Oscar!
The Sausage Uncle!
Xu Yunhan studied the child before him.
Though he had heard tales of Oscar from ten thousand years in the future, he had never met the man in person—let alone seen him as a child.
As one of the Shrek Seven Devils and Tang San's sworn brother, Xu Yunhan held no fondness for Oscar.
But if he could win Oscar over, turn him into a loyal subordinate, and then use him against Tang San… Well, Xu Yunhan was more than happy to do so.
"Little Ao, from now on, I'm your boss. With me watching your back, no one will dare bully you..."
For days, Xu Yunhan had been spinning his web of persuasion around Oscar.
"Mm. Boss."
For some reason, Oscar felt an inexplicable fear toward this boy barely a year older than him. Around Xu Yunhan, he acted timid, almost submissive.
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others placed great importance on nurturing both Xu Yunhan and Oscar.
Xu Yunhan was primarily under Zhao Wuji's tutelage, while Oscar, with his food-type martial soul, was best suited to learn from Sugar Bean Shao Xin—another food-type soul master.
Time flew. Months passed.
Within the spirit beast forest under Suotuo City's jurisdiction, Zhao Wuji and Li Yusong led Xu Yunhan and Oscar deeper into the woods.
Their goal? To hunt spirit beasts and obtain the boys' first spirit rings.
"Stay close, brats. Don't wander off, or you'll end up as spirit beast chow."
Zhao Wuji marched ahead.
Though this forest housed ten-thousand-year spirit beasts, they remained on the outskirts. With a Soul Sage like Zhao Wuji present, danger was minimal.
Spirit beasts were unique entities in Douluo Continent, providing soul masters with spirit rings and spirit bones.
They were categorized by cultivation age:
Ten-year spirit beasts (white spirit rings)
Hundred-year spirit beasts (yellow)
Thousand-year (purple)
Ten-thousand-year (black)
Hundred-thousand-year (red)
"Since this is their first spirit ring, a hundred-year rank should be manageable. But it's best not to exceed four hundred years."
Li Yusong, walking behind the boys, voiced his thoughts.
"Right. Around three hundred years should work—just not past four hundred." Zhao Wuji agreed.
Despite soul masters existing for millennia, knowledge about spirit rings, spirit bones, and soul skills remained limited.
Even Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang was still researching and compiling theories—let alone someone like Zhao Wuji.
Based on their understanding, the first spirit ring's limit was roughly four hundred years. Beyond that, the risk of death during absorption grew too high.
They knew general ranges, not precise thresholds.
Given Xu Yunhan and Oscar's exceptional talent and physique, Zhao Wuji estimated that spirit beasts between three and four hundred years would be ideal.
Higher-aged spirit rings often granted stronger soul skills and more potent soul power—making it best to push one's limits during absorption.
But achieving this was easier said than done.
Estimating an individual's limit was tricky, and spirit ring attributes had to align with one's martial soul. A higher-aged ring wasn't always the best fit.
Thus, hunting for spirit rings was a balancing act.
Hours later...
"A three-hundred-year Four-Winged Scarlet Cicada—decent recovery abilities. Perfect for Oscar."
Zhao Wuji pointed at a spirit beast ahead.
"Agreed." Li Yusong nodded.
Their plan for Oscar's first soul skill focused on recovery—stamina, soul power, mental energy, or healing.
This cicada's spirit ring should align with those traits.
Oscar, clueless, simply followed instructions.
Once the target was selected, Zhao Wuji made quick work of it, leaving the cicada on the brink of death.
"Oscar, finish it. The spirit ring is yours."
He handed the boy a dagger and pointed out the fatal spot.
"I—"
Oscar trembled. He'd never killed before.
Only the final blow granted the right to absorb the spirit ring.
"Quit stalling! Do it!" Zhao Wuji barked.
After much hesitation, Oscar delivered the killing strike.
"Too timid. Needs training!"
Zhao Wuji eyed Xu Yunhan, deciding to find a spirit beast for him to practice on next.
Xu Yunhan remained calm. To him, this was trivial. His concern was finding a worthy spirit beast—no half-measures for his spirit rings.
"So this… is a spirit ring?"
Oscar stared at the yellow ring rising from the cicada's corpse.
"Don't panic. Calm your mind and absorb it as we taught you." Li Yusong reminded him.
Spirit rings dissipated if not absorbed in time.
"I've got your back, Little Ao."
Xu Yunhan's reassurance seemed to steady Oscar more than Li Yusong's words.
Gritting his teeth, Oscar began the absorption.
Sweat poured down his face—his inexperience evident. Zhao Wuji and Li Yusong watched nervously.
But in the end, he succeeded.
"I have a big sausage..."
Oscar chanted his soul skill's incantation, producing a plump sausage.
"Let me test it."
Zhao Wuji grabbed the sausage without hesitation and took a bite.
"Not bad! Restores stamina and has minor healing properties. A solid first skill."
"Excellent." Li Yusong smiled. "Now, it's Yunhan's turn."
As a power-attack-type soul master, Xu Yunhan needed an offensive spirit ring—preferably from a feline spirit beast to complement his Three-Eyed White Tiger.
Twenty minutes into their search...
A gaunt, bony tiger spirit beast stumbled into view—foolishly charging at them.
"Seeking death!"
Annoyed, Zhao Wuji battered it to near-death, deciding this would serve as Xu Yunhan's "bravery test."
"Pity. Nearly six hundred years—otherwise, it'd suit Yunhan." Li Yusong sighed.
"He'll use it for practice."
Zhao Wuji tossed Xu Yunhan a dagger. "Finish it. Don't be like Oscar. And don't absorb the ring—it's beyond you."
Xu Yunhan shot Zhao Wuji a disdainful look but complied.
The emaciated tiger lay dying. Though Xu Yunhan felt confident absorbing a five-hundred-year ring, this spirit beast wasn't worth it.
A single stab to the vitals, and the beast perished.
A yellow spirit ring emerged.
Then—the unexpected happened.
The ring flew toward Xu Yunhan, bonding with his martial soul on its own, forcing him into absorption.
"What the—?!"
This phenomenon stunned everyone—including Xu Yunhan.
"I'm… fine. Stay back."
Xu Yunhan steadied himself quickly.
"Wait and observe." Li Yusong held Zhao Wuji back, watching anxiously.
Despite nearing six hundred years, the ring seemed harmless—even eager to be absorbed.
Unheard of!
Minutes ticked by in tense silence.
Xu Yunhan completed the absorption faster than Oscar had.
And his heart raced with excitement.
Not only had he gained an exceptional soul skill—but he'd also acquired an external spirit bone!
Perfectly fused, as if born with it.
The bone manifested on his hand, invisible unless activated.