"Soul Core Box?"

Gu Mo looked at the small box in his hand and blinked. He recognized this item; the system had thoughtfully labeled the name of the object. In this aspect, the passive item identification function inherent to players was far more reliable than simply looking at IDs, as he almost made a critical mistake earlier.

However, the item identification function, though accurate, is restricted to functioning only on items with attributes and requires one to physically hold or make contact with the item.

— It has its pros and cons, I suppose.

He gazed at the small box in his hand, which felt like a very exquisite jewelry box. Despite showing signs of wear and tear due to the passage of time, one could still discern the noble quality of the wood and lacquer used. On the lid of the box was a lacquered gold depiction of a Kikyo Seal.

This is the "Pentagram" symbol used to subdue demons, said to have been invented by Abe no Seimei. Throughout the recent period of intensively studying Yin Yang Technique, Gu Mo naturally understood this, and couldn't help but glance at the Onmyoji beside him.

The Soul Core Box of Minamoto no Yoshiie has Abe no Seimei's Kikyo Seal... hmm, it doesn't seem too surprising.

But isn't this Minamoto no Yoshiie's item? Why is it handed over to me? And it sounds like it's being given at a precise time? Wait a moment, does this mean I now have to travel back to the Heian Era?

"It's Raiko's Soul Core Box, but it's also yours, so she decided to give it to you now..." Abe no Seimei chuckled softly. "The real item meant for you is inside the box, though I don't know what it is exactly. After all, Raiko and I are merely the keepers. You should check it out yourself."

He didn't harbor any doubts, as during his teachings on Yin Yang Technique, his curiosity led him to inquire about the "Thousand-Mile Eye," and the explanation he received aligned with what he had imagined.

It's said that only those born with such eyes can stand at the apex of Technicians, and they must possess the eyes of the highest rank. Past figures without exception possessed such eyes, whether to see through the present or perceive the past and future... it's all consistent.

Yet, it's not without cost. Just as beginners using low-level Yin Yang techniques need to prepare, how could such high-level abilities be used without any expense, to be wielded at will? Thus, this talent cannot be activated always, and during its use, there naturally isn't room to attend to trivial details.

Abe no Seimei found this explanation reasonable, for if everything could be known and seen, there would be no distinction between a person's past and future.

That's simply impossible, which is why one still needs to learn, grow, and advance step by step from weakness to eventual strength. The transition from past to future isn't a clear division but a gradual process.

Hence, during this period of meticulously teaching the other in Yin Yang Technique, he didn't find it particularly important that the other might not grasp some detail about the future.

Gu Mo blinked and nodded in understanding. Looking at the Soul Core Box in his hand, he roughly grasped the situation. It seems this item was presented to him now, and when he returns to the past in the future, Minamoto no Yoshiie happens to see it, prompting her to decide to give the Soul Core Box to him now?

Emmmmmm, another headache-inducing loop, indeed. Involving time travel, the cause-and-effect elements of such scenarios are enigmatic and baffling, difficult for ordinary people to explain or comprehend the profound temporal theories.

However, this wasn't the first encounter. Coupled with some time spent with these two Shikigami clones endowed with Divine Spirit, Gu Mo had long bolstered his mental resilience regarding such matters.

He merely nodded lightly, then reached out towards the gallant female warrior basking in the sun under a tree in the courtyard, as if sensing something magical—

Great, you're my mentor again.

Minamoto no Yoshiie sensed something, glanced over, then snorted softly before withdrawing her gaze without saying anything.

"The Soul Core Box was a treasured item Raiko frequently used. I contributed when it was crafted, mainly helping her find suitable Spirit Wood and setting up an Array inside..." Abe no Seimei seemed to be reminiscing, speaking with a light sigh.

He then looked at the Soul Core Box in Gu Mo's hand and added:

"But in the blink of an eye, so much time has passed, and nothing withstands the erosion of time. You know about Raiko and my circumstances. Our current forms are merely incarnations of paper, and to preserve ourselves until now, much preparation was made."

"From that night in Heian-kyo until now, during these years, we haven't roamed the world, spending most of the time in slumber within the mountains. It wasn't until recently that we woke to find you... As such, we had no attention for other matters, and the Soul Core Box is worn, its Power greatly diminished."

The Great Onmyoji chuckled and concluded, "It can assist you now to some extent, but if you plan to put it to good use, find a way to restore it... and if you manage to do it alone, it would mean you've truly accomplished something in Yin Yang Technique."

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