Cannot Absorb Spirits Without Guidance in Black Myth: Wukong

In the early stages of Black Myth: Wukong, players may come across the enigmatic message, “Cannot absorb spirits without guidance,” after defeating the Wandering Wight boss. This message can be confusing, especially when you’re eager to collect the rewards from your hard-fought battles. Fortunately, understanding this mechanic and how to progress beyond it is straightforward with the right guidance.

Black Myth: Wukong Cannot Absorb Spirits Without Guidance Explained

In the world of Black Myth: Wukong, spirits represent the essence of defeated Yaoguai demons, which you can summon during battle to gain special abilities. Throughout the game, you’ll encounter these spirits by defeating various bosses. However, the game introduces a layer of complexity by requiring players to obtain specific guidance before they can absorb these spirits. This isn’t just a random roadblock—it ties into the game’s narrative and progression system.

One of the first instances where you might see this message is after defeating the Wandering Wight in the Forest of Wolves or the frog demon Baw-Li-Guhh-Lang. These are early challenges in the game, but upon defeating them, the inability to absorb their spirits can be confusing. The solution lies in progressing further along the main storyline.

To gain the ability to absorb spirits, you must reach the Snake Trail shrine in the Bamboo Grove, located within Black Wind Mountain in Chapter 1. This journey will take you through various challenges, including a battle with the Yaoguai King Lingxuzi. Once you’ve reached Snake Trail, you’ll find a set of stairs near the shrine leading to an alcove. Here, you’ll meet the Blessed Gourd Master, an NPC essential to your progression.

When you interact with the Blessed Gourd Master, a cutscene will trigger, during which he will upgrade your gourd. This upgrade is crucial as it enables you to absorb spirits from defeated bosses. From this point onward, whenever you defeat a new boss, you’ll be able to collect its spirit, enhancing your arsenal with its unique ability.

For any spirits you defeated before obtaining this upgrade, don’t worry—they aren’t lost. By visiting a shrine and offering incense, you’ll have the option to retrieve these spirits, ensuring they are added to your collection.