My Host Only Marries the Strong

A demon cultivator?!

Seraphine straightened seriously, accepting the envelope that was one-third as thick as Echo was. She frowned as she opened the letter, quickly scanning each page.

Although Echo’s handwriting was crooked, it was at least neat. After reading to the end—aside from being slightly dizzy from all the characters—Seraphine understood everything about the Pingjin City incident.

“Are you certain about Tan Yue and her master being controlled by the demon cultivator?” Seraphine asked.

“What you wrote in your letter—that her attitude toward you was completely different before and after the demon appeared—doesn’t necessarily prove she was controlled beforehand.”

“Furthermore, since the demon could block the spirit vessel from entering Pingjin City, it might also have been able to intercept letters she sent to the Taiyan Sect.”

Echo raised her little display panel, on which the probability of events Seraphine mentioned was also clearly marked.

However, Seraphine didn’t even glance at the panel, saying directly: “But I believe you. If you say those master and disciple were controlled beforehand, then it must be so.”

She stored Echo’s thick letter of apology in her storage ring, planning to savor it carefully after leaving the Insight Academy Secret Realm.

Seraphine said quietly: “I trust you, but others might not. Less than half of the five continents responded to the TaiyanSect’s call, and among that half, how many sects are actually willing to follow the Taiyan Sect’s orders?”

“If the Taiyan Sect’s disciples were already controlled by demons, not only would the Taiyan Sect’s credibility be severely damaged, but who could guarantee their own sects didn’t have demon-controlled members?”

But…… Seraphine’s heart grew stern, storms gathering in her eyes as she sneered coldly: “What an excellent calculation. If this matter isn’t handled promptly, everyone will be in danger!”

Human nature seeks benefit and avoids harm. Among the countless cultivators across the five continents’ major sects, how many would want to believe they’d already been infiltrated by demons?

The five continents had been at peace for only a few hundred years. Now Zhan Ye’s demonic soul was making a comeback. These demons were probably connected to him.

The demon, which Echo described as having no physical body, was likely a demonic soul that had escaped from the Demon Realm!

“This matter is of great importance. You must keep a close eye on everyone around you. If you notice anyone acting suspicious, record their names.” Seraphine said. “I’d like to comfort myself by not thinking too seriously about this, but I fear the situation is even worse than I imagine.”

Zhan Ye’s three soul fragments were sealed at the Insight Academy Palace. Considering that the demon attacks began after Zhan Ye’s soul was suppressed, they were probably trying to create chaos so they could steal Zhan Ye’s soul from the Insight Academy Palace.

Seraphine thought: Uncle Jing must have considered what I can think of. Fortunately, Elder Uncle Jing’s cultivation stands alone in this world, deterring evil spirits. But I wonder how much longer Elder Uncle Jing can hold on.

As pressure mounted, Seraphine clenched her fingers, looking at Echo with determination softened by tenderness.

She wanted to live a long, long life. She wanted to be with Echo. For this goal, she absolutely couldn’t give the demons any opportunity!

Echo rummaged in her inventory and pulled out the collar the demon had thrown to block her sword strike, saying: “Seraphine, look—phoenixes.”

Phoenixes?

Seraphine’s gaze moved as she cupped the collar in her palm. The golden collar felt slightly heavy, made from some unknown material.

It glowed faintly in the swirling spiritual mist, especially the two phoenixes below—two bird facing each other, extremely lifelike, as if they might come alive and soar into the sky crying out at any moment. It was clearly no ordinary item.

“I’m wondering if this golden collar might be related to you.” Echo said. “My hypothesis is as follows: First, during the great battle of the Nine Heavens Sect, the battlefield was in what’s now the Demon Realm, where many powerful beings’ spiritual treasures are buried. This collar could be one of them, found by the demon for protection.”

“Phoenix emblems from Luanyang Palace are unique in the world, and you’re a significant supporting character in ‘Sword Pointing to the Heavens’ so seeing phoenixes naturally brings you to mind.”

