Translator: AnubisTL
"So, these natives must be the true enemies of this trial," Jieming thought, his vigilance sharpening.
Abandoning the rune-imbued magical artifact that had allowed him to fly at high speeds, he now prioritized stealth, relying solely on his legs for movement.
Finally, during one of his deep forays into the valley, Jieming spotted them from a distance.
It was a group of about twenty individuals, clad in rough animal hides and tree bark. Each moved with remarkable agility as they encircled a wild boar-like magical beast the size of a van.
Jieming drifted silently into the canopy of a nearby tree, concealing himself among the leaves to observe them from afar.
"Interesting... they're not savages after all?"
He quickly noticed something amiss. Though their appearance and attire suggested a primitive society, the natives wielded genuine metal weapons.
Their conversations revealed a fully developed language, and they were capable of casting rudimentary spells. These included brief bursts of speed enhancement, simple earthen wall defenses, and poison arrows with paralyzing effects.
However, their most common technique was a special power that enhanced their physical abilities.
Under the influence of this power, they could instantly unleash strength and speed several times greater than their natural limits.
"What is this? Knights?" Jieming wondered.
In addition to this power, Jieming also noticed exquisitely crafted trinkets on their bodies—something a primitive civilization would never possess.
He observed how skillfully they cornered a tusked boar, how they used thrown spears to wear it down, and how they finally collaborated to bring it down.
After the hunt, they even divided tasks efficiently: some kept watch, others cleaned the site, and the rest carried the carcass.
The eyes of these natives held a wary hostility toward the outside world.
As they transported their prey, several of them periodically scanned their surroundings, their gazes alert and guarded, as if anticipating danger.
Following them covertly, Jieming soon arrived at their settlement—a sizable cave with excellent natural concealment.
Surprisingly, the population was small. Including the hunters, the entire cave housed fewer than a hundred people.
With such a small number of people, this place could barely be considered a small settlement.
However, Jieming's findings were significant. Inside the cave, he discovered two natives clad in heavy armor, their weapons emitting faint energy fluctuations.
While the weaker residents nearby were wrapped in animal hides and leaves, they still used metal tools for labor and gathering food.
Outside the cave, freshly fired pottery jars were arranged.
This must be... survivors of a shattered civilization, forced to live off the land, Jieming realized.
For now, these people held little value to him. Their energy manipulation techniques were too rudimentary. A quick scan with his analysis art revealed most of their energy pathways.
But if there were stronger natives here, their cultivation techniques might prove more valuable to me.
After observing from a distance to ensure he remained undetected, Jieming silently left the valley.
Deep within the Greyrock Realm, in a hidden valley concealed by twisted trees and towering stone pillars, a crackling campfire illuminated weathered faces.
This settlement was far larger than the crude encampment Jieming had stumbled upon earlier. It was a temporary camp secretly established by survivors from several destroyed "kingdoms," united by their shared plight.
Inside the council hall—a massive tent—the atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.
Several warriors, their faces hardened by hardship and clad in crude half-body armor, sat together, their powerful physiques radiating raw strength.
On the opposite side sat shamans and priests, their qi restrained, clutching bone staves or scepters.
The group huddled around the fire, their expressions grim.
They represented the survivors of the Greyrock Realm's shattered kingdoms, now united by their common hatred and thirst for vengeance.
They had once been the true masters of this land: ancient kingdoms, glorious civilizations, and faiths guarded for generations... until the arrival of the outsiders who called themselves "wizards."
It was a nightmarish cataclysm.
The wizards wielded unimaginable power, commanding the elements and warping space itself.
Their kingdom had been destroyed, their homeland burned to ashes, and countless compatriots reduced to dust by the cold, overwhelming power of the wizards' spells.
The survivors were forced to hide in the most secluded corners of the Greyrock Realm, living like wild beasts, clinging to life only to preserve the royal bloodline and await their chance for vengeance.
Now, the mass entry of Noren Academy apprentices into the Greyrock Realm had undoubtedly reignited their hatred and vigilance.
"They've come again!"
"Just like last time, crawling in like insects!"
"Those bastards are getting closer! They'll discover us eventually!"
"My lords, our scouts have confirmed that the outsiders entering the Greyrock Realm this time are all immature 'younglings'," a knight commander with a jagged scar across his face declared in a deep, gravelly voice.
His voice, raspy like metal grinding against metal, bore the marks of long years spent in hiding and battle: "Though their power is considerable, it pales in comparison to the wizards who annihilated our kingdom!"
"This is our chance!" another shaman leader exclaimed, gripping his bone staff tightly, his voice burning with hatred. "Our ancestors taught us that when foreign enemies foolishly set foot on our land again, it would be the time to wash away our shame!"
"But these wizards' methods are strange and unpredictable. We can't underestimate them," a female knight warned, her brow furrowed. "According to intelligence gathered by others, they possess a unique mobility ability. They vanish the moment they sense danger, making it nearly impossible to completely eradicate them."
"They're using spatial abilities..."
A voice drew everyone's attention. Turning, they saw a somewhat disheveled priest pull an intricately crafted ring from his robes.
"These fellows call themselves wizard apprentices. I obtained this from an arrogant apprentice. They use this ring to freely escape our world when threatened."
"Spatial abilities..."
Hearing the priest's explanation, the others exchanged uneasy glances. Some couldn't hide their frustration.
In their world, spatial abilities were the exclusive domain of the gods.
Yet the deities who once ruled from celestial thrones, their divine realms spanning the cosmos, had vanished during the first wave of purges by the monstrous beings known as wizards.
(End of the Chapter)
Translator's Corner
1. Firearms in a Fantasy World [1005/1005] FREE
2. Record of a Demon's Cultivation [1196/1380] FREE
3. Martial Fist [645/645] FREE (Has big chapters upto 3.1k words)
4. Martial Invincible [504/504] FREE (Has big chapters upto 2.5k words)
5. Nightmare Strikes [1742/1742] FREE
6. Demonic Cultivation: Starting as a Horse Bandit [490/490] FREE
7. Immortal Refiner [660/740] FREE (Has big chapters upto 3k words)
8. My Apocalypse Train [390/390] FREE (Has big chapters upto 6.5k words)
9. My Cannon's Caliber is 3000 Meters [292/376] FREE (Has big chapters upto 5.7k words)
10. Hijacking the Timeline [130/190] (Has big chapters upto 3k words)
11. I Made a Slight Move and Reached the System's Limit [110/220] FREE (Has big chapters upto 4.5k words)
12. Knight: Infinite Jobs Starting as a Blacksmith [94/196] FREE
13. Cultivator in a Wizard World!? [68/124] FREE
🔓 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐥.𝐜𝐨𝐦 — 13 Series (7 Ongoing) | 14+ New Chapters Daily | 7,200+ FREE