Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

On the fourteenth day of their journey, the group of carriages gradually slowed down as they approached the new home of the five Aspirants of Demon Gate.

Contrary to the rugged dirt road, occasionally littered with mud or sharp stones that threatened to damage the carriage wheels, their current path was paved with meticulously placed stones. The uniformity of the stones suggested a deliberate human touch, creating an unmistakably artificial surface.

Liam and the rest of the group could hardly make out their surroundings, but the newfound stability of their vehicle indicated they were nearing their destination.

As the group experienced a minimally comfortable ride for the first time in days, the guards around the carriage relaxed.

Liam and the others couldn't see, but each of these men was now relieved to see the heavenly scenery on the outskirts of their headquarters.

Despite the Demon Gate's reputation for cruel practices, demon cultivation, and other frowned-upon activities, its headquarters remained faultless.

Reidway Fjord was truly a paradise in Twin Land!

Nestled amidst towering snow-capped mountains and lush forests, spanning across 300,000 square kilometers, the protected region offered a breathtaking landscape. The mountains, soaring between 500 and 4,000 meters, provided a majestic backdrop.

The air was crisp and invigorating, carrying the faint scent of pine from the nearby forests.

The sight of numerous ships, of different shapes and sizes, dotted the area, transforming it into a bustling maritime hub. The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore added a soothing melody to the scene.

Following the path of one of the main peaks, the men in Amos' group could see the beautiful light green waters of the fjord, while they could also see large cables connecting the peaks of some mountains, many side bridges and roads that gave travelers impressive views.

Tall trees and dense forests hid the mysteries and dangers of the region, where opportunities and creatures lurked.

From the 13 peaks surrounding this vast area, the imposing buildings in the middle and higher areas of these mountains could be seen from afar, each a control point for the sect where the group was arriving.

If it weren't for the masks on their faces, the Officials would wear bright expressions and smiles. Despite the sect's faults, they were truly proud to be part of such a dominant group.

Few forces could boast to the world that they had such a large and impressive headquarters covering such an enormous area!

Commander Amos opened the panoramic roof of his carriage and looked at the top of the hill they were following, one of the lowest in the area.

One kilometer ahead of them, a few meters above the current position of Amos' carriage, a large arch marked the entrance to one city of outer members of Demon Gate.

'Demon Gate—Peak Thirteen,' was written on the large arch made of black blocks, with inscriptions in gold.

A few moments after seeing it, the last of the group's carriages passed through it and arrived at the top of this 500-meter-high mountain.

All the carriages stopped, increasing the breathing rate of the five Aspirants who looked through the gaps in their carriage, not knowing whether to smile or to become serious, as a series of new challenges began for them today.

The door of their carriage was unlocked and opened a moment later, with Merlin there to welcome them to Demon Gate.

"Welcome to the sect, all of you. From now on, this will be your new home, and my role as your overseer concludes for the time being," he said, a mysterious smile adorning his face. "However, if any of you have any last inquiries, I will address them before I set you free."

"Are we really going to pass a promotion test today?" Amias asked worriedly.

The cultivation of both him and everyone else in the carriage remained stagnant. It was challenging to cultivate during the journey, as they had spent most of their time reading, conversing, and even practicing the correct utilization of their Spirits.

Not every place one stopped to rest had good conditions for cultivating mana. The density of mana in the air varied from place to place, and without the artificial facilities of cities or fantastic natural areas, most of the places they had passed through were practically 'barren.'

Sure, there were good areas in the places they passed through if they went deep into the forests to look for them. But on the roads, there were usually no good places to cultivate.

Merlin replied dryly, "Yes, you're not really members of the sect. Although you have a record and can be punished according to the sect's rules, you must go through an evaluation. Don't think that you are all in the same boat. Even if you don't pass the examination for promotion, you won't really become a disciple until you've "earned" your responsibilities."

Low-ranking disciples had many responsibilities and few rights, while high-ranking disciples had many rights and few responsibilities. Whether they passed today's test, they would all gain positions in the sect and know better what their future would be in Demon Gate.

