This time, everyone's eyes turned toward him.
Oscar's gaze swept over each face, and he spoke softly.
"Sister Wen Hua was caught up in a feud between noble factions, and her entire family was wiped out.
"Zhao Yin's younger sister was only seven years old when she was kidnapped for her cute looks. According to the investigation, a noble bought her at an auction house. She still hasn't been found.
"Sun Hai had both legs broken by nobles because the candied hawthorns he sold were too sweet. Zhou Chang... Wu Zheng... Liu Wen...
"Even I was adopted by the Shrek principal when I was young, but I once secretly returned to the place where I was born.
"That was when I learned those bastards had driven my parents to their deaths!"
As Oscar recounted one incident after another, everyone's eyes reddened.
"Everyone here has suffered at the hands of the nobles. They look down on us commoners, on us peasants.
"They wantonly toy with everything, trample our dignity, and destroy the happiness we once had!
"But they're too arrogant. They can't be bothered to kill us!"
At that, Oscar changed tack and rose to his feet.
"But that's also why we survived!
"Zhou Chang, Wu Zheng, Liu Wen, you may have only obtained your First Soul Ring, but they're all standard hundred-year rings. At the rate you're cultivating now, it'll take only a little time to catch up with those noble scions.
"Though Sun Hai's legs haven't healed yet, he's already reached the Soul Grandmaster rank. His Halo Martial Soul can empower hundreds of people!
"Though Sister Wen Hua lost many years, she's now a Soul Elder!
"Uncle Li has recovered his meridians and regained his Soul Douluo strength!"
Though Oscar was only ten, there seemed to be an unbelievable strength in his very bones. It was why everyone was willing to believe in him and follow him to their deaths.
"Sky Net was founded a year ago. Some of you were brought in by my adoptive father, Flender. You all share the same ideal: to fight for the rights of commoner soul masters.
"Others were already oppressed by nobles, torn from their families, left homeless, and driven onto the streets.
"We now have the ability to wipe out the scum who hurt us once and for all."
Oscar's voice paused for a moment.
"But... the time isn't right yet. I don't want you consumed by hatred, and I don't want us to settle for taking revenge on a few nobles.
"This tragedy hasn't happened only to us. It's happened to thousands upon thousands of commoners!
"What's truly evil is this filthy world, this filthy system!
"An age of chaos is already taking shape. The princes of the Star Luo Empire are vying for the throne, and the Heaven Dou Empire is in turmoil. We have a chance to do something for this world.
"Our task is to make sure justice reaches everyone, overturn this society, and destroy every last bastard hiding in the shadows!"
Oscar strode forward, seized three incense sticks from the stand in the middle of the courtyard, and thrust them into the burner before him.
"For a new age, I'll burn my shattered body and kindle the holy flame! What joy is there in life? What suffering is there in death? To do good and purge evil—all for the light!"
"I'll burn my shattered body and kindle the holy flame! What joy is there in life? What suffering is there in death? To do good and purge evil—all for the light!"
Their voices rang through the courtyard. Flames burned in everyone's eyes.
They had once fallen into the abyss, but in Sky Net, they had seen the light.
They might be defeated, but so long as they planted a spark in people's hearts—
one day, it would become a prairie fire!
After leaving the blacksmith's shop, Oscar was still unsettled.
In his distant memories, he had once gone home with the principal to pay respects to his parents. But he hadn't yet experienced life beyond the academy, and he hadn't understood the looks the villagers gave him.
But after he came back, something felt wrong.
A little over a year ago, he had left Shrek to pay his respects back home. After pressing for answers, he finally learned what had really happened all those years ago!
It made sense. By this world's standards, he was already quite handsome. How could his parents not have been good-looking, too?
Those bastards had taken a fancy to his mother's appearance and wanted to claim her for themselves. They had underestimated his parents' resolve. After hiding him in a water vat, his parents had taken their own lives!
After learning the truth, Oscar made up his mind to change the world, overthrow the nobility, and eradicate its scourge once and for all!
So he went to Flender. They talked all night, and Flender—who already loathed the nobility and had built Shrek Academy—hit it off with Oscar. Together, they founded Sky Net.
Beneath the cool moonlight, Oscar's white robe fluttered gently. His Refined Iron Longsword caught the moonlight, glinting with a hint of menace.
"Senior Brother, when you told me all that this morning, you weren't just trying to trick me out of my money, were you?"
Ma Hongjun, dressed in a black Taoist robe, poked his head out from behind a tree.
"Stop imagining things. Come on, let's go back and eat."
Oscar smacked Ma Hongjun on the head and led him toward Shrek Academy. In that moment, the hint of menace vanished like smoke.
"Have the principal and the others come back?"
Ruffling Ma Hongjun's hair, Oscar asked softly.
The Evil Soul Masters near Suotuo City had already been wiped out. If the principal and the others hadn't gone farther afield, they should have made it back to the academy by now.
"Wow, you're spot-on. They only just got back."
Ma Hongjun's tears of joy reluctantly trickled from the corners of his mouth, but he quickly wiped them clean.
"Looks like the principal and the others brought the junior quite a few good things?"
Oscar held out his hand to Ma Hongjun and wiggled his fingers.
"What do you mean? You just tricked money out of me, and now you want more?"
Ma Hongjun warily darted to the side, clutching the little pouch at his waist. When he saw Oscar coming closer, he hurriedly took another pouch out of it and tossed it over.
"This is the Storage Soul Guidance Device the principal got for you. There are some Soul Coins inside, too. Don't even think about asking for anything else. You trick me every single day!"
Oscar smiled as he opened it and took a look. Then he stuffed the newly forged refined iron sword inside, and, satisfied, tied the pouch to his waist. He beckoned Ma Hongjun over.
Ma Hongjun ran even farther away.
"What are you thinking? Your senior brother isn't trying to take it from you!"
Oscar was torn between laughter and tears at Ma Hongjun's antics. He supposed he'd been tricking the little guy too much lately.
"Really?"
"Really!"
Still suspicious, Ma Hongjun edged over, one hand firmly covering the treasure at his waist.
"Junior, my tenth birthday is coming up, and the new admissions are about to start, right?"
Ma Hongjun looked up at Oscar doubtfully before slowly answering.
"Yeah, probably next month. It's been two years since we last accepted anyone, and the principal and the others seem pretty anxious. Maybe they'll ease up on the entrance requirements this year."
"Easing them up probably won't happen, but we should have a junior joining us this year."
"Even if they accept someone, he'll be eleven or twelve, right? That makes him older than us. Shouldn't we call him senior brother?"
"When it comes to learning, it's never about who came first in age; it's about who's more skilled in a given field. That's all."
Oscar stroked his chin as he explained to Ma Hongjun.
"What does that mean? Senior Brother, why do you keep saying things I don't understand lately?"
Ma Hongjun was getting flustered, his snowy-white face turning bright red.
He had already used Taiji to cultivate his Phoenix Fire into Ultimate Fire. Among his peers, he was undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind genius. Yet, standing before Oscar, he always felt stupid.
"You can't judge someone's ability by their age. If there's something we can teach them, then we're their senior brother or their teacher."
Ma Hongjun nodded. This time, he understood.
"By the way, Senior Brother, the principal said someone wants to take you on as a disciple. I think his name was Grandmaster."
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