Earth Rat Pangpang

Having just experienced firsthand how dangerous the Monster Mountain Range was, Aili was eager to build a good relationship with Fengyun, a powerhouse capable of protecting her.

Showing her own value to secure priority protection was currently the most important thing in her little head!

However, Fengyun merely smiled faintly and said, "No need," before directly chanting the healing spell and casting healing magic on his own injuries.

Under Joseph and the others' astonishment at discovering that he was also a mage, Fengyun murmured softly, "The leather armor is too badly damaged. Reduced defensive capability isn't a huge problem, but it's no longer suitable for continuing to train in the mountain range."

"Fine, then. I've already gained plenty from this training trip anyway!"

"It's time to head back!"

"I should relax a little and count it as a reward for myself!"

As he spoke, he circulated the denser, more powerful battle qi within his body. It seems that if I want to break through in battle, I still have to rely on this kind of real fight where my life is on the line.

Those previous battles where I was almost certain to win could only hone my skills. They might not have helped my cultivation as much as simply living amid the dangers of the Monster Mountain Range!

Joseph said in astonishment, "Y-you're actually a light-element mage too!"

"Are you from the Church? So young, yet so powerful—no wonder you dared to come train in the Monster Mountain Range alone!"

"Light Shadow Swordsman!" Huihui, who had remained mostly silent at the side, suddenly said.

Then, amid Joseph and the others' surprised gazes, she continued, "I heard that the Light Shadow Swordsman is one of the youngest and most promising newcomers of this generation in the Church's Special Warfare Camp!"

"Although his affinity with the Light Element is only average and he isn't skilled at magic, he is exceptionally gifted in warrior training. He is the most talented warrior the Special Warfare Camp has seen in the past decade."

"Not only did he become a Level 4 Warrior at such a young age without relying on external items, but he also possesses the combat strength to fight above his level and kill Fifth-Level Magical Beasts."

"He has always been active in the Monster Mountain Range, training there. With the low-level Combat Skill, Light Shadow Slash, he has repeatedly rescued trainees in danger within the range, and those he saved respectfully named him the Light Shadow Swordsman!"

"It is said that because of his background and lack of connections, the Church has secretly promoted him as a model and benchmark for commoner geniuses among its lower-ranking soldiers."

As she spoke, admiration filled her eyes, making her look every bit like Fengyun's little fangirl!

Fengyun glanced at Huihui in surprise. Holding the long saber she had lent him, he said softly, "You know me?"

With Huihui, Fengyun's little fangirl, and Fengyun having just saved all five of them, the group's interactions were quite harmonious.

Having finally grasped Lifting the Light as if Heavy, Fengyun was in high spirits. Since he did not plan to continue his training, he agreed to take the five of them out of the Monster Forest along the way.

At night, after bringing the five to rest temporarily near the Church's Level 3 hunting grounds, Fengyun waited until everyone had fallen asleep before coming to a burrow. He fed some roasted pork to the Earth Rat standing foolishly outside the hole.

The Level 3 Magical Beast, the Earth Rat, possessed both earth and dark attributes. However, while it possessed the Dark Element, its only darkness-related ability was its innate capacity to use Dark Element to conceal its presence.

Earth was its primary attribute. Earth Rats generally relied on their exceptional burrowing ability to live in intricate underground tunnels, feeding on the roots and stems of various plants.

Occasionally, they would boldly venture near the entrance to check for smaller animals or magical beasts. If they found any, they would enjoy an extra meal to balance their diet; if not, they would shrink back into their burrows and keep lying low.

Fengyun had discovered this Earth Rat cub by accident while training, after killing a Level 4 Magical Beast, an Earth Spider.

Its parents had already been killed by the Earth Spider. When Fengyun killed the Earth Spider and discovered the little fellow, he had been thrilled, wondering whether he had struck it rich too!

After all, because of Beirut, rodent-type magical beasts had always held a higher status than other magical beasts on the Yulan Continent. Lin Lei's early rise had been largely due to signing an Equal Contract with Beibei while Beibei was still a cub.

Having obtained the Earth Rat, Fengyun had thought that perhaps he was about to rise as well, so he had cared for the little fellow with meticulous attention.

He had even imagined that, since they both had rodent-type magical beasts, he would have more in common with Lin Lei, the protagonist, making his path to clinging to Lin Lei's thigh much easier.

But after hearing from the instructor accompanying the group that this thing would only become a Level 3 Magical Beast when fully grown, and that it was extremely timid and survived underground by relying on its digging abilities, he knew his dream of rising to prominence had been shattered.

Still, after raising the little fellow for several days, he could not bear to abandon it outright. So, he released it near the Level 1 and Level 2 areas of the Church's hunting grounds.

The area around the hunting grounds was quite safe, after all. Church experts regularly cleared out magical beasts above Level 2, and with the little fellow's timid nature and burrowing ability, it could easily survive its juvenile period there.

It was just that the little fellow was somewhat dim-witted. After being released, it simply dug a hole at the very spot where it had been set free and settled down, never seeming to know it should move somewhere else.

By the time Fengyun remembered it and went to check on it, it had already become Level 2. It shot straight out of its burrow to play with Fengyun, showing no wariness at all toward him as a human.

Over the next few years, Fengyun moved it, once it had grown into a Level 3 Magical Beast, to the vicinity of the hunting grounds' Level 3 area and kept it as a pet. From time to time, he brought it roasted meat as an extra meal, feeding it until the little fellow looked as fat as a miniature bear.

He had even given it the nickname Pangpang, and it had accepted it.

After finishing the roasted meat, Pangpang flashed to Fengyun's feet and tried to take a bite out of him.

But Fengyun's mouth twitched, and he kicked it stumbling aside. Then he crouched down, stroked its smooth, soft fur, and said, "Pangpang, you can't repay kindness with ingratitude. Even if you want to find yourself a long-term meal ticket, you can't pick me!"

"Never mind my ultimate goal. Even my short-term goal is to reach the Saint Realm. If people found out that a dignified Saint Realm expert like me had contracted a useless but adorable Earth Rat like you as a magical beast, would I have any face left?"

"How many times has this been already? Why haven't you learned your lesson?"

Pangpang stood up, curled its little paws around Fengyun's calf, and squeaked. Without a Soul Contract, Fengyun had no idea what it was saying, but he knew it was nothing more than cute pleas to be taken in.

However, Fengyun would not accept the little fellow as his magical beast merely because it was cute and pleasant to pet, much less sign a Soul Contract with Pangpang. He rubbed Pangpang's head to soothe it, gave it a Level 3 earth-attribute Magic Core as a snack, and then left.