Chapter 18: Legendary Skill Book—Soul Link

“With your qualifications, unless it’s urgent, there’s really no need to rush into learning these two skills,” the warden advised thoughtfully.

“If circumstances permit, you could save up and buy a skill book called ‘Soul Link.’”

“Soul Link?” Song Qi was puzzled. What kind of skill was that? He recalled that in the textbooks, there was no mention of such a skill among the summoner abilities.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Soul Link. Is it a summoner skill?” he asked.

The warden smiled. “Soul Link doesn’t exist in the dungeon zone—it only drops in the wild. So, of course, it isn’t in the school’s textbooks. Its effect? You can share all the attributes and skills of your summoned creature for ten minutes, with a cooldown of twenty-four hours. If you max out the skill level, theoretically, the duration can equal the cooldown—essentially making it always available.”

“That powerful!” Song Qi was moved. He was currently level eight, and his highest attribute, Mental, was only twenty-eight points. Lü Bu, on the other hand—every time Lü Bu leveled up, all his attributes increased by fifty points! His base stats alone had now broken through the four hundred mark. Some high-level professionals wouldn’t even have a single attribute that high, let alone his incredible skills.

“Also, after using Soul Link, you can enjoy the attributes of your summoned creature while still using summoner skills,” the warden continued enticingly, making Song Qi’s heart race.

“But such a skill book must be expensive, right? How much does it cost?” he asked, determined. He wanted this skill book. A skill that remained useful even in the late game was worth the investment. As long as it didn’t exceed ten million, he’d buy it. He remembered the professional hall had given him a card with a ten-million limit.

Seeing this, the warden’s smile betrayed the success of his little scheme. He knew the fish had taken the bait.

“If you want to buy it, you’ll have to check the auction house for stock. Price-wise, don’t worry too much. Summoners are rare, so the skill book isn’t overly expensive. Generally, eighty million credits will secure it.”

Eighty million credits!

Song Qi was instantly sobered. Let alone eighty million, he couldn’t afford even half that.

“Eighty million isn’t expensive—this is a legendary-grade skill book. If it were a warrior’s legendary skill, even three or five hundred million might not suffice,” the warden explained.

“Well… thinking about it carefully, I don’t really need this skill book,” Song Qi said after a moment’s contemplative pause, pretending not to be affected. “Besides, my level is still low. If I use such a high-grade skill now, the training effect from dungeons will diminish, and my fighting spirit will weaken. Over time, I’ll become like a flower in a greenhouse, unable to withstand wind and rain. So, I’d better hold off.”

The warden considered this. “I didn’t expect such insight from you. Young people willing to endure hardship are rare these days. Not bad, not bad.”

“You flatter me,” Song Qi replied.

Yet the warden sighed, as if regretting something. “It’s just a pity.”

“What’s a pity?”

“It’s a pity I happen to have a ‘Soul Link’ skill book on hand. I was going to say that if you didn’t have the money, you could learn it first and pay me back in a few years. But since you have your own ambitions, I won’t force you.”

As he spoke, the warden took a golden, gleaming skill book from his professional bag and set it on the table with a resigned air.

Song Qi stared at it. The four characters of 'Soul Link' nearly dazzled his eyes.

“Can I take a look?” he asked.

“Go ahead,” the warden tossed the skill book carelessly, as if it meant nothing to him.

Song Qi quickly opened its panel.

[Skill Book: Soul Link]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Class: Summoner]
[Effect: Allows the user to learn the Soul Link skill upon use.]
[Skill Description: The summoner can designate one summoned creature and share all its attributes and skills for ten minutes. Cooldown: twenty-four hours.] (Upgradeable)
[Max Level: LV20]

“It’s real!” Song Qi was astounded—not only by the authenticity of the skill book, but also by the warden’s identity. He could casually produce a legendary-grade skill book worth eighty million credits! This person was definitely not a mere professional guild employee. What kind of staff carried a legendary skill book around? More importantly, why was he so invested in Song Qi? They’d only met twice, and didn’t even know each other’s names. No, the warden knew his name, but Song Qi didn’t know his. Was it because he saw the potential of Song Qi’s super S-class talent and wanted to invest early? Or was there another motive?

“Finished looking? Then hand it back,” the warden said. “I don’t want to turn you into a flower in a greenhouse.”

Seeing Song Qi clutching the skill book, the warden gave him a playful look and reached out for it.

“Ahem… but then again,” Song Qi began, “fighting spirit mainly depends on one’s character. A flower in a greenhouse isn’t necessarily fragile. Life is short—no need to artificially increase its difficulty.”

The warden seemed to have anticipated his reaction, and wasn’t bothered. He laughed and waved his hand. “Hey! You rascal, shameless as ever. Never mind, the skill book is wasted with me. If you can use it, take it, just don’t let it go to waste.”

“Thank you!” Song Qi happily stowed the skill book in his inventory. He reached for pen and paper to write an IOU, but the warden stopped him.

Song Qi looked up, puzzled.

“No need for an IOU, and I don’t care about the money,” the warden shook his head. “But someday, I may need your help with something troublesome. Consider it a favor owed, all right?”

Such fortune! Song Qi, a low-level professional not even qualified to venture into the wild, had gotten a legendary skill book for free. It was a huge win.

“Can I ask what kind of thing it is?” Song Qi asked cautiously.

“When your strength reaches a certain level, I’ll come find you. As for what it is… rest assured, I promise it won’t violate your principles, and may even benefit you.”

“Remember my name—Zuo Mingzheng.”

“Well… all right,” Song Qi nodded, memorizing the warden’s face as he walked out.

Even after Song Qi left the professional hall, the warden didn’t pursue him. It seemed he really intended to give the skill book away.

“This is strange—a legendary skill book for free, out of nowhere,” Song Qi muttered as he checked his panel, though he didn’t use it immediately. Whatever the warden’s motives, he planned to keep the skill book for now. As for when to use it? He’d wait until he figured out the warden’s identity.

Though he didn’t understand why, Principal Shen surely would. If not, when he met the city lord, he could ask— the city lord would surely know. He remembered Principal Shen had promised to introduce him to the city lord soon.

It’s just a skill, after all. Waiting a few days won’t hurt.