"May I Ask, Teacher, Are You Zhou Yi?"

"All right, Banner Bro, don't hold it against him.

Stay safe out there until the Thirty-Person Group is officially formed.

I'll have them send you some supplies. You'll have to tough it out for now."

"Hoe Bro's Martial Soul is a hoe. He's a natural at breaking new ground."

"In that case, I approve. Go to the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest as the chief caretaker and take charge of farming!"

Only when there was land to farm would people gather nearby and be willing to make their homes there.

Once there were people, business would follow. Only then could it be called a town!

Jiang Hao patted Hoe Bro on the shoulder and pinned a large red flower to his chest. "This is crucial. The organization has high hopes for you."

"What? You want me to farm?

You think I'm just a farmer?"

"What's wrong with farmers? Farmers put food in your belly!"

"Keep looking down on farmers and we'll tear your mouth off, see if we don't!"

The hot-tempered Flame Bro strode over and wrapped both hands around Hoe Bro's neck.

He wondered whether he should lighten the burden on that old scoundrel Main Body's Spiritual Sea today.

"All right, stop fooling around. Flame Bro, you're going with Hoe Bro."

"As for the third person, I need someone good at running things.

Which Spiritual Soul Master is willing to go?"

"How about me?" From among the many Clones around Jiang Hao, one with a gentle disposition slowly stepped forward.

After Brother Tree altered his appearance, he had gained an even cooler air.

"Main Body~ My Martial Soul is an owl~ A Brown Wood Owl!"

"My First Soul Skill analyzes weaknesses and openings, so I can spot gaps in business ventures. Let me go!"

"Besides, mine is an independent Martial Soul. I'm destined to be of little use in direct combat."

"I might as well take charge of logistics from now on!"

As Owl Bro spoke, an owl settled quietly on his shoulder. Its wings beat without making a sound.

Its feathers were brown from head to tail, the same color as tree bark.

Its two hollow, pitch-black eyes seemed to pierce the soul.

"Beans is nocturnal. He can stand watch for everyone at night, too."

Owl Bro stroked the owl on his shoulder, his eyes full of affection.

"Good. Then it's the three of you.

Tomorrow I'll find a chance to leave the city and have Training Bro meet up with you.

His Martial Soul can tame wild beasts and low-age Soul Beasts for his own use.

The four of you will manage the Thirty-Person Group. The thirty people scattered through the forest will answer to you as well."

As he spoke, Jiang Hao walked over to Pagoda Bro, with Sword Bro beside him.

"I'm sure you two know what I have in mind.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the wealthiest sect on the original continent. Even ten thousand years ago, it was said to be rich enough to rival a nation.

After ten thousand years of accumulation, its wealth must have grown into something monstrous.

And your Martial Souls are a perfect fit. One is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda they've always longed for; the other is a Sword Martial Soul from their ten-thousand-year legacy.

It may not be the Seven Kill Sword, but it comes with Innate Full Soul Power. I doubt they'd turn away a genius who showed up at their door."

"Ice Sword Bro, escort Pagoda Bro to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I'm leaving you the task of studying there and swindling them out of funds.

I'll set aside this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone for you. Once you've done an outstanding job, I'll hand it over.

Giving it to you now would be too dangerous.

There are too many eyes and ears in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Who knows what risks you might run into?"

"Okay, okay, leave it to me.

Hurry up and let me go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to swindle some spending money out of them.

I've had enough of living poor. Stuck in the mental space, I can't even feel hungry. I might as well be dead."

Ice Sword Bro laughed heartily and summoned his Martial Soul. The three-foot sword rang out with a clear, ethereal note.

A deep-yellow Soul Ring slowly rose around him.

"Had the Ice Empress Sword never been born, the path of the sword would have remained an endless night! From this day forth, this sword shall be named Ice Empress!"

After laying out every plan and task, Jiang Hao withdrew from the mental world.

Not even an hour had passed outside.

But now he couldn't sleep.

Then I'll cultivate!

Banner Bro was still working hard out there. In just a few days, his Soul Power had risen another level.

If Jiang Hao recalled Banner Bro into his body now, all his Clones would share that progress and break through to level sixteen.

But the risk was too great. The aura of the Undead was palpable from a distance. If even a trace clung to him, Shrek's elders would probably discover him at once.

In that case, I'll focus on cultivating.

Jiang Hao circulated his Soul Power, drawing in the free-floating energy in the air to fill his Martial Soul.

His pulsing heart swallowed the surrounding Soul Power like a black hole.

It slowly sent a small portion into his bloodstream, while absorbing most of it to improve the quality of his Soul Bone.

