Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Ann was in a corner of the large amphitheater-like room, along with several instructors who were there today to observe the examination of the people they had been teaching for the past two months.

Today, 10 cultivators would receive their official certification as Runemasters, while another 30 would continue working toward recognition by the Twin Land's Runemasters Association.

The three representatives of the association within the sect, two of them First Officers and one a Commander, were already seated in the main seats of the grandstand, while 40 seats were prepared on the stage. Here, they would undergo the simple tests of the certification exam, which primarily comprised creating enchanted items.

Liam was no longer dressed as a woman, having put on his own clothes over Nance's. Now Fred was glaring at him, shaking with hatred and regretting that he hadn't tried something himself.

'Damn these factions! They only have names! When I need them, they fail again and again!' thought the blond boy, his expression extremely pessimistic.

How could he surpass Liam in the competition of Ann's disciples? Liam had a higher level of cultivation and could already create complete Second Class incantations consecutively!

Meanwhile, Giles and Virginia were content with their positions and didn't focus on Liam. Forgetting what had transpired between them the previous night, they listened to the rules of today's exam, something one of them had attempted and failed before.

"…Today, you will create three enchanted items," the chief examiner, a 2-Star Spirit Sky cultivator, explained. "Items of higher quality will earn more points. However, remember that the usefulness of the runes will also be considered. We won't promote anyone who only knows simple runes and uses ineffective runes to conceal their weaknesses.

You will take the test together, but you are not direct competitors. Your competition will be those you have trained with over the past few weeks. However, do not disregard the other Runemasters here today seeking their certifications.

Your scores in each of the three tests will rank the best Runemasters in today's exam. The top three at the end of the exam will receive prizes for their performance, including the opportunity to learn from a Fourth Class Runemaster."

Those most optimistic about their certification in today's test felt encouraged upon hearing it.

It was possible to learn all kinds of things independently. With talent, one could go very far without help. However, having a mentor could benefit everyone, even self-taught geniuses. A mentor who was a great connoisseur could help one grow faster and achieve more due to such guidance.

Even Liam, who had no interest in staying at Demon Gate for long, felt his heartbeat quicken, clearly intrigued by this opportunity.

'I have to get this,' he thought, clenching his fists.

It was crucial for him to expand his knowledge of the profession as much as possible while at Demon Gate. This would enhance his chances of evading persecution from sect members after his escape and ensure a better future outside the sect.

As about 15 of the 40 participants in today's test became more resolute, a 4-Star Spirit Earth Runemaster stepped onto the platform. He introduced himself as the platform referee before calling out the contestants' names and directing them to their respective places.

"Initiate Liam Porter, 28," the man said, prompting Liam to leave his colleagues and take his seat in the eighth position of the third row.

The area prepared for him was identical to that of all the other contestants. It included Second Class ink and brush provided by the hall, as well as materials for enchantments—ten items—from which he had to choose three to work with.

Apart from a red pillow, there was nothing else visible, and each test station was spaced 4 meters apart, sufficient to prevent interference between participants.

Everyone was seated in their respective places in just 5 minutes. Some students exchanged glances, some had never seen each other before, while others kept a close watch on their rivals.

A few people Liam didn't recognize were observing him. But he understood why as he glanced at them.

'The strongest here are 8-Star Spirit Lords… I'm showing a 9-Star aura. They're probably watching me because they think I'll be in the top 3.' Liam grasped the situation well, aware that these disciples might be concealing their cultivation levels like he was, but he considered only what he could ascertain for now.

'If I had more theoretical experience, I could confidently say I would definitely be among the top three in today's certification rank. But since that's not the case, the competition might be interesting.' He suppressed a smile, feeling a surge of excitement.

"You have 3 minutes to choose the artifacts you're going to work on and decide on your plans. We'll start the first test after it!" said the stage referee, as the audience quieted and the amphitheater fell silent.

Ann was standing next to her colleagues, with whom she had bet that Liam would get his certification this morning, grinning from ear to ear while they looked rather somber.

But how could they not be? They had already heard about Liam's fantastic progress over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, they had no way of backing out of their bets and were now almost certain to lose their merit points.

"There's no way we can back out of this bet?" one of Ann's friends asked with a bitter smile.

"No. You have to keep your word," Ann laughed, speaking softly to those around her.

