Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Officers, First Officers, and outer disciples practically celebrated together when the Healers declared an end to the crisis in City Five.

The patients most seriously affected by the fungus could not recover and would die in the next few days—a prediction of the Healers in the area. But 95% of City Five was safe, and the mood was optimistic after the lockdown was declared over.

Liam and his group didn't celebrate with the inhabitants of City Five. They left after daybreak, heading back to the inner wing in search of their rewards in City One.

For Liam, that mission had started as a regular Division Chief activity. It had the potential to earn him some merits and opportunities, but nothing much more. However, they had killed a powerful plant with special characteristics and brought its remains with them. Not only that, they had actively helped solve the problem in City Five, which added to their already favorable situation.

Eager to obtain the fruit of their near-death efforts, the group arrived in City One mid-morning and were soon at the Law Enforcement Hall.

Liam made his report and sent Guardian Jasper's message to the Elder in charge of that mission and the situation in City Five, before heading with his group to the General Records Hall.

There, the group had to wait a while for the Elder on standby to communicate with the person in charge of the group's mission at the Law Enforcement Hall. But luckily, these matters were dealt with hastily within the sect.

Just as Liam could follow the progress of his subordinates on missions he sent them on, the Elders who passed these missions on to groups of Division Chiefs could also follow them from afar. Most of the time, these experts knew what was going on in the sect and gave their approvals and recommendations without even needing to be alerted.

But the group still had to wait for a few minutes, which Liam used to get the inheritance left by William's former master. He didn't have to explain much about what had happened during the mission outside City Five to get the right to absorb the estate left by the enemy.

In less than 25 minutes, Liam had an extra 18,000 merit points on his record and the master key to the estate of the Officer who tried to kill him. In addition, he already had the items from the enemy's ring, which he had already added to his assets. Now all that remained was to check what that man had left behind at home.

'I have to watch out for reprisals. That guy belonged to a Division Chief's group...' Liam pondered as he returned to his people's side, too used to the vendettas in Demon Gate to ignore something like this.

Back in his group, no one said anything, nor would there be time. Less than a minute after his return, Liam heard a female Commander call his name and ask him to bring his group to the Elder's office.

The group followed, entering an office overlooking the sect's beautiful headquarters. The office had an old, traditional decor, with lots of colorful wooden furniture and various panels.

The smell of weed was strong, while the whistle of a kettle caught the newcomers' attention, making them look towards a balcony, where a woman was sitting on the floor, her back to them.

Liam looked at the woman with her black hair tied up in a way he couldn't describe, dressed in a white robe. Her skin looked the most beautiful he had ever seen, making him momentarily want to touch her.

But he would never do that with the difference in power between them. This was a Spirit King, the strongest woman he had ever come across in his life.

He and his subordinates greeted this woman, everyone there respecting her position and cultivation, while thinking similar things about her refined and mature appearance.

She continued to watch the kettle in front of her, while holding a fan in one of her hands.

"So you dealt with the Necrotic Parsnip?" she asked, her striking, extremely feminine voice with a calm tone, like that of a mother talking to her children.

The Commander who had welcomed them stopped to the right of her teacher, positioning herself next to her in silence, while with a subtle smile, she watched Liam.

Liam tried to ignore the gaze of the Commander with the short black hair, dressed as a warrior. He focused on the Elder's fan and said, "Yes, we dealt with that plant, Elder. It wasn't easy, but with a bit of strategy and luck, we prevailed."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

She glanced sideways, sensing a special fragrance enveloping not just Liam, but all those members of this unique team.

"Can I see its remains?" the Elder asked, showing one of her hands.

Liam did as he was supposed to, passing the spatial ring with the remains of the plant to the Commander staring at him.

"You really lucked out." The girl said quietly enough for only Liam to hear her.

He didn't respond to her comment, recognizing that some Commanders could be competitive, especially with Division Chiefs.

Commanders generally acted outside the sect. But those who were disciples of Elders or even subordinates of Elders, spent more time inside the sect and often acted on behalf of their masters or leaders within the premises of the headquarters.

Commanders were among the best warriors in the sect below the rank of Elder, so naturally every Elder had a few of them under their command.

The Commanders who acted under the name of Elders were usually the strongest in the sect, and most of them were competitive, even more so with other Elder disciples.

Liam didn't want to get involved in whatever dispute that woman was thinking about now, and focused on Elder Cecily's next words.

"Impressive, I must say." She barely glanced through the spatial ring and was already praising Liam. "You are an exceptional Runemaster, Division Chief Porter. It's no wonder you killed a high-level fourth realm Necrotic Parsnip.

Very well, I'll give you a recommendation for Elder Neill and I'll give your team three keys to the Treasures Hall. You'll have 10 days to make use of your rights and claim your prizes."

Three keys materialized in front of the woman, then floated into Liam's hands.

While Liam couldn't quite grasp the significance of his prizes, the two First Officers behind him were holding their lips as tightly as they could so as not to burst out screaming with satisfaction.

This award was simply great even for them, strong Spirit Sky cultivators!

"Thank you, Elder Cecily."

Liam thanked her as he put those keys away.

Cecily nodded to him as she stood up, appearing in an instant at Liam's side. But unlike Neill, she didn't dare evaluate Liam.

It would not be appropriate to assess the disciple of another Elder.

"I'll keep Necrotic Parsnip's body, but your group will receive its price in merit points. You'll be able to divide these points as you see fit among your team members, Division Chief Porter." She explained before once again congratulating him, this time in the form of advice. "Keep working hard in your profession. You'll be a great Fourth Class Runemaster of the sect. I'll see what I can do to help you get there faster.

Anyway, you'll hear from me soon, young man." She patted one of his shoulders lightly, making Liam feel strange.

On the one hand, he couldn't help but watch her intently, seeing how beautiful and full of grace Cecily was. But on the other hand, he felt a maternal energy coming from her and almost felt bad for certain thoughts he had in those moments next to her.

"Isa, make sure he's informed as soon as I make my move." She told the Commander looking at Liam with interest.

"Of course, mistress." Isa replied with a nod, continuing to stare at Liam.

"That's all for today. Go ahead. I'll be waiting for the next news from your group."

With the Elder's permission, the group greeted her once more before leaving that office alongside Commander Isa.

As they passed Cecily's office exit door, Isa walked up beside Liam and said, "Although you're weak, I recognize your skills as a Runemaster. If my master praised you, you must be really formidable."

Liam looked at her without knowing what to say. Was she teasing him or complimenting him?

Isa smiled and asked, "Do you want to train with me? I'd like to see what you can do in combat."

Toby heard that, but didn't interfere. He knew who Commander Isa was and of her peculiar reputation as a hunter of adversaries. Rumor had it that she had once said that she would marry the man who defeated her in combat. He didn't know if this was true, but stories of her battles against other disciples ran through the inner circles of the sect.

A peculiar characteristic of hers was that she never killed her opponents. Even when they offended her and threatened her, she just beat them, humiliating them and breaking their confidence in themselves.

Such fame had earned her the nickname of the Merciless Valkyrie.

A relationship with her would never be suitable for anyone, regardless of their position within the sect!

"Training? I'm not sure I understand exactly what you want..."

"Just to train. The fight ends when one of us calls a pause or loses consciousness. That would, of course, involve rules to avoid serious wounds," she said as she looked him in the eye.

"Just a practice run, then?"

"Yes, that's it. I'm looking forward to working alongside Division Chief Porter. I know you're not strong, but I'd love to learn how to fight a Runemaster," she said, once again stabbing Liam with her words.

Liam smiled bitterly when he heard that. "It's okay for us to train, if you do something for me."

"Oh?"