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    A moment ago.


    The guards and other participants who were undergoing their test couldn''t help but stop what they were doing to witness a certain person.


    "What''s wrong with him?"


    "Is he not a Spirit Wielder?"


    "If he is not, how could he do all that without breaking a sweat?"


    "But isn''t a Spirit Wielder allowed to skip all these tests as long as he shows his strength?"


    "I don''t know."


    The people were confused. Noel''s strength alone was enough to register and put his name on the priority list. Yet, he actually followed the test as normal people.


    The guard who didn''t answer Noel''s question earlier panicked when he saw Noel''s strength. He never thought that a weak-looking foreigner would be this strong.N?velDrama.Org content.


    On the other hand, the guard who answered Noel''s question couldn''t help but smile, thinking he managed to pique this guy''s interest by answering his question. He could brag about it and even had the chance for promotion.


    Still, everyone''s attention was focused on one thing.


    "Isn''t he a foreigner?"


    "Are we going to ept him?"


    "I have never thought that a foreigner who lives in a ce that doesn''t understand the hardship can be this strong. He is also so young."


    "The lord only wants us to ept everyone who is strong. There is no mention of whether the person is a foreigner or not."


    "Then, we''ll ept him?"


    The people silently agreed, considering Noel''s strength far surpassed what they had seen.


    "Is that all?" Noel asked the guard next to him.


    "Yes, Sir." The guard instantly became polite. As Dimitri said, this country respected the strong. As long as you showed your strength, they would definitely be polite. "We''llplete the registration over here. I''ll bring your token of participation as well."


    "I see." Noel nodded.


    "That''s…" The guard stopped him for a moment. He looked hesitant, but he was required to ask this question. "May I know your strength? I have to record it for official reasons."


    "Me?" Noel wondered if he should lie or not. But considering he was about to be a Spirit Grandmaster soon, the record shouldn''t be that useful. So, he answered, "I''m a Spirit Master."


    "A Spirit Master." The guards gasped, realizing the severity of this matter.


    Although they had been recruiting a lot of experts in the past few weeks, they only got a total of four Spirit Masters. Most participants were at the Spirit Practitioner level. So, having another Spirit Master was good for the sess of this expedition.


    Of course, a lot of them couldn''t believe Noel was a Spirit Master. They knew how hard it was to be a Spirit Master. In addition, Noel looked so young.


    Because he didn''t bother to hide his face, they could easily see his facial features, which looked like someone who had yet to reach their twenties.


    They couldn''t believe there was a person who managed to be a Spirit Master below twenty years old.


    However, Noel didn''t care about all their doubts. As soon as he got the token of participation, he walked away while asking, "All I have to do is gather two dayster, right?"


    "Yes, Sir. Please gather at the west gate."


    "Alright." Noel nodded and walked away.


    He could easily escape from this ce while they were still shocked, but it seemed that he couldn''t achieve it.


    When he was about to leave, a middle-aged man suddenly stopped in his way.


    "That''s…"


    "Sir Legz!"


    "The Great Protector Legz?"


    Noel raised his head. Although he had seen Legz, thetter was inside the building, so he couldn''t really look at him closely.


    But when he was standing in front of him, he finally realized how big Legz was.


    His height alone was more than two meters. His clothes couldn''t hide his muscr body and his gaze was sharp as if trying to pry open everything he saw.


    However, Noel wasn''t scared of him. He raised his head, ring at Legz.


    The people gulped down. The intense ring battle between Noel and Legz raised the tension, making people think they would be fighting.


    Finally, Noel broke the silence by asking, "Is there anything I can help you with? You''ve been looking at me the whole time."


    Noel mentioned Legz''s action before he went down.


    Legz surprisingly extended his hand and said, "It''s nothing. I simply want to congratte you. The expedition this time is dangerous. There is a chance that a Superior Demon is lurking inside the ruin. So, I''m giving you a chance to reconsider your decision."


    "If it''s only a Superior Demon, then you don''t have to worry. I''m not nning to back down." Noel extended his hand with a smile, shaking Legz''s hand.


    All of a sudden, Legz began pouring his Spiritual Energy into his hand as if he was trying to overwhelm Noel.


    His method was questionable, but his intention was clear. Legz wanted to warn Noel that his confidence might cause his own doom. He thought Noel didn''t know the Superior Demon''s true strength, so he wanted Noel to back away so that he didn''t have to die. A talented person like Noel should continue to survive so that he can be a big figure in the future.


