Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Chapter 216 Grace's thoughts

Within the sect's General Records Hall, Liam uncovered the scope of his position, which included overseeing a contingent of subordinates.

But his responsibilities in the hall were more lenient than those he had discovered earlier. His role was basically that of an administrator, an advisor to a group of Commanders searching for targets around the continent.

Liam loved his position in the General Records Hall. That's because his role gave him immediate access to the location of sect lands around the continent, places like the island where he and Mary had undergone their magical awakenings.

He didn't discover the location of all the sect's lands, but he did learn about a dozen locations around the continent, where Commanders and their respective groups dropped guinea pigs to test the effects of each of the islands.

Today, Liam finally discovered the origin of the demons on the Demon Gate islands, but also some of the magical possibilities that disciples like himself could access in these places.

Some of the sect's Elders were involved in a series of experiments on how to awaken magical rot in untalented people or even accelerate the cultivation speed of those less talented. The aim of these studies was not to help the talentless, of course. The aim of these experts was to find useful methods to improve the quality of their young talents and make them advance more quickly.

To fulfill this very important goal, the Elders had various types of special artificial phenomena on the islands and other sect lands around the continent and people like Liam and Mary were the guinea pigs of the force.

Those who survived the experiments and the demons that Demon Gate placed on these islands eventually became members of the force and, according to what he discovered, were watched from the sidelines by the Elders behind the experiments in the territories that these disciples passed through.

This made Liam worry a little about the blue star in his soul space, but he didn't think that Elder Neill was behind this essence. When the Elder checked his condition earlier, Liam clearly felt as if the star in his soul space had hidden from that old monster.

But Liam didn't doubt that, most likely, Elder Neill had designed most, or all, of the other challenges on the Eternal Doom Island and was now keeping an eye on Liam's outcome related to those opportunities he had spent on the island.

As for the origin of the demons and beasts on these islands, they were collected by groups of Commanders or even by Elders on occasion. Supposedly, there was a place in the sect where they put these magical creatures they had obtained and sent them either to the outskirts of the headquarters or to the islands and other territories of the sect.

Division Chiefs were involved in this logic, which Liam understood would give him opportunities to also find out about the location of this post later on. Find more to read at empire

But in addition to the opportunities and concerns he had acquired earlier this afternoon in the General Records Hall, he also understood that the sect had very specific targets. Apparently, pre-awakening mortals showed the ability to become Spirit Masters by enduring situations that would kill those totally incapable.

The groups of Commanders across the continent constantly sought out warring areas, dangerous areas and even launched offensive actions against groups that could do them good to destroy, also using them to find wards.

This made Liam understand why he had been brought into the sect after Amos' group found him severely wounded in the remains of a carriage. In fact, Commander Amos saw in him the determination of those with the potential to become Spirits Masters and wisely followed the sect's recommendations in taking him to the Isle of Eternal Doom.

Liam just didn't know if that man had provoked the attack that resulted in his arrival in this world or if Amos had merely taken advantage of an event generated by a third party.

In one case, the man had potentially saved his life, despite having thrown him against the 'wolves' soon after, but in the other case, he was to blame for the death of Liam's predecessor and to blame for everything that had happened to Liam during those months in Twin Land. This last possibility was what had made Liam hate Amos until this morning, but now he didn't know if he should hate the man.

From what he had learned earlier this afternoon, there were definite possibilities that Amos was 'innocent'!

This eased some of his resentment towards that Commander, but Liam was still wary.

Anyway, at the end of his 3 hours of work today in the General Records Hall—where he would have to do 3-hour shifts every 2 days—he indicated all the functions of a group of 11 subordinates. Among them was Jane, whom Liam took as his secretary to sort out the bureaucratic matters in his way.

The others in the group would be responsible for studying the situation of the sect's territories under their supervision, informing the Elders and talking to the group of Commanders in search of new disciples, beasts or the maintenance of these territories.

With the work now done, he left the hall alone, having already dismissed Toby for the rest of the day.

