Shu Feng asked curiously, "Can I choose all three paths at once?"
"Of course you can! But we Spiritual Spear Masters usually study the Martial Dao as well. We rarely cultivate Magic. That's because Magic is too difficult—it's the domain of true geniuses. Besides, in our world, a Mage isn't necessarily stronger than a Spiritual Spear Master."
"Of course, if you were to go adventuring in the Gulondo World, a Spiritual Spear Master would be no match for a Mage," Zhou Yang said with a smile.
Shu Feng said, "I want to choose all three paths."
"Alright! This is the paperwork to join the Guardian Flame. Sign it."
Zhou Yang handed a document to Shu Feng, who signed his name on it.
"This is the Spirit Cultivation Technique, a secret technique for cultivating Spiritual Power. It's the foundation for all four paths. This is the Thirteen Forms Body Forging Technique, a basic secret technique from the Black Tortoise Realm for tempering your physical constitution. This is Magic Basics, the foundation for the Mage path. And Spirit Shield Technique is a secret technique that we Spiritual Spear Masters must cultivate."
Zhou Yang pulled three manuals from a drawer and handed them to Shu Feng. "These four manuals are Spiritualist books that contain Extraordinary Power. You can't let ordinary people see them. If they're leaked because of you, you will be fined. For every extra person who sees them, you'll be fined another million. Please be careful."
"This is the headquarters' phone number and my cell phone number! As a reserve member of the Guardian Flame, if you encounter a Void Demon in the city, the correct course of action is to call headquarters for backup, then hide in a safe place and observe. Prioritize your own safety."
Zhou Yang handed Shu Feng a business card with the headquarters' number and his own cell phone number.
"Zhou Yang, General Manager, Longhai Group, Lei Jiang Branch. Cell: XXXXXXXX. Headquarters: XXXXXXXX."
Shu Feng glanced at the card and took in the information.
Zhou Yang handed a class schedule to Shu Feng. "This is the schedule for the instructors who will teach you Spear Technique and Basic Fighting Techniques. If you want to attend a class, you must make an appointment a day in advance. Of course, the organization will cover the cost of your training."
Zhou Yang smiled. "Alright, if there's nothing else, you two can go."
"Captain, we'll be going now."
Ding Xiaoxue gave a cheerful laugh and pulled Shu Feng out of the room.
"Ding Xiaoxue, where's my settlement fee?"
Shu Feng asked as soon as they were out of the room.
"It's been deposited to your card. Your ID card also works as a bank card. You can withdraw cash from any major ATM or handle other business at a bank counter. Come on, let's go shopping!"
Ding Xiaoxue pulled Shu Feng to the seventh floor of the building.
On the seventh floor of the building, there were twenty computers set up.
Ding Xiaoxue expertly inserted her ID card into a computer's card slot, booted it up, and explained to Shu Feng, "These are computers specifically for Spiritualists! Only from here can you access the exclusive Spiritualist network to buy all sorts of Extraordinary Materials like Magic Potions and Spirit Pills."
Shu Feng inserted his own ID card into a card slot, started the computer, opened a browser, and logged directly into a website.
"Skill Seed: Stealth. Requirement: Spirit Warrior Level 5 or higher, Spiritual Power Value of 300 or more. Price: 30 million, 300 Contribution Points."
"Swordsmanship: Wind and Thunder Thirteen Swords. Requirement: Level 1 Spirit Warrior or higher, and must have condensed the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. Price: 5 million, 50 Contribution Points."
"Egg of a Thunderlight Demon Wolf Cub. Can hatch a Thunderlight Demon Wolf cub with the potential to evolve to the Great Spirit Master level. Price: 100 million, 1000 Contribution Points."
"..."
"First-level Magic: Fireball Technique Magic Model (analyzed and localized). Price: 10 million, 100 Contribution Points."
As soon as Shu Feng logged onto the website, he saw all sorts of secret techniques and treasures for sale.
'My awakened Spiritual Ability must be that dilapidated base. The base's function is to collect various genes and create powerful Warriors that belong to me.'
'The genes of ordinary creatures aren't strong enough. The genes of those Extraordinary Creatures must be incredibly powerful.'
'Synthesizing overly powerful creatures will require more resources.'
'With my current strength, I should choose the genes of Extraordinary Creatures that are suitable for me to synthesize. Besides, any material from those powerful Extraordinary Creatures is frighteningly expensive.'
With that in mind, Shu Feng filtered the Extraordinary Materials on the mall, selecting materials from Spirit Warrior Level monsters.
'So expensive. A single Spirit Warrior Level monster costs over a million. Damn it, these people are heartless.'
Shu Feng ground his teeth as he looked at the corpses of the Spirit Warrior Level Extraordinary Creatures. The prices of the monsters listed were incredibly high, far more than he could afford.
"Ding Xiaoxue, that day the Black Dog Illusion Demon's body turned to dust after it died. How can there be Black Dog Illusion Demon corpses for sale here? Are they fake?"
Shu Feng asked curiously, pointing at an item.
"That's normal! Black Dog Illusion Demons don't have a physical body in our world. But in the Erosion Realm and the Void Demon Realm, they are corporeal monsters."
"Besides, if a Black Dog Illusion Demon devours enough human souls and flesh, or the souls and flesh of Spiritualists, it can form a physical body in our world."
"After you kill those Black Dog Illusion Demons, you can get their corpses."
Ding Xiaoxue came closer, glanced at the picture Shu Feng was looking at, and said with a slight smile, "Shu Feng, you want to buy the blood of a Black Dog Illusion Demon to use as a medium for your awakened Spiritual Ability, right?"
Shu Feng nodded. "That's right!"
The ability Shu Feng had awakened was a Mysterious Base. In truth, he could extract the Black Dog Illusion Demon's genes from just its hair or saliva; he didn't necessarily need its blood.
Ding Xiaoxue gave a charming smile. "In that case, I'll give you a hundred milliliters of Black Dog Illusion Demon blood."
A conflicted look flashed in Shu Feng's eyes, but he ultimately shook his head. "How could I accept that? It's too valuable!"
The Black Dog Illusion Demon was a Spirit Warrior Level Void Demon, so its blood was also very expensive. One hundred milliliters of Black Dog Illusion Demon blood cost 100,000 yuan, plus 1 Contribution Point.
"Shu Feng, this Extraordinary Mall is the official marketplace for Extraordinary Beings, built by our Qianyuan Republic. Only those with enough money and Contribution Points can buy the various Extraordinary Materials and treasures inside."
"On the black market, 1 Contribution Point can easily sell for a high price of over 100,000."
"I got 10 Contribution Points for introducing you and helping you register your identity. I got another 20 for recommending you to the Guardian Flame. That's equivalent to earning three million. A hundred milliliters of Black Dog Illusion Demon blood is only worth two Contribution Points, which I can afford."
"For a new Spiritualist like you, the most important thing is to activate your ability and gain the power to protect yourself. If you want to thank me, you can just pay me back two Contribution Points in the future when you have the money," Ding Xiaoxue said with a slight smile.
Shu Feng thought for a moment, then said decisively, "Okay, then I'll have to trouble you!"