Chapter 61

These two methods each have their advantages and disadvantages. As for which one to adopt, it naturally depends on the individual's choice.

However, in general, the Spirit Summoning Technique cannot be cultivated to a high level. Disciples of the Savage Ghost Sect who are not short of spirit stones mostly choose the first method.

After all, apart from the need to spend a large sum to refine a ghost puppet, the ritual to control a low-level battle soul is still a relatively simple matter for them.

As for those who are proficient in the Spirit Summoning Technique but have few spirit stones, they mostly choose the second method to find a ghost.

This method, apart from requiring a certain number of contribution points to enter the Netherworld, does not involve much other expenditure. If one happens to find a ghost with great potential, it might even evolve into a powerful general-level ghost.

If this were to happen, these disciples' strength could immediately increase several times over, and their status within the sect would also change dramatically.

There have been quite a few such examples in the Savage Ghost Sect.

Therefore, anyone who has even a bit of confidence in the Spirit Summoning Technique would mostly choose to enter the Netherworld to find a suitable spirit.

Apart from the hundreds of spirit stones Liu Ming received as a reward for completing sect missions recently, he was not particularly wealthy. He naturally planned to use the second method.

However, when he thought about the hundred contribution points required for a single use of the Netherworld's teleportation array, he felt a great deal of pain.

These hundred contribution points generally require completing over thirty contribution point tasks, and succeeding each time, to accumulate. This almost accounted for the majority of the contribution points he had.

Thinking about this, Liu Ming grumbled a bit before refocusing his mind on the Spirit Summoning Technique he was studying.

The entire cultivation of the Spirit Summoning Technique does not have clear levels, like other techniques. As long as one practices more, one can naturally improve the ability to communicate and command ghosts.

After another seven or eight days, he had thoroughly understood the entire technique and could recite the incantations contained within it without a single mistake.

In the following months, Liu Ming practiced the Dark Bone Technique while repeatedly cultivating the Spirit Summoning Technique.

When he felt he had truly mastered the technique, he finally left his residence, heading straight for the main peak of the Savage Ghost Sect.

Before entering the Netherworld, he naturally needed to test the actual effectiveness of the Spirit Summoning Technique. Otherwise, if there were any errors in the technique, it would be a waste of a hundred contribution points.

The Savage Ghost Sect indeed had such a place, where some captured low-level ghosts and beasts were kept for disciples to experiment with techniques and combat effectiveness.

Half a day later, when Liu Ming flew out of a gray, large hall on the main peak, his face was already full of satisfaction.

After spending three contribution points and successfully subduing and communicating with three different types of ghosts, it was clear that his cultivation of the Spirit Summoning Technique had no problems.

However, even so, he did not plan to directly enter the Netherworld.

After all, the Netherworld was not a benevolent place. Although many disciples of the Savage Ghost Sect entered through the array and did not delve too deep, it was not uncommon for them to encounter particularly powerful ghosts and be devoured.

Liu Ming certainly did not want to become a ghost's snack.

So he flew to a small valley belonging to the Heavenly Mechanism lineage.

After a short while, he appeared at the base of an unusually smooth cliff, and not far ahead was a red door with two large copper rings, as if embedded directly into the stone wall.

Although the door was tightly closed, there were occasional sounds of hammering coming from inside.

Liu Ming's eyes flickered, and he walked over directly.

Lifting his hand, he knocked on one of the copper rings.

After two "clangs," the hammering inside suddenly stopped.

"Is there something you need?"

After a short while, the door opened, and a giant man with an exceptionally tall and robust build stepped out, speaking coldly to Liu Ming.

This giant had coarse, short brown hair, giving a sense of facing a fierce beast. Through the corridor behind him, which was filled with a hot and dry atmosphere, one could vaguely see a hall with various weapons hanging on the walls, and red light flickering continuously.

"I am here on the recommendation of Senior Brother Li Zong. I want a small, high-quality talisman crossbow and some specially made talisman arrows to counteract ghosts," Liu Ming said calmly after retracting his gaze.

"Small talisman crossbow, thirteen Sun Arrow bolts, total of 180 spirit stones!" The giant's expression softened slightly after hearing this, and he looked Liu Ming up and down before continuing.

