My Host Only Marries the Strong

The Insight Academy Palace’s sky ship had been flying non-stop for four days, and they’d finally reached the Central Continent.

Echo spent the journey reviewing her “Romance Strategy Meeting Notes.” She felt like she could turn pink any second now and become Love System 102.

But theory only goes so far. If Echo wanted to win Seraphine’s heart, she needed to take action.

Time to make her move!

She snapped her data notebook shut and stared confidently ahead.

One minute later, she opened it again.

Wait… how exactly was she supposed to make her move?

Stage a coincidental encounter? But she hadn’t prepared a gift yet.

Echo fell into deep contemplation, scanning the area—left, right, up, down. Her gaze landed on the ceiling beams above. Hmm, no good. Seraphine had already seen that trick.

“Knock knock.”

“Senior Sister Xi.” The door rattled as Yu Xuefei called from outside. “Could you please come to the deck? There’s something we need to discuss.”

Snap.

Her meeting notes vanished in a flash of light, disappearing into her palm. She grabbed Nine Heavens from where it leaned against the table and bounded out the door, practically vibrating with excitement.

Soon all six of them had gathered on deck. Feng Zhen stood at the bow, frowning as she gazed down at the earth below. Curious, Echo peered over the edge.

A city sprawled across the plains below them, its moat forming a perfect circle around the walls. The farmland outside lay fallow, waiting for winter snow. If not for the raised drawbridges and the city’s eerie darkness, this should have been a bustling, prosperous place.

The barrier dome covering the city indicated immortal protection. Feng Zhen’s voice was grim. “I recognize this spiritual energy signature. There are disciples of the Taiyan Sect down there. But we’re nowhere near Taiyan territory. Could this be the site of the anomaly?”

The Taiyan Sect was built high in remote mountains, far from mortal affairs. Their disciples rarely had contact with the secular world. This was clearly a mortal settlement.

“Let’s go down and investigate,” Du Ruixue decided, turning to Yu Xuefei. “Junior Sister Yu, stay behind us.”

As the only Nascent Soul cultivator present, Yu Xuefei nodded gently. “Alright.”

The Insight Academy Palace’s ship descended slowly. When they approached the barrier, Feng Zhen raised her hand and released a pulse of spiritual energy.

A yin-yang fish symbol flashed briefly, and immediately a matching spiritual projection lit up within the city. The protective barrier opened a gap, allowing their spirit vessel to land.

Thud.

The spirit vessel settled in the courtyard where the spiritual projection had activated—a rundown estate with no residents.

Among the ruins, only a single room remained, with a campfire burning inside. A white-robed woman stood holding a sword, and when she spotted Feng Zhen leading their group, her relief was visible.

“Elder Feng!” The woman rushed forward, bowing respectfully to everyone.

So Feng Zhen was an elder at the Taiyan Sect. Good to know.

Echo wandered off to examine the damage their spirit vessel had caused to the courtyard wall, peering through the hole they’d made. A small girl was pressed against the window of the neighboring house, staring at her with wide eyes.

Echo smiled and waved. The girl’s eyes grew even wider, but before she could respond, an adult—clearly a relative—snatched her away and slammed the shutters closed in terror.

Echo could hear them repeatedly muttering, “Please forgive us, immortal! Please forgive us!”

No worries, no worries. Echo thought. She wasn’t an immortal, she was Echo! Hahaha.

She wandered around the cramped courtyard with nothing better to do, scanning the environment to create a map for Seraphine later.

Echo seemed to be the only one relaxing. Everyone else had clustered around the Taiyan cultivator, deep in discussion.

Feng Zhen got straight to the point. “What happened here?”

“Elder,” the female cultivator began, “ever since the Five Continents Competition, strange incidents have been occurring across the Central Continent. Do you remember the Jade Cauldron Sect’s destruction?”

Echo blinked and casually whistled, slowly sidling toward the building.

Look, fire! Seraphine’s flames were more golden, more red, and definitely hotter than this. Echo gave this fire a three out of ten. After her expert evaluation, she pulled a steamed bun from her storage ring, skewered it on a stick, and crouched down to roast it over the flames.

This was the last bun in her storage ring. She watched the fire with laser focus, completely absorbed in the delicate art of bun-roasting.

Outside, the others glanced at Echo with barely concealed exasperation. Without Palace Lord Seraphine around, Echo was apparently quite….… free-spirited. Meng Xiangfei raised an eyebrow, silently wondering how this person could be so cavalier about the mission Ink-Trace Venerable had personally assigned.

