[1st] [Liam Porter] [250]


    [2nd] [Isaac Oliver] [248]


    [3rd] [Linus McFadden] [229]


    This time, only the top three positions were visible, and no one else had a chance of overtaking those in those spots!


    Liam smiled broadly when he saw his score. It was mediocre, to be honest, but enough to keep him in the first place.


    He probably wasn''t a better Runemaster than Linus and Isaac at this point, but what really mattered to him were the prizes for winning today''s certification competition.


    Ann cheered him on from the stands, grinning from ear to ear as she earned 1,500 merit points for her double bet. She soon turned her back on the event to collect payment from each of her fellow bettors.


    The event evaluators finished assessing the last few incantations, and soon one of them announced, "The 10 winners from each group here today must stay and accompany us. For the rest of you, it wasn''t meant to be. Try harder and come back in two months."


    The losers, who were still conscious, stood up with disappointed looks on their faces. Not all of them had lost by a large margin. Some had competed fiercely with their group mates, taking the decision of this test to the final of the three tests.


    As these individuals departed, Liam and the 9 winners of the day, especially the other two in the top 3, breathed a sigh of relief. Some were thrilled, while others were not as much, having missed out on the chance to win the event''s prizes.


    The three evaluators climbed onto the platform and greeted the ten new Second Class Runemasters certified by the Runemasters Association.


    "Congratulations, you are now real Runemasters, recognized by the largest organization on the continent. With your certifications, you are entitled to support, access to the common library, and discounts on materials and tools at the association''s posts across the continent.


    You will need to travel to one of these posts to take your subsequent promotion exams, so keep that in mind. We don''t currently hold the Third Class Certification Exam in the sect, and that shouldn''t change in your generation.


    All in all, do your best and don''t tarnish the name of our association. You are now part of the most respected and sought-after group of professionals on the continent. Be proud of it."


    With these words, seven of the ten departed proudly wearing a special association crest on their chests that displayed a red brush symbol with two golden stars.


    Liam, Isaac, and Linus stayed behind at the request of the leader of the evaluators. This man presented them with boxes of different colors and sizes, distributing them according to their position in today''s competition.


    "Use your prizes to strengthen yourselves and strive for Third Class. On the day you become recognized as a Third Class Runemaster, the sect will surely invest resources in you."


    While Second Class Runemasters were common in the sect, Third Class Runemasters were rare. Such professionals were practically nonexistent outside the inner wing.


    As the three already knew, the inner area of the sect was only a fraction of the size of the outer area.


    "As for the opportunity to be mentored by a Fourth Class Runemaster, the head of the Runes Hall for City Thirteen, Eliakim Badders, will receive you in his office tomorrow. You should discuss the details with your instructors and attend the meeting on time."


    Forgetting their earlier dispute, the three nodded in agreement with the instructors.


    The three fourth realm men observed them for a moment, focusing especially on Liam. Then, before leaving, they mentioned they would await the three of them in the inner area of the sect.


    None of the young people lingered after the examiners departed. Eager to explore the prizes they had received, they left without speaking to one another.


    Liam, in particular, was cautious as he exited the hall, suspecting that his adversaries might be upset about the trick he had used earlier. However, upon reaching the exit, he found his fellow faction members waiting for him.


    After receiving congratulations from a group of five people, he departed with them, watched by several faction emissaries who had tried to stop him that morning.


    …


    Upon arriving at the coliseum, in an area with exclusive access for the Leopards, Liam was alone and opened the box he had received.


    Inside was a golden spatial ring and a congratulatory letter containing instructions on the association''s rules, along with tips on the profession. Despite its brevity, the letter was quite useful, as it included several references to books to read on the path to becoming a great Runemaster.


    Inside the 10 cubic meter spatial ring, the largest Liam had ever seen, there were only a few items, but each was intriguing to him. There were three Ancestor-grade, Middle-level, Arcane Crystals, 200 gold coins, a seal worth 170 merit points, a Third Class recovery potion, a Third Class advancement pill, three Third Class Runemaster books, a brush, and ink.


    Initially, he was more interested in the opportunity to be mentored by a Fourth Class Runemaster. However, these prizes alone were quite rewarding, sufficient to justify the effort he had put into passing the exam earlier.


    ''This is good. The issue with the Silver-Winged Leopard will arise at the end of the week. Now I don''t need to buy any recovery potions, and I can also save up for some items I would have bought for my profession.


