Oscar smiled faintly, taking out a Super Recovery Sausage from his soul tool and handing it to Ma Hongjun. Sitting down, he said:
"I told you to study more seriously. Besides soul skills, what else can release abilities?"
Ma Hongjun ate the sausage, his soul power quickly recovering. He frowned in thought for a moment, then spoke with certainty:
"Soul bones!"
But right after answering, he looked at Oscar in shock.
"B–Brother Ao, are you saying… the sword you just used was a soul bone ability? That was a soul bone! You mean you went out once and already obtained a soul bone?!"
Oscar couldn't help laughing at the wide-eyed, inexperienced expression on the boy's face. Nodding, he said:
"Correct. It was indeed a soul bone."
Then Oscar asked again:
"Let me test you—how many types of soul bones are there?"
Ma Hongjun thought for a bit before answering:
"They are torso bones, skulls, and the four limb bones. A total of six."
Oscar nodded.
"Not bad, but not completely correct."
Ma Hongjun tilted his head in confusion.
"But… that's what the books say?"
"Silly kid," Oscar chuckled, patting his shoulder. "The books aren't wrong, but the little you've read isn't everything."
He continued:
"In addition to the six main soul bones, there's a special type known as External Soul Bones. These don't take up any of the six primary slots, and they can evolve as the soul master grows stronger. They are extremely rare soul bones."
"Normally, the conditions for producing an external soul bone are extremely strict. But once they mature, their power can rival a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. They're considered the strongest beneath that level."
Ma Hongjun listened intently, then suddenly his eyes went wide as though he'd just realized something.
"Brother Ao—so that azure sword just now… that was an external soul bone, wasn't it?"
Oscar nodded.
"Exactly. It's my external soul bone—I call it the Sky-blue Spirit Jade Sword. With it, even though I'm a support-type soul master, I can fight with power equal to assault-type soul masters of the same rank. In fact, because my physical body is stronger than most, I can unleash even greater strength than they can."
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun nodded without doubt. By now, his trust in Oscar was absolute. In his heart, Oscar's image had already become unshakable.
Not far away, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the other teachers watched the two children, their eyes filled with relief.
Ma Hongjun clenched his fists tightly, his face serious.
"Brother Ao, I swear I'll catch up to you one day. I won't ever hold you back."
Oscar smiled warmly.
"I believe you. Just the fact that you can already create your own soul skill—if you persist, you might even surpass me someday."
The words left Ma Hongjun overjoyed. For him, surpassing Oscar wasn't just ambition—it was like achieving a dream.
Since entering the academy eight months ago, Oscar had long since become his "big brother." To one day surpass him—that would be his greatest pride.
Looking at the boyish, naive yet determined Ma Hongjun, Oscar thought for a moment before turning to Flender.
"Dean, it's still early. I'll take Hongjun into Soto City for a bit. I can also show you the shop while we're there."
Flender nodded.
"Be careful on the road. Be back before dark."
He rarely rejected Oscar's requests—because there was simply no reason to.
With Oscar around, Flender as dean had far less to worry about. Many things were already being handled by this not-yet-nine-year-old boy. Even if Oscar couldn't resolve them directly, he could always come up with ideas for the teachers to act on.
For Shrek Academy, Oscar was practically a treasure.
And Flender allowed the two children to go not only because he trusted in Oscar's intelligence, but also because he trusted in Oscar's strength.
By now, Oscar's displayed ability was more than enough to protect himself. After all, Soto City was a formal city governed by a Soul Saint-level City Lord. Its law and order were stable.
Moreover, Soto City wasn't far—only half an hour's journey from the academy.
Thanks to the sausage, Ma Hongjun's soul power had fully recovered in no time. Excited by the chance to visit Soto City again, he could barely contain himself. Since entering Shrek, he had only been to the city a handful of times.
Oscar and Hongjun didn't walk there—they rode horses.
Yes, horses.
This had become something of a Shrek tradition. Now that the academy had money, Flender had purchased a few horses to train Oscar and Hongjun.
It was Oscar's idea in the first place.
For soul masters, childhood was the best time to shape their growth. The more experiences they accumulate, the greater the potential for the future.
And horseback riding not only sped up their travel, but also strengthened their bodies.
At their age, riding was a true exercise. Once they reached higher ranks, such training would no longer have much effect.
Oscar, not yet nine, had already grown to 1.6 meters after absorbing his second soul ring. Ma Hongjun, at six years and eight months, was already 1.3 meters tall.
Though still smaller than adults, with their physical training and soul ring enhancements, riding was no issue at all.
Each mounted a white horse, galloping toward Soto City.
"Brother Ao, look—my riding's improved again!" Ma Hongjun shouted proudly as their steeds sped forward.
"Don't get cocky. Let's see who gets to the city first!"
At Oscar's challenge, Ma Hongjun's grin hardened into determination. He clamped his legs tightly against his horse, leaning low, eyes burning with resolve.
Oscar chuckled and spurred his own horse faster.
What should have been a half-hour ride took only a quarter of that. The two arrived outside Soto City in just fifteen minutes.
Dismounting, they left their horses at a stable outside the gates, since horses were not permitted inside.
Though Flender and Soto's City Lord didn't get along, Oscar had to admit—the man managed the city well.
Occasional brawls aside, there had never been any major incidents in years. His capability was obvious.
Of course, being a Soul Saint himself also played a big role.
This era was not like decades later, when Title Douluos were everywhere and Contras were as common as dogs. Right now, a Soul Saint was a figure of true authority, someone whom even great powers would treat as an honored guest.
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