CHAPTER 64: CHAPTER 26: IRRESISTIBLE AROMA

He held a light melancholy as he tried clicking on an empty skill slot.

It wasn’t the case that there were no available skills, but rather, he suddenly found himself in the "Warehouse" interface he was more familiar with. Inside, three blood-transcending round stones were displayed, having a fruit-like appearance yet pulsating like a heart, each beat seemingly inhaling and exhaling Demonic Power...

These were the spoils he obtained earlier, Soul Cores of Demon Ghosts, fundamentally Heart Cores formed from condensed essence of Power.

Two of them dropped from the shrine at Thirteen Sakura Village, belonging to an Ape Ghost and an ordinary Demon Ghost respectively, while the third was the Soul Core of that most tragically dying Horse-headed Ghost, which he picked up while hurriedly cleaning the battlefield before descending the mountain with the young girl.

"Hmm... Can Soul Cores be directly used as Skill Badges?"

Gu Mo’s eyes flickered. This was very similar to what was shown in games, attaching the Soul Core of a Demon Ghost to the Guardian Spirit, thereby allowing the Guardian Spirit to acquire the Demon Ghost’s skills. And because he could depend on the Guardian Spirit’s presence, he could indirectly master those Demon Ghost skills.

He tried switching back to his own skill page, clicked the vacant skill slot, only to find that the Soul Cores couldn’t be operated...

He attempted to unequip his sole Skill Badge, placed it into the warehouse, switched back to the earlier Guardian Spirit skill page, finding he could only choose the Soul Core, not displaying the "Life Potential" Skill Badge he had just unequipped.

So, the system’s note about using the Demon Ghosts’ Soul Cores "as Skill Badges" actually means they are meant for the Guardian Spirit? In his own Skill Bar, this couldn’t be done. Only regular Skill Badges can be equipped.

And vice versa? The Guardian Spirit couldn’t use the system-provided Skill Badges, only able to equip Soul Cores?

Clearing up this point, Gu Mo felt slightly regretful, but upon rethinking, considered maybe he was just being too greedy. Not to mention anything else, the fact that the Guardian Spirit can attach a Soul Core and let him indirectly master the skills of those Demon Ghosts already seemed quite valuable.

Because if there was no way to increase skill slots, based on the current situation, the maximum number of Skill Badges Gu Mo could equip seemed to be ten. Exceeding this number, he’d have to make choices among the available Skill Badges...

He’d need to carry damage-type skills, otherwise, how would he have means of output? He’d also need defense-type skills to enhance his survivability.

Then, considering control, buffs, mobility, item use, or crafting, with the classic game mindset, he realized it could actually be pretty tight if only given ten slots... But the functionality of Guardian Spirits almost doubled the number of slots.

Even if the choice of skills was limited, with good coordination, it would allow his skill slots far greater flexibility rather than feeling so tightly constrained.

Understanding this, Gu Mo felt much better. He moved his eyes to the lower left, where two tab-like icons were. As his attention focused on them, the tabs slid out, revealing the hidden sub-page information.

——"Divine Protection: After receiving the Guardian Spirit’s protection, it bestows the host with strong permanent blessings and special abilities (Fire Resistance +20, Luck +70, Fire Attribute Damage +15%)."

——"Summoning: Actively summon the Guardian Spirit or let it possess oneself to utilize its formidable powers (consuming 1 Energy Value per second, unusable if Energy Value is below 10 points)."

This appears to be the Guardian Spirit’s own innate skill, one being a constant effect blessing, acting much like an aura continuously at work; although he’s unsure of what level of protection these values represent, it undeniably seems beneficial.

The second innate skill was also expected. In this world, those who receive Guardian Spirit protection aren’t ordinary people. Perhaps not everyone could realize this, but those who do usually actively harness the Guardian Spirit’s power, not merely relying on passive permanent blessings.

Like Suzuki Yi, who gains the ability to fly through possession by the Eight-Taloned Crow;

Or Shibata Katsuie and Asai Nagamasa, who fuse themselves with their Guardian Spirits, consequently transforming into powerful Demons;

And the leading bowman of East Sea Dao, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who during the Battle of Ikegami, actually manufactured the cloudy, thundery weather, summoning lightning bolts to strike his enemies—utilizing the powerful strength of the Six-tusked Elephant Guardian Spirit.

"But needing Energy Value..." Gu Mo stroked his chin, pondering it, thinking maybe it’s not too problematic as those who actively used Guardian Spirit power in those examples also seemingly didn’t all have unique powers like Spiritual Power or Demonic Power.

Once given a chance to try, maybe Physical Strength, Spiritual Power, etc., could also count as a type of energy bar?