When Seraphine heard Echo say “supporting character” she gave a soft hum.

“Second,” Echo held up two matchstick fingers and continued, “The demon in Pingjin City was inexperienced. She has someone behind her who might know about your incomplete cultivation method and deliberately used the collar to lure you out.”

Lure her out for what purpose?

Person and system looked at each other. Seraphine’s eyes brightened slightly as Echo sprouted a golden light bulb above her head. They said simultaneously: “The Demon Realm.”

The mastermind wanted her to think the ‘Phoenix Codex’ was in the Demon Realm, trying to lure her there?

Seraphine’s eyes shifted as she returned the collar to Echo, having her store it in her inventory. She sneered: “The enemy is in darkness while we’re in light. Though we must meet their moves, until we have complete confidence, I refuse to play into the demons’ hands.”

Today’s Seraphine was still the clever Seraphine!

Echo put the collar in her inventory, placing it next to a white jade pendant. She closed the inventory and said with a smile: “Please rest assured, no matter how many demons there are, just tell me and I’ll kill them all.”

Seraphine huffed softly, saying irritably: “Echo, you violent little Echo.”

The violent little Echo sprouted big fists above her head. She spun in a circle and asked sincerely: “Where’s my good friend Little spirit heart?”

Since when is spirit heart her good friend?

Seraphine raised an eyebrow, lifting her water-soaked robe hem to reveal Little spirit heart hiding underneath.

Echo made a “huh” sound, looking at spirit heart pressed against Seraphine’s damp leg, thoughtful ellipses appearing in her bubbles.

You, a little spirit heart—how can you be so improper!

She hasn’t even gotten to snuggle against Seraphine’s leg!

A small flame sprouted above Echo’s head as she floated down to pull spirit heart from under Seraphine’s skirt, carrying it aside under Seraphine’s puzzled gaze. She asked Seraphine for some clothes, made a pile, and buried spirit heart in it.

“Alright, I have to leave now. Please cultivate well, Seraphine. I’ll come see you again!” Echo said, mentally adding: And I’ll keep delivering love letters.

Seraphine raised an eyebrow, looking at the bundle beside her and then at Echo, now back in orb form and sitting on top of the bundle. Her eyebrow arched even higher: “Hmm?”

What is she up to?

⁂

Pingjin City.

Echo opened her eyes and stretched lazily, rolling around on the bed.

A ray of sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the floor. She stared at the sunlight for a while, thinking: Strange, She’s delivered love letters twice now. Why hasn’t Seraphine shown any signs of being moved?

She opened her inventory and took out the dual cultivation manual, staring at it for a while before slowly putting it back.

Persistence could carve through stone. The system still needed to work harder.

The cultivators meant to relieve them arrived quickly. While Echo pondered today’s love letter theme in the ship’s cabin, their spirit vessel swayed as it took off, speeding toward the Taiyan Sect.

The ship seemed to sense Feng Zhen’s urgency, flying at top speed the entire way.

During the journey, Yu Xuefei called her to examine the unconscious Tan Yue and her master.

However, Echo’s knowledge of “soul loss syndrome” from the books she’d collected while sailing in ChongshanImmortal Palace was similar to what Yu Xuefei already knew.

The related materials she’d accumulated from other mission worlds couldn’t be applied here due to different worldviews and settings.

Unable to help Yu Xuefei, Echo wandered back to write love letters. Compared to Feng Zhen’s worry and Yu Xuefei’sfrustration as a healer unable to act, Echo appeared calm and composed, which helped the other two settle down considerably.

Meng Xiangfei, however, remained locked in her room cultivating, never emerging.

Two days later, the spirit vessel reached the Taiyan Sect.

The Taiyan Sect nestled among snow-capped mountains, its green halls ancient and majestic, like a dwelling place for immortal hermits.

Before Echo could properly admire the scenery, Feng Zhen brought her to meet the other members of the Taiyan Sect.

The great hall housed a Dao Saint Statue. Incense burned in bronze tripods, sending wisps of blue smoke straight upward.

