Elder Ricci, although his injury forced him to fall from the 2nd grade ranks into the 4th, he was once a genuine 2nd grade expert. As for Elder Nova, he was a legitimate 2nd grade expert right now, making him the most powerful local of this 98th quadrant.
That said, the reasons Elder Ricci looked toward Elder Nova were different from the reasons Elder Nova looked toward Elder Ricci.
While Elder Ricci had a shocked expression on his face that stemmed from him thinking he had no equal in this universe, Elder Nova's expression was more playful, as though he was teasing the former.
One had to understand that becoming a 2nd grade celestial wasn't easy. The both of them would count as talents worthy of being groomed even for quadrants ranked in the 30s and 40s. They would also be invaluable assets to quadrants ranked in the 20s as well. It wasn't until you reached the 10s that 2nd grade experts became ubiquitous.
These two had no business appearing in a 98th ranked quadrant.