Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Liam left the Runes Hall at Ann's side in the morning, having just spent the last two hours being taught by Eliakim Badders.

A few days had passed since his return from the Silver-Winged Leopard hunt, but Ann still hadn't cultivated with him. He had been with her three times in the last few days, once accompanied by Joan.

Joan had worked to convince Ann without speaking explicitly. Joan had simply made ambiguous comments to test Ann's sensitivity to dual cultivation and to get her to think about the positive points.

Joan still didn't think it was time for Liam to do to Ann what he had done to her. She wanted a few more days before he made his move. Find this and more on m-v lemp-yr

But Liam had been improving his relationship with Ann on his own, getting to know her better, spending more time with her, creating an intimacy. He didn't know if she would cultivate with him, but he wanted to nurture their relationship so that she would at least keep it a secret when he made his offer.

Now was one of those times when the two of them would go to the Runemasters studio that they were currently attending.

"... Sigh! Who would have thought two months ago that you'd be teaching me now?" Ann laughed after hearing Liam's answer to her question about their profession.

He laughed at his red-haired friend's comment. "If you had my cultivation speed, you wouldn't have this problem." He joked with her.

"If I had your cultivation speed, I'd already be a city Guardian." Ann laughed with him as they climbed the central staircase of the city towards their destination.

She noticed several people watching Liam on the way to the workshop, so she smiled and asked him, "By the way, how's your group?"

"Good. We've reached alliance agreements with two powerful factions, and with the resources we're producing in the workshop, I'm quickly regaining the power we lost with the recent deaths."

Liam had already made public agreements with Grace's and Nance's factions, as well as negotiating with the studio that he and Ann were working with. As a result, Leopards got good discounts on Second and Third Class enchanted items.

"What about William's challenge? Did he give you up?" she asked, remembering the topic she had discussed with Liam earlier, but which was still open.

William's previous challenge had expired, and the fight hadn't taken place. But that didn't mean the matter was resolved.

"I sent one of my men to negotiate with his group. We scheduled our fight for 20 days from now." Liam clenched a fist at the thought and sighed afterwards. "In 20 days, I will have my last day in this city."

He joked as he looked at her. "Either I'll die in 20 days or I won't and I'll be promoted to Officer. Either way, these will be my last in this town."

Ann didn't find Liam's joke funny. "You shouldn't have invested in this. Even if you are a monster, William isn't easy."

"But you can help me with that, you know?" he teased her, gently grabbing Ann's waist.

"I highly doubt it." She took it more as a joke. "Anyway, you're really going to leave the city..."

"Yes. The bastard is going to force me to show my cultivation." Liam lamented to her.

That would be terrible for her. She looked at him from the corner of her eye and gasped. She hadn't expected that her time with him would end just as their relationship was heating.

"It's really a shame... But do you think you'll be able to become a Third Class Runemaster by then? That was your goal before you went to the inner wing of the sect."

"I think so. Learning under the guidance of Senior Badders is truly fantastic. I can already create Third Class runes, and I'm about to create the first enchanted item with more Third Class runes than Second Class runes."

"Good for you. Sigh! I wish I could go to the inner wing of the sect with you. But that will be impossible," she said with a serious look on her face before smiling. "I'll try to use your presence in City Thirteen to improve as much as I can during these days."

Liam and Ann arrived in front of the building where they had to drop off some enchanted items before training their skills.

"By the way, if you're interested, we can go to the Lotus Temple with Jane in three days. I'll lead her and you can join us," Liam suggested.

"Oh? Do you get that many merit points?" Ann looked at him out of the corner of her eye.

"Let's just say yes."

"All right, I'll meet you there... I just hope it doesn't interfere with your training plans, haha."

"Oh, it definitely won't." He laughed as he followed her.

...

The next day, Liam left the Lotus Temple with Mary after cultivating with her for two hours straight in a room on the third level of the building, just as he had promised earlier.

He had done this with Grace and Electa over the past few days, even helping Electa reach the 2-Star of the Spirit Earth Realm. He had achieved something similar today, using all his best herbs and potions to prolong the cultivation with Mary, and he had finally helped his oldest companion reach the third realm!

Electa and Mary still had to absorb their next Spirits, but Liam had everything ready. In another 10 days, they would leave with Felicity, Nance, Grace and the people of their factions to hunt in the forest. In the meantime, they should cultivate and grew stronger with whatever methods they could use while Liam was still in town.

Liam was also enjoying his days, having spent over 1,500 merit points in the past few days visiting the temple and the Library.

But this spending had not been in vain. He had already reached the end of the 4-Star level, and he was making good progress cultivating with his current partners. He had learned two new techniques in the Library and got more important books for his future journey outside the sect.

Although he had searched for information about the blue star in his soul space, he got no answers. But he wasn't disappointed. He had expected to fail in City Thirteen and had moved on with his other business.

Aware that he might only get such information in the inner wing of the sect, or maybe not even there, he went on with other plans.

He said goodbye to Mary and saw her off to the coliseum to take care of the faction's business, which she was doing very well.

He made his way to the Barter Fair. Today, he planned to trade some of the unused items in his spatial ring, thinking of things for his faction.

His current wealth was enormous enough to meet the consumables and artifacts needs of all his partners, and still give things to his and Mary's friend, Jane. So, he was focused on using the exchanges he planned to make today to help Leopards.

As he continued on his way, people stepped out on the sidewalks. Liam kept a serene look on his face, enjoying the current peace, not having to worry about the actions of his enemies since he only had one opponent left.

William was not a disloyal opponent. Like the confident fellow he was, he was in seclusion, preparing for a single and decisive battle against Liam. Until their confrontation, the two sides would not see each other or get in each other's way!