“The entire Jade Cauldron Sect vanished overnight,” the female cultivator continued. “Not just the people—even their buildings disappeared without a trace. It was as if someone had carved out a chunk of the earth itself. The incident became legendary throughout the Central Continent.”

“Could this demon cultivator incident be connected to Jade Cauldron Sect?” Feng Zhen asked in surprise.

The Taiyan female cultivator shook her head. “Not directly. But similar disappearances have been happening across the Central Continent—entire sects and towns vanishing without explanation. At first, it was only remote locations that no one noticed. But half a month ago, the same thing happened to Golden Sun Sect!”

“Everyone in Golden Sun Sect disappeared along with all their artifacts and treasures, leaving only empty buildings on the mountainside. No signs of struggle—just…… gone. A Trusting Moon Sect cultivator discovered it while visiting friends, and word spread from there.” A trace of fear flickered in the female cultivator’s eyes—she truly couldn’t understand how such a thing could happen.

Everyone except the two reclusive Insight Academy Palace disciples showed expressions of shock. Yu Xuefei frowned. “Golden Sun Sect might not be as famous as Taiyan Sect, but they’re still one of the Central Continent’s major powers. Their sect master was mid-stage Soul Transformation—with him protecting them, how could an entire sect vanish without a sound?”

Feng Zhen nodded grimly. “And taking all the disciples with them too. They didn’t even have time to send a distress signal.”

Meng Xiangfei pressed both hands to her chest and spoke in delicate tones. “Such sinister methods…… oh, I’m simply terrified.” Though her cultivation was actually higher than Feng Zhen’s, the elder calmly replied, “Fellow Daoist Meng, please remain calm,” then turned back to the female cultivator. “Why do you say this involves demon cultivators? Have you found evidence of their presence?”

Demon cultivators were practitioners of evil and heterodox paths—ruthless individuals who used cruel methods that righteous cultivators couldn’t tolerate. Occasionally, even righteous cultivators with unstable dao hearts would be controlled by inner demons and turn to demonic cultivation.

“Reporting to Elder,” the Taiyan female cultivator said, “after Golden Sun Sect’s people vanished into thin air, all the Central Continent sects became paranoid with fear. Since we had old connections with Golden Sun Sect, our sect leader personally went to investigate their grounds. He discovered a demon cultivator hiding in the mountains, absorbing others’ spiritual energy for cultivation.”

“Similar reports came from other parts of the Central Continent. Our sect leader was shocked and furious—that’s why he contacted the Insight Academy Palace.”

“Three days ago, Master and I tracked a demon cultivator to this city. He ordered me to protect the townspeople while he pursued the target. He hasn’t returned since.”

“No wonder the sect master sent word to the Insight Academy Palace,” Feng Zhen murmured. “Demon cultivators are always troublesome foes.”

Hearing this news made everyone uneasy. The Five Continents had been peaceful for so long that most of them had never even seen a demon cultivator. Despite their mental preparation during the journey, actually confronting evidence of their activities felt ominous.

Winter wind whipped through the courtyard, carrying the decay of the ruined house. Just as everyone was steeped in melancholy, a mouthwatering aroma drifted in. They looked up—and there was Fellow Daoist Xi’s meat bun, perfectly roasted.

Golden and crispy, absolutely fragrant—what a wonderful bun!

She munched happily, mentally upgrading the campfire’s score. She’d discovered that roasting buns over ordinary fire produced much better results than using Error’s spiritual flames. Error really wasn’t up to par.

She shook her head in disappointment.

“……”

Everyone fell silent, but somehow the oppressive atmosphere had lifted considerably. Yu Xuefei smiled gently and asked, “What should we do now? We don’t know when Fellow Daoist Sun will return. Should we wait here to help him, or continue to the Taiyan Sect?”

“Most of our Nascent Soul and above cultivators are out hunting demon cultivators,” the Taiyan female cultivator explained. “Our sect leader remains to coordinate, following the Venerable’s arrangements to invite sects from all Five Continents for a continental summit. The situation is still developing, so we don’t know how many will actually send representatives.”

Feng Zhen nodded, then asked, “What cultivation level is this demon cultivator?”

“At least Soul Transformation stage.” came the quiet reply.

“Another Soul Transformation? Are demon cultivators buying these in bulk from some marketplace or something?” MengXiangfei muttered, fidgeting with the purple jade bangles on her wrist.

