Xue Fang gazed at the seven towering front pillars of the Tomb of Kings which stood as monumental sentinels, each crowned with the molded figures of the seven King-Level Supernaturals buried within.
"Seven King-Levels" Xue Fang muttered, inadvertently lost in the view.
The area situated in an undeveloped location in Jade Spirit City was vast, surrounded by slightly dense woods, and teeming with about thirty entrants and several examination officials.
"As expected, more than seventy percent have dropped out"
Xue Fang could hear multiple voices of different entrants, but he was more engrossed in the figures of the seven King-Levels supernaturals.
Their forms were carved in intricate detail, embodying their immense power and dominion, their visages staring down with an eternal, oppressive gaze.
The first carving depicted a horned serpent. Its three horns jutted out long and sharp, and its cold, predatory eyes seemed to pierce through the viewer. Its bared fangs and coiled posture evoked the chilling impression of standing in the shadow of death.
"Even in their carved state, I could still fill some dreadful presence"
Xue Fang felt a cold shiver running down his spine, however, he instinctively clenched his fists, steeling himself against the lingering fear.
Some of the King-Level Supernaturals could shapeshift into human form. They could cultivate human form after living among humans for a certain period, although they would still retain some of their original body attributes. For example, the horned serpent was depicted in books as a very beautiful woman in its human form, but it retained its three horns, albeit much shorter than those in its serpent form.
During the dark times when humans were colonized and reduced to slavery by Supernaturals, this phenomenon was not uncommon among certain King-Level Supernaturals, Xue Fang could recall all the books about Supernaturals he had read.
While Xue Fang was still gazing at the carvings, something suddenly drew his attention, like he could feel something mystical calling his attention away from the carvings to them.
As he made to turn to that very direction, amidst the very crowd, his gaze fell on a single girl.
The girl, with her hair adorned with hairpins with dangling gems, had a freaky and mischievous expression on her face, like a brat up to no good.
"Am I being targeted? Does this exam have to do with some sort of meat shield situation where sacrifice would be needed"
That was the first thought that came to Xue Fang's mind, how else would she be looking at her like that if it wasn't for that?
But another thing that made Xue Fang discard the thought was that the main requirement of the exam was yet to be announced, and even among the examination officials, Instinct—the one who would proctor the exam as stated in the application form—hadn't arrived, so what if the exam required a joint operation to ensure survival?
Perhaps the girl was finding capable allies.
"But do I resemble someone capable?"
Xue Fang realized that wasn't the main thing, because just then he noticed that he wasn't the only one the girl looked at, and anytime she gazed at someone, mostly those with their back turned to her, even with this state, the target would always turn back and look at her and she would then smiled mischievously at them back.
"Does she have some sort of presence assertive skill? Not a negative or intimidating one though, like she could let her presence be known..."
Xue Fang wandered.
As someone who had gone through high school and graduated, Xue Fang knew that under normal conditions, the condition of being able to sense someone's gaze from the back is called scopaesthesia.
"However, this is different, since not everyone could sense a gaze from the back, it is like she could command the attention of any target"
Xue Fang smirked.
"That would make up for a very good communication skill"
"And even a high-level one could distract a target during battle"
"I wonder what her enhancement level was, given how she had already unlocked a skill"
Using his Soul Will, Xue Fang willed his appraisal skill to show the girl's information.
Xue Fang's gaze lingered on the panel for a moment before it dissolved into motes of light. He wasn't surprised that someone who hadn't entered the HighRealms had had such a high enhancement level. It wasn't uncommon for families of high-level Hunters to pass Soul Coins to their kin using the rare Coin Remittance skill. However, unlike Soul Coins, a Soul Avatar could be lent or relinquished freely, at the owner's discretion.
"Not bad"
Xue Fang muttered.
At the Enhancement Level of 22, the girl's raw strength would easily let her lift over two hundred kilograms, a feat that would put her leagues above the strongest athletes of humanity's pre-Supernatural era. Coupled with other body attributes like enhanced reflexes, stamina, and speed, she was likely capable of besting even the most elite bodybuilders of a bygone world. But in this new age, her strength wasn't extraordinary—just… adequate.
"No status huh? I wonder how many Common Soul Coins it would remain for her to ascend the status of a commoner"
Xue Fang watched her till she went to sit beside a guy on the erected low platform encircling the Tomb of Kings.
She then pulled out a needle and began sewing a small piece of cloth with practiced movements.
The guy had a similar physique to Xue Fang, lean toned muscles, and an air of confidence.
He gazed at the girl with an indifferent expression, while she held up the needle, smiling mischievously. The needle's tip glinted sharply in the light, just in front of her face.
The guy didn't even say a single word but turned his gaze away, looking at nowhere in particular.
"Do they know each other? The mischievous girl and the indifferent man"
Xue Fang then tried to appraise him but no information appeared.
"This is no ordinary fellow"
"A variant of presence concealing ability? I don't know maybe it is his unlocked skill or his innate ability, but my level one appraisal skill can't display his information"
Just then, without turning his head, the guy's eyes shifted in their sockets and his piercing gaze landed on Xue Fang.
Their eyes met, and Xue Fang was startled for a moment.
Not that the gaze was intimidating but because it caught Xue Fang off guard.
"Did he notice that I was using a skill on him?"
Although it was possible for the guy to look at Xue Fang since Xue Fang was also gazing at him, however, many other people were also doing the same, this made Xue Fang think maybe he did notice.