Chapter 171: Preparing for the Future
Ann was pleased as well, iagining herself doing it again with Liam and Joan, but also using what she had learned with her girls...
'Maybe then I'll be able to convince other girls to share moments like this with Liam and me.' She included him in her plans. There were things only a man could do, and even with her experience and preferences, she wanted him to be involved.
Liam listened to both of them and joked, probing them. "Yes, we will. This is so good. If I could cultivate like this, I'd do it all day." He laughed in the middle of his words, pretending it was just a casual comment. "Imagine getting stronger by having sex? That would be perfect."
The two girls took his comment in jest, but Joan thought of something and said, while still smiling, "They say that dual cultivators do that. But unfortunately, it's a path full of disadvantages on all sides."
Ann looked at her friend with a strange expression on her face. "Unfortunately? Would you like to do that, Joan?"
Joan shot a killing glance in Ann's direction. "Wouldn't you? Who wouldn't like to grow stronger through pleasure? Cultivation is good, but it's monotonous. Meditating for hours can't compare to what we did."
Ann couldn't deny Joan's words. "Well, you're right. They say that when you cultivate like them, you get addicted to the practice and become dependent. Some lose moral restraint and become corrupt, while others see their lives crumble with the instability of their powers, the constant loss of vitality, and still don't want to stop."
Liam listened, trying to keep a smile on his face. A lot of what ordinary people knew about dual cultivation was incorrect, at least as far as his cultivation with his women was concerned. But he said nothing more as he watched the two women talk about it.
"Women who practice dual cultivation are terrible. I've heard stories of people going so far as to seduce their own blood relatives. They can't have healthy relationships and become nymphomaniacs," Joan added as she sat down and pulled on her shoes.
"Worse are the men who practice dual cultivation. They rarely give their targets the option of cultivating with them. They just impose their will on their victims and lead them down the path of degradation," Ann clenched her fists and said with obvious anger. "If I found one of them, I'd help them burn at the stake!"
Liam laughed bitterly when he heard this. But he understood Ann's point of view. He really could force himself on women if he wanted to. But he preferred to get close to women who craved power and were willing to cultivate with him without him having to completely control their minds.
That's why he only used his power to attract his women's interest more quickly than the first time he used it against them. If one of them really didn't want to cultivate with them, they could deny it and avoid the consequences.
"What do you think, Brother Liam?" Joan looked at him and noticed that he was very quiet.
Liam thought for a moment and joined the conversation. "I think that not every dual cultivator has to be terrible. Certainly, those who ignore the wishes of their targets, who throw morality and respect aside to seek power at any cost, deserve to be discarded.
I don't see a problem with someone who uses their power only on those who want it for themselves, and who controls their impulses.
If you were a dual cultivator, Joan, I wouldn't mind. In fact, nothing would change between us. And when the day comes that I want more power faster, I might even want to cultivate with you, so why not?" He asked as he stood between the two women.
"You would?" Ann asked in surprise as Joan gazed at him. "Aren't you afraid of the consequences?"
"I'd talk to Joan first," he said, grinning at the green-haired woman. "I'd see with her what problems I'd have to prepare for and decide on that basis. But if I were to consider such an option, I'd probably already be prepared for all the consequences.
In any case, I don't think the consequences are that bad for all practitioners. Just as there are techniques and skills that have similar characteristics but completely different costs, there must be different methods of dual cultivation.
For example, maybe Joan has a Spirit of the succubus type. That would make her different from a practitioner of dual cultivation who uses a forbidden technique."
The two thought of the demon succubus. They had all read about every type of demon in the Twin Land to know the characteristics of this type of demon. In particular, they knew which techniques were usually weaker and more prone to errors. Meanwhile, the skills of the Spirits were usually closer to perfection.
"Maybe you should hunt a succubus after this, Joan. At least Liam will want to cultivate with you." Ann joked with her friend after all the dense talk.
Joan laughed, wondering what it would be like to have such a Spirit. Would she be able to control herself? Would dual cultivation work between two women? Or would it only work between partners of opposite genders?
Several questions came to her mind.
But then she said in a lower tone, with a secret in her words, "They say there are people in the guild who have Spirits that give them powers compatible with dual cultivation. I wouldn't doubt it if there were some disciples in the sect with incubi and succubi as one of their Spirits."
"There are rumors from some members of our rival cities on this side of the fjord about disciples who disappear when they go hunting together." Ann had heard such stories as well. "Most likely, they died in encounters with beasts or other disciples.
