My Host Only Marries the Strong

Dawn and dusk seeking dao, immediately ascend.

Everyone: “Wow……”

“Worthy of Fellow Daoist Xi indeed.” Siyi said with a smile.

Echo said modestly, “I still need to keep working hard.”

Siyi replied earnestly, “Please don’t work too hard, Fellow Daoist—at least leave us some room to catch up.”

Echo became even more modest, nodding repeatedly: “Alright, I’ll consider it.”

Everyone: “……Wow!”

Really makes one afraid to speak.

Standing beside Echo, Seraphine fingered her jade token, not laughing along with everyone else. She glanced at the smile on Echo’s face, then with a flick of her finger, stored her token in her storage ring. Echo, however, held up her token for Seraphine to see.

“Seraphine, Seraphine! Actually, this is a blessing I wrote for you—I hope you’ll become an immortal soon and achieve the Great Dao!” Echo said earnestly to Seraphine.

Seraphine’s gaze fell on the jade token in Echo’s palm. She didn’t speak, only listened as Echo continued: “This way you have two wishes.”

“……This isn’t for making wishes, but for expressing your Dao Heart.” Seraphine said calmly.

Echo immediately nodded, saying gently: “My heart is good.”

“……” Updates are released by NoveI★Fire.net

Seraphine raised her hand and flicked Echo’s head with her finger.

You blockhead.

Echo curved her eyes into crescents, laughing: “I was joking with Seraphine. Did you find it amusing? Haha.”

Though as a system, she didn’t really need something like a Dao Heart, Echo still treated the jade token like a wishing coin, making a wish for Seraphine. As she prepared to seal it with blood, taking a needle to prick her finger, Echo explained to Seraphine: “It’s not that I want to draw blood—the ceremony requires it.”

Shut up and hurry up, you familiar fool.

Seraphine sneered coldly.

Oh!

Echo quickly let blood drop onto the jade token. Light flashed, and this body established a contract with Insight Academy Palace. A jade candle lit up in Insight Academy Palace’s main hall—the candlelight symbolized the status of academy disciples, and the candle representing Echo burned bright and clear.

Among the five hundred disciples, some carved “mottos” like Echo, while others only sealed with blood without immediately carving words.

Seraphine hooked the token inscribed with “Immediately Ascend” from Echo’s hand, tying it to her waist as she said softly: “Take out the phoenix jade pendant I gave you.”

Alright.

Echo retrieved the exquisite jade pendant from her inventory and handed it to Seraphine. The jade pendant symbolizing Luanyang Palace’s authority had colorful cords attached, scattered in her palm.

Siyi whispered nearby: “I heard from Master that when the Palace Lord was little and just growing teeth, she’d hold this jade pendant and gnaw on it every day. Fortunately, the Palace Lord had good teeth from childhood, so they didn’t grow crooked.”

Seraphine was fastening the phoenix jade pendant to Echo’s waist when she heard this and said dissatisfied: “You finally found someone to tell this story to.”

“Haha!” Echo laughed, asking warmly: “Are there any paintings? It must have been absolutely adorable!”

Her gaze looked at Siyi expectantly, as if ready to give ten thumbs up at any moment.

A thin blush appeared below Seraphine’s ears, like sparse clouds on the horizon before sunrise. She immediately shot Siyia warning look.

Siyi remained calm, telling Echo: “The young Palace Lord was indeed adorable as a child, carved from powder and jade. The current Palace Lord is graceful and elegant, truly love—able.”

When she reached the last two words, her tone dropped so only those nearby could hear.

Seraphine’s nerves tightened. The thin blush surged from below her ears, flowing along the beautiful curve of her cheek to flood her face. She glared at Siyi—I told you not to interfere!

Siyi covered her lips with a light laugh, pretending ignorance as she turned to speak with Xue Mengtao, fastening the jade token inscribed with “Jade Refines to Success” to her waist.

Seraphine stared at the backs of the harmonious master-disciple pair for a while, noticing that since Siyi’s teasing, Echo hadn’t spoken at all.

“……” The embarrassment and annoyance in Seraphine’s heart cooled. She raised an eyebrow to look at Echo, seeing her with lowered eyes, her silver-rimmed elegant lashes occasionally falling and rising again, looking thoughtful.

What has she been thinking about all this time?

Seraphine was completely puzzled.

After all disciples put away their jade tokens, Jingxing had everyone quiet down and led them to bow to the ten masters standing left and right. These ten masters included men and women, old and young, all kind-faced and refined, carrying the same scholarly air as Jingxing.

Jingxing said gently: “Each of the ten masters has their own teaching schedule. You may choose which master to attend based on your cultivation progress and preferred techniques. Each master has their own assessments. Insight Academy Palace conducts evaluations annually, with rewards and punishments for first and last place respectively.”

“Though you all possess exceptional talent, remember there are always people beyond people and heavens beyond heavens. Even among geniuses, there are ranks. Please remain humble in seeking knowledge—diligence can compensate for lack of talent.”

Except for Echo, all disciples bowed their heads: “We humbly accept the Venerable’s teachings.”

Echo quickly bowed as well. When she straightened up, Jingxing had already left, but the masters remained, as did the seventy-two cultivators, scattered before the masters with smiles as they made eye contact with the new disciples.

A childish-faced, crane-haired elder stroked his beard and spoke first, his voice booming like thunder: “I follow the path of law cultivation, with mind cultivation as the foundation. Tomorrow from 9 am to 11 am, I’ll sit and discuss Dao at Tianyan Peak. If any of you are interested, you may come seek instruction from me.”

The disciples nodded eagerly. Then a woman holding a long sword smiled and said: “I am a sword cultivator. Tomorrow from 7 am to 9 am, I’ll await you all at the academy’s south training ground.” Many sword cultivators in the crowd brightened.

