Improvements and Side Effects

Oscar, with his superb sausage-themed Sausage Martial Soul and combat support abilities, has indeed made a name for himself in this place where adventurers and outlaws gather.

Therefore, for those who are interested, finding his whereabouts is not difficult.

Soon, two figures, concealed by heavy cloaks, arrived at the hotel where Oscar was temporarily staying.

The hotel was old, with frost on the walls and the air filled with the smell of cheap liquor and leather.

Inside the room, Oscar sat cross-legged on a simple bed, carefully taking a pill to aid his cultivation and stabilize his Soul Power.

This was money he had saved for a long time, and he dared not waste a single penny of it.

The medicinal effects dissipated, Soul Power circulated slowly within the body, bringing a slight warmth and dispelling the chill that seeped in through the cracks in the doors and windows.

Just then, three clear and restrained knocks on the door interrupted his cultivation.

Oscar frowned slightly, a sense of doubt rising in his heart.

There were still several days until the agreed-upon meeting time with his temporary teammates for the next mission. He was in an unfamiliar place and didn't have many friends. Who would come looking for him at this time?

Although he felt something was amiss, he still got up and walked to the door.

Having made a living in this place year after year, he, originally an academic support Soul Master, had long been trained to be extremely vigilant.

Near the icy plains, the area is teeming with all sorts of people, mostly Soul Master and mercenaries who live on the edge. Even though the security situation has improved after the Spirit Hall Empire strengthened its control, robbery, theft, and even more nefarious acts still occur from time to time.

Soul Master like him, who have relatively weak self-defense capabilities but earn a considerable income from their support abilities, are seen as "easy targets" by some.

Having learned his lesson a few times, Oscar had long since developed a habit of being cautious in everything he did.

He didn't open the door immediately, but instead leaned close to the inconspicuous observation hole in the door panel and asked in a deep voice, "Who is it?"

"It's me!" The voice from outside the door was hoarse and deep, as if it had been sanded, and it carried an indescribable chill, making Oscar feel a strange coldness.

The voice... seemed somewhat familiar, yet unsettlingly unfamiliar.

He squinted, trying to see what was happening outside through the observation hole, but all he could see was darkness—something was blocking the hole!

Almost simultaneously, another male voice rang out from not far outside the door, with a tone of confirmation. "This is the one!"

Immediately afterwards, the male voice, along with the owner of that hoarse voice, seemed to vanish into thin air!

No! It didn't disappear!

Oscar felt a chill run down his spine, a cold sweat shooting straight from his tailbone to the top of his head! He heard an extremely faint noise coming from behind him!

Years of honing his instincts on the edge of danger spurred him to react with lightning speed—he didn't try to turn around, but instead lunged forward, simultaneously flipping his wrist to reveal the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, the Hidden Weapon Tang San had given him. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger, aiming straight behind him!

However, he was still too slow.

Or rather, the attackers were faster than he had imagined.

Just as he was about to exert force with his fingers, several Dark Blue Silver Grass covered with strange purple-black patterns and twisted like ghost faces, like living venomous snakes, silently spread out from the ground and from the shadows, instantly wrapping around his wrists, ankles and even waist!

The sharp barbs covering the grass stems easily pierced his clothes, bringing a cold, stinging pain and a numbing sensation. Furthermore, a chilling God of Evil energy surged into his body along the barbs, causing his muscles and Soul Power to freeze instantly!

"Ugh!" Oscar grunted, his movements abruptly halting, and the Godly Zhuge Crossbow in his hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

He was tightly bound by the mutated Dark Blue Silver Grass and could not move. He could only turn his head with difficulty to look at the figure that had appeared in the room behind him at some unknown time.

The hood of the cloak was slightly lifted, revealing the face of the newcomer.

Oscar's pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror.

Who is this...?

In my memory, Tang San, though of ordinary appearance, was still considered handsome due to his young age.

The person before me... had an unhealthy pallor, even faintly tinged with an eerie bluish-black. His facial features still vaguely resembled his past self, but his entire demeanor had undergone a complete transformation. His eyes were no longer clear or sharp as before, but rather as dark as an abyss, filled with chaos, coldness, and a sinister quality that sent chills down one's spine.

Even though he tried hard to force a familiar smile, it looked distorted and eerie.

The erosion of his Martial Soul, the side effects of Bian Que Que's strange medicine, and the corrupting transformation brought about by the Rakshasa God's Trial... had long since sculpted the former boy into a "monster" that inspired fear and repulsion in anyone who even glanced at him.

