From Shrek Academy to Sunset Forest, the three of them took only a week. Upon arriving, they headed directly to the area Oscar had pinpointed earlier through research.
Soul beasts like the Sharp Tailed Swift generally don't change their habitats unless compelled by external factors. If they had relocated, Oscar would've simply had to spend more time tracking them down.
While Sunset Forest couldn't compare to the legendary Star Dou Great Forest in magnitude, it was still vast roughly a third of Star Dou's size and occupied a significant portion of the Heaven Dou Empire's territory.
The terrain was complex, filled with crisscrossing mountain ranges. Statistically, nearly 70% of all soul beasts in Sunset Forest were plant type, with only 30% being beast type. The reason? Climate.
This ecosystem made Sunset Forest the preferred hunting ground for plant type spirit masters and lower ranked soul masters, since it was safer. Plant type soul beasts, after all, lacked the aggressive combat tendencies of beast type martial souls.
With Gai Yue at Level 85, unless they ran into a 100,000 year soul beast, Oscar and Shao Xin were well protected. Add in Shao Xin, a Level 70 quasi Soul Saint support type soul master, and the trio moved through the forest with relaxed confidence.
In fact, ever since the whale glue operation two years ago, the teachers of Shrek Academy had all experienced significant breakthroughs, reaching levels they were originally supposed to reach only three years later in canon. Flender was now Level 78, and Zhao Wuji was at Level 76.
For Oscar, this was an indirect gain the stronger his teachers, the stronger his backing. Shrek Academy now served as his foundation, his base of power. After all, he couldn't easily join another faction. Doing so would also mean he'd never meet Tang San.
After a full week of searching within the forest, they finally located a Sharp Tailed Swift colony.
According to Gai Yue's scouting, the colony housed at least three 10,000 year grade individuals, and the total number exceeded fifty. This discovery thrilled Oscar his third soul ring was finally within reach.
Given Oscar's current physical condition, the optimal age range for his third soul ring was between 6,000 to 7,500 years. A conservative yet safe zone would be 6,500 to 7,000 years, which would ensure zero risk of soul ring backlash or body explosion.
After weighing options, Gai Yue set his sights on a 6,700yearold Sharp Tailed Swift.
Having selected the target, Gai Yue instructed Oscar and Shao Xin to stay in a safe area while he personally captured the beast. Although these birds were extremely fast unmatched within their age and class Gai Yue was a Level 85 Soul Douluo.
No matter how agile a thousand year level Swift was, escaping from a Soul Douluo was out of the question.
Sure enough, within an hour, Gai Yue returned with the 6,700yearold Swift in hand. Upon seeing it, Oscar was thrilled. His third soul ring was about to become reality.
Although Oscar could already fly using his Heaven Azure Spirit Jade Sword, from a support type utility perspective, acquiring a proper flight soul skill was still a strategic upgrade.
He had considered getting an offensive soul ring for his third ring, but after deep reflection, Oscar chose to prioritize support capabilities.
Why?
Even when over absorbing higher year rings, thousand year offensive skills still pale in comparison to ten thousand year rings. Rather than settling for a mediocre attack type skill now, he decided to build foundational support abilities first.
Even in the original canon, Oscar's clone skill came from his sixth ring, which was a 25,000 year ring.
So while Oscar could absorb soul rings above his level, the power gain was marginal compared to true ten thousand year rings. Most importantly, he had his Heaven Azure Sword to fill the offense gap. No need to sacrifice long term gains for short term firepower.
The sword wasn't a true martial soul, but before Rank 70, it was more than sufficient. Plus, it was set to evolve along with his cultivation.
Thus, it was better to stack auxiliary soul skills. He could consume his own soul skills without restriction, and their effects would be identical whether used on himself or others.
In that context, adding more support skills would actually amplify his entire team's strength in future group battles.
So, he went allin on a flight skill, and from an elite soul beast6,700 years old.
"Xiao Ao, begin." Gai Yue said, stepping aside to protect him.
Oscar nodded. Staring at the frozen Swift icebound from the neck down Oscar summoned the Heaven Azure Sword, and struck it down with a single blow.
As the soul beast died, a purple soul ring slowly condensed. Oscar sat cross legged, released his martial soul, and his first two yellow soul rings emerged.
The purple ring floated upward, hovering above Oscar's head. Despite the oppressive pressure of a 6,000+ year soul ring, Oscar's expression remained calm and composed.
Meanwhile, Shao Xin picked up the Swift's body and began roasting it over a fire.
Ordinarily, using open flames in a soul beast forest was dangerous it could attract powerful predators. The scent of roasted meat, too, could draw attention. But with Gai Yue present, his Soul Douluo aura was more than enough to deter any threat, so Shao Xin roasted leisurely.
As Oscar absorbed the soul ring, he channeled every ounce of energy into body refinement and soul force consolidation.
Three hours passed.
Finally, the purple ring stabilized on his body, and Oscar's spirit power fully solidified at Rank 33.
He opened his eyes, a sharp gleam within them. Two yellow and one purple ring shimmered around him.
"Teacher, I succeeded. I've reached Rank 33, and this third soul skill is incredibly powerful."
Gai Yue smiled with satisfaction. A six thousand year third ring? Unheard of, until now.
But seeing it firsthand, he was impressed. All of it was thanks to Oscar.
Without Oscar, he wouldn't have reached Rank 85 this soon either.
"Very good. Tell me more about your third soul skill."
Gai Yue said, clearly pleased.
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