My Host Only Marries the Strong

In midair, the soul remnant jolted as if waking from a nightmare, thrashing wildly in a desperate struggle. Venerable Jing, still seated calmly at the chessboard, let out a cold laugh as he watched the two fragments nearly merge.

Then, without a sound, a stroke of black ink appeared in the air, as if an invisible hand had swept a calligraphy brush across the sky. He dramatically brushed the ink, writing one single word in bold strokes: “Prison.”

Among the fragments, the more solid spiritual consciousness froze rigidly, looking up at the ink character. The “Prison” word pressed down heavily, transforming into two cages that trapped both soul remnants.

Golden formations reappeared on the fragments as the imprisoned souls raged and cursed.

Echo said to Seraphine, “It doesn’t seem to have any dignity befitting a major villain.” So noisy. Was it actually a minor villain?

Seraphine said quietly, “Elder Uncle mentioned that fragmented souls undergo personality changes, but don’t underestimate it because of that. It’s only because Elder Uncle is here that we can subdue it so easily. These two fragments—one at the Soul Transformation stage, one at Void Refinement—are already among the world’s elite.”

If they were allowed to wreak havoc freely, there would already be rivers of blood. They remained hidden precisely because powerhouses like the Ink-Trace Venerable still existed.

No worries, I won’t underestimate them. Echo never looked down on villains—they’re important components of any story. She respects all humans, and even though she’s learned to play favorites now and doesn’t treat all plot characters besides her host equally like before, that doesn’t prevent her from respectfully dealing with opponents who would harm Seraphine.

The Ink-Trace Venerable waved his hand, and the ink cages transformed into chains that wrapped around the soul remnants. The fragments seemed to have hoods placed over them—no matter how much they shouted and screamed, no one outside could hear a sound.

“Oh dear,” Echo said. “I still had questions I wanted to ask them.”

Echo retrieved an identical jade box from her storage ring, opening it to reveal the same black ring as the one on the ground. In a calm voice, she said, “This was a gift the fragment asked Xue Bufan to give me, but when I opened it, there was nothing inside the ring…… Ah! Could the ring itself be the gift?”

“A bit stingy.” Echo observed.

Seraphine: “Tsk.”

Echo’s priorities never failed to disappoint. Google seaʀᴄh noⅴelfire.net

Venerable Jing frowned and dragged the fragments to the ground. The two soul remnants twisted and flickered like candles in the wind. Hearing Echo’s question, they only sneered coldly without responding.

Echo looked toward Xue Bufan.

Since the fragments emerged, the devastated Xue Bufan had been kneeling on the ground, looking utterly desolate—aged decades in an instant. He mumbled, “I don’t know…… Master—no, after he took the fragment from the box, he gave me the ring and box, saying there were other treasures in the ring that I must personally deliver to you.”

“This is your Master’s heartfelt intention.” The fragment’s hoarse voice seemed to echo in Xue Bufan’s ears, but thinking that this was a Nine Heavens Sect demon, and if he’d hidden something deadly in the ring—Xue Bufan squeezed his eyes shut, his face pale as he still couldn’t face reality.

Seraphine took the ring from Echo’s palm, her pale fingertips contrasting sharply with the black storage ring.

It looked so utterly ordinary, yet knowing Zhan Ye’s fragment had once resided within it…

Seraphine’s eyes turned cold, veins standing out on the back of her hand as golden-red spiritual energy surged forth, crushing the black ring to dust.

Seeing this, Echo quickly grabbed the other two rings and used Nine Heavens to stab them to pieces.

“Don’t be angry. I’ll help you clean up.” Echo said, taking Seraphine’s hand and blowing gently on her palm. Her breath carried the sweet scent of candy, blowing away the black fragments from her fingertips to fall into the earth below.

Seraphine’s expression softened slightly. She glanced at Xue Bufan and said coldly, “You and this fragment share such deep affection that you’re willing to search for soul remnants for him. You claim not to know why he wanted the ring delivered to Lingren, but do you know how many fragments he has total, and where they’re located?”

