I picked myself up from the ground, dusting off non-existent dirt from my spherical form.

After carefully analyzing what my host had said, I concluded this was Seraphine giving me a guarantee. The non-physical equivalent of my heart felt slightly comforted, and a tiny flower bloomed on top of my head.

But humans are fickle creatures. I couldn’t relax too early. A good system understands the principle of staying vigilant even in peaceful times, so I needed to keep watching over my host and find her a satisfactory dao companion as soon as possible!

I pulled up the Host Version task list and drew a red line under the final task to emphasize its importance.

“Host, there’s one more thing.” I shared the information I’d obtained from my friend Qilin earlier.

Learning that the Chongshan Immortal Venerable had already successfully ascended, Seraphine’s mind jolted. After a moment of relief, she couldn’t help but say, “I was right to be cautious. That ring of Xue Bufan’s really was something sinister!”

I flipped open my work journal, recording notes as I spoke. “Though it’s relatively rare, there are cases like this—where the ‘Grandpa Figure’ providing rebirth opportunities turns out to be a late-stage villain. The protagonist suffers while killing the antagonist. I’ll skip the two chapters of psychological description here.”

“In 99% of these plots, the ‘Grandpa Figure’ becomes interested in the protagonist’s body, nurtures them to completion, then attempts possession. Though the villain always fails in the end.”

“Oh, and the remaining 1% possibility is that the ‘Grandpa Figure’ isn’t actually a grandfather, but a beautiful grandmother who becomes emotionally entangled with the protagonist and can’t bear to strike.”

Seraphine: “…”

Seraphine: “……..”

Whether it was “interest in the protagonist’s body” or “grandmother’s emotional entanglement,” both possibilities left Seraphine’s emotions in turmoil.

Imagining Xue Bufan’s horrifically ugly face displaying expressions of “benefactor is enemy” anguish or “deep affection,” Seraphine couldn’t help but feel her eyes hurt. She quickly covered her face, taking deep breaths to banish the terrifying scenes from her mind.

I looked up at Seraphine with curious sincerity, question marks floating above my head.

Seraphine struggled to discuss business with me. “For him to dare impersonate the Chongshan Immortal Venerable and manipulate Xue Bufan into seeking spiritual consciousness fragments, he must be male. He knows about the inheritance in Chongshan Immortal Palace, so his age and cultivation must be beyond our imagination. I suspect he’s one of the cultivators who entered the palace since Chongshan Secret Realm opened.”

I created a file for Xue Bufan’s “Grandpa Figure,” recording Seraphine’s analysis.

Seraphine stood up, speaking slowly: “Based on what we experienced in the palace, the trials set by the Chongshan Immortal Venerable were only meant to select disciples. He had no killing intent toward cultivators. Those who reached the end without passing still received a treasure. But the mirage acting against his will tried to kill all cultivators in the trials—she was carrying out her new master’s orders.”

“Whether ‘Grandpa Figure’ and ‘new master’ are the same person, or if they’re connected, we can’t determine. But the ability to repair shattered spiritual roots isn’t something ordinary people possess. The great war between righteous and demonic paths centuries ago cost the cultivation world many seniors. Many powerful figures died in that conflict.” Seraphine lowered her eyelids, her voice softening as she told me: “Even my Luanyang Palace now has only one Soul Transformation elder in seclusion. Without knowing ‘Grandpa Figure’s cultivation level, we can’t act rashly. At least in the short term, he won’t leave Xue Bufan’s side. We mustn’t alert him—let’s observe quietly.”

Sitting on the table, I marked large question marks on two blank task files, finished organizing the “meeting minutes,” and gave Seraphine a thumbs up.

Having finished her analysis, Seraphine had already gotten into bed and taken out her cozy two-piece set, but was still missing the final piece.

With business concluded, she could finally relax.

The woman lying on her side curved her lips upward, one hand supporting her cheek while the other lazily extended, her pale palm patting the light blue bedding.

“Come here.”

