Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

The promotion exam for Third Class Runemasters went smoothly for Liam. Already an early Fourth Realm cultivator who could make a few Fourth Class runes, going through the challenges of a test for beginner Third Class Runemasters was never going to be complicated for him.

Another point that made things easier for Liam was the fact that there was no direct competition between the examinees. Unlike Demon Gate, where only one individual could get their new certification in the promotion exams, in the association's posts around the continent, everyone who met certain requirements passed the exams.

There was a competition between who went best and who was the best of those in contention, something that was normal at any event where there was room for comparison. But when Liam was involved in the first of the exam tests, showing off his fourth realm cultivation, naturally none of the other competitors wanted to vie with him.

The most he had to deal with were a few interested looks in his direction, murmurs and the like. His exam itself was uneventful, with him only having the chance to create his incantations and be assessed by the Runemasters assigned to this exam.

As you'd expect, he passed with the best performance in each of the tests, making his highest cultivation count.

At the end of about an hour of testing, 80% of the Runemasters who took the exam today had succeeded in their objectives, getting their new credentials.

Liam received a new pendant with the association's symbol, this time with three stars instead of just two, and was also congratulated by the examiner.

"Young Liam Porter, strive to become a Fourth Class Runemaster. With the ability you displayed in this exam, I feel you eventually reach that rank," said an old Fourth Class Runemaster, handing out the prizes of today's competitors.

In addition to the new credential, newly promoted runners in exams like this always received some prize items from the association. Today, for example, Liam, and the others received association capes, tickets that could be exchanged to access special areas for Runemasters in the association and in certain establishments in the city, and a set of Third Class materials.

Liam put away his prizes and thanked the chief examiner for his words at today's promotion exam.

"I'll work hard for it," he said, without any intention of revealing to the man that he intended to achieve this feat in the next few days.

Liam had already decided to finish today's exam and go to the registration office for promotion exams and put his name on the list of candidates to become a Fourth Class Runemaster.

He didn't know if he would be able to stay in the city for as long as it looked like it would take for the next Fourth Class exam to take place, but he was confident that he would be able to pass.

Two days in Irondom were enough for him to feel a good difference from his training during the journey to the city. Liam already felt that, in only 10 days, he would reach the level necessary for him to have a good chance of passing the Fourth Class exam!

With that in mind, after shaking hands with all the examiners and being observed by the competitors for the exam, he set off back to his group's side.

After his companions had congratulated him, he told them what he wanted to do, and they soon left that area of the association building to register.

When he presented his intention to take the Fourth Class exam to one of the employees responsible for scheduling the test, Liam naturally drew a doubtful look from the person he approached. He had just got his Third Class certification and now he wanted his Fourth Class certification? That was unusual.

But he met the requirements to register for the next exam and had paid the necessary fee. So, even though she was surprised, the person who attended to him did the right thing, confirming that his name was registered and that he should look out for announcements from the association in the next few days. There was still no date for the next Fourth Class promotion exam, but he hadn't been the first to sign up for the test and a date could come up at any time.

That was fine with Liam for the moment, so he left the association to return to his routine of waiting in Irondom.

...

In the administrative wing of the Irondom Runemasters Association, a bearded man with mixed black and white hair stood at the top of the building where he normally worked. Sitting in a large padded armchair, he had a listless look in his eyes as he read a book, when someone knocked on his door and then entered the room.

"Senior, something peculiar has just happened," said a woman of 1.7 meters in height, young, and pretty appearance, but mature body, with curves that were hard to ignore in her daring clothes.

"Tell me." The old man was gruff, continuing with his reading without bothering to look at his secretary.

He, a Spirit King and Runemaster of the Fifth Class, the only one in all of Irondom and the region, paid no attention to any kind of matter that might attract the attention of juniors like his secretary.

The woman was used to the manners of the head of the association post and maintained her posture. She opened her lips and said what had just come to her, "A Runemaster who got his Third Class credential this morning has signed up for the Fourth Class exam."

"That's not so unusual. Some people like to test themselves, even though they don't have the ability to take higher exams," said the old man, still not impressed.

"I understand, but this young Runemaster is only 19 and already a 2-Star Spirit Sky cultivator," she added, making the old man stop what he was doing to look in her direction, a serious look shaping his old face.

"Oh?"

"I've already gone ahead and investigated his situation, senior. He's only been in town for a few days and comes from Demon Gate. His name is Liam Porter, and he's a Division Chief, accompanied by a relatively powerful group. He hasn't been involved in any peculiar situations so far and seems to be investing his time in training and study during his stay here."

"Demon Gate, eh?" The old man muttered, that being the only problem for him.

But a prodigy like Liam was not a common sight. Regardless of whether he was a member of the malicious Demon Gate, this boy was worth approaching.

"Thanks for your warning, Annet. I'll monitor this boy during the promotional exam." He played with his fingers on his old wooden desk, thinking about it. "By the way, when will this exam be?"

"There's no date yet, senior. But we already have more than half the applicants."

He said, "Demon Gate has complicated rules. Let's help this boy, so I have a chance to test him. Advance the exam appointment to when we reach 7 registered competitors. He might not be able to wait for 10 competitors to show up locally."

"All right. I'll do it, senior."

She left at the direction of the local association leader, leaving the old Runemaster alone in his large office.

Still thinking about Liam, the old man from the fifth kingdom couldn't help but consider the possibilities that having a prodigy like Liam around could bring him.

'If this boy manages to become a Fourth Class Runemaster at just 19, he will certainly pass me in the future. By then, he'll be a jewel for the Demon Gate and even the boring rules of the sect will lose their value once he's involved...' A clever smile shaped the Spirit King's lips.

'But I still need to observe him and talk to him. Depending on his personality, I might get a better deal with him!'

...

Meanwhile, Liam did not know who had caught his eye locally.

After leaving the association building, he turned his focus to his final training, still having things to learn and master in practice before he had a real chance of passing the exam for Fourth Class Runemasters.

Returning once again to the local temple where he could accelerate his speed of comprehension and mastery of new character combinations, he was soon in an individual room carrying out inscriptions of new types of runes.

Meanwhile, his group was divided between those standing guard in front of his room and those enjoying their free time in the city.

Not everyone had to stand guard for Liam while he trained in a virtually impenetrable room. He intended to train for the next three hours alone in that place, so the part of the group that wasn't on guard duty went separately through Irondom.

Nance, in particular, was among those with free time now, and as such, he headed to another interesting location in this city, where more normal cultivation rooms existed for temporary rent. Using her own resources and something Liam had given her, she intended to spend the next three hours cultivating her oldest cultivation method.

Each of Liam's wives still carried out their meditations, trained, used resources, etc. The fact that they were cultivating with him was only the main point of their current cultivation journeys, but they were still looking for every kind of alternative and chance to get stronger as quickly as possible.

This not only helped them cultivate faster, but also allowed them to mitigate the damage to their foundations and vitality from cultivating with Liam.

So she entered her rented cultivation room, dressed in her black Demon Gate uniform, masked as she should have been.

Without knowing it, however, someone was watching her.

At the end of the corridor where Nance's rented cultivation room was located, a person hiding behind a wall was watching her while his fists were clenched tightly.

'Demon Gate!' this individual thought to himself, his eyes twitching in a feeling not so uncommon to feel for not only this sect, but several of the major regional forces.