Facing the crowd who were frozen in shock, Oscar's expression barely changed, calm as still water.
Seeing Oscar stand up, Haote's astonishment and disbelief were no less than Lie Shuo's and the others', for just moments ago he had been holding what seemed to be a dying Oscar.
Oscar walked forward step by step, and seven soul rings,two yellow, two purple, and three black,rose slowly around him, pulsing with light. The dazzling rings radiated brilliance as the terrifying pressure of a level seventy-five Soul Saint burst out, instantly suppressing Lie Shuo and the others.
Without saying a word, Oscar's fifth black soul ring lit up.
Seeing Oscar act so decisively, Lie Shuo and the others finally realized that Oscar had been pretending and had played along with them.
"Brother Ao, spare us! We were blinded by greed! We won't dare again!"
The Black Crow Soul King even pointed at Lie Shuo and Han Han. "It was their idea! They forced us!"
But before their pleas for mercy could even finish, a sky-blue flame swept across the entire area, engulfing everyone within.
"Fifth Soul Skill: Bone Dragon Flame!"
Under Haote's earlier attacks, the group had already been injured. Now, faced with Oscar's oppressive aura and his full-force fifth soul skill, they had no strength left to resist.
But they wouldn't just sit and wait for death.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Blazing Lion Flame!"
"Fifth Soul Skill: Body of Ice!"
"Fourth Soul Skill: Piercing Feather Strike!"
…
They unleashed their strongest attacks to resist the Bone Dragon Flame, but only lasted a few brief moments before they were completely consumed by the ghostly fire,leaving not even bones behind.
Seeing Oscar eliminate everyone with a single move, Haote instantly felt the gap between their strengths.
Though both were Soul Saints, Haote could clearly sense that if they were to fight one-on-one, he wouldn't even last the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
And Haote wasn't foolish; he knew now that Oscar's previous weakness was an act, and his true strength was far beyond what he'd shown.
At that moment, Haote felt secretly grateful that he had stayed true to his principles,otherwise, he would have shared Lie Shuo's fate.
"Brother Ao…" Haote released his Martial Soul True Body, collapsing weakly to the ground as if all strength had left his bones.
Oscar walked to his side and took out a special detoxifying sausage from his soul tool, stuffing it into Haote's mouth.
As the sausage melted, a stream of pure energy flowed into Haote's body. Within a few breaths, the Blue Demon Scorpion poison in his veins was completely neutralized. Moments later, he was fully restored.
Haote clenched his fists in surprise, feeling his strength and soul power return. He looked at Oscar with joy. "Brother Ao, your treasures are amazing! The Blue Demon Scorpion's poison is notoriously strong, yet your sausage removed it in just a few breaths!"
Then he lowered his head awkwardly. "That sausage must be very rare, right?"
Oscar smiled. "No matter how rare something is, it only has value when used. Don't worry about it,consider it payment for saving my life."
He helped Haote to his feet. "You don't blame me for putting on that act, do you?"
Haote shook his head. "Human hearts are unpredictable. You were right to be cautious. If anyone's to blame, it's them and their greed. The fact they appeared together shows they had already conspired."
Oscar nodded. "Exactly. After we split up a week ago, I noticed their suspicious movements. That's why I staged the act. I didn't expect to meet you here, though."
When Oscar had left the Ice Valley, he killed a soul beast and covered himself in its blood, using his sixth soul skill to disguise his location. Then, upon noticing Haote approaching, he pretended to be wounded and collapsed nearby. Seeing Haote's reaction, Oscar was impressed,Haote hadn't even hesitated to help.
Later, as Haote carried him toward a cave to rest, Lie Shuo and the others appeared, attempting to kill them and steal his treasures.
Oscar patted Haote's shoulder. "You handled yourself well. What do you plan to do now?"
Haote thought for a moment before answering. "After what happened today, my team is gone. I think I'll rest for a while before deciding whether to continue this life."
Oscar smiled. "How about joining the Sword Sect? With my recommendation, you'll start as an elder at least."
Haote's eyes widened. "Really? You're from the Sword Sect?"
Oscar asked, "So, will you go or not?"
Haote replied eagerly, "If I can join the Sword Sect, that's far better than risking my life out here."
Oscar smiled again. "Then report my name when you arrive. Someone there will take care of you."
Haote bowed deeply. "Thank you, Brother Ao. I'll devote myself fully in return."
Oscar wiped the blood from his hands onto the snow, then handed Haote two more sausages.
"No need for more thanks. We've shared life and death today,take these sausages and leave this place."
Haote hesitated to accept them. Knowing their precious effects, he felt embarrassed to take more. "You're still searching for the Ice Jade Scorpion and Titan Snow Demons. How could I just leave?"
Oscar pressed the sausages into his hands. "I've already found them. You'd only be a burden if you stayed."
Haote looked conflicted, but finally said, "Then I definitely can't take these."
Oscar smiled. "Don't worry, I have more. Take them,you might need them to survive the Far North."
Without another word, Oscar turned away and pretended to clean the blood from his face, secretly eating a Swift Wind Sausage.
A pair of white wings unfolded from his back, and in a flash of light, he disappeared from Haote's sight.