The silver sphere whooshed over, landing where Seraphine had patted. My tiny matchstick arms opened the large novel.

Seraphine shifted positions, staring at the gauze canopy overhead. She smiled and said, “Physical contact is still more convenient.”

The system read by itself while she just listened.

Speaking of which, the current Echo could fight enemies externally and read books internally. Aside from occasionally needing to annoy her, Echo was truly a perfect good orb.

Seraphine chuckled softly, reaching out to pet Echo’s head before closing her eyes.

No matter what conspiracies and schemes awaited, what demons and monsters she’d face, at least she had Echo by her side.

Soon, a clear reading voice began, sharing stories of love and hatred with one listener.

Outside the jade house, Qiu Shuangshuang returned with grass, skillfully using grass and large leaves to build herself a nest.

She’d learned this from the Fire Rock Dragon.

But for some reason, the Fire Rock Dragon hadn’t been thrown out by Palace Lord to stand guard tonight.

Feeling somewhat lonely, Qiu Shuangshuang lay in her grass pile, pulling leaf covers up higher, developing a sense of desolation in the night.

Sigh.

Before, she’d been a young lady with golden chambers, jade beds, and fine food. Now she was satisfied sleeping in grass nests under the open sky. How fickle fate could be!

Qiu Shuangshuang pouted, turning to look at the nearby jade house, envious tears slightly flowing from the corners of her mouth.

How she wanted to sleep on the floor!

Palace Lord had let her sleep on the floor before—why wasn’t it allowed now? Had Palace Lord forgotten about her…?

In her melancholy, the exhausted Qiu Shuangshuang’s head tilted and she fell into deep sleep.

After sleeping for who knows how long, she woke to noisy voices. Her trained alertness snapped her upright, drawing her magical weapon as she watched the sound’s source with the wariness of a forest creature.

The group had considerable numbers, speaking without concern, their footsteps and voices mixing together in a chattering cacophony that disturbed peaceful dreams.

Qiu Shuangshuang swallowed nervously, glancing at the jade house without protective barriers, feeling somewhat panicked. When she’d kept watch before and encountered spirit beast attacks, the Fire Rock Dragon would alert Palace Lord, who handled everything. She’d never been needed. Now she was… the Fire Rock Dragon?

Qiu Shuangshuang let out a small “Awoo.”

Alert! Alert!

The jade house remained silent, but the group whose shadows were now visible suddenly stopped and shouted threateningly, “Who’s there!”

Qiu Shuangshuang felt afraid, but she wasn’t who she used to be. She’d been through dungeons, illusions, climbed celestial stairs, and defeated thunder beasts!

Most importantly, Palace Lord was right behind her. What was there to fear!

So Qiu Shuangshuang sprang up like a spring, shouting loudly: “Who are you? Don’t you know this place has been reserved by me!”

…Was shouting like this too presumptuous?

Feeling somewhat regretful, Qiu Shuangshuang tensed her small face, landing on a thick tree branch with her spear pointed at the people below.

Several people below looked up at her.

Many eyes meeting…

Silence spread.

The cool morning breeze passed through grass and trees, lifting the clothes of everyone below, playing with their brown hems and showing Qiu Shuangshuang the maple leaves on their robes.

Look, look—do you recognize them?

Qiu Shuangshuang: “……”

Her legs went weak and she instinctively wanted to flee. The leading woman below shouted: “Qiu Shuangshuang!”

“You really did sneak out! And you dared enter Chongshan Secret Realm! Stop right there!”

Qiu Shuangshuang ran toward the jade house with tears streaming, shouting for help.

Inside the jade house, the woman who’d long sensed the outside commotion remained unmoved, drinking tea and eating pastries while researching how to stuff treats into a sphere’s mouth.

I pushed away Seraphine’s mischievous hand, speaking righteously: “I can’t eat human food.”

Even with a physical form, I was still me—a data cluster.

