Monk, Old Ghost, and a few team members listened, utterly perplexed, even Kong Wu was in the same boat, after all, he had just stepped into Third Grade and hadn't had the chance to study these things yet.
"So... what does this have to do with not being able to see Xia Luo's Cultivation Level?" Monk asked, puzzled.
Lord Qian Han didn't blame him for interrupting, and explained:
"If he was Second Rank, then when he attacked, all his attacks would carry the essence of Dao Yun, something that Martial Artists above Second Rank can sense."
"Xia Luo's attack didn't carry Dao Yun?" Kong Wu realized the key point.
"Right," Lord Qian Han said, "That's what puzzles me the most, could there really be someone in the world who possesses such terrifying strength without reaching Second Rank?"
"Couldn't it be First Grade?" Monk scratched his head.
Lord Qian Han and Kong Wu immediately turned their heads, staring at him like they were looking at an absolute fool.
"Firstly, do you think anyone can cultivate to First Grade at the age of eighteen??? Is that possible!" continued Lord Qian Han, "And secondly, when he made his move, he only displayed Domain, not the small world with the rules of Dao, which are totally different things."
Kong Wu took a deep breath, "No way, don't tell me he is just Third Grade like me but possesses such terrifying combat power."
Lord Qian Han mused, "Thinking back just now, when this guy made his move, it was merely a bit stronger than a regular Third Grade, his Domain a bit larger than a regular Third Grade, his vitality a bit richer than a regular Third Grade."
"Ah, this..."
Old Ghost, Thin Monkey, Snake Scorpion, Monk, Kong Wu, and others all widened their eyes.
"It was so horrifyingly strong, are you sure it was only a bit more?"
Lord Qian Han said, annoyed:
"What I said was a 'bit', a 'bit' with a string of zeros behind one, the 'bit' in billion, got it?"
He was somewhat mentally collapsing at the moment.
Having just broken through to Second Rank, he felt overwhelmingly confident, especially after taking on the role of a City Lord, feeling like he was at the peak of life, with a bright and powerful future within grasp.
Stepping on the Divine Toilet, shattering islands with his fists didn't seem out of reach.
The current ferocious beast tide mercilessly shattered his beautiful dream, deflating his swollen pride like a punctured balloon, making him acutely aware that even a Second Rank could only meet a grim fate against a powerful beast tide, especially after witnessing a young prodigy like Luo Yu, making his previous thoughts seem utterly ridiculous.
The most terrifying thought was, this young man was not First Grade, nor was he at his own level, but very likely a whole big level lower at Third Grade.
If that was truly the case, then it's too horrifying.
Lord Qian Han dared not continue this line of thought.
A Third Grade capable of displaying such combat power, superior when facing higher ranks as if slaughtering chickens and dogs – what would this young man be like once he truly cultivated to Second Rank and First Grade?
He gasped a cold breath, his skin crawling with goosebumps, yet his heart was ablaze with excitement.
"Such a prodigy, such strength, Guang Yuan's fortune, Great Xia's blessing indeed!!!"
Lord Qian Han's throat vibrated, he exclaimed with excitement.
On the side, Kong Wu and others were seeing a top expert, a Second Rank strongman lose his composure for the first time, yet it didn't seem exaggerated, but rather very normal.
"Boom!"
A tremendous roar erupted from the center of the battlefield.
A pillar of blood qi surged to the sky, vitality like a rainbow lighting the pitch-black night sky, looking so conspicuous and magnificent.
"No way, don't tell me he just broke through to Second Rank." Monk said in shock.
Lord Qian Han perceived carefully, shaking his head.
"No, still no Dao Yun. It seems only his Spiritual Power and physical strength have broken through."
"When the City Lord puts it that way, it feels even more terrifying," said Kong Wu.
Lord Qian Han kept sighing.
"Indeed!"
"Ordinary people reaching Third Grade enhance their physical bodies to the extreme, and even improving by a mere pound of strength is extremely difficult. Not to mention the amount of Spiritual Power, without breaking through to a higher realm, there's ultimately a limit to its storage."
But...
Lord Qian Han couldn't continue what he was about to say.
