Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Chapter 61: Ann's Bet

Among the ornamental plants, colorful flowers adorned the property's backyard, distorting the image of the area's residents as demonic cultivators.

The garden paths comprised stones of different sizes, with a small fountain in the middle of this recreational area.

A wooden table with seven chairs was placed under the only large tree in the area, offering ample shade.

A group of women were sitting there, two of them with books and brushes in their hands, two standing with swords at their waists, and two others sitting and chatting about various topics.

If Liam had been present, despite having never encountered any of these women before, he would have instinctively identified them as his adversaries!

On each of their clothes, a special crest marked their chests, the same crest he had received from Phila's inheritance.

These were women from the Abyss Matriarchs, one of the two exclusive women's factions on Peak Thirteen!

"... Changing the subject, I've heard from Liam Porter. He was seen entering the Runes Hall earlier with a 6-Star cultivation. He's been visiting the Lotus Temple for the past few days, but let's not forget that less than ten days ago, he was only a 3-Star Spirit Lord." A woman, sporting a shaved sides hairstyle and a ponytail, spoke with a hint of suggestion in her tone.

One of the two women taking notes stopped and looked at Tabitha. "Is this about Phila's inheritance?"

Tabitha, the woman with the shaved hair, nodded in the affirmative. "Absolutely. He wouldn't have had the merit points to spend so many hours there. He didn't even do any extra missions to earn points."

"The talent revealed by the star test is false... Check it for me, Aphra. I want to know if someone sold us false information or if he managed to hide his genuine talent," said the leader of the group.

This woman had white hair, a mature face, apparently 35, and a gorgeous body. She looked at the guard with one hand on the sword at her waist.

"I will do it immediately, faction leader."

"Knowing the truth won't solve our situation," Tabitha said to Eleonor, the white-haired woman next to her.

Eleonor closed her eyes and sighed. "I know. Let's continue with Susanna watching this Liam. The Leopards are protecting him well, but it won't always be like that. Let him continue his routine in the city for now. When he leaves to collect his Arcane Crystals, I want three warriors to avenge Phila's death."

Tabitha clasped her hands together and smiled, determined to taste the blood of the wretch who had killed one of them.

Previously, handling Liam had solely been a means to avoid complications for her faction. The competition for resources and services in City Thirteen posed a significant challenge for groups like hers to readily accept the emergence of new prodigies. However, now that he had taken the life of Phila, there was a personal element driving the necessity to take action against him.

"He'll have another ten days or so before he starts to worry. Monitor his possible progress during that time. If he shows growth again, we may have to get ahead of ourselves." Eleonor clarified the situation, looking alternately at the women standing with her in the garden of her estate.

Except for her and Tabitha, all of them were Spirit Lords at the end of such a realm, powerful Spirit Masters well-ranked among the city's disciples!

...

After finishing his studies on runes and the universal language, Liam got up from the chair he had been sitting in for the last two hours, feeling his bones crack as he prepared to go shopping.

He had learned a lot today and was close to mastering a few more special characters of the Universal Language. He had also got advice from Ann about the first steps of a beginner in this profession.

"Buy the materials I listed to you as soon as possible. Once you've learned the meaning, form, and some basic combinations of characters, the quickest way to master them is to combine them into semi-runes," she said again as she watched him leave.

Semi-runes and runes were almost the same. The only difference was the power. Semi-runes had no power and were usually used as training or simulation for students or even Runemasters. But the way they were written and inscribed was like real runes.

Liam had learned this from her and nodded to indicate that he would make the purchases.

Ann walked up beside him and couldn't help but ask, "By the way, are you abusing magical resources to raise your level, or are you some kind of genius? You've improved a lot since you joined the sect. That's impressive!"

Liam had already studied a bit about magical resources and their effects and consequences on cultivators, so he could give a good explanation for his accelerated growth if anyone asked him.

"I think it was a bonus effect because I've never used magical resources like pills before. I've also been using my merit points at the Lotus Temple. By the way, such a place is amazing."

"Hmm, it really is." She agreed, not doubting that it was indeed a bonus reaction, perhaps related to his good aptitude, a bit of luck with the elements of the pills, his training at the temple, and his body's lack of sensitization to artificial resources.

But she still advised him, "Be careful with this rapid progress. There are several techniques in the Library that can hide your cultivation. Learn one of them to protect this information. I don't want you to die before you see what you can do in my hall."

"Oh? Thanks for the tip." Liam thanked her sincerely before joking with her. "Maybe Miss Ann is interested in me, after all? Your usual coolness must be a protection for the others, right?" He winked at her.

Ann smiled subtly as she looked away. But in full view of at least three dozen students coming and going through the entrance area of the hall, she didn't move against Liam.

"Actually, you're not really my thing. You're too small for me."

Liam felt Ann's attack, but didn't believe it. At six feet tall, he couldn't be considered small, especially next to this woman, who was shorter than he was.

"I made a bet with my colleagues about you and the other three. Don't let me lose my merit points." She added, removing the strange look from Liam's face.

"And why would you do that? Don't tell me you bet on me?"

She smiled, showing her beautiful teeth and drawing Liam's gaze to her cherry lips. "My colleagues think you'll be the last of our team to get your promotion to a Second Class Runemaster. But I told them no... Anyway, now we are betting on how long it would take you to become a Second Class Runemaster."

Liam heard this, but didn't know whether to be grateful for Ann's confidence in him or to be worried. As accessible as she was, she was also dangerous and had a reputation for brutality.

'If I fail to live up to your expectations, what could happen?' He remained silent, remembering that the helpful redheaded advisor next to him was also a demonic cultivator.

While Liam worried about not disappointing Ann, the red-haired woman smiled inwardly as she noticed the signs of her apprentice's nervousness.

'They think it will take you as long as others to master the profession because of your ordinary talent. Your result in the bird illusion test was better than expected, but my foolish colleagues place too much importance on the talent test.

Show them they're wrong, Liam!

This big sister will get a thousand merit points if you continue like this!'

When they reached the exit of the hall, Liam thanked her for her trust and said goodbye, heading off to do his shopping, but already with the goal of searching for a technique in the Library that would have the effect she had mentioned.

'I need to speed up my progress as much as possible. If I fail to her, I'll only make more enemies!'