"It's you? Grey Lockhart!" Varyn wore a stunned look on his face, as he set his eyes onto the owner of the energy that overpowered his. Even though he looked rather unfamiliar now, Varyn could tell from one glance who it was.

Standing directly above him, Werner and Valeria, overlooking the entire city, was a young man with an extremely handsome angular face. He had deep mysterious eyes and in his hands was a long sword glowing with power, and additionally, he was now holding onto a little girl's hand as the girl looked around curiously.

The instant Varyn laid his eyes onto Little Hong, his eyes widened in disbelief.

Although he couldn't sense anything from Grey, he could from the girl, peak 2nd rank.

"Master Grey!" Werner called out with a dumbfounded expression, he could sense Little Hong's aura too.

So could Valeria.

"Brother Grey, who is that?" Valeria asked with a slightly confused look on her face.

[Is this master grey?!]

[Is he the one who set up the eliminate the chicken array?!]

[Oh my god, he looks so young! How is that possible?]

[He looks no less than 17 years old.]

[He is clearly someone who underwent metamorphosis twice, I'm sure he only looks young, everyone, he might be a hundred year old monster!]

[Comment above, use your brain a little! Just because you undergo metamorphosis doesn't mean you start de-aging like some supreme baby immortal. The youngest anyone has ever looked is their early twenties. If your logic were right, then by the third metamorphosis we'd all be crawling around in diapers swinging spiritual rattles!]

[But still, he can't be 17 years old right? Exalted formation master Werner calls him master...]

[Yeah! It has to be some sort of technique to make yourself look younger!]

[Forget that, who's that kid? How's she flying?]

[Probably being supported by this Master Grey's flight ability right? He's clearly a 2nd rank powerhouse.]

"Oh? You know me?" Grey tilted his head in interest. "What could I have possibly done to be noticed by the high order."

He grinned playfully.

"I'm honored."

However, Varyn wasn't in the mood to reply back, his eyes were on Little Hong, who stood beside Grey obediently.

He might have confidently said that no one in the 2nd rank was a match for him, but that was far from the truth, he only said it because no one in this part of the southern region was as strong as him.

He could take on an 11th stage, but a 12th...?

"I need to go to Three Guards Province and get Orin here." Varyn was on full alert.

This was no illusion, his abyssal eyes rendered illusions useless against it, the little girl was not ordinary, he believed Grey must have also dealt with the middle stage 2nd rankers at the secret realm entrance through her as well.

No!

He could not win alone, he must get Orin!

He wasn't dumb enough to charge straight ahead to his demise.

He has to escape!

"You bastard! GREY LOCKHART!" Varyn shouted, slightly enraged. "Time and time again you keep disrupting the high order's plan! Don't think you can win this battle just because you have that little kid next to you!"

Varyn finally realized. This Grey Lockhart he had pushed aside as a nobody was the biggest variable that needed to be eliminated.

Then, amidst everyone's gazes, Varyn's figure distorted and became a streak of light which shot off from Ashspire City with great speed, a speed perhaps not even a 3rd rank could match.

"Thousand Winds Escape Technique!" His voice boomed as he left the city, shooting straight towards the Three Guards Province.

"Not good! He's escaping!" Werner exclaimed, ready to charge after him.

[The demon is escaping!]

[He's actually escaping?! is this master grey that powerful?]

[Is this the same guy who was flaunting about saying there was no one who could match his strength?]

Everyone in the chat immediately started praising Grey like there was no tomorrow, they were both relieved and overjoyed at this situation.

All he did was descend into the city and the enemy fled.

"Wait." Grey called out to Werner as he stopped Werner.

"Master, he's leaving, we can't let him leave!" He said in a grave tone.

"You don't need to chase after him, I know where he's going." Grey slightly glanced at the Three Guards Province, with his perception he could easily see that far. He knew the guy was going to the Three Guards Province which was littered in corruption fields.

He also saw an unusually big robot in the far distance.

"Is that Orin?" Grey was surprised. "Late stage?"

"Interesting." Grey smiled.

However, him talking to himself only earned the confused gazes from Werner and Valeria.

"Brother Grey... what rank are you at right now? Also what happened to your eyes?" Valeria asked carefully, as she slightly glanced at the little girl who also stared back at her.

A chill ran down her spine when she saw Little Hong's stare.

It was the same for Grey's eyes, when she stared at his, she felt dizzy.

His eyes didn't look normal in the first place.

"What do you think my current rank is?" Grey asked with a smile.

"You have reached 2nd rank." Valeria replied.

That was for certain, he showed the signs of 2nd metamorphosis. He had grown taller, more lean and more handsome now.

"Correct." Grey clapped his hands. "Congratulations, Miss Valeria. You are smart!"

"Hmph." Valeria snorted, she knew he was mocking her because it was plain obvious that he was at the 2nd rank now.

"Brother Grey, how can you tease your big sis like that?" Valeria said in a deliberately exaggerated sad tone. "Big sis will be sad~"

Hearing this, Grey spread his arms lightly.

He had acted reserved around Valeria most of the time, however, after undergoing the 2nd metamorphosis something in him had shifted, he felt his mind freer and liberated, hence, he no longer even wanted to act reserved.

And he had sufficient power to do whatever he wanted now.

He was right now using the Burst Force Talisman and he hid his powers in a way no one will be able to sense his aura. that's also why the others weren't able to sense his stage.

On the side note, He didn't really need to use the Burst Force Talisman with Little Hong here, but for his plans to move forward, he had to use it.

Without it, he won't be able to make his plan work.

Then, he pointed at Little Hong and began to introduce her, he knew they were eyeing her as if they had seen some demon in daylight. "And this is Little Hong... uh."

He paused midway, he really didn't want to speak about the daughter part. But if he didn't and called her a random brat he found off the street then Hong would probably get angry.

However, before he could continue his words, Little Hong let go of Grey's hand and spoke. "I'm Little Hong, I'm father's daughter."

"...." Grey's lips twitched.

Both Werner and Valeria looked at Grey and then back at Little Hong, lost for words.

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