    Unfortunately for him, Noel had be too sensitive to Spiritual Energy thanks to Old Ru''s method. Anna had done a lot of things like this in the past, so Noel also poured his Spiritual Energy into his hand, matching his Spiritual Energy.


    "!!!" Legz was surprised that Noel decided to fight back. So, he poured more Spiritual Energy.


    The pressure around them began to intensify as more and more Spiritual Energy was released.


    Unlike Anna and Noel, Legz couldn''t fully control his Spiritual Energy and element. The more he poured his Spiritual Energy, the more elements he poured.


    The ground started to shake while the sand started to rise.


    Noel didn''t back down. Since the other party had used his element, Noel also released his ice element. The ice element coated his entire body so that the sand couldn''t approach him.


    In fact, the temperature in the area dropped all of a sudden as the sand particles began to be coated by a thinyer of ice.


    "!!!" Legz became even more surprised because Noel could actually follow him to this level.


    He still thought that it would be a shame if someone like Noel had to die. On the other hand, he also considered the possibility of working together with Noel. After all, he was serving the second prince, who acted as themander of this battle.


    If a talented person like Noel could be the second prince''s subordinate, the pressure in the pce would disappear.


    However, Noel surpassed his imagination once more. Noel actually used his Force Control to insert his Spiritual Energy into Legz''s body.


    ''A Spirit Master doesn''t have a Spirit Mind. Yet, can he actually do what a Spirit Grandmaster can?'' Legz was utterly shocked.


    Since Legz was a Spirit Grandmaster, he could pour more Spiritual Energy to expel Noel''s energy.


    Their simple battle suddenly turned to a whole different level.


    The sh of their Spiritual Energy created even more pressure. The sand and the ice fought each other. The burst of Spiritual Energy formed a shock wave.


    "What is this?"


    "Are they truly only shaking hands?"


    "That kid is actually fighting against the Great Protector?"


    "Does he not know that the Great Protector''s status is even greater?"


    Legz heard their words and realized it would be a big deal if he didn''t back down. So, he decided to stop pouring his energy.


    Noel also matched him by erasing all the Spiritual Energy in the area. The ground stopped shaking, the shock wave stopped blowing, and the intense pressure instantly disappeared.


    There was only an eerie silence left. It felt like both of them were about to sheathe their weapons and fight for real.


    Luckily, Legz actuallyughed out loud as if nothing happened.


    "Hahaha." Legz released Noel''s hand and took out a metal token. This time, the token was made with gold. "This is your participation token. You are now considered my distinguished guest."


    The people dropped their jaws to the ground. Someone could actually fight Legz and escape unscathed. And that person was only a Spirit Master.


    Legz shouted to the guards, "Guide this guy to the best inn and the best room. I won''t ept otherwise. His expenses shall be paid by me."


    "Y-yes, Sir!" The guards didn''t know what to say. In fact, the one who didn''t answer Noel''s questions earlier had disappeared, afraid that he would die because of it.


    Sadly, Noel rejected his invitation. "There''s no need to do that. I''ve rented a room myself. I''m here because I''m curious about this ruin, not because I want to be special or something."


    Legz fell silent while the guards didn''t know what to say. They truly wanted Noel to know how big the opportunity Noel had just thrown away.


    Yet, Legz wasn''t angry or anything. "Alright. Since you don''t want special treatment, that''s fine. However, you still have to take this token. If there is someone messing with you, just show this token. The guards will be there to help you."


    "Alright then." Noel nodded. "Is that all?"


    Legz made a big smile. "Of course. I apologize for testing you. Please get some rest and enjoy your stay before the expedition."


    "Yeah." Noel only said one word before walking past Legz unaffected. Though, there was one more question that appeared in his head.


    ''Now that I think about it, I think I''ve heard a few simr terms. Protector, Great Protector, and the Grand Protector… Are they the same? I should ask Tristanter.'' Noel couldn''t help but remember the flow of Legz''s Spiritual Energy.


    ''Still… that guy''s Spiritual Energy is like a torrential wave that is trying to devour its target. The intensity is different from anyone I''ve met in the Muivell Kingdom. The only one close to him is probably… The Demon Hunting Squad Captain Igor. It seems the trip this time is more exciting than I imagined.''


    Without him realizing it, a smile appeared on Noel''s face.