The previously passive fragment suddenly jumped up, threatening Xue Bufan: “Don’t tell them!”

Xue Bufan mumbled, “I truly don’t know why he wanted to give Senior Sister an empty ring, but I heard him say he divided his soul into five pieces, hidden in secret realms across the five continents. I found one after falling off the cliff in the Eastern Continent, found the second in the NanYang Continent, and I assume Venerable Jing holds the third from the Central Continent. The other two must be in the Westle Continent and Northern Border.”

“Xue Bufan, I saved your life and you dare betray me!” the soul remnant roared.

Xue Bufan’s eyes reddened as tears fell. He kowtowed to Venerable Jing. “I was obsessed with false hope, unable to believe my savior was evil. I nearly became an accomplice to great wrongdoing. Even if Venerable Jing strikes me down, I have nothing to say. But I truly didn’t know he was a Nine Heavens Sect demon, nor was I instructed to commit any evil acts. Please investigate clearly.”

Echo tilted her head, thinking: Xue Bufan wouldn’t die here.

Venerable Jing said nothing, looking down at the chessboard.

The white stones dominated while black stones were firmly suppressed but not eliminated. Jingxing sighed softly. “If I’m not mistaken, the demon kept you to collect fragments for him. When his soul reunites completely, that will be the day he possesses your body. Zhan Ye is deeply evil and cunning—not someone you could contend with. But you were indeed used by him and released his fragments.”

Venerable Jing continued, “I’ll suppress his soul remnants beneath the Dao Saint Statue with you as guardian. You cannot leave for a hundred years. Do you accept this punishment?”

See! Echo shook her joined hand with Seraphine, thinking: If he were the protagonist, he wouldn’t obediently stay trapped in one place for so long. There would be plot developments here. She decided to go back and organize all possible scenarios for Seraphine’s reference.

Just then, Seraphine suddenly said, “Elder Uncle, the soul remnant from the Twin Dragon Secret Realm tried to possess Lingren, and the demon instructed Xue Bufan to do the same to possess him. Since we could find the soul remnants, others might stumble upon them by chance. Now that the Five Continents Competition just ended, many cultivators came from the Northern Border and Westle Continent. Please investigate whether any disciples have been possessed.”

Venerable Jing nodded, looking at Seraphine with approval and smiling. “During the Five Continents Competition, all registered disciples were tested with Blue Jade Beads. No possessions were detected.”

Seraphine relaxed and nodded.

Venerable Jing stood up, tossing the fragments that were glaring at them malevolently into the air. Ink flashed as the fragments flew toward the Dao Saint Statue, light blazing as they were pressed beneath the mountain-high statue.

“You may go.” Jingxing told Xue Bufan.

Xue Bufan kowtowed twice, then rose and staggered away.

After he left, Seraphine said casually, “This punishment seems rather light.” If it were her, she wouldn’t trust Xue Bufan so easily. She’d control him with life-threatening artifacts, ready to end his life instantly if he showed any malicious intent.

But then again—this was the protagonist. Seraphine’s expression turned cold as she glanced at Echo standing relaxedlybeside her, mouth stuffed with candy again, looking quite content. If protagonists are all such foolish, indiscriminate idiots, whoever wants to be the protagonist can have it.

Noticing Seraphine’s displeasure with his decision, Jingxing explained gently, “There are formations I’ve placed beneath the Dao Saint Statue, so I’m not worried about him causing trouble. I’m just thinking that Zhan Ye was once all-powerful, yet now he’s been captured too easily. I suspect he may have other schemes behind this. Placing the fragments under the statue serves both as suppression and bait.”

We’d see who took the bait.

Still chewing candy, Echo said, “If that’s the case, I can help you hide the fragments.” She guaranteed no one could get to them.

Venerable Jing paused, then laughed. “You mean in the Twin Dragon Secret Realm?”

“But if I entrusted the fragments to you, I’d be even more worried.” Jingxing said gently.

