Wait, What Did You Call Her?

Although Jiang Hao could borrow his clones' Martial Souls, his clones could not borrow one another's.

It was like being possessed by a ghost, except they could not possess one another.

As for their Soul Power Levels, a night of testing had shown that whenever one of them advanced, everyone else's Soul Power Level rose to match.

If one person reached level twelve, they all reached level twelve.

This was an enormous advantage. It meant even Martial Souls with poor natural talent could acquire Soul Rings without trouble, giving his clones the ability to fight.

Good. In that case, I'll train hard before we leave!

Shrek Academy, Sea God Lake.

Time flew. A week passed in the blink of an eye.

It had been three days since the date Qian Duoduo had set for hunting Soul Rings, but there was still no sign of him.

Jiang Hao was in no hurry. Ignoring the voices in his head, he brewed a pot of hot tea and poured a cup for the man across from him.

"I didn't expect Dean Yan to remember me. I thought you'd forgotten all about me after that day. What brings you here this time?"

"Oh, enough, kid. You've inherited that whole manner of your father's—cold as ice, with never a word out of place."

Yan Shaozhe lifted his teacup and blew on it gently. Ever since Jiang Hao had awakened a Body Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power, the more Yan Shaozhe looked at him, the more he liked him.

"I'll get straight to it. Old Qian's busy and has gone out, so I'll take you to hunt Soul Beasts."

"My adoptive father went out?"

Jiang Hao was puzzled. Qian Duoduo would never break his word to him at a time like this. Old Qian always kept his promises. Something's fishy!

"No wonder I haven't been able to find him these past few days. Looks like he's spotted another treasure somewhere and gone to the Auction House to bid for it."

Seeing understanding dawn on Jiang Hao's face, Yan Shaozhe smiled too.

"Child, you're still young. Don't go around acting cold as ice all day. It's really not good for you. I've brought a girl to introduce to you today, so smile!"

"And Old Qian was lucky this time. If my Xiaotao didn't also need a Soul Ring, I never would've agreed to this for a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins."

"Xiaotao, come here! Let me introduce you. This kid is the adopted son of that old bastard Qian Duoduo."

At Yan Shaozhe's call, a graceful figure in fiery red walked through the door, idly toying with an apple in her hand.

"Kid, this is my disciple Ma Xiaotao. You may have heard of her! You young people should get to know each other."

Yan Shaozhe smiled naturally, as though a weight had lifted from his shoulders.

Get to know each other, my ass. Yan Shaozhe never visits without a reason. He's definitely after something this time. He's only sought me out once before, just after Qian Duoduo brought me back. Since then, he's been practically invisible. Someone in my position could never even get to see him.

"Hello, I'm Ma Xiaotao! Sixth-year student of the Outer Court, Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, level forty Quasi-Soul Ancestor."

Ma Xiaotao folded her arms, looking as though she could barely be bothered to speak. It made Jiang Hao inexplicably angry. I haven't done anything to you. Who's that dead-fish face for?

"Right. Got it!"

Sensing the awkwardness, Yan Shaozhe broke the silence. He did not want this marriage match ruined before it had begun.

The group soon set off from Sea God Island. Just as they left Sea God Pavilion and reached the Outer Court, they saw the person Jiang Hao least wanted to meet.

A slovenly figure, the reek of alcohol detectable from afar, straggling white hair, and a greasy chicken leg.

"The Supreme Elder! What's he doing here?"

Cries of alarm rang through Jiang Hao's mind, followed by a chorus of groans.

"Running into Xuan Zi on the way out is worse than running into a ghost."

"Nothing good ever comes of meeting him."

Xuan Zi had clearly spotted the three approaching him too.

"Heading out, Yan Shaozhe? And what are you doing with these two youngsters?"

Xuan Zi looked over the silent, icy-faced Jiang Hao and Ma Xiaotao, whom Yan Shaozhe had half shielded behind himself. Then he laughed heartily, without showing the slightest guilt at the sight of Jiang Hao.

"Are you heading out as well, Xuan Zi?"

Yan Shaozhe was puzzled. In his experience, Xuan Zi lived in comfort and did little but eat and laze around. Apart from his strength, Yan Shaozhe could think of little to admire about him.

"I'm taking some disciples out to hunt Soul Rings. I recently heard there's a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear in the Star Dou Great Forest, and the academy happened to have a Soul Beast hunting mission, so I took it. The meat of that Soul Beast is exceptionally delicious. I might as well try my luck while I'm out."

"And you?"

Hearing that Xuan Zi was going Soul Hunting left Yan Shaozhe deeply uneasy, but he explained anyway. "Xiaotao is about to enter the Inner Court. I wanted to take her out myself to find a suitable Soul Beast for her fourth Soul Ring. As for Jiang Hao, Qian Duoduo has been busy lately and asked me to help him hunt one too. Nothing important, Xuan Zi."

Xuan Zi stared at Jiang Hao and Ma Xiaotao, took a long swig of cheap liquor, and rolled his eyes in thought. Then he chuckled, swept a sleeve aside, and stroked his beard in what he evidently thought was a dashing pose.

"Perfect. Leave these two youngsters to me. The academy can't go a day without its dean. As the dean of Shrek Academy, you ought to set an example. How can you go running off everywhere? Putting the academy's students at risk for your own selfish reasons—I'll have to give you a proper scolding for that! Leave the children to me and go without worry. I guarantee I'll bring them back alive~"

Though reluctant, Yan Shaozhe took Ma Xiaotao aside and gave her a few instructions. Jiang Hao could not hear what he said.

In the end, Xuan Zi hauled both Jiang Hao and Ma Xiaotao into his group.

That's another death sentence for him in my book. Xuan Zi's a walking disaster. I'll have to be extra careful.

A day later, Xuan Zi left the group.

Within the Star Dou Great Forest.

Jiang Hao was kept in the middle of the group. Ma Xiaotao, by contrast, seemed much more at ease without Xuan Zi getting in the way. She appeared to know several of the other students and chatted with them throughout the journey, nothing like the icy way she treated strangers.

"Lexuan, once I break through level forty, I can enter the Inner Court. As soon as I pass, I'll come find you there. Then we can have a fight."

"All right. I'll be waiting, Junior Sister."

Nearby, the aloof senior student who had said nothing and simply listened to Ma Xiaotao talk about her everyday life answered gently.

Ma Xiaotao really does deserve the name Flame Maniac. She thinks having a fight counts as playing. Wait—Zhang Lexuan! Xuan Zi! The Star Dou Great Forest!