Chapter 78: Soul-Hosting Without a Body

About two hours later, the middle-aged man returned.

He quickly bought the skill book for Summoning Object Enhancement · Energy that Chu Danqing needed.

Both parties underwent notarization, with multiple revisions and discussions before finalizing the notarized terms.

【You sold: Old Captain’s Fist Manuscript, received: □ Clan’s Guardian Spirit Shrine, Serpent Soul Amber, Skill Book (Summoning Object Enhancement · Energy)】

After finishing, the middle-aged man said, “Xiangliu excels most in physique and venom.”

“This serpent soul has no body, so both of its strengths are gone.”

“The Guardian Spirit should normally have a physical form, but after you bound it with the serpent soul, it has no vessel to inhabit.”

“This Guardian Spirit will exist within you like a parasitic spirit, unable to leave.”

“But don’t worry—it’s not all bad; there are advantages too.”

“Since the Guardian Spirit uses your body as its dwelling, it isn’t bound to any one place, which is why I dared sell it to you.” The middle-aged man explained the hidden details.

Chu Danqing, upon hearing this, wasn’t particularly concerned with these matters but asked, “Will it affect the auxiliary ability?”

Growth and qualifications are secondary—for now, the direction of the ability matters most.

As long as his Summoning Base Skill level is high enough, and he has resources and guidance, nothing is impossible.

“No. According to a friend of mine, without Xiangliu’s body, the Li Immortal’s medical and healing abilities will be amplified even further.”

“Also, there’s the issue of the heads—since it’s not pure-blooded Xiangliu, the remaining eight heads must grow on their own.”

“Furthermore, its inheritance will be subtly influenced by Xiangliu’s bloodline, making it vastly different from ordinary Guardian Spirits’ inheritance.”

The middle-aged man revealed everything he knew, with no concealment.

With notarization in place, he wouldn’t risk being held accountable by the Paradise for flaws in something already sold.

“Also, these two items come from two different worlds, and their origins aren’t clean.”

“But the Paradise has countless trial worlds; your chance of encountering them is negligible. I’m just giving you a heads-up.” The middle-aged man finished speaking and stood to leave.

He had said all he needed to say and left immediately.

What mattered was returning to study the Old Captain’s Fist Manuscript to raise his base skill level—he had no time to idle with Chu Danqing.

He hadn’t violated the notarized terms; after the transaction, there was no need to engage with a stranger Apostle.

“There really is a trap—if it had been a serpent egg instead of a serpent soul, it would’ve been at least Fine rank, not just Excellent.” Chu Danqing wasn’t overly displeased.

His bottom line was the auxiliary ability; everything else could be ignored.

Da Bao also has intellectual flaws, but that doesn’t stop him from being strong.

After obtaining the items, Chu Danqing finally took a close look.

The shrine contained no spirit tablets or divine compartments—it was empty.

Entirely wooden, carved with patterns of mountain spirits, flying birds, fish, and insects, emitting a unique fragrant scent.

This shrine was also unusual, Zidai a ritual cup, offering plate, incense burner, and candle holder.

Offering doesn’t require precious items—generally, just tea or wine in the cup, fruit or cooked food on the plate, even snacks are acceptable, changed daily.

One incense stick in the burner morning and night; the candle holder is easiest—just buy a pair of electric candles and keep them powered.

Don’t ask how he knew— the shrine came with usage instructions, truthful and valid.

And it was almost certainly from a trial world with modernized supernatural elements, otherwise electric candles wouldn’t exist there.

Since he was inviting a Guardian Spirit of the Good-Protecting type, the offerings wouldn’t be demanding or require blood sacrifice or raw food.

“I need to find a Life Apostle to help build a modular device—carrying this huge shrine around is a hassle.” Chu Danqing planned to carry it on his back.

The shrine’s size was average, but it’s meant to be placed indoors for worship, not carried.

Chu Danqing had no choice but to do this.

He shoved the Serpent Soul Amber into his pocket, stored the shrine in his inventory, then learned Summoning Object Enhancement · Energy.

【Summoning Object Enhancement · Mana (Passive) LV.1: Increases summoned object’s mana by 100 points】

Since Chu Danqing’s energy had become mana, the skill description changed accordingly to match the unified measurement.

Just like Da Bao’s Brutal Claws description had changed from Blood Rage to mana.

Only a few quantified values on the summoning object’s panel retained their original names to distinguish them.

“Done? My turn now.” An emaciated old man, who had been waiting long, stepped forward after Chu Danqing finished.

“You don’t want these two pieces of equipment, do you?” Chu Danqing asked tentatively—he’d already planned to convert the Black Iron Shield Axe and Black Iron Heavy Armor into Paradise Points.

“Yes. Trade these two for one of mine.” The old man showed Chu Danqing the equipment’s stats without hesitation.

【Spirit Eye Chain】

【Type: Equipment · Necklace】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Spirit Eye Technique (Active): Consumes 10 mana points; reveals target’s data-based stats based on attribute difference, 10-second cooldown】

【Equipment Requirement: Spirit 5 points】

Chu Danqing swallowed hard—this was indeed a good item.

He didn’t ask why the man didn’t use it himself—he clearly had something better, or he wouldn’t have offered it for trade.

Not to mention its economic value was extremely high.

It saved him from spending Paradise Points to rent a reconnaissance skill from the Paradise.

“Does it have a True Spirit?” Chu Danqing asked.

“Of course not—if it did, would it be here for you?” The emaciated old man said calmly. “Sell or not? One word.”

“Sell. Of course I’ll sell.” Chu Danqing wasn’t worried about issues—it had only one function.

【You sold: Black Iron Shield Axe, Black Iron Heavy Armor, received: Spirit Eye Chain】

After the transaction, Chu Danqing immediately equipped the necklace.

The pendant was jade, carved into an eye pattern with cloud motifs—no eerie feeling, only a sense of refinement.

“The skill book won’t sell.”

“I don’t have enough Paradise Points to upgrade either of the Summoning Object Enhancement skills.” Chu Danqing sighed.

This was unexpected—he valued the Spirit Eye Chain more than upgrading skills.

Excellent rank was a bit low, but it would serve him until Rank 1, and could still be strengthened to extend its lifespan.

Even if he outgrew it, he could sell it and recoup the value.

This type of equipment sold extremely well—no risk of being stuck with it.

Few Apostles specialized in reconnaissance; such Apostles were even less capable of self-defense than Summoners.

Learning a dedicated skill was too expensive and inefficient—using equipment instead was far more practical.

(End of Chapter)