Most of these students didn’t have the same high level as Harry and Brian. For them, this aura was palpable.
A Spiritual Sage was not just another level — it came with a unique trait called spiritual sense and aura.
It was the first step toward merging with nature, where one could manifest their will into reality.
Spiritual sense was unlike any ordinary perception — a sense beyond hearing and vision. It could pierce through the hardest of personalities, granting the ability to always remain aware of one’s surroundings within a certain radius — a radius that would continue to expand with every breakthrough.
The silence lingered for some time, Gracie’s domineering voice hanging in the atmosphere. Students gasped, realizing that she was already a Spiritual Sage.
None dared to take a step. Very few people remained unaffected by her presence.
Among them were Harry, Brian, and Ray the leader of the settlement that Harry, Jessie and sephie had entered first.
Brian didn’t even glance at Gracie. His aloof and nonchalant stance toward the revelation surprised some students. His gaze was fixated on Harry, a crazy smile spreading across his face.
Just as everyone thought the situation would stop escalating, one student dared to walk out of the crowd.
"Well... well, finally someone worthy of my time."
A broad, handsome man holding a long sword in his hand stepped forward. With his first step, another spiritual sense spread out, directly challenging Gracie’s will.
"It’s Michael of the Rousseau family, the son of our senior elder! How in the world did he reach the Spiritual Sage realm?"
"No! The real question is — where the hell was he until now?"
Everyone started whispering, voicing their suspicions. Almost all were convinced he had been helped by the senior elder and possessed prior knowledge about the test.
"Gracie, it will be better if we stay out of this. I know you’ve become strong, but this test won’t stop until the required number of students remains." Michael rested his sword on his shoulder, looking completely at ease.
Gracie looked at the man with disdain. Despite having this power, he had remained silent until now, only to suggest obedience.
At the same time, hesitation flickered in her heart — his cultivation seemed stable, while she had just broken through to this level.
She was unaware of the true extent of her power.
But her resort was absolute — she didn’t care anymore. All she needed was reassurance, which came with Harry’s nod.
Harry was confident about the outcome. Though Michael’s cultivation was more stable, he hadn’t reached the second level of Spiritual Sage. That alone reassured Harry that Gracie could handle him. It was time to prove why soul cultivators were feared.
"So you’ve decided?" Michael sneered before rushing toward Gracie in an instant.
Harry quickly cast an invisible barrier along Michael’s path.
He hadn’t used his full strength, but the barrier still shattered like thin glass. Still, it was enough to alert Michael, who immediately looked around, unsettled by what he sensed.
That momentary hesitation gave Gracie her opening.
She teleported instantly with the intent of phasing through him and leaving her sword inside. Yet Michael’s sharp senses saved him — he shifted sideways and kicked Gracie hard in the back as she reappeared.
She was sent flying across the ground for nearly a hundred meters before halting. Her grip on her sword tightened as she charged again, undeterred.
While Harry prepared to assist Gracie, a large man suddenly rushed toward him, blocking his path.
"Leave them alone. How about we settle our problem?" Brian laughed, winking.
"Are you his underling? Let’s see what you’ve got." Harry used Shadow Step, attempting to appear behind Brian and thrust his sword, intending to end the fight in a single strike.
He was confident. Enemies at same level rarely challenged him. Most of the time, he killed them within three strikes or less. He expected this guy to fall in one.
But then, his body went cold.
He hadn’t teleported.
His Shadow Step had failed.
Confusion hit him hard — it was the first time one of his skills had not worked.
"Don’t mind me. I’m not with that mindless dog from the academy. I hate him too, but I’ll have to deal with you first."
Brian smiled, then retrieved a sword glistening with radiant green energy.
"Can we postpone our fight?" Harry asked, attempting Shadow Step again.
"Why are you in such a hurry to use your elemental skills? Do you have nothing else besides your element?" Brian looked annoyed but forced a smile. "We can’t postpone this. Someone asked me to kill you during the exam. And I don’t think your friend will let it drag on much longer."
His eyes shifted toward Gracie, who was regaining her footing, her dominance steadily pushing Michael back.
Harry sighed at Gracie’s improvement, but his mind raced. How could this man suppress his skills? He needed time to figure it out, though Brian didn’t seem in any hurry.
"Who told you to kill me? If you’re brave enough, you can say it." Harry pressed, deliberately trying to get under his nerves.
"See... see, you’re a smart man. I have no personal grudge, but they offered me a Five-Leaf Grass just to kill you. Tempting, isn’t it?" He paused, staring intently at Harry. "What would you have chosen?"
"I don’t think I need to answer. I already know who sent you. And as for your question — I wouldn’t kill anyone for a mere grass." Harry’s voice was calm. In truth, he didn’t even know what Five-Leaf Grass was, so why would he kill someone for it?
"Liar... liar!" Brian snapped, his excitement almost manic.
His reactions were strange — sudden and erratic. Excitement turned to grief, grief to calm, calm to concern, concern to curiosity, curiosity to happiness.
Harry had witnessed more expressions in just one minute than most displayed in a lifetime.
All the while, he kept trying to use different skills. Yet none worked, as if he had never possessed them. Still, his system confirmed their existence — they simply could not be activated.
"I don’t think your skills will work. You’d better try something new." Brian charged forward, relying solely on brute force. There was no technique in his movements.
Yet his speed matched Harry’s raw speed despite the clear disadvantage.
Harry’s threefold cultivation granted him tremendous strength and agility. For someone to match his speed at all was a feat in itself.
Realizing this, Harry didn’t hold back any longer. He couldn’t afford to.
An ominous black longsword clashed against Brian’s radiant green sword.