Xu San saw Lu Yin stand up and thought he was going to make a move on him. In the apocalypse, human life was as cheap as grass; he had no doubt he could be killed just to vent some anger. He hurriedly said, "Sir, I can work for you, do a lot of things for you—please don't kill me!"
Lu Yin walked toward the restaurant exit without acknowledging him.
As Lu Yin passed by Xu San, the evolved human's fear reached its peak. He truly believed he was about to be killed. He had seen too many scenes of high and mighty powerhouses slaughtering people. Gritting his teeth, he blurted out, "Sir, I have a special ability—I can help you."
Lu Yin suddenly stopped, surprised. He turned to look, "What did you say? Special ability?"
Xu San's face was deathly pale as he whispered, "My... my eyes can see really far, much farther than ordinary people. That's how I was able to steal so many valuable things."
Lu Yin was intrigued. He crouched down and stared at Xu San's eyes. He saw that the man's pupils were slightly scattered. "Double pupils?" Lu Yin was truly astonished. This was a natural talent—a gifted cultivator, of which only one emerged among countless cultivators across the universe.
"Does anyone else know about your special ability?" Lu Yin asked with a frown.
Xu San shook his head and said quietly, "I didn't want anyone to think I was a freak. I haven't told anyone. You're the first."
Lu Yin's lips curved into a smile. "Name?"
"Xu San."
"Alright, Xu San, from today onward, you'll follow me. I'm taking you into the Penal Battalion," Lu Yin said flatly.
Xu San looked up in fear. "Are you going to dissect me?"
Lu Yin chuckled. "I won't. But others might. So your special ability must never be exposed—understand?"
Xu San nodded in confusion.
Before stepping into the stars, one could never understand the value of talent. The Universal Youth Council would directly admit a gifted cultivator—that's something countless people could only dream of. It showed how rare and precious such talents were. To Lu Yin, Xu San was a treasure—he would be incredibly useful in the future, even if sold, he would fetch a great price.
Xu San was a local rogue. With his guidance, Lu Yin scoured Jinling over the next few days, including the destroyed weapons depot, but found no clues about what he was searching for.
"Boss, this is the second-highest peak in Jinling, after Zhongshan," Xu San said to Lu Yin.
Lu Yin gave a slight nod. "Check where military forces are most concentrated—aside from Zhongshan."
Xu San nodded and looked into the distance. His pupils dispersed and gleamed even brighter.
After a while, Xu San smiled bitterly, "Boss, my eyes can see farther than normal, but not so far that I can see all of Jinling."
Lu Yin replied calmly, "Keep training, you'll improve."
Xu San was speechless, but widened his eyes and continued looking.
"Boss, is that a person flying in from the horizon?" Xu San suddenly shouted, pointing toward the eastern sky.
Lu Yin looked up in surprise. Someone really was flying toward them—and it definitely wasn't a human from Earth. Like Astar, this person was from beyond the stars.
The person flew fast and descended directly above Jinling. Taking a deep breath, he let out a loud roar. Under the violent pressure, a storm-like energy swept across Jinling.
At the same time, sirens blared throughout the Jinling settlement. Countless people looked up in shock at the figure floating in the sky.
From Zhongshan, Feng Hong and other battalion commanders rushed out, their faces pale as they stared at the sky. "A Heavenly-tier powerhouse?!"
Countless people stared blankly at the sky. The ability to fly was the hallmark of a Heavenly-tier cultivator. Since when did China have such a strong expert?
High above, Auden gazed down at the Jinling settlement, his expression arrogant. Like Astar, or rather like all those from the universe, he saw Earthlings as savages.
"Respected Heavenly-tier cultivator, why are you attacking the Jinling settlement? This area is under the protection of the Penal Saint," a voice came from Zhongshan. Though it was a question, the tone was quite respectful.
Auden sneered. "Penal Saint? Is that some self-proclaimed title you natives gave him? How bold. You dare use the word 'Saint'? Have your so-called Penal Saint come out!"
The millions in Jinling were terrified. The unfamiliar Heavenly-tier powerhouse carried intense hostility—he was an enemy.
Feng Hong and the others looked grim. While others might not realize it, they knew the newcomer was undoubtedly an alien, just like the one killed a few days ago—both possessed Heavenly-tier strength. Jinling was in danger.