    But what should I do with my merit points? Tomorrow, I''ll have to share a common room in the Lotus Temple with Mary and Jane, but I have 100 points left. Should I choose a level three room in the temple or the level three of the Library?''


    He pondered this as he considered his plans for the upcoming trip out of the city with the Leopards.


    Jane and Mary''s plans were already well developed, and they were ready to act the next morning. Afterward, they were to meet at the Lotus Temple to carry out what they had planned.


    ''I''ll go to the library. That''s best,'' he decided.


    A Lotus Temple room could provide him with a good place to cultivate. However, there was no shortage of good cultivation places on the continent. Places to study, however, were more difficult to access. Since he could cultivate with his women, he decided after giving it some thought.


    After restoring his cultivation in the Beasts Hall, Liam would go to the Library and spend 100 of his currently available merit points.


    …


    Later that afternoon, Liam stopped by the Missions Hall, where he encountered Ester.


    "Congratulations on your promotion," said the woman in front of him, who had overheard several people talking about Liam earlier in the day.


    Liam smiled after greeting Ester and sat down across from her in the small room where they had met occasionally since the beginning of their relationship.


    "Thank you for the warning yesterday. If you hadn''t warned me, I don''t know if I would have gotten my certification."


    "I was just following our agreement," she said before changing the subject, wanting to conclude the encounter quickly. "I''m here to end our relationship. After today, we''ll go our separate ways."


    Liam was not surprised by her desire to distance herself from him, Ester expressed in her words and tone. With the Silver-Winged Leopard hunt approaching, it was only natural that their arrangement would soon end.


    "What do you have for me?"


    "Hudson is leaving town in two days with Myles'' party. They are preparing to attack the group from your faction near the Silver-Winged Leopard''s hibernation site. The Abyss Matriarchs will leave last, but they are expected to surround your faction and initiate the battle they plan to bring you and Robert down."


    She handed him a special device he had given her earlier. "I placed the tracker you gave me into his possessions. His location is accurate for now. However, I can''t predict what will happen next. He might discover the tracker or even lose the item to which it''s attached. There''s no guarantee you''ll find him this way."


    He picked up the device, which displayed a blue and a red dot—the blue representing the artifact in Liam''s hands and the red representing Hudson''s.


    There was no detail in the image, just a black background with these two colored spheres. But from the distance between the two colored dots, Liam could tell that the enemy was currently in the city.


    "That''s good enough for me. Thank you for your efforts." He stood up to leave, placing the device on his spatial ring.


    ''The tracker will work up to a distance of one kilometer between its parts. It''s not the best scenario, but I''ll know the enemy''s position a few minutes in advance.''


    Ester watched Liam leave after thanking her. She sighed in relief at having resolved her situation with this dangerous individual. ''I hope I don''t have to see you again. Your side is too dangerous. I prefer the peace I had before I met you.''


    Her wish was for these groups going to fight outside the city to eliminate each other or for Liam to advance to the inner wing of the sect!


    ...


    Later, as night had fallen, Liam was with Grace, sitting on a sofa at the end of her bed. The beautiful silver-haired woman sat beside him, playing with his hair.


    "So you''re going on the Silver-Winged Leopard hunt…" Grace said after hearing about the problems Liam had solved today and those he would face in the coming days.


    She had already congratulated him on his certification and was now worried about the dangers he would encounter. Sёar?h the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If I could, I''d go with you. But I have something to do in the next few days, and unfortunately, it''s something I can''t put off," she lamented with a sad look. "But I can help you with your training. Myles and Enos are tricky, but I''ve fought both of them. I can share some of my experiences against them."


    "I appreciate that. It could help me a lot. They''ll probably focus on Robert, but it''s good that I''m taking precautions."


    "I can''t help you much with Eleanor. I''ve never fought with her. But Felicity can talk to you about the leader of the Abyss Matriarchs. They''re old rivals."


    "I''ll certainly do that," he said, thinking of his orange-haired ally.


    Then she sensed the silence in his thoughts and remembered something. "I have a proposition for you."


    He looked at her with a smile that made her blush at the thought. "Is that so?"


    "It''s nothing like that," she said. "In three months, the Night of the Beasts will come. My faction and one of my allies will join forces to hunt the young, but with great potential fjord beasts. This will be an excellent opportunity to get high-quality Spirits.


    You can join us. I''m sure you''ll find a good Spirit for your third slot. After that, we can go to the sect''s inner wing together."