Other masters announced their teaching times—among them were artifact refiners, pill refiners, talisman masters…… with various spiritual root specializations, truly comprehensive.

Seraphine pointed to a stern-faced woman and told Echo: “Tomorrow I’ll seek instruction under this master.”

What about you?

Echo thought anything was fine—she didn’t need to study anyway!

Systems are omnipotent!

Then the final master spoke—a child who appeared only four or five years old, carved like jade with a round face and grape eyes, gender indeterminate, standing barefoot on the ground. In a crisp voice, they said: “I am a demon cultivator. If any share this interest, you may come find me.”

The voice was also gender-neutral.

The human cultivators bowed to them, curious about the demon cultivation master’s identity but showing no interest in their classes.

The child didn’t seem bothered, appearing quite mature as they looked back with hands behind their back, glancing at Echo—her hair.

One tall, one short, they regarded each other with mutual curiosity.

“I reside at Prospect Peak, welcoming you at any time.” After speaking, the child ran off with swinging arms. Echo watched their lonely retreating figure and told Seraphine: “We can send Error to school.”

Demon cultivation referred to spirit beasts who’d cultivated human form. For spirit beasts to cultivate human form was difficult; becoming an Insight Academy Palace master was even more challenging. Seraphine immediately agreed.

Having finished serious matters, Seraphine lifted her chin slightly, saying casually: “You’ve been very unfocused these past few days.”

I’ve been found out.

Echo’s eyes shifted aside. “Haha, no!”

“I was very focused on taking medicine and recovering.” She patted her chest.

Once again a healthy system.

Seraphine reached out to grasp Echo’s chin, sneering: “If there’s nothing, why are you feeling guilty? Look at me.”

Echo’s eyes immediately turned to Seraphine.

Seraphine asked: “Confess honestly—what have you been thinking about behind my back?”

I haven’t been thinking about anything behind Seraphine’s back…… Echo’s eyes slowly drifted upward. Seraphine’sfingers applied slight pressure to make Echo lower her head, and her gaze slowly drifted to the ground.

Heh, keeping secrets now? Seraphine narrowed her eyes.

Nearby, disciples consulting with seniors about academy matters more or less noticed these two. A Thousand Beauty Valley disciple covered her mouth laughing, whispering to others: “Senior sisters, look quickly! Palace Lord Velka and Fellow Daoist Xi are still so intimate today—it truly warms my heart to see.”

Another tugged her sleeve, saying quietly: “Be more discreet, don’t be so bold. What if Palace Lord Velka gets embarrassed and won’t let us watch anymore?”

“I don’t think Palace Lord Velka minds our gazes.”

Yu Xuefei listened to her sisters’ conversation, holding her umbrella as she tilted her head slightly to observe the pair. The divinely beautiful Palace Lord Velka’s expression couldn’t be called gentle as she cupped the other person’s face, occasionally shaking her head. The other person’s head full of silver hair swayed accordingly, clear eyes blinking innocently before her lips curved up in a harmless smile.

If they were closer together with heavy rain falling, it would be identical to that night’s scene, but…… Yu Xuefeiremembered Echo’s words that night.

Not lovers?

Yu Xuefei tilted her head, suddenly meeting Seraphine’s gaze. The moment she looked away from Echo, the gentleness in her eyes vanished, replaced by cool politeness as she nodded. But when looking back at Xi Lingren, her expression softened again, though her lips deliberately turned down, looking somewhat annoyed.

Yu Xuefei curled her fingers over her lips, hiding her smile as she held her magical instrument, thinking with amusement: The parties involved are confused while observers see clearly. If Fellow Daoist Xi says they’re not, then they’re not. No matter—they have their own thoughts.

“Senior sister, you’ve been treating Fellow Daoist Xi daily recently. Won’t you share some details?” Yu Xuefei’s junior sister hugged her arm pleadingly. “I really want to know!”

Yu Xuefei covered her lips, whispering: “Don’t worry, I’ve written it all down. In the next couple days I’ll add illustrations for you to see.”

Several Thousand Beauty Valley disciples excitedly grabbed her hands, praising Yu Xuefei as “master of both literature and painting,” “supremely talented,” and “worthy of being the young valley master.”

The most excited girl whispered: “Senior sister, next time you treat Fellow Daoist Xi, could you bring me along? I was previously poisoned unconscious by Meng Xiangfei’s spirit snake in the Twin Dragon Secret Realm and saved by something unknown. I wanted to ask Fellow Daoist Xi to help investigate.”

“Alright.” Yu Xuefei nodded.

When the enrollment ceremony ended, Seraphine planned to return and continue interrogating Echo. She reached out to take Echo’s hand—only for Echo to subtly pull hers away.

She actually—dodged?!

Seraphine narrowed her eyes, raising her hand for Echo to see: “Is my hand poisonous?”

Echo quickly shook her head.

Her fingers were like pale jade—slender, delicate. Echo stared, and her brain went off on its usual poetic tangent: “Fingers like carved scallion stalks, ten fingers like scallions planted in spring, delicate jade scallions……” Too many scallions.She hastily added, “Slender as spring bamboo shoots” to balance things out.

Seraphine snorted coldly. From her fingers praised to heaven and earth, a long whip emerged, directly wrapping around Echo’s wrist.

Won’t let me hold hands? Then we’ll do this instead.

Echo lifted her hand, looking at her tightly bound wrist with amazement. Truly completely intimate!

Seraphine tightened the whip, dragging Echo back.

Qiu Shuangshuang sighed: “Master has made Master’s wife angry again.”

Xue Mengtao whipped around to stare at her in shock. Master’s wife? What master’s wife?