The next morning.

Jiang Hao slowly stopped and breathed out a mouthful of stale air.

With the heart External Soul Bone, his cultivation speed had increased enormously.

He was at the stage of life when his Soul Power Level would rise fastest.

He expected to break through to level sixteen in less than a month.

Next, he needed to send out the Clones he had assigned tasks to.

Then he would rent a place in Shrek City.

His mind made up, Jiang Hao got up, washed, and stepped out of the little courtyard on Sea God Island.

He found his battered little boat by the lake, stepped aboard, and used his Soul Power to drive it across the water toward Shrek Outer Court.

The moment he reached shore, Jiang Hao sensed something was different.

Shrek Academy was livelier than usual today.

Electronic billboards all around displayed slogans welcoming new students.

Looks like it's enrollment time for a new batch of Shrek students. The Outer Court will probably be busy for the next couple of days. He headed toward the Soul Tool Department.

He intended to move out, so he had to tell Qian Duoduo and Xian Ling'er. Otherwise, it would be terribly rude of him as their junior.

But just as he passed Shrek Academy's teaching building, a sharp voice stopped him.

"Stop! What class are you in? You're not even wearing your uniform. School started days ago! You have no respect for the rules."

The aged, drawn-out voice carried across the plaza, drawing everyone's eyes to Jiang Hao.

Because of his Body Martial Soul, Jiang Hao was much shorter than ordinary people.

Among the ten-, eleven-, and twelve-year-olds, he looked malnourished and underdeveloped.

He was a head shorter than they were.

Jiang Hao slowly turned around.

It's no surprise she mistook me for a student. Once she gets a good look at me, the misunderstanding should clear up, right?

Quite a few teachers in the Outer Court knew Jiang Hao, since he was Qian Duoduo's Adopted Son.

He rarely interacted with outsiders, but at least some of them ought to recognize him.

Yet when Jiang Hao turned and saw the woman's outfit, he froze. Her face looked old, and she wore glasses.

She wore the white robe of a senior Outer Court teacher. Don't tell me this woman is Zhou Yi?

Jiang Hao looked her up and down and asked in puzzlement, "You don't recognize me?"

At that, Zhou Yi's expression hardened. She squeezed a few words through her teeth.

"Why should I recognize you?"

"Which family are you from? What arrogance. What do you think this place is?"

"This is Shrek Academy. Spoiled children of powerful families don't get to run wild here."

"What's your name? Who's your homeroom teacher? Tell me. You won't be going to class today. You're expelled."

The smooth little combo left Jiang Hao stunned. First she slapped a label on him, then claimed the moral high ground. It was the old guard's playbook.

"May I ask, teacher, are you Zhou Yi?"

Jiang Hao sounded puzzled, making no effort to look respectful.

Zhou Yi heard him.

"Hmph. If you know who I am, you should know that I, Zhou Yi, am known for my fairness in the Outer Court.

And I'm the strictest teacher here. By not wearing your uniform, you've tarnished Shrek's honor.

A student who won't follow the rules is no student of Shrek.

Write a ten-thousand-word self-criticism, then go to the Outer Court's disciplinary director and tell him I expelled you."

Hearing Zhou Yi confirm it, Jiang Hao felt helpless. Her husband, Fan Yu, was a rising star in Shrek's Soul Tool Department.

And Jiang Hao was the Adopted Son of the dean and vice dean of that same department. Even if they rarely crossed paths, she ought to recognize him on sight.

How can you be his wife and never even have heard of me?

You don't recognize me, yet you're arrogant enough to demand my expulsion the moment you open your mouth.

If you want to expel me, I'd need a student ID for you to expel first.

Jiang Hao curled his lips, unwilling to deal with this madwoman, and continued toward the Soul Tool Department.

Zhou Yi realized she was being ignored.

"Stop right there! No respect for the rules!" The pressure of a Six-Ring Soul Emperor burst from her.

It bore down on Jiang Hao. The instant he sensed the threat, the more than twenty defensive Soul Tools on his body activated one after another.

The level-four Soul Tool Absolute Defense effortlessly canceled out the pressure from the level-sixty Soul Emperor. The commotion quickly drew attention from around the academy.

Students crowded around, including some Jiang Hao knew.

Whoa. The old demon Zhou Yi has kicked an iron plate this time. Those two are going head-to-head.

One male student whispered an explanation to the girl beside him, who wore a new student's uniform. "That kid is Vice Dean Qian Duoduo's Adopted Son.

Of all the people old demon Zhou Yi could have picked, she picked him. He's got the strongest backing in the Outer Court. No one's connections are tougher than his."