The reason Oscar could comprehend it so quickly was not only because of his talent, but also thanks to the solid foundation he had built over the past two months of diligent practice.
Sword Qi could be considered a compulsory lesson for any swordsman. However, on the Douluo Continent, for a Soul Master to regularly use Sword Qi as an attack method instead of relying solely on soul skills, one would usually need to reach at least the Soul King (Rank 50) realm.
Even for prodigies, it was only possible at the Soul Ancestor (Rank 40) level. Take Gai Yue, for example—he had only mastered Sword Qi proficiently after breaking through to the Soul Ancestor stage.
As for the sword technique Gai Yue had demonstrated at the end, to a Sword Soul Master it was practically equivalent to a self-created soul skill—and one most suited to his own body. At times, it could even be more effective than actual soul skills.
But most Soul Masters could never achieve such a feat. Across the entire Soul Master world, only a handful of people possessed the talent to create their own soul skills.
That Gai Yue had such strength was no surprise to Oscar. After all, Gai Yue was a prodigy who had reached the rank of Soul Douluo at just forty-five years old.
Hearing Oscar's response, Gai Yue walked up to him, clearly satisfied:
"There's no rush. With your aptitude, you will surpass even me in time."
"If your martial soul were also a sword, then with your talent, you might very well become a Sword Douluo in the future."
These words were the highest praise Gai Yue could offer. After all, in the entire Soul Master realm, the title of "Sword's Number One" belonged to the Sword Douluo. The Chen family of the Seven Killing Sword had held that position for generations.
Of course, Gai Yue's words also carried a trace of regret. While Oscar's talent for the sword was extraordinary, his martial soul was ultimately not a sword.
The external spirit bone he possessed would indeed grow alongside him—eventually reaching the hundred-thousand-year level and rivaling a Title Douluo's weapon martial soul—but it could never attach spirit rings or provide soul skills. From birth, Oscar was a step weaker in that regard.
Still, knowing the nature of Oscar's own soul skills, Gai Yue did not dwell on that regret. For a Food-type Soul Master, Oscar was already astonishing to an almost impossible degree.
If, in the future, Oscar could achieve deep mastery in the Way of the Sword, then with his own martial soul to assist him, he could undoubtedly become a powerful Soul Master.
"Teacher flatters me. I will do my utmost to strive toward that goal."
Oscar accepted the praise humbly, answering with utmost sincerity.
Gai Yue nodded.
"Rest well today. Tomorrow, you will begin training with me."
"Yes, Teacher."
Afterward, Oscar showed Gai Yue around the Academy and helped arrange a dormitory for him.
Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji wore a miserable expression as he glanced at Flender. Flender only chuckled, "Little Ao has a backer now. You'd better go easy on him."
Ma Hongjun didn't dare laugh at Zhao Wuji this time—but that didn't save him either.
"Hongjun," Zhao Wuji suddenly said, "you've eaten, right? Time to work it off. Come, I'll spar with you!"
"Ahhh…" Ma Hongjun's face turned even more bitter than Zhao Wuji's just now.
Flender, on the other hand, enjoyed the show. Smoking a cigar, he guided Ma Hongjun from the side, telling him how to make better use of his martial soul's strengths.
But since Ma Hongjun had been the loudest in jeering and mocking Zhao Wuji earlier, Old Zhao was still furious. He beat Ma Hongjun black and blue, causing the boy to wail:
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—don't bully the poor youth!"
The more he said that, the harder Zhao Wuji hit him. After all, those exact words had been said by Oscar before, and Oscar had even kindly explained the meaning.
By saying it now, wasn't Ma Hongjun basically declaring: I may lose now, but I'll beat you up in the future?
With Hongjun's talent, it was almost guaranteed that he'd surpass Old Zhao one day. So, Zhao Wuji thought—if you're destined to get me later, I'd better beat you hard while I still can!
Oscar guided Gai Yue through the Academy grounds. Gai Yue seemed most fond of the peach grove on the eastern side, so Oscar chose that as his teacher's residence.
Gai Yue was pleased. He preferred quiet places, and this serene and beautiful setting suited him perfectly.
As Oscar familiarized him with the Academy, the teacher also chatted with his new disciple. Though Oscar carried himself with unusual maturity, Gai Yue wanted to know him better.
When the conversation turned to Oscar's parents, Gai Yue finally understood why this child, only nine years old, acted so grown-up.
Originally, Gai Yue had intended to visit Oscar's parents—after all, he was now Oscar's teacher, practically a second father.
But Oscar quietly told him that his parents had died when he was only three. He had grown up on the food and kindness of others.
Hearing this, Gai Yue realized that Oscar shared a similar background with him.
Even more surprising, another student—Ma Hongjun—was also orphaned and raised by the world's charity. Flender had simply been lucky enough to discover two golden nuggets.
Still, Oscar did not show sadness when speaking of it. Instead, he was calm, even accepting. After all, Oscar had crossed into this world at the age of six. He truly couldn't feel the grief of losing his parents.
And at three years old, he'd been too young to even understand such things. Naturally, he had no lasting sorrow.
That night, Oscar received a book with a blue cover from Gai Yue. It was the sword manual passed down in his family—the Frostmoon Sword Art.
Since he had decided to teach without reservation, Gai Yue held nothing back, handing over his most treasured technique.
Though Oscar could not yet practice it, familiarizing himself with it early was beneficial.
As Gai Yue said, a sword manual only taught form. A true swordsman needed far more than form to succeed.
Take himself, for example. Though he had studied the Frostmoon Sword Art from childhood, the techniques he used now only contained its form. The true essence he wielded was something he had cultivated on his own.
That essence was the highest realm of swordsmanship: Sword Intent.
To become the sword itself, to carry the sword within the heart.
That night, Oscar sat by lamplight, carefully studying the Frostmoon Sword Art.
The sword art contained nine forms. Each form had three variations, making twenty-seven techniques in total, and within them, eighty-one detailed methods. It encompassed the journey of the sword from existence to nothingness and laid out in detail how one might cultivate the sword.
If Oscar could fully master this art, he could already be called a Sword Master.
But to become a true swordsman, he would have to comprehend the essence of his own—his very own Sword Intent.
Even a genius like Gai Yue had only comprehended his Sword Intent after breaking through Rank 70.
And the supreme master of swordsmanship, Dustheart (Chen Xin), was said to have comprehended his own Intent only after reaching Rank 60.
Thus, it was clear: the path of the sword was not something achieved overnight. Even with great talent, only through tireless effort could one touch upon its true meaning.
Oscar, though gifted, did not slacken. He understood that all true power came from one percent talent and ninety-nine percent hard work.
That one percent of talent, however, was something ordinary people could never possess.