Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!
Chapter 96: Battle of Cities

The twinkling stars gently faded into the vast expanse of the sky, surrendering to the sheer clarity of the day. The morning sky emerged, unmarred by any obstructing clouds.

As the nocturnal animals retreated to their caves, burrows, and hiding places, the once dark forest started to brighten. Meanwhile, the forest came alive with the sounds of daytime animals emerging from their resting places.

The scent of dew hung in the air as Liam left the hollow tree where he had spent the night, ready to embark on his second day of hunting.

Liam spent a peaceful five hours inside the hollow tree, encountering no issues. In the meantime, he let Thal'Korr consume the four crystals taken from the humans he had slain the previous night. As expected, his second Spirit did not progress.

But Thal'Korr did not waste his chance entirely. He had recovered from the previous night's battle, and he was getting closer to a qualitative breakthrough.

Liam sensed it through his connection with Thal'Korr—if this Shadowfiend had the same opportunity he had the night before, it had the potential to make significant progress soon.

Eager by the possibility of strengthening his Spirit and himself, Liam continued his hunt for Arcane Crystals as soon as the first rays of daylight appeared.

The night before, he had got 28 Arcane Crystals, 19 of which were Middle-level King-grade crystals and 9, High-level King-grade ones. If he could achieve a similar result today, he would be able to complete his mission for the sect crystals earlier than he had expected.

He could finish the mission today and stay in the forest for another day or two, to hunt his own crystals that Thal'Korr could use in the next few weeks.

He didn't intend to return to this dangerous area for another two months. Hence, it would be good to accumulate crystals to use during those weeks.

Even though he probably wouldn't be able to evolve the quality of Thal'Korr for a while after the next evolution, crystals could help his Spirit recover from combat.

But while the crystals he collected for the sect didn't have to be compatible with a specific type of creature, the crystals for Thal'Korr would have to come from creatures with an affinity for him. This would require more careful and time-consuming hunting on Liam's part.

He went ahead with his plans, but without ignoring the many enemies he might encounter in the next few hours.

...

"Sigh! I'll have to replace another area to hunt." Liam finished another group of targets, reaching 45 Arcane Crystals.

Even though this was a good result, this only four corpses was a smaller group of enemies than his previous targets, which were already less numerous than other groups he'd hunted. Hence, he couldn't help but come to this conclusion.

Over the past few hours, it had become increasingly difficult for him to replace targets to hunt. Even when he hid his strength, he felt as if the creatures in this Shadowclaw hyena sighting area were avoiding him.

That wasn't what happened, but the effect behind it was what bothered him now.

After collecting another crystal, Liam stood up and inhaled deeply before deciding to leave. Having already identified an alluring hunting ground to accomplish the sect's mission, he departed in the right direction.

As soon as he had cleaned his weapons, put them away and was left with only one sword in his hands, he made his way through the undergrowth with his usual caution.

One hour after completing his previous fight, he arrived at a small hill. From there, he had a clear view of a vast lake lying ahead. The body of water had a radius of at least 4 kilometers.

But the position he was in wasn't good. Standing there, he was visible from multiple vantage points in the area.

With only a brief observation of the area he was in for geographical location, he moved off, intending to walk close to the lake shore, where he could reach his hunting area of interest.

'Six kilometers south of the lake is the Earthripper sighting area. These creatures are stronger than the Shadowclaw hyenas, but not strong enough to be a deadly threat. I'll probably finish my mission there.'

He moved on, paying no attention to the feeble creatures scurrying in his way and skillfully evading the formidable ones.

Fights between beasts or Demon Gate disciples, as well as encounters with other disciples or creatures, occurred randomly in this forest. However, often the creatures passing through the area were going about their own business and had no intention of attacking those around them.

Despite the hazards lurking within the forest, it was not a realm of utter chaos. Frequently, one could detect a formidable adversary from a distance, allowing them to alter their course and steer clear of a potential conflict.

Liam could continue for a few more minutes until the scent of the lake reached his nostrils—a mixture of earthy and organic aromas from the decaying forest leaves that seemed to permeate the air around the lake.

As he moved around, thinking about the next beasts he would hunt, his senses suddenly went on alert after he heard a click and then several leaves moving unnaturally.

A moment later, a harsh, loud voice came from behind him. "Drop your weapon and reveal all the items in your stash!"

Gulp!

Liam's eyes widened as he looked around and saw some enemies who were there to rob him.

But he didn't recognize any of the five Spirit Masters, who were covered in leaves and other camouflage.

None of their auras resembled those of the enemies Liam had encountered in City Thirteen. They didn't seem to want to kill him, judging by one of their initial comments. They seemed interested in stealing from him, which was strange.

'These people want to steal my... My crystals! They don't want my life!' Liam concluded, since if they killed him, they could easily take his crystals without asking.

'These are residents of other outer disciple cities.' Liam concluded correctly. 'But why would they just want to rob me?'

Luckily for him, the Mana Mask worked perfectly, and he seemed to be only an early 6-Star Spirit Lord.

"Didn't you hear what we said?! Drop your weapon and reveal your items!" A woman with mud covering part of her face shouted as she held a spear in her hands.

Liam stood still, not showing that he would obey her, but also not reacting to provoke them.

'Why do they want me to surrender? Is that their strategy for killing opponents? To make them lower their guard to make it easier for them? Or do they really not want to kill me?'

Of the five people, one female and four males, three of them were 4-Star and two were 5-Star Spirit Lords.

'Are they afraid of fighting me and winning by a narrow margin?'

Liam considered the possibilities, imagining that this could be a group of newcomers to the sect, probably in their second, third, or fourth month at Demon Gate.

It would be unlikely that a newcomer to Demon Gate would leave their town to go on a mission like this. Liam was an exception, as he had advanced in rank right after his entrance test. But even after leaving their city a few times, it would be unusual for a disciple to immediately consider robbing and killing others.

It would take companions to form such a group, and that didn't happen overnight. It took courage to act against strangers in a place like this, something newcomers needed time to develop.

Liam smiled suddenly, sensing that these were newcomers and that was why they were using this strange strategy.

He reacted to the threats of these strange people. "I don't think I'll do that." He turned to face four of the five enemies.

He continued, "Are you also here to hunt? Have you had any good results?" A bigger, flashier smile formed on Liam's lips. "Why don't you show me what you've got?"

If they were novices, as Liam thought, they had made a big mistake by standing up to him!

In the desperate situation he was in, Liam was willing to do anything to become stronger and protect his life!

If these individuals could help him do that, he would have no qualms about dealing with them.

As Liam spoke, Thal'Korr condensed next to him, displaying a cultivation as high as the one Liam was displaying—6-Star Spirit Lord.

The five opponents shifted their positions, seeing that the first enemy did not fall for their bluff.

However, as uncomfortable as it was to face someone with such a powerful spirit, there were five of them, while Liam was only one.

The strongest of them pressed his fingers to the weapon in his hands, while his two Spirits appeared at his sides.

"Attack!" He shouted before triggering the trap they had prepared.