first wave of cleansing by those beings known as wizards.

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