No, It Can't Be-Why Is This Turning into Such a Cliché?

"Xiaozi Bro, there are so many people in your group. I don't even know who to pick! Help me choose some." Xiaoxiao pouted as she handed over the entire Roster. It contained information on sixty Clones, not including those who ran the permanent stalls at the Thirty-Person Group's base.

Jiang Hao did not dare put too many Clones on the Roster. The group would look far too large, and that could cause trouble. Sixty was just about right for a top-tier Soul Hunting organization, and the number would hold up even if someone investigated them.

Xiaozi Bro took the Roster, flipped through a couple of pages, and said confidently to Xiaoxiao, "Since choosing is too hard for you, I'll put together a well-balanced team that can coordinate in forest combat. I'll assign you ten Power Attack System Soul Masters with Beast Martial Souls, including one with a high-quality Wild Boar Martial Soul and one with a Thousand Jun Ant Martial Soul.

"Five Control System and five Defense System Soul Masters, though most of the control types have plant Martial Souls.

"Two Food Type Soul Masters. The rest will specialize in healing and the Support System.

"I'll get them all in place today. After a night's rest, we'll set out first thing tomorrow morning."

Owl Bro handed the booklet back to Xiaoxiao. She greeted him politely, bowed, then skipped toward the stairs at the side.

"The upper floors are all finished guest rooms. People passing through who need a rest stay here, as do most people arranging carriage rentals or traveling with a team."

"That's also where we make most of our money."

Owl Bro spoke with enthusiasm, and Jiang Hao was pleased with everything he saw along the way.

The building's layout, the staff assignments, and the way the stalls were arranged and rotated were all expertly handled. Owl Bro truly had a knack for business.

"Then we'll set out tomorrow. Once we enter the forest, we'll hunt a suitable Soul Ring for Xiaoxiao.

"Roll-Up Bro, you'll leave the team then. We'll have him escort you back before returning to meet up with you and Banner Bro." As Owl Bro spoke, he began calling names in the Spiritual Sea.

Soul Masters from around the market came over. There were only twelve of them; the rest would have to emerge from Jiang Hao's Sea of Consciousness.

"Finally, we get to go out! It's been almost half a month since I last went anywhere. I'm going to have all the fun I can this time!" A Clone rejoiced wildly in the Sea of Consciousness.

The others looked displeased. "Why wasn't I picked to protect them this time?

"I refuse to accept it! Main Body Old Rogue, I want to go too! Let me protect you and Xiaoxiao!

"My Martial Soul is the Food Type Great Longevity Peach, and my First Soul Skill heals. One taste of my healing will make you feel amazing."

"Get lost, you sissy! When did Main Body Old Rogue produce an idiot like you?

"Old Rogue, why don't you kill him? He's a bad influence."

"All right, take it easy. Just don't kill anyone." Jiang Hao went upstairs and shut his door. Ignoring the many Clones arguing and brawling in the Spiritual Sea, he fell peacefully asleep. His head was noisy every day; by now, he had built up Magic Resistance.

In a small corner of the Spiritual Sea, Training Bro went in and stared in surprise at the Gem Lanternfish, which was barely clinging to life. "How is this thing still alive? I thought you'd sucked it dry ages ago."

The Gem Lanternfish lay limp on the surface of the Spiritual Sea. Nearly a month of depletion had worn him down. Although restorative Soul Skills had forcibly kept his spiritual body alive, he had lost the ability to absorb Soul Power from the world. He was spending more than he took in, and now his last reserves were almost gone.

Training Bro had just laid a hand on him to begin taming him when the entire Gem Lanternfish burst apart, crumbled to powder, and vanished.

"What a shame. I thought I could get myself a new mount to play with." With his plans ruined, Training Bro submitted a request to leave the Spiritual Sea and appeared in a patch of bushes two hundred meters from Jiang Hao's room.

He shook out his clothes, looked around, dusted himself off, and walked out of the bushes.

A young woman watching from the shadows in the distance saw it all. That's the man who pulled the carriage before. No mistake.

Jiang Hao really does know them. What else is he hiding from us?

By now, the joy Zhang Lexuan had felt when she found Training Bro and successfully reached the Thirty-Person Group was gone. She had fallen into deep silence and suspicion.

She wondered how someone who had never even attended Shrek Academy could have gotten to know such a large group of Soul Masters so quickly.

To gather more useful information, she decided to remain in hiding. She had already stayed nearly a month; a few more days would make little difference.

In his dream, Jiang Hao lived in utter luxury, with someone tucked under each arm, fine wine at his lips, and grapes beside him. But soon,

a sensation like his mind and body splitting apart spread through him.

A rooster crowed somewhere. Jiang Hao opened his eyes and saw a man lying beside him, wrapped in something from head to toe. "Main Body Old Rogue, nice to meet you! Hello, hello."

A young boy who looked almost exactly like Jiang Hao appeared there and promptly wished him good morning. "All right, I'll take you back in first. Hah, have someone in the Spiritual Sea get you some clothes, and ask Tree Bro to adjust your face and build."

As always, Jiang Hao arranged the daily task of welcoming a new arrival.

He quickly got up, dressed, and went downstairs.

Outside the main hall, the sun had just risen, and there were hardly any people around.

As soon as Jiang Hao came downstairs, he saw Xiaoxiao sitting at a table by the entrance, drinking tea out of boredom.

He had not expected to see Xiaoxiao there. But judging by the quality of her Martial Soul, she should not have come from an ordinary family. Her comfortable attire, too, made her look like a young lady from a wealthy household.

How could her family be unable to hunt a Soul Beast for her, leaving her to find a Soul Hunting team herself?

Don't tell me this is another clichéd plot?

Jiang Hao walked over and sat across from Xiaoxiao. "Hello. You don't look like you come from a modest household. Why did you come out alone to hunt Soul Beasts? Is your family really comfortable letting you do that?"

As Jiang Hao spoke, Xiaoxiao's expression grew tense. What do I do? Has he guessed I came out behind my family's backs?

Will he stop me from going, or even take me home?

That would be the end of it. I want to cultivate my Flute Martial Soul first, but everyone at home wants me to cultivate the Cauldron first. If they find out I want to add a Soul Ring to my Martial Soul, won't they beat me to death?