Liu Ming seemed to have anticipated this price. Without a word, he unhooked a bulging leather bag from his waist and threw it to the giant.

The giant caught the bag, opened it on the spot, glanced inside, and then nodded, turning back and closing the door again.

Liu Ming was not surprised and waited quietly outside.

After a while, the door opened again, and the giant appeared with a bundle wrapped in animal skin.

"Everything is here, check it!" The giant placed the bundle in Liu Ming's hands and crossed his arms, waiting in place.

Liu Ming pulled off the animal skin, revealing a half-foot-long green talisman crossbow and about a dozen similarly long red bolts.

"When I crafted this talisman crossbow, I added some wind copper to it. If you can embed a wind crystal in it, it will shoot faster and farther. As for these thirteen Sun Arrow bolts, I can only guarantee that half of them are fully effective. After all, I made these things out of interest, not as a professional weapon crafter. Otherwise, I wouldn't be selling them to fellow sect members so cheaply," the giant pointed to a small, inconspicuous indentation at one end of the crossbow and said calmly.

"Having half of them effective is already enough. However, wind attribute crystals are hard to find. Does Senior Brother have any left? I am willing to buy one at a high price," Liu Ming took the crossbow, tried it slightly, and nodded, speaking to the giant.

"Wind crystal, I only have one left, and half of its essence has already been used. If Junior Brother really wants it, it will cost 30 spirit stones," the giant hesitated slightly before replying.

The spirit stones that Liu Ming and other cultivators usually use for transactions are generally formed from pure essence without any attributes. However, some spirit stones, during their formation, may accidentally absorb some attribute forces, thus forming attribute crystals different from ordinary spirit stones.

These attribute crystals can be used in special situations and are rarer than ordinary spirit stones, especially those not within the five elements, which are even more valuable.

These attribute crystals, like ordinary spirit stones, are also divided into ranks.

However, for spirit apprentices like Liu Ming and the giant, the crystals they referred to were naturally low-rank crystals.

Liu Ming was very clear about all this. Without hesitation, he took out another leather bag, counted out 30 spirit stones, and handed them to the giant.

The giant then took out a dirty small bag from his sleeve and threw it over.

Liu Ming took out a thumb-sized green crystal from the bag, showing a satisfied expression, and bid farewell to the giant, leaving.

Afterward, he went to the gray market and collected several old talismans from a disciple who was learning talisman-making, which were said to be effective against ghosts.

Although the disciple confidently claimed that these talismans were definitely effective, Liu Ming, based on their low price, did not have much hope and bought them with the intention of trying them out.

In addition, Liu Ming also purchased black dog powder, Heavenly Chrysanthemum blood, and other items that could repel ghosts from another disciple, and bought several dozen bottles of fasting pills before returning to his residence to rest and recover.

Three days later, early in the morning, Liu Ming appeared in a secret hall of the Savage Ghost Sect, standing respectfully in the empty hall, seemingly waiting for someone.

After a while, footsteps were heard outside the hall, and a man and a woman walked in.

Liu Ming subconsciously looked up and was slightly taken aback.

These two, about the same age as Liu Ming, were the handsome young man Lei Zhen, who had the same entry as him and possessed the Thunder Spirit Vein, and a petite and gentle-looking girl who seemed familiar, apparently a disciple who had also joined the Heavenly Mechanism lineage with Lei Zhen.

When Lei Zhen saw that there was already someone in the hall, he was also slightly taken aback. His gaze swept over Liu Ming's face, showing a hint of confusion, as if he could not recognize Liu Ming.

This was quite normal.

Liu Ming had last met this young man over a year ago, and with the recent use of the Bone Washing technique, his physique had changed significantly, making it natural for the other party to not recognize him.

Lei Zhen, full of arrogance, had no intention of greeting Liu Ming. After whispering a few words to the girl beside him, he also waited nearby.

As time passed, footsteps were heard outside the hall, and two more people walked in.

The first was a beautiful woman with a fierce aura, though she had white hair, her face was as beautiful as a young girl.

Behind the woman was a seemingly very quiet green-robed girl.

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