CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 18: LIFE IS FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS (PART 2)

Since system-recognized reality items cannot be obtained, it remains impossible to store them. If you want to carry them, you might still have to keep them on you. It’s not very practical to run around with controlled items in the real world, not to mention how inconvenient it might be.

Feeling rather disappointed, he continued to watch the road ahead while checking the newly acquired item.

It was a small prismatic crystal, emitting a phosphorescent pale golden light. According to the description, it was a small high-density essence fragment known as a "Spirit Stone." As per the system’s note, it can be used to replenish a certain amount of Health Value or Energy Value, or simply as a material for some special purposes.

It’s indeed this thing, Gu Mo pursed his lips.

Spirit Stones are exclusive to this world, this era. In the west, they are called "essences," and alchemists consider them miracle stones with vast hidden power. However, they can only be gathered from blood-soaked lands. Coincidentally, at this time, for the next several decades, this island country was in an unprecedented age of war.

That’s why the story happens here...

The first loot dropped by killing monsters is indeed this thing. It’s understandable, but it’s purely comforting.

Gu Mo sighed, and at this moment, he sees ahead on a flat terrain halfway up the hill stands a solitary building, which should be the shrine of Thirteen Sakura Village. However, this important place is currently contaminated by the Constant Dark Domain, appearing eerie and sinister in a grayscale world.

Further up, the end of the mountain road is blocked by a sturdy gate, locked tight. One can vaguely see a short stretch of road beyond, where a temple or some kind of structure seems to stand. But similarly, the gate is tightly shut, and only the surrounding walls built along the mountain slope can be seen.

This also shows that Thirteen Sakura Village was indeed a prosperous and affluent village in the past. Not only did it provide cattle, horses, and a stage station, but it probably also had waterway business. Ordinary villages couldn’t accumulate such wealth.

The black-haired girl drew her Tachi with a clang, took a step forward, and reached out to block in front of Gu Mo, pushing him to retreat behind her, while her eyes sharpened, locking onto a certain target inside the shrine.

In the courtyard of the shrine, many Demon Ghosts were wandering around, and even the Hungry Ghosts were not the small Hungry Ghosts from before. They were a size larger than an adult, with a head as big as a basketball...

And in the deepest part of the black-and-white domain where the Other Shore Flower continuously bloomed and withered stood a massive great ape, upright, holding a wooden spear like a cane. It seemed to be a weapon simply processed from sturdy mountain wood, with vines and branches with flowers decorating the spear...

An Ape Ghost that has surpassed ordinary peers by far, capable of deploying a Constant Dark Domain.

Having found the source, Hidechika felt the restless stir of demon blood within her. Knowing it was not wise to delay further, she needed to quickly resolve this Ape Ghost and lift the Constant Dark Domain. She looked back and signaled with her eyes to the person behind her to stay away from here.

"Do I have to feel so safe...?"

Gu Mo muttered softly, but he still followed the girl’s direction, pulling back a little, keeping away from the shrine.

The Demon Ghosts inside were indeed nothing to Hidechika; maybe even together, they were just each a slash of the sword. But not for him; even the Hungry Ghosts inside were Great Hungry Ghosts. He couldn’t tell how much their combat power had improved over the small Hungry Ghosts. Better not go up there and hold them back.

He’d better play the role of a war correspondent from the rear, just take some photos...

Watching the firm stride of the black-haired girl, wielding a single blade into the shrine’s courtyard, Gu Mo was about to take out his phone but stopped. Maybe this wasn’t a good option, considering the poor ambient lighting and dark tones, without flash he couldn’t capture anything.

And if he turned on the flash, it might act as aggro and draw the monsters...

So better not. He knew better than to be a burdensome teammate. Even though it was a pity that he couldn’t capture more photos to take back, he restrained himself from taking out the phone.

Roars, howls, screams, and panicked monster cries...

When the first dazzling arc slash tore through the grayscale world, all these sounds erupted like a grand chorus in the shrine, with the ferocious howls of the Hungry Ghosts, the enraged roars of the Demon Ghosts right before their heads were chopped off, and that Ape Ghost’s sharp call like a monkey!

The exquisite golden luxurious Ghost Horn appeared on the forehead. The girl’s form darted like a specter in the shrine’s courtyard, her graceful black hair flying as if dancing, effortlessly dodging the fierce attacks of the Demon Ghosts. In the tumult, her Tachi in hand reflected intimidating cold glints, drawing brilliant silver arcs one after another.

With a low whistling sound breaking the air, she cut down those Demon Ghosts’ heads and arms like lightning.

Mutilated limbs soared high, blood-stained heads preserved with the ferocity of their last moments in life flew and tumbled several times upon landing.

Lightning-fast sword swings cut horizontally.

Thunderbolt-like sword tips stabbed forth.

Not to say that it was very exquisite or pleasing to the eyes, but it was clean and swift, quick and with Divine Speed. This was the girl’s own style. The so-called Swordsmanship is about using one’s power and speed as an advantage, overcoming the strong with the weak, using one’s strengths against the enemy’s weaknesses, resolving the battle with the quickest and most efficient methods.