The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 108: Chapter 101: The Overthinking Expert

”But you only get one chance. So, Junior Brother Zhang, are you sure you want to choose the Summoning Class?”

Zhang Deming nodded and said, ”Yes.”

Shao Jiefeng continued to ask, ”In that case, what kind of Summoning specialization will you choose? Although the Summoning Category is generally similar and many materials can be used interchangeably, choosing a more refined formula that targets a specific summoning inclination can reduce the difficulty of condensing the Rune Core and increase the success rate by a certain amount.”

”For example, for Rock Puppet type Summoning, the materials can be biased toward the Earth Attribute.

”For Tree Demon type Summoning, the materials can be biased toward the Wood Attribute.

”For types like Demon Beasts and Spirit Beasts, the materials are primarily beast-related.”

Hearing this, Zhang Deming asked, ”Are there any that summon people?”

Shao Jiefeng was still smiling. ”Junior Brother Zhang, you have a sense of humor. Are you referring to a Fox Demon?

”Or a Cat Demon?

”Or perhaps a miniature Flower Demon Elf?”

’No, I’m not being funny. You’re the one with a dirty mind!’

With that one sentence, a lewd sort of rapport instantly formed between the three men.

”Ahem... ahem... I mean people. Real people!” Zhang Deming said.

Shao Jiefeng was taken aback for a moment, then his expression turned serious. ”Junior Brother Zhang, it’s best if you don’t entertain such ideas. Not only are there no such Techniques among the Tier Two Foundation Establishment Techniques in the Scripture Pavilion, but even if there were, you wouldn’t be allowed to cultivate them.

”Currently in the Cultivation Realm, anyone who uses unorthodox methods to control others for the purpose of summoning—is classified as a Demon Cultivator, regardless of whether they manipulate souls, consciousness, or just physical bodies.

”Summoning actual people is entirely categorized as the practice of a Demon Cultivator.

”So, Junior Brother Zhang, it would be best for you not to even think about it from the start.

”Of course, the Outer Body Incarnation Technique is a different matter.

”But that’s a Law-Level Technique at minimum, starting at Tier Four. It’s impossible to use it as a Rune Core for Summoning.

”A Rune Core is, and can only be, a Tier One or Tier Two Technique.”

Zhang Deming asked, ”What about a voluntary kind?”

Shao Jiefeng replied faintly, ”That is a line that cannot be crossed.

”Once it’s tolerated, it becomes far too easy for powerful Cultivators to make the weak ’volunteer.’

”There’s no clear way to distinguish between the two.

”As for the weak summoning the strong, the Divine Dao paths like the Summoning God Skill no longer exist.

”Therefore, only a few ancient factions still possess some rare, variant methods.

”Or, as I just mentioned, the Outer Body Incarnation Technique can fulfill that purpose.

”However, this can no longer be considered a main cultivation path to pursue.”

Hearing this, Zhang Deming fell into thought.

After a moment, Zhang Deming finally spoke, ”Then for Demon Beast type Summoning, are there any that don’t summon a physical body, but summon something in a spiritual form?”

Shao Jiefeng nodded. ”That does exist. It’s derived from the Ancient Heroic Spirit Summoning. In its modern form, it borders on soul manipulation.

”But when it comes to Demon Beast souls, who’s going to care about that, right?”

’Heroic Spirit Summoning?’

’This should have something in common with my Spirit Nurturing Summoning.’

”Let’s go with that one. Show me the formulas for this type,” Zhang Deming said.

Upon hearing this, Shao Jiefeng hesitated. ”Because it’s derived from an ancient summoning path, it’s a bit expensive. Junior Brother Zhang, are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?”

Zhang Deming shook his head. ”This is the one!”

Seeing this, Shao Jiefeng said no more.

He began to operate the virtual screen projected on the desktop at high speed. A moment later, a Promotion Formula appeared before them.

Formula: Summoner - Spirit

Technique Requirement: Tier One Spirit Wisdom Summoning Technique (Three Contribution), or Tier Two Demon Spirit Summoning Skill (Fifty Contribution).

Main Materials: One piece of Soul Jade (starts at one hundred Contribution, only three in stock);

One Innate Fetal Stone (starts at one hundred Contribution, out of stock);

One complete, high-Wisdom Demon Soul (starts at eighty Contribution, out of stock);

Auxiliary Materials: One Soul-Nourishing Fruit (fifty Contribution, common for Summoning, in stock);

One jin of Refined Crystal Stone (thirty Contribution, common for Summoning, in stock);

One standard bottle of Primordial Spirit Liquid (sixty Contribution, common for Summoning, in stock);

One Soul Storage Stone (eighty Contribution, forty-seven in stock, this is a special added material, can be omitted or replaced depending on whether one has a soul-storing method.).

Total Contribution: Between four hundred twenty-three and five hundred fifty.

Note 1: For the complete, high-Wisdom Demon Soul, voluntary is best. If it is not voluntary, the lower the resentment and the higher the Wisdom, the greater the success rate. Tai Chi is especially effective.

Remember not to use extreme Demon Souls, such as incomplete, dimwitted, or ferocious ones. This is related to the Rune Core, the very foundation of your Dao. Please be cautious.

Note 2: Top-tier Summoning Class main materials can be used to replace the other two main materials (besides the Demon Soul) without consequence.

Looking at the formula, Zhang Deming felt a headache coming on. Over four hundred Contribution Points... this was simply a killer.

Even if he didn’t need the Tier Two Technique, the Demon Soul, or the out-of-stock Innate Fetal Stone—subtracting two hundred and thirty Contribution—he would still need two hundred Contribution.

For someone like him, who didn’t even have ten Contribution Points, this meant he would have to complete a massive number of tasks.

One had to understand that Outer Sect missions worth more than five Contribution Points were all considered insider information.

Trying to save up two hundred Contribution Points within a year or two just by doing ordinary missions would be the death of him.

Zhang Deming asked, ”I’ve heard that main materials can be bartered for?”

Shao Jiefeng paused, stunned. ”Yes. Typically, if someone has a main material, they can bypass the queue and make a direct exchange. However, you still need to pay the difference in value.”

Zhang Deming pushed a box, which he had placed on the table earlier, across to him. ”Then, Senior Brother Shao, take a look. How much of a difference will I need to cover for this?”

Shao Jiefeng was even more astonished. ’He’s just an Intermediate Apprentice, and he’s already prepared a main material?’