Lin Yi held Xiang Yi's hand and didn't let go.
The Hero Tavern was clearly right next to the mansion, less than a hundred meters away.
Yet, the two of them seemed to have a telepathic understanding, slowing their steps in unison and walking side by side.
"My Lord."
Xiang Yi pursed her red lips, "To be honest, that was a bit sappy just now."
"Cough, cough..."
Lin Yi's old face flushed, and he rubbed the tip of his nose with his other hand, saying, "When emotions run deep, you can't help yourself; it's a true expression of feeling."
Xiang Yi's slender phoenix eyes slightly raised as she looked at the young man beside her, who was a head taller than her.
She didn't waste any more time on that topic, changing the subject, "I feel like I'm about to break through."
"Oh?"
Lin Yi's expression sobered, and he asked in confusion, "Level?"
The high-ranking members of the territory were the first to undergo aptitude refinement.
Xiang Yi had long since transcended Immortal and ascended to Peerless.
If it was just a single level increase, given Xiang Yi's personality, she wouldn't have brought it up herself.
"Talent."
Xiang Yi shook her head and explained, "Looking at the big picture, individual creature aptitude is indeed important, as it determines the level cap."
"But low-aptitude creatures can also gradually reach the peak through external means."
"It's different from talent..."
"Dragons are born with tough scales, sharp dragon claws, and dragon breath that can be unleashed instantly without preamble... That's why they have a great advantage in combat at the same level."
"We Heroes..."
"The talent we possess is the powerful ability to form bonds with the legions we command."
Standing at the entrance of the tavern, Xiang Yi looked at Lin Yi with a somewhat solemn expression and whispered, "And I... have never heard in the Spirit Hero Domain that a Hero's talent can evolve!"
"!!!"
Lin Yi's eyelids twitched.
He inwardly exclaimed, 'Good heavens!'
Xiang Yi's rather exaggerated Hero exclusive skill was already monstrous enough; he hadn't expected it could get even stronger??
You're truly a little cow flying a plane...
Just considering the 180% compatibility with spearmen.
When his Level 20 Scarlet Tassel Spearman fought under Xiang Yi's command, their attributes nearly doubled, allowing them to crush most Tier 3 creatures.
If they got any stronger...
One army could rival a million!"
"I don't know the specific reason."
Xiang Yi offered her guess, "Ailina's origin is not simple; what's incomplete might not be her aptitude, but rather the racial talent of that mysterious angel."
"That seems to make sense."
Lin Yi stroked his chin.
If one didn't consider the Divine Blessing of Baptism, a Peerless villager of the same level would be no different from a Rare one.
"So."
Xiang Yi said seriously, "My Lord, when selecting Heroes, don't just look at their appearance and ignore their aptitude just because you have the Refinement Pool."
Good heavens.
Your focus is on that, isn't it!
Lin Yi laughed heartily, "Of course! Let's go."
The two pushed the door open and entered.
The noisy sounds inside the tavern abruptly ceased, and all the Heroes turned their gazes in unison.
"Are you running a zoo for me here?"
The races were still diverse.
This time, there was even a Mimic mixed in, perched on a table, baring its teeth.
Its peculiar appearance made him take another look.
Ah, well.
Transcendent trash.
Looking at the others, they were all just Epic and Legendary level trash aptitudes.
"The money's paid, let's go."
Lin Yi expressionlessly used the Recommendation Order, and he and Xiang Yi chose a spot, waiting for the next wave of Heroes to arrive.
Niu Ma, stationed at the front desk, raised a gentle smile and leaned forward, "Lord, General Xiang, what would you like to drink?"
"Oysters, kidneys, chives."
Lin Yi casually named a few dishes.
The items in the tavern, even at wholesale prices, were very expensive.
He wouldn't usually treat this place like a restaurant.
But since they were here, it wouldn't hurt to nourish the body.
"And... General Xiang?" Niu Ma from the tavern asked cautiously.
Xiang Yi shook her head, "No need, just prepare it for My Lord."
"Alright!"
Niu Ma dared not linger and hurried towards the back.
A moment later.
White light burst from the tavern door.
A group of alien race Heroes appeared one after another.
Lin Yi's gaze swept over them, like picking princesses at a KTV; he wasn't satisfied with any of them and was about to take out the next Recommendation Order.
"Wait!"
Xiang Yi grabbed his hand, "Teleportation still takes time."
"I counted, hasn't it already filled up?" Lin Yi looked puzzled.
"Before, when I was in the Yingling Star Region..."
Xiang Yi then began to explain slowly.
It turned out that when Lin Yi first used the Recommendation Order, Xiang Yi had already sensed something unusual.
After locking onto the tavern's anchor point, she traveled through multiple teleportation points to arrive as quickly as possible.
Even so, Lin Yi had still used it a full 20 times back then!
If Xiang Yi had been even slightly slower, the time they met would have been delayed for a long time.
"Oh..." Lin Yi suddenly understood.
That being said.
Neither of them was sure if they could recruit another "fellow traveler."
"Lord, your meal."
Niu Ma from the tavern respectfully placed the tray on the table.
The steaming, nourishing dishes emitted an enticing aroma.
Lin Yi picked up his chopsticks, picked up a tender piece of stir-fried kidney, and put it in his mouth, savoring it.
Not bad, not bad, the taste was excellent.
"It seems we also need to train an excellent chef; the current kitchen staff's cooking skills still have room for improvement."
Lin Yi wiped his mouth and, at Xiang Yi's suggestion, used the second Recommendation Order.
White light once again covered the tavern door.
"I haven't even finished my meal, and you're dragging me over here."
"This old lady's gonna see what's going on."
"..."
A bold and unrestrained voice, mixed with a hint of roughness, came through.
Lin Yi suddenly looked up.
The voice arrived before the person; it felt right!
It should be a fellow traveler!
Lin Yi and Xiang Yi exchanged glances, then stared intently at the door.
Thump, thump...
A calf as thick as an adult's waist stepped through the doorway.
Seeing the steel-needle-like leg hair on that calf, Lin Yi's eyelids twitched violently.
Sure enough!
The next moment, a hairy "woman" resembling King Kong entered the tavern.
Leaving aside her looks.
Just her size, half a head taller than Wang Tiezhu, would definitely make her a formidable weapon in battle!
"It's alright, as long as it's one of our own."
Xiang Yi smiled, patting Lin Yi's hand reassuringly, "Her strength is a bit weak, but the future is promising!"
"Sigh..."
Lin Yi had a bitter expression and was about to open the King Kong woman's attribute panel.
No sooner said than done!
A dark shadow, like lightning, struck from behind the tavern door, viciously kicking the King Kong woman's calf.
Crack.
The sound of bones shattering rang out!
Xiang Yi's eyes slightly lifted, and she shielded Lin Yi behind her with one hand.
The King Kong woman, at some point, was already hanging from the tavern ceiling.
She had also broken several sandalwood pillars, making Lin Yi's heart ache.
"Damn it, you're picking on me for being short, aren't you?"
"You dare to cut in front of this old lady's line?"
A figure cursed and stepped through the doorway into the tavern, saw Lin Yi sitting in the distance, and walked straight towards him.
Halfway there.
The person suddenly frowned slightly.
Looking around, she chose to pick up a nearby stool with both hands.
After weighing it, she swung it violently.
The stool flew in a straight line through the air, shooting upwards like an arrow, and slammed hard into the King Kong woman's head.
"Get lost!"
"That's what you get for cutting in line!"