'I knew it. We'll not start at the same place in the sect.' Mary looked at Liam, feeling blessed to have been with him on the Eternal Doom Island.

Whatever her fate would be from now on, she was sure it wouldn't be the same as those three men!

Liam asked after seeing the look on the man's face, "First Officer, is there any kind of city here? I want to know if we can exchange resources within the sect."

"You'll find out later. There's a city on each of the sect's peaks. In each of them, you'll find everything you need, including areas for selling and buying resources."

None of the others opened their mouths to ask questions after Merlin's answer, and the man smiled at them one last time, taking a good look at each of them before saying goodbye.

"Go on. You have a long day ahead of you, haha."

With those words, he left the five without looking back, heading for the group's main carriage, where Amos stood in front of a group of seven differently dressed men.

As he stepped out of the carriage, Liam and the others frowned and narrowed their eyes at the sight of these men, immediately recognizing their ranks.

In front of Amos was a man dressed in gray with no mask on his face. He looked about 50 years old, with wrinkles around his eyes and several warts on his enormous nose. The bald spot on his head shone like crystal, contrasting with his full beard of black hair.

Behind this man, who Liam estimated to be no weaker than Amos, were three First Officers dressed in black and three masked Officers, also dressed in black, as the dress code required.

The sect was highly organized. Despite the seemingly absurd requirement of wearing matching outfits, Liam appreciated it. It made it incredibly easy to recognize everyone's rank simply by their clothing.

"So these are your juniors, Amos? Haha, you always have a good judgment! Two Spirit Lords, that's impressive!" The gray-clad Guardian of Peak Thirteen said loudly, congratulating the blond man in front of him.

"The Guardian is being really nice to me. I got lucky. These are the ones who made it. Most of them were empty shells with no potential." Amos showed his dimples to the man who would now dictate the lives of the five Aspirants.

Seeing Amos' sign, the five approached, bowing their heads and touching their fists with the palms of their hands.

The man nodded with interest as he closed his eyes and inhaled the air. "Cyrus, you and your men will conduct the promotion exam for these five. I'll take care of some business with Amos first. Bring their results to me later."

"Yes, Guardian," said one of the three First Officers before motioning for Liam and the others to follow him and the three Officers that way.

The five moved on without, heading towards the first building in front of the group, a building that looked like an ancient noble palace, similar to what Liam had seen in history books on Earth.

Perched atop the hill, the majestic building stood, exuding a Gothic charm. Its slender towers, reaching towards the heavens, were adorned with intricate spires, casting mesmerizing shadows. The sight of it filled the air with a sense of grandeur and awe.

Inside it, the air was filled with a rich scent of red tapestries and polished wood. The spaciousness allowed for an echo of footsteps on the rustic floor, while the vibrant paintings and statues adorned the walls, capturing the eye with their intricacy and beauty.

Liam and the others couldn't see much of the place as they soon entered a corridor. Then, First Officer Cyrus opened his mouth, his tone different from when he had answered the Guardian a few moments before.

"Aspirants, as of today, you are members of Peak Thirteen, which means you are under the orders of Guardian Amzi Watt, leader of Peak Thirteen."

His words contained basic information, but they sounded like blades slashing at the five newcomers, aimed directly at the rebellious auras that still existed in their bodies.

"Demon Gate has a total of 13 peaks. You are at Peak Thirteen, so you rookies are now part of the weakest group in Demon Gate. There are 12 peaks above you, with 12 cities, with thousands of disciples who surpass you in every way you can imagine.

The goal of every member of Demon Gate is to reach Peak One, but only those who are destined to have that chance. Today I will oversee your promotion exam, which may not give you a chance to ascend to the peak more or less slowly.

But don't get your hopes up! Despite its name, the promotion exam is not intended to raise your rank, but to determine where you will start in the sect. But it can help you. You can become a member of the Law Enforcement Hall and make a career in one of the most important halls of the sect, or you can join the Beasts Hall and clean up beasts' shit."

All the masked men laughed along with Cyrus as he said this part of the explanation, just before they stopped at the end of the corridor.