Zhang Chen’s eyes fell on the black skill on the ground, a hint of caution flashing in his gaze.
He had never felt this way before; he hadn’t even approached the skill, still miles away from it, yet somehow he sensed an ominous aura.
He had picked up skills before, and no matter what type, they merely showed different colors. But this, like the orb before him, emanated an ominous aura that made his heart race, as if disaster could strike at any moment—this was a first.
But could he really ignore a new skill?
"I wonder if the skill will bring any negative effects, or if it’s a negative buff!" Zhang Chen pondered as he stood there, staring at the orb on the ground.
For instance, the novel he read in his previous life, ’Thousand-Autumn Immortal,’ had a skill that could reach across time and space to snatch anything at will, claiming others’ belongings. Would it provoke repercussions across time and space? (Thousand-Autumn Immortal link broken)
Or, a skill that boosts combat strength by three tiers upon activation, at the cost of life.
Zhang Chen looked at the black orb before him, suspecting it might be similar, possibly with a negative buff that could affect him adversely.
"Better check what skill it is. I can’t just discard it without a glance, right? What if it’s some overpowering divine skill, worth the cost?"
With this thought, Zhang Chen took a few steps forward, finally arriving before the skill: "I must see what kind of skill it is, to be so unique."
[New skill discovered: Soul Mark.]
[Do you wish to pick it up?]
"Soul Mark? What is it? Seems to target soul-type skills? Why is it exuding such an evil aura?" Zhang Chen looked at the Soul Mark with a hint of surprise, somewhat puzzled.
"Could it be that the Soul Mark has some taboo? Or some cost to it?"
Standing there, Zhang Chen carefully observed for a while but couldn’t discern any adverse cost of the skill. After a brief pause, he said, "Pick it up!"
There was no reason not to. If the skill’s side effects were too great, he just wouldn’t use it in the future. There was no reason to give up.
Note that this was the first time he’d seen a black skill!
[Pick up successful]
[You have acquired a new skill—Soul Mark]
[Skill Overview: You can mark any soul. Once marked, regardless of the distance or time-space, you can sense the location of the Soul Mark. Simultaneously, your coordinates will be exposed, allowing the other party to sense your soul’s location.]
[Note 1: Once the soul mark is successfully activated, it cannot be erased unless one party dies. (While hidden, both parties cannot detect each other as long as the host does not actively locate the other.)]
[Note 2: Do not offend the supreme beings; please use this skill cautiously. Offend them, and you will die without a burial place.]
Then the next moment, Zhang Chen saw his Golden Finger Interface suddenly refreshing:
[Name: Zhang Chen]
[1st Skill (Tier 4): Light of the True God—> Automatic Cruise (0/200000)]
[2nd Skill (Tier 2): Dragon Qi (0/200000)]
[3rd Skill (Tier 1): Transformed Blood Bat (0/1000000)]
[4th Skill (Tier 2): Water Control Technique (0/100000)]
[5th Skill (Unranked): Soul Mark (0/10000)]
[Points: Eleven thousand six hundred seventy-two]
"Unranked yet requires ten thousand points—what a joke!" Zhang Chen’s eyes fell on the fifth skill, a chill running down his head with disbelief appearing in his gaze.
What a joke! An unranked skill requiring ten thousand points for an upgrade?
This is a colossal joke!
Zhang Chen really wanted to ask, why? Why does an unranked skill require ten thousand points?
"Could it be that this Golden Finger is trying to cheat me, spending all my skill points?" Zhang Chen looked at his Golden Finger Interface, a hint of uncertainly flashing in his gaze.
His Light of the True God required only five thousand points to upgrade from level two to level three, so what about this Soul Mark?
But the more it was like this, the more curious Zhang Chen became. Do you know why?
Because according to skill rules, the more points required, the more powerful the upgrade.
Anyway, there were eleven thousand six hundred seventy-two skill points saved up—useless when idling, might as well upgrade the skill, curious about the surprise it might bring.
This skill seems tailored for soul-type means; if he could evolve it into a skill against the Fox Spirit, he stood to gain greatly.
What good are idle points? Upgrading skills is the right course. Leaving skill points idle is pointless; instead, upgrade and enhance the skill—it might even reveal a way out.
Zhang Chen focused his eyes on the fifth skill, thinking to himself, "Add points!"
As Zhang Chen’s thoughts fell into place, the fifth skill’s Golden Finger Interface turned into snowflakes, then reassembled, beginning to refresh anew:
[7th Skill (Unranked): Soul Mark (0/10000)]———>[5th Skill (Tier 1): Soul Hook Chain (0/1000000)]