He himself had also cultivated to the pinnacle of Third Grade before breaking through, but compared to the vitality and Spiritual Power displayed by the young man before him, it was nothing, like heaven and earth apart.
Ten times?
Thirty times, seventy times??
For a moment, Lord Qian Han couldn't make any judgments.
"Boom!"
Another roar, the red pillar of blood qi exploded, deafening everyone nearby instantly.
It took several breaths to recover.
Then, a long rainbow streaked across the sky and descended before Qian Han and Kong Wu.
Qian Han looked at Luo Yu, who had already retracted his aura, appearing plain and ordinary like a commoner, and for a long time couldn't utter a word.
Kong Wu and the others also lost the demeanor of the big brother they had when they were getting along, each of their skins taut and unconsciously stiffening up.
Luo Yu smiled and said, "Lord Qian Han, there shouldn't be another ferocious beast army attacking in a short time, right?"
"No, not anymore." Qian Han swallowed his saliva.
Upon closer thought, this was a calamity star, who annihilated tens of thousands of ferocious beasts in a heartbeat, leaving not even the bones behind, devouring them all.
He must not be fooled by this harmless-looking face; he should be treated with extra respect.
"Lord Qian Han, aren't your injuries healed yet?" Luo Yu asked with surprise, noticing that these few people looked quite pale, almost like that Old Ghost.
"They're healed, you... no, Your miraculous healing..." Qian Han clasped his hands and bowed deeply, "Thank you for your rescue, for saving me, the soldiers, and the lives of all the people in the city."
Kong Wu and the others followed suit, bowing to ninety degrees, their gratification coming from deep within their hearts.
They were well aware that without Luo Yu, they would have all fallen here today.
The reinforcements wouldn't have arrived in time.
Luo Yu shook his head, "It was a trifle, no need for politeness."
"Please, everyone, rise."
Qian Han's mouth twitched.
Our life-and-death crisis, your... trivial matter?
Oh...
Is this how a big shot thinks?
Qian Han and the others accompanied Luo Yu as they flew back to the city wall, deliberately staying half a step behind him. This was a world where strength was respected, where power would earn one the respect of everyone else.
No sooner had they landed on the city wall than Luo Yu was greeted with collective cheers from the soldiers, seeing the grateful iron-blooded faces.
At this moment, Luo Yu was also somewhat moved.
He had always had it too easy, never experiencing any real crisis of life and death, and therefore had not taken many things seriously.
Now, seeing the soldiers' post-disaster joy and excitement, his heart was touched.
He decided to train even harder from now on.
Only by strengthening himself, could he protect himself, protect those he cared about better, and guard his country.
"Boss, boss!!!" Little Fatty came running and tumbling over, not from weakness, but from sheer excitement, his chubby face flushed red.
"You're too awesome, too brutal."
Luo Yu lifted his foot and kicked Little Fatty into a roll, his disdain apparent as he said, "Don't lose face for your brother, keep calm."
"Yes, yes." Little Fatty nodded continuously.
Qian Han, who had been wondering if Little Fatty might also be a great master hiding his strength, after seeing this, ruled out the possibility immediately.
He sighed with relief.
If every newcomer from Chuan Province Martial University was this monstrous, their hearts really wouldn't be able to take it.
No sooner had Luo Yu finished with the enthusiastic soldiers and descended the city wall, than he was stunned by the scene before him.
The city was already a sea of people, the streets jam-packed.
All were ordinary citizens of the city.
Men and women, octogenarians and children under ten, all looked at him with eyes brimming with tears.
"For the life-saving grace of our savior, we, the people of Guangyuan City, will never forget."
"Thank you, savior, for saving our lives."
Voices of gratitude rose one after another, and many people, overwhelmed with emotion, knelt and bowed down directly.
They really had no idea how to express their feelings, as even if they gave all their possessions, such a strong person probably wouldn't even bother to look their way.
"Please, rise."
"As martial artists, it's our undeniable duty to help the common folk."
"Should I ever encounter a calamity, the people of the world will surely not fail me." Luo Yu's eyes shone brightly, his desire to become stronger imbued with additional meaning at that moment.