28: Aptitude

Growth was the bonus attribute gained with every level. The higher the growth, the higher the bonus attributes.

A player's ordinary class had one point of growth; a hidden race added 0.5, and a hidden class added 1.5. In other words, the most peak-tier players had growth of around 3. Pets and summoned creatures were the same, with 3 being the highest growth they could reach.

Yet the two Light Spirit Swordsmen both had growth between 0.5 and 0.6. They were absolutely the trashiest summoned creatures Avilan had ever seen.

After testing the Light Spirit Swordsmen, Avilan held no hope whatsoever for Wellington and his sister either.

"Place your hand on the crystal ball." Avilan spoke listlessly.

Wellington swiftly placed his hand on it, and a burst of red light erupted, representing the fire attribute.

Wellington: Level 3. Physical Aptitude 14, Magical Aptitude 8, Vitality Aptitude 12, Speed Aptitude 12, Growth 0.88

"Hmm!" Avilan blinked unconsciously. For a first-tier creature, these aptitudes counted as a small gem, and each advancement would add a little more growth.

Still, Avilan would not have given such a small gem of a pet a second glance in the game.

After all, he had been the master of a guild, as well as one of the most famous RMB players in the Huaxia region. If he was going to use a pet, he would use the very best.

The moment Wellington finished the test, he immediately grabbed Anxi's hand and placed it on the crystal ball, watching Avilan with a tense expression.

The crystal ball burst with transparent white light. Anxi was actually of the light attribute.

Anxi: Level 1. Physical Aptitude 9, Magical Aptitude 14, Vitality Aptitude 10, Speed Aptitude 10, Growth 0.98

A first-tier creature with growth nearly reaching one was considered a top-grade pet even in the game.

"Interesting. Raising a loli." Avilan could not help muttering as he gently picked Anxi up.

Wellington's fists clenched tightly as he watched Avilan pick up Anxi.

"Do you want to learn magic and become a powerful mage like me?" After slightly tidying Anxi's messy hair, Avilan asked.

Anxi tilted her head and looked at her brother, then propped up her chin and stared blankly and adorably at Avilan.

"Then what about my brother?"

"As for whether he wants to become a follower, that is up to him."

"Yay! Brother, Lord Aslan said he wants to take us in as followers." At that moment, Anxi no longer looked blank and adorable. Instead, a sly gleam flickered in her eyes.

"Haha." Avilan threw back his head and laughed heartily while holding the little girl in his arms.

"In my name, I bestow names upon you two: Light Wolf! Light Tiger!"

After setting the little girl down, Aslan directly named the two Light Spirit Swordsmen. Terrifying magic essence immediately surged toward them. Aslan could clearly feel his MP dropping; the two Light Spirit Swordsmen had consumed more than 2,500 of Avilan's MP.

They successively broke through to the fourth tier, gaining ten levels in one breath. Yet their growth only increased by around 0.1 each, making Avilan shake his head repeatedly.

"From this day onward, you two will be these two little ones' followers. You are responsible for protecting them in the village."

"Yes, my Lord!" Light Wolf and Light Tiger respectfully bowed, then walked toward their two young masters.

Wellington's face flushed red with excitement, while Anxi wore a puzzled expression. She could not quite guess why Avilan had done this.

"Teacher, are you leaving?" Anxi was the first to realize something, and she asked nervously.

Compared to followers, she cared more about whether she herself could gain power. Only her own strength was real; so-called followers were merely external strength.

What a clever little girl. Avilan muttered inwardly, then smiled and nodded. "I need to go back for a while and prepare suitable paths of cultivation for you."

"Can't you take us with you? We'll be good. We definitely won't cause trouble for Teacher." Anxi widened her eyes and looked at Avilan hopefully.

"Haha, of course you can. It's just that you're still too weak right now. Teacher's place is too dangerous. Once you become stronger, Teacher will take you back." After saying this indifferently, Avilan gave the two Light Spirit Swordsmen a meaningful look.

Light Wolf immediately understood and invited the two young masters back to the village.

Anxi followed behind Light Wolf reluctantly, while Wellington was carefree, grinning foolishly the entire way.

This angered her so much that she kicked Wellington in the knee, nearly sending him tumbling to the ground. Light Wolf and Light Tiger watched in stunned amazement.

"Brother, do you even have a heart? Teacher is leaving, so why are you so happy?" After saying that, Anxi pounced on Wellington and began pounding him wildly, specifically striking his head.

"All you know is eating. You don't even grow a brain. Teacher is leaving—who will teach us cultivation?"

"Didn't Teacher say he was only going back for a while?" Wellington cried unwillingly, clutching his head.

"Ow, you still dare talk back?" Anxi immediately flew into a rage. Her little claws began scratching wildly, making Wellington cry for his father and call for his mother.

"The next time you see Teacher, be more respectful and smarter. When you see Teacher leaving, put on a reluctant, unwilling-to-part expression. Don't act so heartless and carefree. You have to look like a good student. If I ever see you acting so heartless again, I'll scratch you to death." Anxi shouted angrily, then tossed her head. The two little braids atop her head immediately fluttered in the wind.

"Brother Light Wolf, Brother Light Tiger, I didn't just do anything improper, did I?" As if suddenly remembering something, Anxi turned her gaze toward the Light Spirit Swordsmen, revealing her original blank and adorable expression as she blinked her big eyes and asked.

After exchanging a glance, Light Wolf and Light Tiger said in unison, "We didn't see anything."

Their growth was not high, but that did not mean they lacked intelligence.

Avilan's sudden return was not truly to prepare cultivation methods for the two little ones. Rather, Arthur had sent him a voice transmission: enemies had appeared north of Despair Fortress, and the several large tribes Mize had previously left behind had all been slaughtered overnight.

At the time, Zhou Yu made a prompt decision and immediately led a thousand soldiers to search that area. Just as Zhou Yu had expected, a group of uninvited guests had arrived in Messiah Forest. They were extremely powerful. The two sides fought a fierce battle, and in the end, Mi Yue launched a sneak attack from behind and wiped them out in one stroke. However, the intruders' strength could not be underestimated, which was why Avilan had specifically returned.

When Avilan returned to Despair Fortress, Zhou Yu had not yet come back. He sat upon the throne in the main hall with the restless Miuo and the others, waiting for Zhou Yu's return.

This operation had taken nearly all the Horned Demons away, leaving all the other races behind to guard Despair Fortress.

When facing powerful enemies, the Horned Demons' overall combat power was still somewhat greater than those other races. Moreover, with Zhou Yu's attribute buffs, the Horned Demons could also slightly increase their overall strength.

Before long, Zhou Yu and Mi Yue strode into the hall. Their expressions remained unchanged, showing no difference whatsoever. This made Miuo and the others beside them let out a long breath, their bodies relaxing somewhat.

What they feared most was some unforeseen change that would bring the bloody revenge of the Blood Church upon them in the future.

Although they came from the Munk Kingdom deep within Messiah Forest, they also knew very well of the Blood Church, that infamous religious force.