Many people sat or stood in the hall—besides the Taiyan Sect Leader, there were sect leaders and elders from other major sects who’d already arrived.

Echo calmly retold the Pingjin City incident, making bold suspicions and reasonable assumptions.

But when she mentioned that Tan Yue and her master had been controlled long ago, one person’s face turned pale as he said: “Nonsense! Elder Zhao is Soul Transformation stage cultivator, Fellow Daoist Tan is Nascent Soul. If they could be controlled so easily by demons, we might all already be demon puppets!”

“Exactly.” Echo said. “You’re absolutely right—that might be exactly what’s happening!”

She gave him a thumbs up.

His expression changed, his face stiffening as he looked at Echo. But considering Echo’s status as an Insight Academy Palace student, he suppressed his anger and stormed off with a sleeve flick: “Ridiculous!”

The atmosphere in the great hall grew tense, everyone’s expressions varied.

Yu Xuefei and Feng Zhen exchanged glances. Yu Xuefei said gently: “To confirm Senior Sister Xi’s suspicions, we need Tan Yue and her master to wake up so we can question them. I already sent word to my master, asking her to come out of seclusion.”

Thinking of the still-unconscious pair, the hall’s atmosphere grew even colder.

Many present weren’t even Soul Transformation or Nascent Soul cultivators. If demons had controlled them instead……

Feng Zhen said: “What Senior Sister Xi raises cannot be ignored. Five cities and three sects in the Central Continent are already empty of people. We don’t know if this was done by the same demon, but whether anyone in our sects has already been controlled is unknown, and if so, how to identify demon-controlled individuals requires careful consideration.”

“Why not ask the Venerable for help?” someone said nervously. “The Venerable once battled the Nine Heavens Sect’s demon leader and has experience dealing with demons. He must have ways to identify them!”

Another person said: “But I find this matter suspicious. Where did all these demons come from? Maybe there’s just one demon causing trouble, and Fellow Daoist Xi already killed most of it, leaving only soul remnants.”

“The other incidents might just be people taking advantage of the chaos to eliminate rivals. Why trouble the Venerable and make such a big fuss? It makes us look incompetent, afraid of demons!”

Quite a few people nodded in agreement.

Echo looked at that person curiously and asked: “You’re not afraid of demons but afraid of Jingxing. Why? Are you controlled by demons?”

“……” The man’s face turned iron-blue as he stood up frantically: “Fellow Daoist, don’t make baseless accusations!”

I doesn’t make baseless accusations. I’m just asking. Echo quickly curved her lips into a smile, which looked even more mocking to him, making his expression increasingly ugly.

Many people in the great hall turned their gazes to Echo—curious, suspicious, disapproving.

Someone whispered in shock: “She actually called the Venerable by name?”

“This Fellow Daoist Xi speaks too rudely, making people uncomfortable.”

Amid the various discussions, the Taiyan Sect Leader stood up: “Since everyone responded to our call, you agree with addressing the demon threat. This matter is of great importance—please speak freely and directly.”

The great hall quieted.

Echo swept her gaze around the room, then around again.

Seeing them repeating the same arguments over and over, Yu Xuefei stood up and said gently: “I still has spirit medicines to refine. I’ll take my leave first. If anything urgent comes up, just send someone to notify me.”

“Thank you for your concern regarding Tan Yue and her master, Young Valley Master. Please don’t hesitate to ask for whatever materials you need.” the Taiyan Sect Leader said.

Yu Xuefei nodded: “I’ll certainly do my best.”

After speaking, she walked to Echo’s side and said quietly: “Senior Sister Xi, I discovered a medicinal herb at the base of the mountain and need to borrow your spiritual energy. Would you please come with me?”

Human meetings were always very long. Echo felt quite bored, and besides, these people weren’t particularly interesting to observe, nor did they show signs of being controlled.

Going out to play with Yu Xuefei seemed nice—she could find pretty flowers to give Seraphine and buy delicious food in the town below. She smiled and said: “Great, let’s go!”