He made his way to the Runes Hall, thinking he'd work on his enchantment skills with Ann, go to the Library and also to the Lotus Temple later.

...

In the early evening, Liam returned to City Two, soon heading home, encountering no problems on his way.

Elder Neill seemed uninterested in talking to Liam at the moment, while, having just started his journey into the inner wing of the sect, the boy didn't yet have so many things to get involved in.

He arrived home to find Jane and Mary chatting in the kitchen, before coming face to face with Grace.

"You look good in black." Liam joked to the woman still dressed in her uniform in that area of the estate.

Grace now emanated a strong level 5-Star cultivation from the Spirit Earth Realm, undeniably the strongest of his women.

"Not as good as you in your red uniform." She hugged him and commented back, smiling as she smelled her man after a few days since they had last seen each other.

"Haha, those outfits are really interesting, but they cost quite a lot..." He said, thinking in a different way to the one Grace understood. "Anyway, have you seen the house yet? Have you chosen your room?"

"Hmm, Jane and Mary showed me around before you arrived."

"That's good. But there are things you'll only understand if I explain them to you myself." He said it with a hidden purpose that Grace and Mary easily understood. Meanwhile, Jane floated on the subject, innocently thinking that he was just going to guide Grace through the house.

"All right. Hehe, I'm looking forward to your company." Grace followed him, while Mary stayed behind with Jane, aware that she shouldn't get involved.

Unlike Ann and Jane, who enjoyed cultivating with Liam at the same time and saw no problem in courting each other, Mary wasn't interested in sharing her time with another woman. When she could be with Liam, she preferred to be the center of his attention.

Electa and Grace felt the same way as Mary.

"Let's talk in the garden, Sister Jane. There are some things I wanted to ask you."

While these two went in the opposite direction from Liam and Grace, he made his way to the room indicated by the silver-haired woman, where he locked the door and asked her to sit down.

Before cultivating with his companion, he wanted to talk about something he had been putting off, but didn't want to prolong any longer.

"Grace, what do you think of Demon Gate?" He asked, imagining a similar conversation with Nance, Ann and Joan later. "Have you ever imagined what your life would be like without the sect and everything you have now?"

Grace saw that he had plans in mind, profound things to present to her. As such, she took her time to think about the answer, considering her current situation, her prospects and history.

To say that Demon Gate was good or bad was not so simple. Just the lack of freedoms of the members of the force and the fierce competition within could not be used as the only influencing elements.

After some time in silence, she opened her mouth, beginning to state her opinion, "Well, the sect has given me things I never dreamed I'd have. Now I've been in Demon Gate longer than I've been out there. So, in a way, for me, the sect isn't so bad, despite its many limitations and dangers.

Unlike you, Liam, I was able to feel the benefits of being a strong, well-positioned cultivator in Thirteen City. Your rapid ascent prevented you from noticing certain peculiarities and advantages of everyday life in the sect. But I've felt what it's like to be an expert. And I have to say, it's comfortable. It's almost addictive to the point that I now feel a certain withdrawal." She said with deep conviction and seriousness.

"But I won't deny that the idea of living outside the sect, being the master of my own destiny and not being under the constant surveillance of those capable of hurting me is tempting.

But what's the point? In Demon Gate, we have well-defined requirements that are difficult to meet, true. But we have a great return all around. However, out there we would be totally dependent on chance, with no certainty about our future, perhaps in more danger than we are now, but with lower potential earnings... Not to mention the persecution of the sect, which would force us to face perhaps even Spirit Kings, or live in constant hiding."

These were sensible answers from someone used to Demon Gate's methods. Indeed, for someone who had lived in the sect for decades, it seemed strange to consider escaping from this system. But for Liam, who not long ago was an earthling free to do as he pleased, living under the Demon Gate's methods wasn't so interesting either.

"You're asking this because you're considering escape, aren't you?" Grace cut to the heart of the matter that had prompted their discussion.