Chapter 171 The Sword Master, Kate

It was hard for Shi Feng to imagine how much determination Zui Xiao had to have possessed to make such a choice, seeing Kate in such a sorry state. However, the facts proved that Zui Xiao's vision was indeed remarkable.

The selection of direct guards relies on both vision and luck.

If you choose poorly, you can only blame yourself for not having a keen eye or enough patience.

Players cannot see the various data of an NPC until they have taken the NPC under their command, not even if they are taken as ordinary guards.

Anna, as an assistant given by an Epic-ranked quest, is completely under Shi Feng's management, similar to a direct guard, which is why Shi Feng can see her stats.

Players will only have two direct guard slots and 48 ordinary guard slots after becoming a Viscount. These slots are very precious. Once a contract is signed with an NPC, it costs a considerable price to terminate it.

If it is an ordinary guard, the player can still bear it, after all, ordinary guards cannot grow. As the player's strength improves, they will be replaced sooner or later. However, direct guards are different; they can grow. Even Shi Feng would not dare to terminate the contract easily, because the cost is too high.

Therefore, God's Domain players are very cautious about the selection of direct guards after becoming Viscounts and will never use the direct slots lightly, carefully selecting them.

However, leaving a slot unused is not a good thing. Even if the direct guards recruited by others have less potential, others have cultivated them earlier. This can be of considerable help to the player's level up, and the earlier a direct guard is cultivated, the more it will help the direct guard grow.

The recruitment of direct guards is not as simple as recruiting whoever you want. NPCs from the major kingdoms, empires, and the strongest forces in God's Domain cannot be recruited. In other words, the recruited NPC cannot belong to any force. In addition, the stronger the recruited NPC and the higher the tier, the greater the difficulty in taking them under your command.

It's a pipe dream for players to recruit a Level 200 Tier 5 NPC right from the start!

Zui Xiao being able to directly select the commoner Kate was definitely accomplished with a combination of vision and luck. Ordinary people cannot learn this.

However, Shi Feng was determined to get this NPC, Kate.

"Mr. Kate, I am a Viscount who has just been promoted in White River City. I would like to recruit some guards. I wonder if you are interested?" Shi Feng asked.

Upon hearing this, Kate looked a little excited, but after looking at his arm, he sighed and said, "Viscount, as you can see, I am just a cripple and cannot fulfill the duties of a guard for you."

"I am, of course, aware of Mr. Kate's concerns. I heard that Mr. Kate was a Tier 2 Swordsman at a young age, and he even seriously injured a Tier 3 Demon during the Great Demon War, but he also lost the arm he used to wield a sword. Today, I came here to invite Mr. Kate to be my guard, naturally with preparation. Look, what is this?" Shi Feng said with a smile, taking out a small crystal bottle.

The crystal bottle contained a drop of deep blue liquid. Just by seeing it through the crystal, one could feel the incomparably vast life energy in the liquid.

"Water of Life!"

Kate recognized the contents of the crystal bottle at a glance. A trace of emotion appeared on his firm and serious face, because this was exactly what he had been pursuing and wanted to obtain. Now that it was displayed in front of him, how could he not know it?

"That's right. As long as Mr. Kate agrees to become my direct guard, this bottle of Water of Life is yours," Shi Feng said with a smile.

"Respected Viscount, are you really willing to use such precious Water of Life on a Swordsman like me?" Kate was very tempted, but he still calmly asked, "You must know, just with this drop of Water of Life, even a Tier 3 professional expert would agree without hesitation."

Aqua Rose was shocked when she heard Kate say this.

She didn't expect the Water of Life to be so precious.

A drop of Water of Life could be exchanged for a Tier 3 professional NPC to become a guard.

That was a Tier 3 profession, and even a Tier 2 profession was looked up to by many players, let alone a Tier 3 profession.

If the Zero Wing Guild could have a Tier 3 professional guard, who would dare to provoke Zero Wing?

Who would dare to provoke them? They would be annihilated in minutes.

Although Aqua Rose thought well, Shi Feng could indeed use the Water of Life to recruit a Tier 3 professional expert, but Shi Feng was too weak now and could not recruit one even if he wanted to.

"Of course, I know what Mr. Kate is talking about, but I value your potential more. Just with your firm and unyielding will, and the fact that you have not fallen into becoming a Demon, I believe that one day you will become a peak expert on the continent," Shi Feng affirmed.

Shi Feng had evidence for saying this.

Demons have never been easy to provoke. He had only seen a phantom of a Tier 4 Great Demon, and as a result, he was cursed by the Great Demon. If it weren't for the Tier 3 High Priestess Xia Lian helping him remove the curse, he would probably have to delete his account and start over.

Moreover, Kate had fought with a real Tier 3 Demon. How could he not have been cursed by the Demon?

The power of the Demon is the most evil power, capable of easily corrupting the human spirit. However, Kate has lived for so many years, and he is still normal despite losing his strength and has not become a Demon. If he did not have an absolutely firm and unyielding will, how could he not have been swallowed by the power of the Demon?

"I wonder if Mr. Kate is willing to become my guard?" Shi Feng asked solemnly.

"Viscount does not despise me as a cripple, how can I refuse your kindness? From today onwards, you are my only master, and Kate will pledge allegiance to you until death," Kate directly knelt on one knee in front of Shi Feng, respectfully accepting the Water of Life.

System: Do you want Kate to become your direct guard?

Shi Feng clicked agree, and then Kate's data appeared on Shi Feng's NPC management interface.

Kate, Ye Feng's direct guard, male, 39 years old, loyalty 90, charm 60 points, physique 40 points, intelligence 81 points, Level 30, Tier 1 Swordsman.

Growth Potential: 26.

Strength 125, Agility 130, Stamina 200, Spirit 180, Intelligence 90.

HP 8000, Attack Power 600-720, Defense 3100.

Although Shi Feng was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but twitch when he saw this data. Leaving aside other attributes, the growth potential alone was only 26, which was simply outrageously low.

He really didn't know how Zui Xiao had endured it back then.

0-30 points of growth potential is a common average level, basically the type that players would never want.

31-50 points of growth potential is a Bronze level. Players with direct guards are at least of this type.

51-70 points of growth potential is a Mysterious-Iron level. This level is rarely encountered, and generally requires a keen eye and long-term observation to find.

71-80 points of growth potential is a Mithril level. Guards of this level are extremely rare, and getting one is like treating them as treasures.

81-90 points of growth potential is a Fine-Gold level. Guards of this level are as rare as phoenix feathers in the entire God's Domain.

91-100 points of growth potential is a Dark-Gold level. With such a guard, it doesn't matter if the player themselves is not strong as long as they are cultivated.

As for Epic-rank above Dark-Gold, Shi Feng had never seen it before, and he didn't know what level it reached. After all, Epic-rank means transcendence, transcending the realm of mortals, and could be called a god.