With a loud shout, Zhou Shan soared into the sky, wielding a three-meter-long giant axe, facing Auden with a solemn expression. "I am Zhou Shan, the Penal Saint."
Countless people cheered—Zhou Shan, the Penal Saint, was the guardian deity of Jinling.
Auden sneered, "I suppose you've guessed my origin. I'll give you a chance to serve me. In the future, I might take you off Earth and into the stars."
Zhou Shan narrowed his eyes. "I don't know your origin."
Auden scoffed, "A mere native dares to play coy with me? Astar landed around here—don't tell me you haven't seen him. Let me tell you, I rank much higher than him in the academy. Following me offers a brighter future than following him."
Zhou Shan gripped his giant axe tightly. "We are Earthlings, not natives."
Auden's lips curled. "Still defiant? I'll show you the gap between natives and us superior beings." As he spoke, a sword suddenly appeared and thrust directly at Zhou Shan.
No one expected Auden to strike so abruptly—not even Zhou Shan. But Zhou Shan reacted swiftly, his combat experience rich. He raised the axe handle to deflect the sword, then spun 360 degrees, slashing upward. Auden was startled by the quick reaction and began to take Zhou Shan seriously. He parried the axe with his sword but was still sent flying a hundred meters, his hands numb.
The shockwave from the clash between sword and axe sliced through the settlement, carving a hundred-meter-long fissure in the ground. Many were affected, fleeing in terror.
"What immense strength," Auden exclaimed in surprise.
Zhou Shan swung his giant axe fiercely at Auden. Auden smirked coldly, energy surging around him. He blocked the strike with his sword, firmly halting Zhou Shan's attack.
Zhou Shan's gaze sharpened as he launched another assault.
"You're trying to push me out of the settlement? Fine. I'll make you submit," Auden said. Their weapons clashed again, and Auden was forced back by the immense power, flying out of Jinling's airspace.
Though brief, the exchange shocked countless onlookers. Humans could soar and battle in the sky, each move capable of splitting the earth—this was divine power!
Feng Hong and the others watched with concern. Aliens wouldn't dare land on Earth unprepared—they worried for Zhou Shan.
On another peak, Xu San trembled. It was his first time witnessing a battle between Heavenly-tier powerhouses—an eye-opening experience.
Lu Yin gazed toward the city outskirts, frowning at the distant rumbling.
Each arriving student possessed a ringed battle armor, capable of withstanding attacks from Heavenly-tier powerhouses, placing Auden in an invincible position. He believed himself unbeatable. But Zhou Shan was one of the Seven Saints of China, each having inherited something from the corpse on Neptune. Even a small inheritance wasn't something Auden could underestimate. That corpse had the power to traverse the stars—its legacy was unfathomable.
Lu Yin could look down on all Earth's evolvers but never the Seven Saints of China. They had been cultivating even before the apocalypse.
A few days ago, when Zhou Shan saw Astar's corpse and the spaceship, he wasn't particularly surprised. Lu Yin had observed this closely. Auden might not win.
Soon, deafening booms erupted outside Jinling. Countless energy blasts shot into the sky, tearing through the clouds, then calm returned.
Shortly after, Zhou Shan ascended into the sky. Though slightly pale, he was uninjured. He raised his giant axe high, followed by the cheers of millions of Jinling's survivors.
"Stay here," Lu Yin instructed, then dashed toward the city outskirts.
The battle site between Zhou Shan and Auden wasn't far—just over twenty kilometers from the city.
When Lu Yin arrived, he saw a devastated landscape and burning high-rises. The ground bore clear slash marks stretching into the distance.
The zombies and mutant beasts that once roamed the area had either fled or turned to dust.
Lu Yin crouched down, touching a slash mark. It still emitted a sharp energy—this was the power of Zhou Shan's combat technique. The day he killed the mutant vine wasn't his full strength—this was.
Not far away, a white fragment reflected light.
Lu Yin picked it up, his eyes narrowing. It was a piece of ringed battle armor. Auden had suffered a crushing defeat—even his armor shattered. Whether he survived was uncertain. If he had died, Zhou Shan would have brought his corpse back to Jinling.
Lu Yin reassessed the strength of the Seven Saints of China. He didn't know the power of the top three saints, but Zhou Shan might possess peak Explorer-level combat strength. Shattering ringed battle armor was proof.
Distant noises signaled the arrival of other battalion commanders. Lu Yin didn't want to encounter them and left immediately.