Oscar is about to break through!

Li Yusong continued:

"Fu Wen's first soul ring is exactly four hundred and thirty years old."

"Although it is only a few years above the limit, this already proves that his physical constitution far exceeds that of an ordinary person."

"You must understand that ordinary soul masters wouldn't even dare to easily attempt a four-hundred-year soul ring."

"Yet Fu Wen not only absorbed it, but also increased his soul power by three levels in one go."

"This is the gap in talent."

Oscar nodded repeatedly as he listened.

The first soul ring he absorbed was exactly four hundred years old.

It fell within the limit range.

Li Yusong glanced at him and continued:

"Of course, talent is only one aspect."

"Acquired effort is equally important."

"If you lack talent and do not work hard, you are wasting your life."

"If you have enough talent but do not know how to cherish it, you are squandering heaven's gifts."

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

Fu Wen and Oscar replied in unison.

In the afternoon, it was Zhao Wuji's practical combat class.

Calling it a practical combat class was really just a euphemism for a beating.

Zhao Wuji's martial soul is the Vajra Bear, a power-type Soul Saint.

His teaching method was simple.

"I will stand still. Both of you come at me together. If you can make me move even half a step, you win."

The result was predictable.

Fu Wen and Oscar were beaten until they were black and blue.

But every time they were beaten, both of them could feel their own progress.

Especially Fu Wen.

Every time he sparred with Zhao Wuji, he learned something new.

How to exert force, how to borrow force, how to find an opponent's flaws, how to look for counterattack opportunities while at a disadvantage...

These were things that couldn't be learned from books; they could only be mastered through actual combat.

"Alright, that's it for today."

Zhao Wuji clapped his hands.

"Xiao Ao, your strength is still too weak. Go back and train more."

"Xiao Wen, your attack style is too monotonous. You need to learn to be flexible."

"You can't always rely on brute force to clash head-on, right? What will you do if you encounter a soul master with high speed and technique? No matter how strong your attack is, if you can't hit them, it's completely useless."

"And what will you do if you encounter an opponent with greater strength and a higher level than you?"

Fu Wen nodded thoughtfully.

After dinner, the sky had already darkened.

Fu Wen and Oscar returned to the dormitory to prepare for their medicinal bath.

This was a habit they had started three months ago.

Fu Wen had found a medicinal bath formula in an ancient book, specifically for strengthening the body and tempering the muscles and bones.

The medicinal herbs were not expensive, but the effects were excellent.

Combined with the practice of the Innate Divine Crocodile Art, it was even more complementary.

"Xiao Wen, where did you say you learned this medicinal bath formula?"

Oscar soaked in the wooden barrel, humming in comfort.

"Read it in a book."

Fu Wen leaned against the edge of the barrel, eyes closed.

"What book? How come I've never seen it?"

"You don't read books, so of course you haven't seen it."

"..."

Oscar was speechless.

He truly didn't like reading.

Usually, if he could take in half of Li Yusong's theory lessons, that would be considered good.

Unlike Fu Wen, who listened with extreme focus during every class and would even borrow books from Li Yusong after class ended.

"You're a Power Attack System Battle Spirit Master, so why do you love reading even more than me, a Food System one?"

Oscar couldn't fathom it.

"Knowledge is power."

Fu Wen opened his eyes and glanced at Oscar.

"You wouldn't understand."

"Fine, fine, fine. You understand, you understand everything."

Oscar rolled his eyes and stopped talking.

After soaking in the medicinal bath for an hour, the two climbed out of the wooden barrels, dried their bodies, and put on clean clothes.

Fu Wen sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Innate Divine Crocodile Art.

His spirit power flowed slowly through his body, following a specific path, penetrating his limbs, bones, and internal organs.

One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...

With every cycle, his spirit power became a fraction purer, and his body grew a fraction tougher.

This feeling was very comfortable.

It was like soaking in warm water, or being enveloped by an invisible force.

Fu Wen's breathing gradually steadied, and he entered an ethereal state.

Oscar also sat on his own bed and began to circulate his meditation technique.

His meditation technique was different from Fu Wen's.

Although Flender had also taught Fu Wen a basic meditation technique, Fu Wen had never used it again after he began cultivating the Innate Divine Crocodile Art.

The Innate Divine Crocodile Art was of a higher grade than any other meditation technique.

Flender had noticed this as well.

On that night three months ago, Flender had sensed the anomaly when Fu Wen was cultivating.

He didn't ask too many questions, only offering a word of caution.

"No matter what technique you are cultivating, you must know your limits and not be too eager for success."

Fu Wen had taken it to heart.

That was why he controlled his time during every session, ensuring he didn't overexert himself.

Time ticked away, second by second.

One hour, two hours, three hours...

Four hours later, Fu Wen opened his eyes.

The speed of his spirit power circulation slowed down, and his body sent out a signal.

He had reached his limit.

If he continued to cultivate, it would not only yield no benefits but would actually damage his body.

Fu Wen exhaled a breath of stale air and stretched his somewhat stiff body.

Crack! Crack!

His bones emitted crisp sounds, like popping beans.

Over these past three months, he had heard this sound after every cultivation session.

From his initial surprise to his current indifference, Fu Wen had grown accustomed to it.

He glanced at Oscar nearby.

Oscar was still cultivating, his brows slightly furrowed, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.

It looked like he was at a critical moment.

Fu Wen didn't disturb him; he stepped off the bed lightly and walked to the window.

He pushed the window open, and the night breeze blew in, carrying a hint of chill.

Looking up, the sky was filled with stars, dazzling and bright.

Fu Wen took a deep breath, feeling the power surging within his body.

Level sixteen.

Three months, from level thirteen to level sixteen.

A speed of almost one level per month.

It didn't sound fast, considering he possessed Innate Full Soul Power and had gained three levels on the day of his awakening.

But Fu Wen knew this speed was already remarkably fast.

In the cultivation of a soul master, the further one progressed, the slower it became.

At the first-ring stage, it was considered good for an ordinary person to gain two or three levels in a year.

His pace of one level per month already marked him as a genius among geniuses.

Moreover, he was not just cultivating soul power.

His physical body and soul were improving in tandem.

The cultivation speed of the Innate Divine Crocodile Art was even faster than he had anticipated.

At this rate, I will be able to break through to the second ring in a few more months.

Fu Wen clenched his fist, silently calculating in his mind.

However, he also knew that he could not be overly eager for success.

On the path of cultivation, haste makes waste.

Steady progress was the only true way.

After a while, Oscar opened his eyes.

He gasped for air, his face showing signs of exhaustion, yet his eyes held a hint of excitement.

"Xiao Wen, I feel... I feel like I'm about to break through!"

"Really?"

Fu Wen turned around to look at Oscar.

"Really!"

Oscar nodded vigorously.

"Just a little bit more, I feel like that barrier is about to be pierced!"

"Maybe it will be tomorrow, maybe the day after!"

"In any case, it will be within these next few days!"