Ghost Taming Art

Ghost Taming Art

Lei Dong felt an itch in his heart at the thought as well and nodded in agreement. Then, with a serious expression, he asked, "Senior Brother, what spell do you think I should learn first?"

Chen Ge hesitated, seeming reluctant to part with something, but then gritted his teeth. Sneakily, he pulled out a glittering object and swiftly stuffed it into Tang Qian's hand, lowering his voice. "Senior Brother Tang, thank you for looking after us."

Tang Qian, who had remained silent all along, quickly put away the gleaming thing. A beaming smile spread across his face as he nodded repeatedly. "Junior Brother Chen, you truly are generous. Leave Junior Brother Lei's matter to me." As he spoke, he took a Jade Slip from the deepest part of the cabinet and handed it to Lei Dong. "Junior Brother Lei, there are some spells in here, but please make your choice quickly." As he spoke, he cast a somewhat guilty glance outside.

Having lived two lives, Lei Dong naturally knew there was something fishy going on. He dared not waste time, sinking his consciousness into the Jade Slip and rapidly browsing through it. Contrary to Chen Ge's claim of hundreds or thousands of spells, there were only a scattered dozen or so. Chen Ge's Netherflame Bullet was conspicuously among them. Understanding dawned on Lei Dong, and he began examining them one by one. Of the dozen or so spells, he liked most of them very much, making it difficult to choose. Yet Tang Qian kept urging him on.

Clenching his teeth, Lei Dong chose a spell called the Ghost Taming Art. Judging from its description, it was a powerful spell capable of refining Ghost Souls for one's own use. Even before his transmigration, game-loving Lei Dong had always liked the Necromancer class. Other classes fought to the death, charging ahead and risking their lives. A Necromancer, however, only needed to summon skeleton after skeleton, send a huge mob of underlings rushing forward to hack away, while he himself could sit to the side drinking tea, reading the paper, cracking sunflower seeds, and casually picking up equipment.

After Lei Dong chose the Ghost Taming Art, Tang Qian hurriedly pulled a special Jade Slip recording the Ghost Taming Art from beneath the cabinet. Smiling, he said, "Congratulations, Junior Brother Lei. This is the last spell Jade Slip containing the Ghost Taming Art. Ordinarily, even if one were available for exchange, it would require thirty Contribution Value. Come, let's handle the paperwork."

After a while, Lei Dong and Chen Ge left together. Only after accepting Chen Ge's invitation and arriving at his residence did Lei Dong ask about the trick from earlier. Though he knew that even if he did not bring it up, Chen Ge would eventually find an opportunity to curry favor with him. After all, that glittering item Chen Ge had paid out earlier seemed quite valuable.

Chen Ge laughed. "Junior Brother Lei, you don't know this. According to the Yin Sha Sect's Rules, every disciple newly admitted to the sect who reaches the Qi Refining Stage first layer may receive one spell Jade Slip for free. However, unless he has powerful backing, the steward in charge of the spell Jade Slips need only pull a few strings to prevent him from choosing an excellent spell. Even if someone directly names the spell he wants, that steward can simply claim that the Jade Slip for it is out of stock. Junior Brother, had I not been there, I'm afraid you could only have chosen some ordinary spell this time."

Lei Dong put on a look of sudden realization and said gratefully, "Thank you for helping me, Senior Brother. That glittering thing you gave away earlier must have been quite valuable, right?"

"That is called a Spirit Stone. It has many uses. Not only can it assist cultivation, it can also power Magic Tools and formations. Some are even used in alchemy and talismans. Precisely because of its broad uses, it is an indispensable resource in the Cultivation World. Thus, Spirit Stones are generally used as currency in the Cultivation World to measure the value of things." Chen Ge had an excellent impression of Lei Dong and patiently explained everything to him. Then he sighed. "My family may not be rich enough to rival a nation, but we are still considered wealthy in our region. When my father learned that I possessed a Spiritual Root, he dispersed more than half the family fortune accumulated since our ancestors' time and spent several years obtaining a hundred Spirit Stones for me. It was all so that, after entering the sect, I could grease palms above and below and receive better treatment."

