Hearing Flender's words, everyone present was utterly shocked.
Even setting aside the fact that Gai Yue had obtained a seventy-thousand-year torso bone, just the feat of killing such a soul beast alone while only at the level of a quasi–Soul Douluo was enough to prove his overwhelming strength.
Under normal circumstances, soul beasts of the same level are slightly stronger than soul masters. A seventy-thousand-year soul beast would usually require at least an eight-ring Soul Douluo to take down alone.
Yet Gai Yue, with only seven soul rings, had slain one single-handedly. His power needed no further explanation.
As for soul bones—those were rarer than rare. In the entire world of soul masters, decades could pass without a single soul bone appearing. Even the lowest tier, a mere thousand-year soul bone (hundred-year bones were rarely produced), could trigger bloodshed and chaos.
But Gai Yue had actually gained a seventy-thousand-year-old torso bone! With both his eighth soul ring and such a powerful bone, his combat strength must have risen to an astonishing level.
Before this revelation, Shao Xin and the others had already believed Gai Yue had an excellent chance of breaking through to the Title Douluo realm. But now, after hearing Flender's explanation, they were certain he would reach it.
Zhao Wuji, however, was the most shaken and envious of them all. For he and Flender were the only ones who knew Gai Yue also possessed another soul bone—a family heirloom, a ten-thousand-year bone passed down from his ancestors!
A single soul bone was exceedingly rare. Yet Gai Yue had two, and one of them was seventy thousand years old. Old Zhao had lived nearly fifty years, and he had never once had such a fortune.
If Gai Yue weren't his trusted brother, Zhao Wuji would almost want to kill him just to seize them—though, of course, that was only a joke. The truth was that Gai Yue had once revealed his inheritance bone before Flender and Zhao Wuji, a sign of the deep trust he placed in them.
Now, he didn't conceal his fortune, not only because he was supremely confident in his strength, but also because he trusted these men as brothers.
Besides, over the years, whenever they gathered, he'd learned enough from Flender and Zhao Wuji about Shao Xin, Li Yusong, and Lu Qibin's characters to trust them as well.
Even Oscar, though a transmigrator, was stunned. A teacher who never appeared in the original story possessed such talent and luck?
After all, soul bones were no trivial matter. Even in the original novel, with so many Title Douluo in Spirit Hall, how many had soul bones? Take Chrysanthemum Douluo, one of Bibi Dong's two trusted guardians—despite reaching level ninety-five, he had never obtained one.
If before Oscar had merely felt fortunate to have such a teacher to guide him in the way of the sword, now he was truly excited.
With a teacher of such strength and potential, destined to become a Title Douluo, wasn't this the biggest thigh he could ever cling to?
As for Ma Hongjun, there was no need to mention his envy. His own teacher, Flender, was only level seventy-six and had no soul bone at all. He could only look on with longing at Oscar's good fortune.
Gai Yue, meanwhile, only gave a faint smile and waved dismissively. On his usually cold face, the smile looked a little stiff, almost like a forced expression.
Not that he wasn't good-looking—on the contrary, in his simple ice-blue robe, his features were refined and even gave him an aura of detachment from the mortal world.
"It's nothing worth mentioning," Gai Yue said lightly. "I was only lucky."
At that, Zhao Wuji's face darkened. "Lucky? Gai, my brother, that's not modesty—that's denial! Your talent, I said from the start, would surpass mine and Flender's. I just never thought the day would come so soon!"
He sighed, half-helpless, half envious. "I'm still stuck at seventy-four, while you're already eighty-two. You've left me far behind."
Flender also gave a bitter smile. "With your extraordinary talent and tireless cultivation, Gai, it's only natural we can't keep up."
Then Zhao Wuji raised his cup. "Come, let's drink! To Gai Yue's advance in strength!"
The other teachers all lifted their cups, and Oscar and Ma Hongjun followed suit.
"Congratulations, Teacher!" Oscar said sincerely.
The two children also drank, for though Oscar was nine and Hongjun only seven, soul masters matured faster than ordinary people. And besides, this was only ordinary malt beer, not strong enough to intoxicate them.
After the meal, the group lingered for over an hour, chatting idly. Since Gai Yue had just joined Shrek, aside from Flender and Zhao Wuji, even his disciple Oscar knew little about him.
And so, in this casual conversation, Oscar finally learned of his teacher's origins.
Gai Yue had been born into a great sect of the Star Luo Empire. But decades ago, his sect clashed with the current Wind Sword Sect. At that time, Gai Yue's sect was in decline—the sect master, his grandfather Gai Lun, was only level eighty-five. The Wind Sword Sect's master, by contrast, was already level eighty-nine, a step away from becoming a Title Douluo.
The power gap was too vast. In the struggle to claim the title of the empire's second greatest sword spirit, Gai Yue's sect was annihilated.
Only Gai Yue escaped alive. He had even watched with his own eyes as his grandfather tore the sect's inheritance soul bone from his body and entrusted it to him. From then on, Gai Yue had cultivated bitterly, vowing to one day take vengeance.
Now he had reached level eighty-two. But even so, he felt no impulse to rush into revenge. He knew that even at his current level, he could not destroy the Wind Sword Sect.
Moreover, the Wind Sword Sect was now one of the Lower Four Sects, a true powerhouse. Gai Yue had honed his sword for decades, not for reckless action, but to strike with a single, fatal blow when the time was right.
For now, as long as the Wind Sword Sect remained unaware of his survival, he would bide his time. Once he broke through to Title Douluo and truly had the strength to crush them, he would annihilate the entire sect in one stroke, avenging his clan.
That he was willing to share this story with the others was not because he had let go, but because he used it as fuel for his resolve.
Of course, such tragedies were not things most people would willingly talk about. But Flender, drunk and a little careless, had begun telling the tale in hopes of inspiring Oscar and Hongjun.
And when Gai Yue didn't stop him, the others finally learned of his past.
Oscar quietly placed a hand on his teacher's wrist and offered him a toast. "Teacher, you're not alone anymore. You have us now. Whatever you need, Oscar will never hesitate!"
These words came from the bottom of his heart. Though he had not suffered the massacre himself, the thought of an entire sect—nearly a thousand people, children included—being wiped out was enough to make his blood boil.
Since Gai Yue was now his teacher, Oscar naturally felt bound to share in his vengeance.
But Gai Yue only took the cup, drained it, and set it back down with a faint smile. "Silly child. This is your teacher's personal vendetta. What part do you, a child, have in it?"
"I…"
Oscar wanted to argue further, but Gai Yue cut him off. "Your duty is to master the teachings I give you. As for revenge, I will handle it myself."
At this, Flender sighed and spoke gently to Oscar. "Little Ao, even though you are Gai's disciple now, this is not something you can help with. Back then, even when Old Zhao and I offered to aid him, he refused outright. His nature is just like yours—once he decides something, not even ten oxen could drag him back."
Oscar looked at his teacher with eyes full of concern.
Noticing the boy's gaze, Gai Yue patted him lightly on the head. "Don't worry. Your teacher isn't reckless. I've endured this long. Until I have absolute power, I will never act rashly. Otherwise, instead of avenging my sect, I'd only be delivering another soul bone to my enemies."
At those words, Ma Hongjun, who had nearly been moved to tears by the story, suddenly burst out laughing. So, the cold-faced Teacher Gai could actually tell a joke!
Oscar, too, couldn't help but laugh. As long as the Teacher has his own plan, then I'm at ease.