Even with a cloak covering him, the sinister aura was almost palpable.

"Little Oscar, it's me!" Tang San felt a pang of pain in his heart as he looked at the undisguised fear and unfamiliarity in Oscar's eyes, but more than that, he felt a twisted sense of pleasure and a ruthless determination to achieve his goal. He repeated in a hoarse voice.

Oscar opened his mouth, but no sound came out...

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After a long while, Oscar's violently pounding heart finally calmed down. Although Tang San in front of him had changed drastically and had an eerie aura, the familiar feeling and the self-identification made him finally accept this unbelievable fact with difficulty.

"...Third Brother?" Oscar's voice still trembled slightly with uncertainty.

"It's me." Tang San nodded, and the Dark Blue Silver Grass that Entanglement Oscar receded rapidly like a tide, shrinking back into his sleeve and shadows.

With the restraints removed, Oscar stretched his stiff wrists, which bore faint red marks and a cold, stinging sensation. He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and tried to reconcile the sinister "monster" before him with the calm and resolute image of his brother from his memory.

The atmosphere between the two was slightly stiff, but Tang San seemed to want to ease the tension by bringing up their time at the Shrek Academy.

Speaking of Dean Flender's stinginess, Teacher Zhao Wuji's "training," Boss Dai's prestige, Fatty's sleazy nature... and the days they trained, fought, and laughed together.

Long-buried memories were awakened, and the wariness on Oscar's face was gradually replaced by a complex expression of reminiscence.

Although those years were tough, they were filled with pure camaraderie and the passion of striving.

For a moment, the eerie and cold atmosphere in the room seemed to be somewhat diluted by this nostalgic warmth.

However, warmth is always fleeting. Tang San's tone shifted, his gaze turning deep again, and he cut straight to the point. "Xiao Ao, I've come to you this time because I need your help. The continent is facing a catastrophe; extraterrestrial demons are lurking, intending to destroy everything. The Spirit Hall... or rather, the current Spirit Hall Empire, may very well have these demons behind it. We must unite to fight them."

Oscar's expression of reminiscence froze instantly, and his eyes became serious.

He wasn't indifferent to the safety of the mainland, but years of wandering had made him more pragmatic. He carefully considered the comparison of strength between the two sides. The Spirit Hall Empire was currently at the height of its military power, unstoppable, with numerous powerful figures under its command, and also possessing a constant stream of new Soul Tool technologies.

As for Tang San... besides his own strangely powerful aura, he seemed to have only one silent companion in black robes.

As a level 59 food-type Soul Master, although I have some self-protection and support abilities, my role in this level of confrontation is negligible, and I might even become a burden.

As for Tang San's words about the extraterrestrial demons, Oscar directly used them as a pretext for resisting the Spirit Hall Empire.

"Third Brother," Oscar chose his words carefully, his tone gentle yet firm, "I really want to help you, but... I'm only level 59 right now, my strength is weak. Facing a behemoth like the Spirit Hall Empire, I'm afraid my power... won't be of much help, and might even be a burden to you."

What he said was reasonable and based on a rational judgment of reality.

However, upon hearing this answer, Tang San's face did not show disappointment or understanding. Instead, it displayed a calmness that seemed to have been expected, even carrying a hint of eerie knowingness.

He didn't try to persuade him further, but simply turned slightly to look at the black-robed man who had been standing silently behind him like a shadow.

"Wouldn't it have been better to do this earlier?" The man in black robes spoke with a hint of impatience.

Tang San stepped aside.

Oscar's alarm bells rang again. He instinctively took a half-step back, his muscles tensing, and stared warily at the approaching black-robed figure. "What do you want?"

The man in the black robe did not answer, but simply raised the hand wrapped in the black robe. The hand was so pale that it was devoid of any color, and dark lines seemed to be faintly flowing beneath the skin.

The next moment, Oscar only felt a blur before his eyes! The black-robed man's movements were so fast that they completely exceeded his perception limits. He didn't even see how the other party moved before that cold hand was already gently pressed on the top of his head!

"Ugh--!!!"

It wasn't a physical attack, but a tsunami-like torrent of information that forcefully poured into his mind!

That's not knowledge, that's memory!

A multitude of vivid memories, as if they were his own personal experiences, were forcibly crammed in!

Chapter 303 Improvement and Side Effects

Tang San watched as Oscar painfully processed the implanted memories, and a glimmer of expectation flashed in his eyes as he assumed his former brother had rediscovered his "true" self.