“Tch.” Seraphine boredly tossed the pastry back on the plate, took out a cloth to wipe her fingers, and casually draped it over me as she stood.

I drilled out from under the handkerchief, flying to Seraphine’s side.

Seraphine retrieved one of the previous pearls from her storage ring, then plucked me from the air, playing with both pearls together in her palm.

“Makes me seem old and decrepit,” Seraphine said with distaste.

I spun with the other pearl, calmly saying, “Dizzy.”

Stay dizzy then—who told you to be a sphere that can’t show itself? Seraphine deliberately shook her hand.

She walked out of the jade house.

Qiu Shuangshuang had already been caught by the Autumn Water Pavilion people. She was making her last stand.

“Senior Sister!” Qiu Shuangshuang grabbed the leading woman’s hand excitedly.

The woman suppressed her angry emotions, sighing: “Junior Sister.”

Tears immediately fell from Qiu Shuangshuang’s eyes as she looked at the others behind the woman.

“Second Senior Brother!”

“Junior Sister!”

“Third Senior Brother!”

“Fourth Senior Sister!”

“Junior Sister!”

“Junior Sister!”

Seraphine: “……”

How noisy.

She felt like she was watching a flock of parrots chattering in the forest.

The Autumn Water Pavilion senior sister appeared relatively composed, pulling Qiu Shuangshuang behind her and looking at the woman emerging from the house. She saw someone in golden feathers and jade robes, with otherworldly beauty—unforgettable at first sight. Among all the people she’d met in her life, aside from Qiu Shuangshuang, this person had the best appearance, with an extraordinary temperament.

Wei Yutong positioned herself protectively in front of Qiu Shuangshuang, bowing to Seraphine and speaking carefully: “Autumn Water Pavilion’s eldest disciple, Wei Yutong. I wonder, Senior…”

Seraphine wasn’t concealing her cultivation, and her level surpassed everyone present—the reason the Autumn Water Pavilion disciples called her Senior.

Playing with my spherical form, Seraphine curved her lips upward, showing the Autumn Water Pavilion disciples a reasonably gentle smile before lazily saying: “Luanyang Palace, Seraphine Velka.”

Wei Yutong’s eyes widened dramatically, her face showing amazement, admiration, and relieved security. QiuShuangshuang beside her noticed Wei Yutong’s expression with some confusion.

She’d heard about Seraphine too—mostly praise for her talent and amazement at her Great Perfection Golden Core—but that shouldn’t warrant such a reaction from Wei Yutong, right?

Was there something else she didn’t know?

“So it’s Palace Lord!” Wei Yutong smiled. “I’ve heard about Luanyang Palace and Palace Lord from my Master and Master’s wife. Though I don’t know how you encountered Junior Sister Shuangshuang, she must have caused you considerable trouble. I apologize on behalf of my Master and Master’s wife.”

Hearing this, Qiu Shuangshuang immediately stamped her foot indignantly: “I did not! I was very well-behaved!”

The Autumn Water Pavilion disciples protecting her in their midst laughed heartily, several senior sisters patting her head affectionately.

Seraphine looked up, seeing their harmonious scene, raised an eyebrow, and said leisurely: “She was acceptable.” QiuShuangshuang had been afraid of her before, later respecting her while afraid, and aside from crying, hadn’t dared cause trouble.

Only then did Wei Yutong relax, having Qiu Shuangshuang thank Seraphine.

Qiu Shuangshuang displayed the willfulness she showed to family, lifting her chin: “I already thanked Palace Lord! Speaking of which, if you’d brought me from the start, how would I have repeatedly encountered danger? If not for Palace Lord and Young Master Xue saving me, you’d never see me again! Hmph!”

The Autumn Water Pavilion disciples’ faces changed drastically, quickly asking what had happened to Qiu Shuangshuang.

Seraphine suddenly felt something poke her palm. Looking down, Echo held up a panel in her spherical form.

[I can’t talk to you anymore. Bubble system crying jpg]

“Telepathic communication—learn it.” Seraphine said.