However, there are stories that some survivors who always come back alive, leaving their companions of the opposite gender missing, are actually dual cultivators.
But we can't be sure. If they really are dual cultivators, it's hard for us to find out. They would certainly be cautious."
Liam didn't broach the subject of dual cultivation any further. It wasn't the time for him to delve into it, and he kissed the two girls goodbye before heading down his street.
On his way back to his room, he thought about how he needed to get to know the two women better, especially Joan. If he could convince one of them, it would be easier to convince the other.
Ann and Joan didn't seem to have much cultivation talent, but he still wasn't sure if they were like Grace and Electa or if they were more like Felicity. Depending on what kind of determination and desire they had, he could approach them earlier with a bold proposal.
'As long as I keep seeing them, even if one of them doesn't want to cultivate with me, I can make them keep the secret, just like Felicity.'
...
The next day, Liam met Felicity in the morning and talked to the orange-haired woman about what he had said to Grace earlier.
Felicity advised Liam on how to deal with Eleanor, the leader of the Abyss Matriarchs, should he encounter such a woman during the hunt for the Silver-Winged Leopard.
Felicity had fought Eleanor three times and was well aware of the white-haired woman's abilities. Liam's enemy already had three Spirits, one full attack, one defensive, and one mental, a basic Spirit configuration for Spirit Masters.
Her main Spirit was a demon, as was the case with virtually all members of the Demon Gate. But Eleanor's strength was her mental power, capable of driving opponents into extremely realistic delusions.
Her defense was another important point. From what Felicity told Liam, even if he could get through the mental and physical challenges against Eleanor, it would be difficult to hurt the woman. Her skin was so tough that Third Class weapons in the hands of third realm Spirit Masters had failed to wound her.
Eleanor's position in the top ten of the Arena was no accident!
Liam arranged a training session with Felicity so that he could better understand what he would be up against if Eleanor were to ambush him, as Ester had told him earlier.
In the early afternoon, Liam went to his meeting with Grace, where today he began his time with the silver-haired woman with combat training.
After a few minutes with Grace, Liam was sweating, breathing deeply, and pushing Thal'Korr to the limit. Meanwhile, Grace looked great as her three Spirits acted around Liam at her command.
In Grace's exclusive training room on her estate, she had a smile on her face as she taught Liam how to lead with Myles and Enos.
She had already told him what powers Myles had and how to face the leader of the Crimson Rebels. The arena's second place was one of the most formidable warriors in the city, not only a skilled leader of his team of Spirits but also a good swordsman.
Frequently, confrontations in the arena had reached a point where the Spirits were pinned down and the Spirit Masters had to engage in combat to gain an advantage over their opponent. Myles had already shown himself to be formidable with his favorite weapon, the long sword, and had dealt with several opponents who had gotten too close.
The most recent example had been Enos, who had narrowly defeated his rival with brute force.
But in the end, Myles had won with his advantage in fighting skills and intelligence.
Grace told Liam about the other opponent worrying her lover, "Enos is the opposite of Myles. He doesn't have a sound mind, nor is he skilled with weapons. However, Enos' physical strength is surreal. I would venture to say that only William could match Enos in strength in the city.
The fat psychopath looks like a bull. If he hits you with his fists or a kick, I'm afraid you'll have a few broken bones, even with your impressive features, Liam." m|vl|e|mp|y|r article
She pressed him with her three Spirits, keeping her two less offensive ones to entertain Thal'Korr while the more martial of the three traded blows with Liam.
"The way to beat Enos is not to play his game. Don't let him get close and don't use force against him. He'll win if you do.
But if you dodge his attacks and tire him out, you'll kill the bastard. If possible, use poisons and mental abilities to affect him while he's trying to get close to you. And of course, use your allies. It's unlikely that you'll face him alone."
Liam listened to each of Grace's words, but remained focused on the black-skinned demon attacking him, feeling every blow in his body as if he were being shot.
His companion's Spirit demon was indeed powerful in its attacks. But that was exactly what he needed to prepare himself to fight 4-Star Spirit Earth enemies!
He moved forward, using Grace's own words to confront her demon Spirit. Instead of trying to hurt it, he focused on distracting it and trying to affect its mind.
Of course, doing this against a Spirit wasn't the same as doing it against a Spirit Master. But Grace helped him by replicating what she thought would happen as a result of each decision Liam made.
Throughout the minutes of sparring with her lover, she enjoyed the sensation and smiled with satisfaction at how easily Liam was learning.
The feeling of training someone who showed progress from the very first lesson was indescribable!
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