Echo nodded sagely. “Markets are great.” You can buy steamed buns there.

Feng Zhen sighed. “In that case, two of us will stay to help while the others continue to the Taiyan Sect. Demon cultivators are vicious and unpredictable—whoever stays must be extremely careful.”

Echo continued nodding. Careful, careful. Though snacks would be better. Snacks are delicious.

The question was: who would stay?

At that moment, Du Ruixue, a disciple of the Insight Academy Palace, said, “I’m not sure about that demon cultivator’s exact strength. Given that, why don’t we leave our strongest among us behind first?”

Sitting on the doorstep and basking in moonlight, Echo raised her arm enthusiastically. “Sure! I’ll definitely stay.”

She wondered if this town had a marketplace. Perfect opportunity for some shopping.

Everyone paused again. Feng Zhen smiled. “Good, Fellow Daoist Xi will remain. As for the other person……”

She looked between the others. Du Ruixue and Ran Yunfei had grown up in the Insight Academy Palace—polite and refined, but perhaps lacking practical experience like Fellow Daoist Xi.

Her gaze shifted between Yu Xuefei’s gentle smile and Meng Xiangfei’s seductive grin. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “I’ll stay.”

Meng Xiangfei looked genuinely surprised. “Why? Fellow Daoist Feng, I’ve been in Soul Transformation stage for several years longer than you. I should be the one to stay.”

Yu Xuefei added, “Senior Sister Feng, you’re a Taiyan Sect elder and you’re from the Central Continent. You’ll be needed for coordination later. Let Fellow Daoist Meng stay instead.”

Hearing Yu Xuefei’s gentle voice, Meng Xiangfei raised an eyebrow. She walked barefoot to Yu Xuefei’s side and laughed sweetly. “Junior Sister Yu, why won’t you call me ‘Senior Sister Meng’?”

Yu Xuefei’s smile never wavered as she met Meng Xiangfei’s gaze. “Fellow Daoist Meng is joking.”

Feng Zhen quickly intervened, agreeing with Yu Xuefei’s reasoning. She decided to leave Xi Lingren and Meng Xiangfeibehind while taking the others to the Taiyan Sect immediately.

Before boarding, Yu Xuefei approached Echo with several bottles from her storage ring.

“Besides the fasting pills and restoration pills, these healing medicines were specially commissioned by Palace Lord Seraphine. I just finished refining them. Please take good care of yourself, Senior Sister Xi. Don’t make Palace Lord Seraphine worry.”

Seraphine had ordered these?

Echo happily examined each little bottle, thanking Yu Xuefei sincerely. “Thank you!” Echo said. “And thank you for your book—it’s very interesting.”

Yu Xuefei’s smile froze, and red clouds bloomed across her cheeks. She cleared her throat. “What…… book? I don’t know what you mean.”

Huh? You don’t know? Echo tilted her head. “Sword Seeks Phoenix? The handwriting matches your prescription notes, but it’s neater—not as chaotic. Did you write it with your left hand?”

(Actually, her daily prescriptions were written left-handed.)

Yu Xuefei had no idea who had shown Echo her private romance novels meant for her sect sisters. Flustered, she silently pulled out more pills from her storage ring.

More gifts? Thank you, thank you! Echo held her collection of bottles and said earnestly, “Your illustrations are particularly well done!”

“……”

Yu Xuefei produced even more pills before clutching her remaining supplies and hurrying aboard ship, her panicked steps catching Meng Xiangfei’s attention.

The two women exchanged glances, and Meng Xiangfei smiled. “Little Sister Yu, don’t rush off. Doctors can’t heal themselves—if you fall, Senior Sister I would be heartbroken.”

“Though we’re both Academy disciples, why does Little Sister Yu only think of Senior Sister Xi and not me?” MengXiangfei’s eyes seemed to tear up as she raised her hand to wipe them, but her palm concealed a smirking mouth that only Yu Xuefei could see.

Yu Xuefei smiled back and tossed down a pill bottle from the deck. “Three times daily for seven days. Clears the mind, sharpens memory, and refreshes the spirit.”

She raised her hand and gestured for Meng Xiangfei to look at Echo.

Echo calmly reminded her, “Remember, I’m your ancestor.”

Meng Xiangfei turned back to lock eyes with Yu Xuefei, both women wearing smiles with distinctly cold undertones.

Hmph. Demoness/Medic.