From Chen Ge's tone, his family was indeed quite wealthy. Yet more than half their fortune had only bought a hundred Spirit Stones. Lei Dong could not help clicking his tongue inwardly. These Spirit Stones were far too expensive. He wondered how many his own modestly prosperous family could buy if they emptied their coffers. Seeing Chen Ge looking somewhat melancholy, he comforted him. "Senior Brother need not feel disheartened. With your aptitude, you will surely achieve success in cultivation. When that time comes, you need only live up to Uncle's painstaking hopes."

"That's right. So long as I have a chance to achieve Foundation Establishment, my family will rise to unprecedented heights because of me. Perhaps then we truly may become rich enough to rival a nation." Encouraged by him, Chen Ge's spirits soared, and he looked radiant. His favor toward Lei Dong increased considerably as well. Throwing an arm warmly around his shoulders, he said, "Come, come, let me show you my Netherflame Bullet."

With that, he summoned sturdy servants to carry over several humanoid targets. Chen Ge's expression turned solemn. Holding his breath and focusing his mind, he began forming strange hand seals while muttering an incantation. The entire process lasted a full several seconds. Then a fist-sized Netherflame Bullet, trailing a tail of ghostly blue flames, shot out with a whoosh and struck a humanoid target.

Crack! The humanoid target instantly shattered into pieces. Not only that, the splintered chunks of wood were stained with ghostly blue fire, continuing to burn after hitting the ground until they became ash. Yet after casting the Netherflame Bullet, while Chen Ge wore a satisfied smile, beads of sweat glistened on his brow and his face had turned somewhat pale. "Junior Brother, don't laugh at me. The Netherflame Bullet is a powerful spell among the Qi Refining Stage. I have practiced it for too short a time, and my realm is too low. Being able to barely cast it is already no easy feat."

Lei Dong sucked in a breath of cold air. Just as Chen Ge had said, his lack of proficiency made the casting far too slow. Yet he had to admit that this thing was truly powerful. When the sturdy servants had carried over the humanoid targets earlier, Lei Dong had paid some attention and found the wooden targets seemed extremely heavy. His own home had a set of wooden furniture like that, likely the costly rosewood found in the mortal world. Yet one such target had been blasted to pieces by Chen Ge's Netherflame Bullet. That power rivaled a small-caliber cannon. And this was only a spell cast by Chen Ge at the Qi Refining Stage first layer. If it were the Myriad Ghost Ancestor instead, Lei Dong simply did not dare imagine how formidable it would be...

Seeing Lei Dong's expression and gaze, Chen Ge was clearly quite satisfied. "Junior Brother, don't be jealous. Your Ghost Taming Art is also a rare and formidable spell. Once cultivated to the utmost limit, ten thousand ghosts emerging at once would be more than even immortals could withstand. It is said that our sect's Ancestor was most fond of the Ghost Taming Art back then."

"I have Senior Brother to thank for this as well." Having witnessed the Netherflame Bullet, even with the composure of someone who had lived two lifetimes, Lei Dong found his heart stirring beyond control. He wanted to study the Ghost Taming Art as soon as possible and see whether it truly possessed boundless power as described.

"You and I are brothers; there is no need for such politeness. Junior Brother, hurry back and properly comprehend the Ghost Taming Art. Once you have achieved even a little success, we'll go take on missions." As he spoke, Chen Ge pulled out two crystal-clear Spirit Stones, each only the size of a walnut, and stuffed them into Lei Dong's hand. With a solemn expression, he said, "Please keep these two Spirit Stones, Junior Brother. Holding them in your hand while cultivating can speed things up. Though the effect may not be as quick as a Lesser Vitality Pill, it lasts longer. At our current realm, these two Spirit Stones should be enough to last until Junior Brother advances to the second layer."

Feeling the warm, soothing sensation flowing from the Spirit Stones in his hand, Lei Dong did not decline. After chatting idly with Chen Ge for a few more moments, he returned directly to his own residence. Somewhat impatiently, he took out the Jade Slip recording the Ghost Taming Art and entered Closed Door Cultivation in the Cultivation Chamber to comprehend it. Any cultivation sect, in order to preserve its exclusive hold over spell secrets and prevent spells from being secretly learned between disciples, placed an unbreakable restriction upon its Jade Slips. For example, the Jade Slip registered under Lei Dong's name required an imprint to be carved using Essence Blood as the catalyst. From then on, only Lei Dong himself could use it. Otherwise, Lei Dong and Chen Ge could simply exchange their Jade Slips and learn more spells from one another.