Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Fortunately, the artifacts can be used more immediately. I'll keep the armor and a common Third Class weapon. I'll give the two enchanted combat artifacts to Mary and Electa.'

Besides these items, the ring he received for completing the first phase of the Secret Hunt mission also contained three special enchanted items. One of a defensive type capable of protecting a small camp, another capable of enriching an area with mana, and the last, an explosive.

Planning how to use his new resources, he arrived at his street and made his way to the apartment building where his room was.

"Sigh... Tomorrow ends my first month in the sect," he whispered as he climbed the stairs to his room. 'I will collect my second wage after passing the Runes Hall...'

He reached the corridor to his room, where several doors and some magic lamps were the only 'decoration' on the yellow walls of the area.

In front of his room, a hooded man stood, his cultivation unfathomable and his appearance hidden by shadows.

Liam saw this man and looked around to make sure his observers weren't too close to this place. Luckily for him, his watchers hadn't ventured into his dormitory because of the constant presence of Leopards' men there.

With no disciple coming or going at the moment, Liam approached the man he recognized by the appearance of a hand touching the red wooden door of his room.

"Boss Ross, have I kept you waiting?" Liam hurried to a stop in front of Lazarus and offered his greetings, speaking in a low voice.

"No, I just got here," the man said with narrowed eyes, his interest focused on Liam's urgent call. "What do you need? Why did I have to sneak in here?"

After entering his room and making sure they were alone, Liam got right to the point. "It's about Emerald Owls. They tried to move against my companion, and she tricked them into believing that she is now allied with them.

She sent a message to Emerald Owls that she will leave the city to hunt crystals with me, and the group will set a trap for me... But we're the ones who are going to set that trap."

"Oh?" It surprised the man to hear that, and he removed the hood from his face while showing more interest than Liam had expected.

'Emerald Owls, Wings of the Twilight, Heralds of Chaos and Crimson Rebels are all interested in the Silver-Winged Leopard. Emerald Owls will surely move if our target reappears. If we can eliminate one group from this hunt...'

Lazarus and Leopards had their own interests in the demise of rival factions, or even the demise of key members of their rival factions.

Factions like Leopards had different levels of operation and could benefit in many ways when enemies fell or were weakened. In particular, the group was currently very interested in hunting down the third Spirit of their leader, whom Liam had talked to, weeks ago, and got the Guardian Sphere.

The Silver-Winged Leopard was one of the best wild beasts in the surrounding forest, a perfect being to give birth to the third Spirit of any cultivator with high ambitions.

Not only Leopards were interested in this beast that had recently been spotted nearby, but other factions from City Thirteen and other cities in the outer reaches of Demon Gate were also eyeing the creature.

It was hibernating, hidden somewhere in the great forest of the headquarters. But in a few months, it would emerge, and the observation devices left around the forest would alert the groups interested in hunting it.

Focused on this goal, Lazarus looked into Liam's eyes with a smile, understanding the situation the boy presented. "What exactly do you need? Do you want men? Weapons? We'll certainly support you."

Liam smiled as he sat on the edge of his bed. "Tomorrow I have a meeting with some companions who are going to join me in this action against Emerald Owls. We're going to talk about our plan in the Illusions Hall, particularly in the Mirrors' Palace. It would be interesting if you could be there.

Right now, I don't know how much power I'll need. But men, weapons, and enchanted artifacts will certainly be needed. Emerald Owls are feeling in a hurry to kill me, given their repeated failures. I'm pretty sure I'll have to deal with at least one Spirit Earth cultivator, maybe even a whole group of Spirit Masters in this realm."

Lazarus thought Liam was half right in this analysis and nodded his head. "What time is this meeting?"

"Late afternoon." Liam handed Lazarus a piece of paper similar to the one Mary had already given him with directions to the Mirrors' Palace.

"The time is not good for me... But I will send a trusted man. He will tell me what happened at this meeting and I'll give you the support you need," Lazarus promised.

Soon after, he left in his disguise, secretly leaving Liam's dormitory building. As the man was a third realm cultivator, Liam's second realm observers couldn't detect his cautious movements and didn't notice their meeting.

Alone in his room, Liam rested for a while until, as night fell, he made his way to Electa's dormitory, which was less than two minutes away from his.

Careful in his movements, planning not to attract the attention of his observers, Liam took a few steps to arrive at Electa's room ten minutes later, without individuals following his movements.

He didn't have to wait over five seconds after knocking three times on Electa's door. She opened her room to him, acknowledging the knock before anything else.

"We have some problems we need to discuss." He ended the smile she had on her face.

She had already taken and passed the Promotion Exam and had become a Senior Initiate!

Tomorrow she would enter the third level of the Library—given the merit points she received for passing the Promotional Exam—where she intended to search for the language they needed to better understand the incubus' book.

But her happiness was cut short by the harsh tone of her lover, who now wore a solemn expression she hadn't seen on his face before.

"What happened?" she asked as she stood facing him while he removed a cap from his head and his jacket.

Liam explained to Electa the same thing he had told Lazarus, talking about tomorrow's meeting in the Illusions Hall and how they had to deal a decisive blow to Emerald Owls.

Electa's good mood faded even further, while she couldn't help but deeply understand the look on Liam's face.

This was truly a problem capable of ruining even the best of days!

As much as they were the ones setting up a counter trap, in the position of those who wanted to surprise and not be surprised, the opponents were strong enough to pose a deadly challenge even under such circumstances!

"Shit!" she said subconsciously after hearing everything he had to say.

"That's the spirit." He laughed bitterly.

"Do you think it will work? Will Leopards really support you?" she asked as she grabbed one of his wrists.

"I think so, at least for now. Lazarus seemed interested when I talked to him a few minutes ago. But we're in Demon Gate and anything can change. Even if it's unlikely that we won't have his support, it wouldn't be shocking to lose him either. That's why he and Leopards will only know a fraction of our plans."

He summoned a silver bracelet with a drop-shaped blue gem on its top, causing Electa's eyes to open suddenly as the magical aura of the item spread through the room.

"Don't ask me how I got it. For now, just accept it and know that where it came from, there's enough for me to arm myself and Mary," he said without giving details.

As she put her hands on the Third Class item, Electa nodded at him, agreeing that if he didn't want to talk, she shouldn't ask. Cultivators had their secrets, and no matter how much they were cultivation partners, there were things better left unsaid.

"What exactly is your plan?" she asked him with a fresh look, now much less worried than before, although it was still a serious enough challenge for her to consider solemnly.

"Well..."