"We can double the bet if you want, Sister Ann," another female Runemaster suggested. "If Liam Porter makes the top three, I'll add another 50 merit points to my wager. But if he doesn't make it, I won't have to pay the 100 points I bet earlier.

What do you think? You won't lose. At worst, you won't win anything. At best, you'll win 50% more."

The other 10 colleagues who had bet with Ann looked at her, as she was the only one who could change the bet. They had made a magical agreement that could only be undone if all parties agreed.

"I'm willing to make this new bet."

"Me too."

"That doesn't sound bad. And you'll have all the advantages, Ann," a red-haired man said, looking at her expectantly.

"1,500 merit points or nothing, is that it?" She clasped her hands. "Are you really willing?" Her eyes twinkled.

"I am. I swear," said the girl who had proposed the new wager.

"Then take your oath and I'll take mine." Ann didn't back down, seeing the chance to earn a few more merit points. 'I'm not sure if Liam can make it into the top three, but he'll definitely be in dispute.'

500 merit points were no small feat. Ann could make good use of those points to reach the 1-Star level of the Spirit Earth Realm.

Once they had taken their oaths and made the new vow official, they watched the certification test begin as the stage referee started the countdown for the 12 minutes of the first test.

Each test in the exam would have the same length, followed by a three-minute intermission, during which the examiners, seated in the front row of the amphitheater, would evaluate the enchanted artifacts while the contestants rested.

As soon as they were given the signal, the 40 Spirit Masters opened their ink bottles, moistened the tips of their brushes, and began inscribing the simplest runes required for the first incantation of the test.

Liam chose a sword to enchant for the first test, leaving a bow for the second test and an arrow for the third. His sword needed the ability to store mana within its body and connect to the user's aura. Its key feature would be an elemental attack capable of creating blades of mana that could disturb the target's soul.

These mana blades would not harm the physical body, but rather the soul. When struck, the target would feel disoriented for 3 seconds, and depending on their cultivation and mental resilience, they might lose control over their Spirits and even their mana during that time.

The weapon would also have a super-strength attribute necessary to cut through armor with a rating close to that of the weapon itself.

Liam's goal with such a weapon was to create an artifact that would be useful for disorienting opponents and then making it easier to take down targets through the direct action of the weapon's user.

He began by inscribing the runes for absorbing mana and connecting to the user, Second Class runes, or rather, second-level runes.

There were runes that had first-, second-, or even third-level versions. Some runes started their classification in Second or Third Class and did not have First Class versions. In these cases, it was common to refer to such runes as second- or third-level runes.

A second-level rune was a rune that was the second version of that rune. If the first-level version was First Class, then the second-level version was Second Class. A third-level, Fifth Class rune would have its first-level as Third Class. And so on.

The difference between rune levels was clear. The higher the level, the greater the complexity and effects. The second-level runes related to user connection and mana absorption that Liam would inscribe on the sword were five times more powerful than the first-level of these runes he had previously inscribed.

With six runes to inscribe on the sword, Liam completed the easier ones and soon moved on to the fourth rune, a 5-character rune related to the weapon's super strength.

The stage referee observed the disciples being tested, not to assess their skills, but to monitor for illegal moves. There were ways to cheat during the test, such as taking substances or using their Spirits against opponents. However, while anything might be valid in the real world, the certification exam adhered to fairer conditions.

The test followed the rules of the Runemasters Association, not those of Demon Gate, so these alternative methods were strictly forbidden.

While the stage referee was vigilant for potential cheating, the three examiners focused more on observing the entry skills of the contestants. Their primary task would be to analyze the enchanted artifacts in another seven minutes, but until then, they were keenly observing the methods of the disciples being examined.

What distinguished one Runemaster's rune inscription from another's? Inscribing runes was an art. The ease with which a Runemaster moved their brush and inscribed characters varied significantly, and their runes resembled calligraphy symbols that could share the same meaning but have vastly different appearances.

Even two runes with the same purpose and construction could differ in quality depending on the quality of their 'form,' which was evident in their structure and the Runemaster's movements during the inscription.

While most of the people being tested struggled with some characters, half a dozen competitors caught the attention of the three examiners, demonstrating good fluency in their movements.

With this first test of the exam, the three examiners identified the names to watch in the final two tests of the day!