I replied: “My operational rules differ from your cultivation techniques. Can I exchange for a communication device? You just need to wear it on your ear, and I’ll choose the most beautiful one for you.”

Seraphine asked: “If you had a human body, could you learn this world’s techniques?”

Yes, I could.

With a human body, I’d be human. Everything humans could do, I could do too—all five senses complete. Whether cultivation or eating and sleeping, I’d just be an ordinary person.

Seraphine squeezed me gently, saying: “Don’t exchange any devices. After sending these people away, you can do whatever you want.”

She didn’t mention again how nice it would be if Echo were human. The relationship between them had risen to a new level. Echo was a system who’d violated regulations to save her. If she asked, Echo would definitely exchange for a human body.

Since Ehco treated her this way, she didn’t want to use her preferences to decide Echo’s thoughts. Echo’d expressed before that being human wasn’t necessarily better than being a system. Also… this system was frugal normally but shocking when it spent. Seraphine could see Echo’s “tight budget”—Echo should save her points because…

She wasn’t the endpoint of Echo mission.

I felt myself being squeezed again, but this time held for a long while. I looked up at Seraphine questioningly.

From this angle, Seraphine remained beautiful. She didn’t look down, quietly watching the lively Autumn Water Pavilion disciples.

Qiu Shuangshuang had finished recounting her experiences, including the Chongshan Immortal Palace events. The disciples who came to Chongshan Immortal Palace were all carefully selected by the two Autumn Water Pavilion masters, and a major reason for entering Chongshan Secret Realm was the Chongshan Immortal palace’s inheritance.

Qiu Shuangshuang only mentioned stopping at the second trial.

Hearing about her experiences after running away, Wei Yutong and the others felt both alarmed and delighted—alarmed by her repeated dangers, delighted she’d survived them all and even reached the Chongshan Immortal palace’s second trial!

Wei Yutong said: “Brother Zhao and I were both pulled into the dungeon by transport talismans. Though we escaped the illusion, we somehow didn’t enter the next trial. Not sure where we went wrong.”

Qiu Shuangshuang looked sheepish, glancing secretly at Seraphine.

Because Palace Lord had directly eliminated the next trial!

Seraphine maintained a completely uninvolved expression, not even twitching an eyebrow. She said lazily: “Since you’ve met here, take her with you. Qiu Shuangshuang, this completes our agreement.”

Qiu Shuangshuang said emotionally: “Thank you, Palace Lord!”

The Autumn Water Pavilion disciples thanked Seraphine again. Wei Yutong suddenly thought of something, looking up at Seraphine and sharing what happened after leaving the illusion.

She said: “Brother Zhao and I, along with the other cultivators who didn’t die in the illusion, owe you a debt. But people’s hearts are hard to read—for opportunities, many risk everything and turn to violence.”

Chongshan Immortal Palace had been so conspicuous, visible from anywhere in the secret realm with just a look up. It practically had “I have treasures” hanging from it. The Chongshan Immortal palace’s sudden disappearance meant someone had claimed its opportunities.

Wei Yutong said: “Other sect cultivators are still searching everywhere. Word has spread that the palace chose you—there might be danger.”

Though they didn’t know what the opportunity was or who claimed it, who could stay calm before such chances? This was the competitive cultivation world!

Seraphine had been about to turn and leave but paused at these words, glancing at Wei Yutong. The pride and disdain flowing through her bones surged back, accumulating at her brow and eyes. Even these inappropriate qualities formed a beautiful corner of her icy mountain when displayed so boldly.

“Then let them come.” Seraphine stroked me as I watched her, smiling softly.

The frustration from the mirage hadn’t been properly vented on the thunder beast, and after being stuffed in the Scripture Pavilion memorizing books for so long, she’d been holding back too much.

She needed a satisfying battle more than anyone to release the fighting spirit in her heart!

“I’ll be waiting for them.” Seraphine said quietly.

One by one, she’d personally send them on their way.