Seraphine burst out laughing, quickly turning to see Echo’s expression.

Echo opened her mouth wide.

“Shocked!”

She’d always been the one commenting on others’ cultivation levels—this was the first time someone had questioned her abilities! Given that there was indeed a significant gap—like heaven and earth—between her cultivation and Jingxing’s in the short term, she temporarily accepted his assessment and explained, “It’s not my fault. This world just isn’t trying hard enough.”

It couldn’t provide her with 5,425 Spirit Hearts.

But speaking of Spirit Hearts, Echo finally had to handle the most important matter!

She pressed her palms together and said to Venerable Jing, “There’s a Void Refinement stage Stone Giant in the Twin Dragon Secret Realm that smashed up my secret realm. Could you please help deal with it?”

“In exchange, I’m willing to go easy on you for two games when we play chess later, though I don’t think you’ll beat me even if I hold back. But I’ll try my best to mmph mmph mmm……”

—Go easy!

Ah!

This familiar sensation—it had been so long since I’d felt it! Echo smiled and reached up to touch Seraphine’s hand.

Seraphine’s hand was so smooth and slippery. Echo petted it again.

Seraphine glared at Echo wordlessly. Speaking nonsense again!

But Jingxing laughed heartily. “Little friend, you’re quite amusing! Very well, I’m eager to experience your chess skills. However, it’s getting late today—I’ll invite you to play another day.”

Huh, no chess today?

Alright then.

Echo nodded and pulled out two small golden birds from her sleeve.

When they came to the academy, it was just Echo and Seraphine. When they returned, they had a pair of golden birds and Echo’s arms full of grain.

“Why did you pick all that?” Seraphine asked with some disdain. “It’s not as sweet as fruit.”

I needed to vary my diet! I’d take some back for Error to try. Echo stored the spiritual grain in her storage ring, keeping only two stalks to shell in her palm and offer to the golden birds.

The golden birds, pretending to peck at grain, said honestly, “Master, we do not consume human food.”

Didn’t that save a fortune on food? They were easier to care for than Error.

Echo smiled and popped the grain into her own mouth instead, then opened her palm. The golden birds flapped their wings and settled down, pecking at Echo’s palm. Golden light flashed, and a diamond-shaped stone lay peacefully in her hand.

Walking beside Echo, Seraphine whispered softly, “Spirit Heart.”

Ah, that familiar voice.

The little Spirit Heart—who had just been minding its own business, enjoying a nice meal in the spirit vein when suddenly the entire world decided to flip upside down and stay that way—shot upright in Echo’s palm. Two massive droplets of spiritual essence beaded on top of its tiny form.

Do you have any idea what I’ve been through these past few days?!

Spirit Heart almost died of fright!

The Spirit Heart launched itself toward Seraphine in a blur of sparkling tears, smacking right into her chest with a satisfying thwap. It let out a pitiful cry.

“Chirp—Mama!”

Seraphine froze mid-step, her hand halfway to the spirit container she’d been reaching for. Her face cycled through about seventeen different expressions in the span of two seconds.

What exactly had she just heard?

“Huh?” An exclamation point practically materialized above Echo’s head as she stared at Seraphine in shock. She spoke with deep concern: “Unmarried and pregnant, and a single mother? That’s…… that’s really tough!”

“What should we do about this? Let’s brainstorm some options!”

Echo curved her eyes into crescents again and spread her palm wide, materializing a glowing panel covered in names.

Come on now! All the young powerhouses of the realm are gathered here at the Insight Academy Palace. Tall, short, muscular, graceful—Seraphine, please feel free to choose from our extensive catalog!

[Author’s Note]:

Work Log…

World-changing events are minor matters. The most important thing is still the mission!

The Spirit Heart that can only say one word at a time: “Ma—ma! Sca—red—to—death!”

“Some people just can’t handle a surprise. Me? I thrive on it. Get a front-row seat to all the drama—20 chapters ahead at Pxtreon➡️LoveisLove520!”