Haote looked down at the sausages, then stored them carefully in his soul tool. Picking up the soul tools left by Lie Shuo and the others, he began his journey out of the Far North.
Since there was nothing left to do here, he decided to visit the Sword Sect,perhaps one day he could repay Oscar's kindness.
Oscar returned to the Ice Wolf territory. Before the wolves could react, he used his sixth soul skill to enter the depths of Ice Valley, heading for the Ice Cavern.
When he arrived, he saw the Sky Dream Iceworm greedily devouring the remaining Extreme Cold Ice Marrow.
Oscar grabbed it by the neck and tossed it onto the bed of Ice Jade Essence.
"Hey! What are you doing? If I don't finish this ice marrow, it'll just go to waste!" the Iceworm mumbled with a full mouth.
Ignoring it, Oscar produced several jade bottles and began collecting the precious ice marrow. "Letting you eat it would be the real waste. There isn't much left, and it won't help you much anymore. Better that I take it."
The Iceworm rolled its eyes but didn't argue,it knew Oscar was right. At its current level, these ice marrows barely helped anymore. For soul masters, however, they were invaluable treasures.
"Fine, fine," it said. "Take it all. Think of it as my investment in our partnership."
Oscar laughed. "Investment? These were my discovery,you're calling that an investment?"
The Iceworm huffed. "Sure, you could've taken me and the marrow both by force, but these are my leftovers. That counts as investment!"
Oscar ignored it, finishing the collection before returning to the Ice Jade bed.
Looking up at Oscar, the Iceworm said, "When you reach level eighty, I'll become your intelligent soul ring and give you a second martial soul of ice attribute. How's that for investment?"
Oscar smiled. "Actually, this is just one of my avatars. My true body isn't here."
The Iceworm blinked. "An avatar? Isn't that also a martial soul?"
Oscar shook his head. "My main martial soul is food-type,the Supreme Sausage. My second martial soul is a sword."
The Iceworm was stunned. "You have twin martial souls? No, wait,this body's martial soul is a bone dragon! Don't tell me you have three martial souls? Is that even possible?"
Oscar explained, "It's because of my fourth soul skill. You'll understand in time. For now, take me to the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor."
The Iceworm shook its head. "I can't go there, but I can tell you where it lives."
Oscar raised an eyebrow. "What, you're afraid to face it? Didn't you say it chased you for ages?"
The Iceworm hesitated before replying, "You don't understand the situation. I just can't go back."
Oscar placed a large hand on its head and rubbed it roughly. "Fine, I won't force you."
Giggling, the Iceworm told him the exact location.
Just as Oscar was about to leave, the Iceworm added, "Don't tell her I was the one who told you."
Oscar waved dismissively. "Got it."
Then he opened a spatial gate and left the cavern. His white wings flared, and he shot off toward the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor's territory like a streak of light.
With a clear destination, his journey was quick. In half a day, he reached the Ice Jade Scorpion clan.
Seeing the intruder, countless Ice Jade Scorpions surrounded him,but before they could complete the encirclement, Oscar used a spatial gate to teleport directly into their midst.
Just as he was about to enter an icy mountain, a terrifying pressure descended upon him,at least that of a level ninety-seven Super Douluo.
As Oscar stepped out of the spatial gate, that immense energy locked onto him. Yet his body and spirit were both at the level of a Titled Douluo, so he remained unrestrained.
Before he could move, a petite figure appeared before him,a girl no taller than one and a half meters, her delicate human form adorned with a long, emerald-green scorpion tail.
Unlike normal segmented tails, hers had only five sections, each gleaming with vivid green light, narrowing toward the tip where a blue stinger glowed coldly.
Oscar gazed at her calmly. She returned the stare, her emerald eyes equally cold.
"Human, you dare trespass in my domain. Do you wish to die?" The Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor's voice was cold and ethereal, though her lips never moved.
Oscar smiled faintly. "You must be the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor."
The Ice Emperor stared silently, trying to discern his purpose. She hadn't attacked yet only because his methods were unusual,and because no ordinary human could know her domain's layout so well.
Both reasons were enough to make her cautious.
Her voice grew colder. "You have one minute to explain your purpose. No matter who stands behind you, you will not leave this valley alive otherwise."
Oscar smiled. "I've come to make a deal with the creatures of the Far North."
"Deal?" she asked. "What deal could humans and soul beasts possibly make?"
Oscar didn't waste words,he explained the method of soul spirits and his cooperation with the Star Dou Forest.
The Ice Emperor listened quietly for a full quarter of an hour, finally grasping the idea.
But could it really be true? In all her long life, she had never heard of such a thing. If this method existed, would the enmity between soul beasts and humans be so deep?
"How can I believe what you say?" she asked coldly.
Oscar smiled. "Simple. Bring me a ninety-thousand-year-old Ice Jade Scorpion, and I'll show you proof."
The Ice Emperor's expression turned furious. "You would use one of my kin as an experiment?"
Oscar shook a finger. "Not an experiment,proof. And I noticed one of your kin, a ninety-thousand-year-old scorpion, doesn't have much time left. I'm offering it a way to continue living in another form."
The Ice Emperor gave a cold laugh. "So I should thank you, then?"
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