Oscar's strength and talent had already passed muster. As for his temperament, Gai Yue could already glimpse much from the boy's words and bearing. After all, this nine-year-old child behaved far too maturely for his age.
Still, Gai Yue had his own way of testing.
Oscar retrieved the Sky-Blue Spirit Jade Sword into his body, then pulled out a pre-prepared Super Recovery Sausage and swallowed it, letting his soul power steadily replenish.
(An aside worth noting: Oscar's own soul skills did not suffer the halved-effect restriction that existed in the original story. Perhaps this was the "traveler's bonus" of having transmigrated. In fact, Oscar always found the setting in the original a bit ridiculous—early on, the author insisted that his use of sausages was halved. Yet, later in the story, it was never mentioned again, and he used his own sausages with full effect anyway.)
In the original, when Oscar used his sixth soul skill, the Imitation Sausage, it certainly wasn't halved—he had gained the combat power of an assault-type soul master.
No, even more than that—thanks to that ability, Oscar had essentially become an all-rounder. The only limit was his body's foundation, which prevented him from drawing out the full might of some of the more powerful martial souls he imitated.
But now, this Oscar would face no such restriction. If he were to obtain that soul skill again, he would not only wield its full power but possibly unleash an even greater strength than the original Oscar ever could.
Of course, that was all a matter for the future. For now, Oscar was only at the twenty-third rank—such speculation was far ahead of him.
As Oscar's soul power recovered rapidly, Gai Yue couldn't help but ask, "That was your soul skill?"
Oscar nodded. "Yes. My martial soul is a food type. My first soul skill's effect is restoration. When used, the Super Recovery Sausage allows the eater to continuously restore soul power, stamina, vitality, and even mental energy."
Gai Yue was shocked once more. Though he had spent most of his life in seclusion, he was hardly ignorant of food-type soul masters. Yet this was the first time he had ever heard of a single soul skill with such a comprehensive range of effects. Judging by how quickly Oscar's energy was recovering, the effectiveness of this first skill was anything but ordinary.
Straightening his posture, Gai Yue spoke solemnly: "Your skill is indeed impressive. But the next trial is the most important one. Whether you can endure it will depend entirely on you."
As he spoke, he raised his right hand. His five fingers spread open, vast soul power surging outward from his body and condensing into his palm. In the next instant, an immense invisible hand of pure energy descended upon Oscar.
The moment Gai Yue's soul power enveloped him, Oscar felt the pressure—comparable to a twentieth-rank assault-type master. Yet with Oscar's current body, already approaching the sturdiness of a Soul Sect, he barely reacted at all.
But alongside the pressure came a biting cold. This wasn't the chill of winter, but a bone-piercing, marrow-freezing cold as though he had been cast into a boundless ice field, rootless and drifting, with the very air itself stabbing at him.
And within that frost came Gai Yue's voice, cold and steady: "Relax your mind. If you can endure for one quarter of an hour, you pass."
Hearing this, Oscar slowly closed his eyes. He knew at once this was Gai Yue's true test—and it would not be as simple as it appeared.
Gai Yue's eyes flashed with renewed astonishment. This boy—this food-type soul master—possessed a physical constitution that was utterly abnormal.
When sparring earlier, Gai Yue had already been impressed. But now, releasing pressure equivalent to a twentieth-rank assault-type soul master, Oscar remained unfazed.
Normally, a soul master could endure suppressive force up to two-thirds of their own level—any higher, and even geniuses would crumble. If one could withstand pressure equal to their own rank, it was proof of being an extraordinary talent, something only the inheritors of top-tier assault-type martial souls could achieve.
But Oscar? A food-type soul master enduring pressure several grades above his own rank? It was monstrous.
At this point, Gai Yue's satisfaction with Oscar exceeded all bounds. Even if Oscar were to fail this test, Gai Yue knew he would stay behind regardless. To teach swordsmanship to such a prodigy would not be a duty—it would be an honor.
Yes… The honor of guiding a true genius!
Oscar, eyes closed, felt as though he had plunged into an ice abyss. The biting cold seeped through his skin, penetrating his very bones, utterly inescapable.
As he endured, Gai Yue gradually increased the soul power pressure, curious to see where Oscar's limit lay.
Soon, Oscar's expression began to change. His body temperature seemed to plummet, while the external pressure mounted steadily, like a crushing weight pressing him into the frozen heights of some desolate plateau, leaving him breathless.
Time crawled by. Oscar's face flushed crimson, frost crusting over his skin. Each breath came out as a plume of icy vapor.
Gai Yue's satisfaction grew. He had never imagined a child of this age could endure so much.
Already, a full quarter-hour had passed. Oscar still hadn't reached his limit.
By now, the pressure had climbed to the level of a thirty-eighth rank soul master. Yet Oscar himself was only rank twenty-three.
Such a talent, Gai Yue had never encountered in his life. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, tested it with his own hand, he would never have believed it possible.
And as for temperament, Oscar's endurance alone spoke louder than any words. This method of testing was a secret heritage of Gai Yue's clan. Back in his youth, he had barely lasted a quarter of an hour. That, already, was considered outstanding.
The reason he had told Oscar to endure that long was because the boy's talent was too great—he had wanted to set the bar higher.
But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine Oscar would last far beyond that, without even breaking.
Not far away, Ma Hongjun, watching in secret, whispered to Flender, "Teacher, look—Oscar's covered in ice! He won't be in danger, will he?"
Flender had been watching the boy closely as well. He too felt a knot of worry—after all, Oscar was literally freezing solid. One could only imagine the agony he was enduring, worse than mere cold.
But he trusted Gai Yue. This younger brother, whom he had known for over a decade, was not one to lose control of his own test.
Patting Ma Hongjun's shoulder, Flender said, "Don't worry. Brother Gai knows his limits."
Time passed, another five minutes slipping by. The pressure Oscar bore had risen to the thirty-ninth rank. His silver hair was now caked in frost, his bare hands glazed with ice.
At the instant the suppressive force was about to break into the fortieth rank, Oscar's eyes suddenly snapped open. Soul power erupted from his body, shattering the ice that had encased him. His left hand shone with sky-blue light, the familiar one-point-two-meter jade sword materializing once again in his grip, radiating brilliance.
A flash of determination lit his eyes as he exhaled a long, frosty breath, as though expelling every trace of cold from his body.
"Senior," Oscar said softly, meeting Gai Yue's gaze. "How was that?"
Gai Yue smiled faintly, nodding in approval.
Good.