Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Ann was an 8-Star Spirit Lord, someone he had no chance of defeating, especially in such a passive position. If she wanted to kill him, he was dead—he thought.

As he swallowed his saliva in silence, she removed her dagger from his neck, leaving a subtle cut, not deep enough for him to bleed, but enough to remind him of it for a few days.

"Your confidence isn't as high as I initially believed," she teased, stepping closer to him and speaking softly near his ear. "But that approach won't win me over. I much prefer a man who takes charge, grabbing me by the hair and pinning me to the ground."

Surprised by what he heard, he looked at her sideways, taken aback that such words came from this angelic-looking woman.

But from what his predecessor's memories told him, Twin Land was not a conventional place. Relationships in this world differed greatly from those on Earth. It wasn't uncommon for powerful women to behave like Ann, although it wasn't the most common behavior.

Polygamy was common, while monogamy was almost exclusive to the poor and weak people. Powerful men would have several wives, while powerful women, if not accompanied by stronger men, would have reverse harems. The idea of staying 'pure' for either a man or a woman didn't exist on this continent.

However, Liam didn't feel angry about her comment, nor did he feel any shame for briefly being afraid of her.

'I lack the strength to do what you're suggesting, so it's impossible for me to act that way towards you. In order to even consider such actions within the confines of the Demon Gate, I would have to wish for my demise.' He gazed at her in silence, his breathing gradually steadying as he pondered.

'Surely, the rumors surrounding Demon Gate cannot be entirely accurate. The notion that the sect is in complete chaos is preposterous. However, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a safe haven either. A single misstep and my life could be carelessly discarded in some forsaken ditch.'

Then he said to her. "I play with different weapons. Maybe I'll be able to show them to Senior Reed in the future."

He wasn't sure how his seduction skills would work on women stronger than him. Liam wanted to test it on women of his own power before he risked it on someone like Ann.

"Really? Haha, I'm looking forward to seeing you in action then," she said with an interested smile before suddenly changing her tone. "But don't forget who you're dealing with. Maybe I'll give you what you want. Maybe I'll take your head..."

She walked away, turning her back on Liam, after saying that.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Liam. I want you to study the basics for a week. After that, I'll see what you can do. Don't let me down."

He remained where he was until she disappeared from view, with various thoughts racing through his mind. The enticing idea of conquering this woman and indulging in an affair with her was tempting, yet he couldn't ignore his newfound interest in the profession he had recently begun learning.

The prospect of becoming a skilled Runemaster held just as much significance to him as his pursuit of cultivating with Ann.

Liam sighed before walking out of the room and down the main corridor of the Runes Hall, planning to go to the Beasts Hall to understand what his mandatory five hours a week there would be like.

But as he exited the Runes Hall building, a young man with long black hair emerged before him. The man was garbed in a green robe, with a sword hanging from his waist, patiently awaiting his arrival at the entrance.

For a moment, Liam thought it might not be him. But when the rough-looking young man, the same height as him and apparently the same age, stared at him, he saw that his first problem in the sect was ahead of him.

'Demon Gate is not chaotic, but it's far from peaceful.' He sighed in his heart as he stopped five meters in front of this guy.

"Are you Liam Porter?" The strange man asked with a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Yes, and you?" Liam asked, ready to summon his Spirit if necessary.

The sect's rules were clear about fighting outside the arena. It was strictly forbidden, and the punishments ranged from imprisonment to loss of merit points to death, depending on the severity of the situation.

However, he still wasn't used to this place enough to feel relaxed under the protection of the sect's rules.

"Henry Hair, a friend, I'd say." The young man gave Liam a wide, strange, somewhat dubious smile.

"Friend, huh?" Liam saw the gesture of this strange Spirit Lord of 7-Star calling him for a walk.

"Liam, I'm going to be honest with you. You are a rare talent. To promote yourself to Initiate when you join the sect is something that only 1 out of 500 disciples can achieve.

Right now, all the factions in City Thirteen already know your name, where you sleep, your ability, and your basic characteristics. Some will act against you without giving you a chance to speak, and others will try to recruit you. I advise you to make a quick decision or you may suffer severe consequences."

"You're here to recruit me, I assume?" Liam glanced sideways at the boy, while Henry approached with a hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"You're right. I'm part of a group called the Crimson Rebels. Besides us, there are other factions in City Thirteen, groups that will come after you for your powers or your head." He explained as he stopped in one of the two gardens on Street Twenty-Six, from where they had a beautiful view of the nearby mountains.

"Why?" Liam asked in an offended tone, his fists clenched and his gaze sharp as a knife. "I'm just a newcomer. I haven't even gotten involved with anyone in the sect yet. What difference does it make if I don't have a faction?"

Henry laughed, but wasn't surprised by Liam's naivety. 'Why else but influence and power?' he thought to himself, remembering the day he had been recruited, or rather summoned, to join his current faction.

In Demon Gate, only the strong chose their own path. The rest either had to accept what was forced upon them or die!

No one had taught Henry how to live in this place, so he wouldn't be the one to do Liam this favor.

"Things are as they are. Just make your choice quickly. My group's offer is valid until dawn tomorrow. We're on Street Nineteen. If you're interested in the protection of the Crimson Rebels, come see us." He handed Liam a map with the exact location of the group he represented.

As Henry walked away, Liam could see people watching him on the edge of the square as he felt uncomfortable. For a moment, he felt like he was in a dark, haunted jungle, surrounded by ghosts, waiting for an opportunity to do him harm.

'This is bad... I'm alone in a strange place.' He felt the danger approaching and saw himself vulnerable. 'I am not strong enough to guarantee myself. Even if I cultivate faster than my peers, it will still take me a while to reach a higher level, and even when I do, there will still be people who are stronger than me.'

Demon Gate's cultivation system was oppressive. Liam now had competition from all levels of the second cultivation realm. But when he became a third realm cultivator, he would have third realm cultivators as his match. Of course, there would be fewer of them. But they would exist, and they would be enough for him to still find himself in situations like the one he is in now.

Cultivators form sects, guilds, factions, and clans for a simple reason. Until you reach your potential, the world is too dangerous.

He opened his eyes, determined to do what was necessary to overcome the problems that were about to flood his life.

'I'll use some of my merit points to buy information about the factions in City Thirteen before I make my move.' He left the square and headed for the Beasts Hall.

Unbeknownst to him, four people hiding in the shadows were watching him with completely different goals than Henry's!

'5-Star, huh? He's cultivating faster than his talent says... Something's wrong with this guy. He's got some secret.' A 6-star cultivator from the second realm pondered when she saw the target of her faction wasn't so easy.

'I'd better nip this evil in the bud. The damned rebels can't get any stronger against us!'