He spoke again, his voice deliberately softened. "Little Ao, now you understand, right? We need you, the continent needs you. Come back and help me, just like before."

He was full of confidence, with the memory of fighting side by side for "tens of thousands of years" as a foundation, and Oscar would definitely agree.

However, Oscar had just recovered from the shock of that massive memory, his back was soaked with cold sweat, and his head was still throbbing. He couldn't hear what Tang San had said at all.

He leaned against the wall, slowly adjusting his breathing, trying to temporarily suppress those chaotic memories that contradicted reality.

It took him quite a while to truly recover. While the memories of a god spanning countless years are indeed vast, Oscar's character had already been tempered and refined through years of experience.

He quickly grasped the core of the reality—the gap in strength.

Unlike Tang San, Tang San seemingly bumpy journey was filled with opportunities that ultimately led him to godhood, Oscar, as a food-type Soul Master, lacked combat abilities and wandered alone, experiencing many harsh realities and setbacks.

He is very clear about his own position and limitations.

"Third Brother," Oscar's voice was a little hoarse, but his eyes had regained their clarity, even carrying a hint of helplessness and detachment, "As you can see, I'm only level fifty-nine now. I... haven't consumed any Immortal Herb, so my cultivation speed will only slow down in the future. Becoming Titled Douluo might be an unattainable dream for me..."

He paused, looked directly into Tang San's now deep-set eyes, and stated his assessment. "With my current strength, joining you in your fight against the Spirit Hall Empire would probably... be of little help, and would only be a burden."

After he finished speaking his mind, he felt as if a burden had been lifted, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief. At least he remained clear-headed and didn't let those instilled memories and so-called friendships cloud his judgment.

Tang San's face instantly darkened. He really hadn't expected that Oscar would still refuse after "restoring his memories"! This was completely different from what he had anticipated.

"Xiao Ao, how can you say that?" Tang San's tone carried a hint of urgency and dissatisfaction. "Your Soul Skill is extremely powerful; it's top-tier support! With your sausage support, our combat power can be greatly enhanced. The role of a food-type support Soul Master is never measured by level!"

He tried to persuade Oscar.

Oscar listened to these words with a numb feeling in his heart. He finally couldn't help but interrupt Tang San's persuasion and asked, "Little San, do you know how many years it takes for a food-type Soul Master to cultivate to the Titled Douluo through normal means?"

He pointed to himself, "And, if I remember correctly, Sea God Island... seems to be gone too." This means that the divine trials and opportunities that could quickly improve one's strength in the previous life may not exist in this life.

Food-type Soul Master cultivate slowly to the point that without external support, how could Oscar possibly grow so quickly to the point where he could participate in battles of this level? Not to mention that in this life he doesn't even have a Mirror Image Soul Skill to protect himself; if he were to join the fray, he would only be a burden on the battlefield.

Oscar's words were like a bucket of cold water, making Tang San calm down a bit. He had to pull himself out of the joy of the reunion and the expectation of "brothers" and face this practical problem.

"Xiao Ao, you really... are only level 59?" Tang San's tone carried a hint of doubt, as if he found it hard to accept that his former brother-in-arms was now so "weak".

Oscar didn't say much, and directly released his Martial Soul. A crystal-clear sausage appeared in his hand, and five Soul Ring rose from his feet, surrounding his body, clearly demonstrating his strength as a Soul King.

Seeing the real Soul Ring, the last glimmer of hope in Tang San's eyes vanished. He sighed, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him—disappointment at Oscar's "disappointment" and a sense of melancholy about his own fate.

"I'm already Titled Douluo..."

The thought flashed through his mind for a moment. But then, he froze. He finally remembered where his terrifying strength, which far exceeded the norm, came from...

It was the transformation by the Rakshasa God, the rapid advancement achieved by constantly devouring the lives and souls of Soul Beast and others!

Just as Tang San fell into silence and struggle, the man in black robes beside him had already lost patience. He had no connection with Oscar, and his purpose in coming here was not to reminisce.

"This isn't something we're discussing with you!" The black-robed man's hoarse, metallic voice rang out, carrying an undeniable force. His cold gaze locked onto Oscar. "You have to come with us today."

He paused, his tone carrying an unsettling certainty. "As for your Soul Power Level, don't worry. We have our own methods... to help you level up 'quickly'."

However, he did not specify what side effects that method might have.