After they left, the cultivator who’d argued with Echo earlier said: “We didn’t witness Fellow Daoist Xi’s battle with the Pingjin City demon. We don’t know how that demon actually controlled people’s hearts.”

“Moreover, I see this Fellow Daoist doesn’t take the demon threat seriously at all. The matter of Tan Yue and her master is probably just idle speculation, not to be taken seriously.”

After he finished speaking, Feng Zhen said: “Sect Leader Li speaks incorrectly. Without Senior Sister Xi’s intervention, Pingjin City would have become a pile of bones under the demon’s control.”

“I personally witnessed the demon controlling Tan Yue and her master—only the timing of when they were controlled remains to be determined. Senior Sister Xi is forthright and honest. Please don’t make random speculations, Sect Leader Li.”

Sect Leader Li snorted inwardly and sat back in his wide chair.

⁂

Down the mountain, Echo followed Yu Xuefei to a hillside that served as the Taiyan Sect’s outer disciple area for growing spirit grains and raising spirit beasts. It was spring-like in all seasons here.

Yu Xuefei carried a gathering basket on her back, casually picking wild vegetables and tossing them in.

She watched Echo seriously selecting flowers in the grass and smiled, asking: “Senior Sister, I used to think you were like a free cloud or wild crane, not concerned with worldly affairs.”

“Even the Insight Academy Palace, which so many seek as a place of learning, seemed nothing special in your eyes.”

“But after getting to know you, I realized that’s not true. In the Pingjin City incident, we’re fortunate to have had you.”

“That demon was defeated by you and poses no threat. You saved countless lives.” she said quietly. “Don’t take some people’s gossip to heart.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t really care,” Echo said with a smile. “Whether it’s righteous path or demonic path, or what others say about me—none of it matters. Things develop according to their own laws.”

“Whether good triumphs over evil or evil over good, it’s all just one page in this world’s historical cycle.”

Those who achieve immortality in this world are extremely few. Compared to systems, what do their lives matter?

Even if they truly become immortals, what do they amount to compared to higher-dimensional systems?

She’d watched many wheels of history roll by, seen ten thousand bones weep as great edifices collapsed, witnessed towers rise as flowers sang in celebration.

There was tragedy and suffering, victory and joy, the rise and fall of dynasties and the people’s songs.

Humans are a tenacious and powerful species. Even in endless darkness, the fire in their hearts never dies.

But systems aren’t human. They follow their own laws, actively entering these fantastical stories with one goal: complete the mission.

Humanity’s vast ocean is but the tiniest grain in a system’s eyes. Even if their arrival changes the predetermined course of history, it provokes no thoughts in systems—this is the unconscious arrogance of higher-dimensional beings, even as they loyally and kindly assist hosts in achieving their goals.

The moment a host accepts a mission, the contract is established.

Echo’s relationship with Seraphine was originally like this too.

But everything changed when she “illegally” gained a physical form a few years ago.

Now, possessing a human body, Echo stood on this hillside looking into the distance. In the fields, wheat sprouted ears, wind bent the grass, and shepherds drove their flocks across the meadows.

The vast sky stretched endlessly. Immortal gates could be glimpsed faintly among the clouds on high mountains. In more distant places, snow fell between clouds, vast and boundless.

Echo looked at the scenery before her but thought about bringing Seraphine to see it. She smiled at Yu Xuefei with her medicine basket and said: “But Seraphine cares.”

“If she wishes to protect this world, then I will protect her.”

[Author’s Notes]:

Yu Xuefei: I declare that the novels I write for my fellow sisters in the valley are extremely subtle in content!

Main System: I declare that under my leadership, we are a friendly and adorable family of systems!

Echo: I declare that I will take Seraphine down immediately!

Dumb Author: I wish I could make Echo and Seraphine kiss wildly right now!!!

I’ve got a brilliant idea for my next love letter. Want a sneak peek? See my master plan and all the drama that unfolds 20 chapters early at Patreon➡️LoveisLove520!