The Black Pagoda had gathered an immense amount of Evil Qi.

Chen Changsheng asked again, “Did Yu Xuan ever tell you what to do with this Black Pagoda eventually?”

Manyue shook her head; Yu Xuan hadn’t mentioned that either.

With a wave of his hand, Chen Changsheng lifted the seal on the Black Pagoda.

“Now, it’s your turn to speak,” Chen Changsheng said.

The Black Pagoda paused. It thought everything had already been said; what else was there to add?

“Hmm?”

Chen Changsheng looked at it and asked, “Why have you stopped?”

The Black Pagoda said, “Just destroy me.”

It seemed to have given up struggling.

Chen Changsheng said, “That won’t do. If I destroy you, what happens to all this Evil Qi?”

If he wasn’t mistaken, the Black Pagoda could indeed use Evil Qi for Cultivation, and the accumulated Evil Qi within it was considerable. However, the Black Pagoda was, after all, just a Magical Artifact that had gained sentience. Its power would always remain limited.

Had a regular Demonic Cultivator absorbed the Evil Qi inside the pagoda, they could have created a powerful Demon Sovereign.

The Black Pagoda said, “What do you want?”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, “I will find a Cultivator skilled in True Flame to refine you. How does that sound?”

“…”

The Black Pagoda thought it over and said, “I can help you.”

“Help me?”

“Yes…”

The Black Pagoda said, “The pagoda contains residue Evil Qi left behind by many Evil Spirits. With the Spirit Cage shattered, those Evil Spirits wreak havoc in the world. You can locate them using the Evil Qi within my tower.”

Chen Changsheng said, “But I’m not interested in that.”

“Then why did you go to the Northern Frontier?”

“Just owing a favor.”

“…”

The Black Pagoda sighed in resignation. “Then refine me.”

Chen Changsheng considered it and said, “Keeping you alive isn’t impossible. It depends on your behavior.”

Hearing this, the Black Pagoda felt hope spark inside it again.

It promptly said, “I…”

It looked toward the two flowers on the tree and said, “About that Blood Immortal you captured—you were right. He did have a backup plan. His blood avatar is currently in Mangxue City. When I was in Mangxue City, I could feel the Evil Qi inside the pagoda quiver.”

“And that Phoenix Flower!!”

“Shut up!!”

The Phoenix Flower suddenly cried out sharply.

Chen Changsheng slapped it. The Phoenix Flower shuddered instantly and grew listless.

“That’s no flower spirit,” said the Black Pagoda. “I recognize its aura. It should be an Evil Phoenix. I just don’t know why it ended up like this.”

“And one more thing.”

“I can feel the Evil Qi inside the pagoda stirring. Probably many Demonic Cultivators are heading this way. If you hadn’t released me, they wouldn’t have sensed…”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“If you knew sooner, wouldn’t you have refined me already?”

Chen Changsheng thought and said, “Fair point.”

Given his nature, he probably would have refined the Black Pagoda on the spot.

“Wait, that’s not right…”

Chen Changsheng paused and said, “Wouldn’t that mean you’re a huge hassle?”

“…” The Black Pagoda went silent for a moment. “With your abilities, you fear trouble?!”

Chen Changsheng smiled. Fear? No.

He just preferred quieter days.

He put the Black Pagoda away and then severed its connection to the outside world.

Manyue asked then, “What do you plan to do?”

“Nothing,” Chen Changsheng said. “Whoever seeks trouble with me, I eliminate.”

He looked at the tree. “The tree still has too few flowers. Looks bare. Should add a few more.”

Manyue gave a helpless smile. “What a morbid hobby.”

“Don’t you think tending to flowers is quite nice?” Chen Changsheng said.

Manyue said, “Suit yourself. If you need my help, just ask. Though I haven’t fully recovered, I can still summon a few bolts of Heavenly Thunder.”

Chen Changsheng walked to the tree and looked at the Phoenix Flower. “Any thoughts on what happened to this Evil Phoenix?”

“Sheltering inside a Phoenix Flower?” Manyue asked.

“Probably not.”

Chen Changsheng continued, “Ancient lore speaks of the Phoenix undergoing rebirth through fire. This Phoenix Flower seems less like its shelter, and more like its own being.”

“You mean this Evil Phoenix has undergone rebirth? It temporarily assumed this Flower form?”

“Must be. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so weak.”

Chen Changsheng stroked his chin. “Oh well. No harm. Just needs more watering.”

He pulled out a wine jug and poured its contents onto the Phoenix Flower.

Still dazed from the earlier slap, the torrent of wine knocked it clean out. The flower wilted.

What truly troubled Chen Changsheng was the matter in Mangxue City.

That Blood Cultivator really had left behind other preparations.

“That young Lady Ruyi is here.”

Manyue made the observation before returning to the tree.

Chen Changsheng collected his thoughts and looked toward the door.

Ruyi pushed it open, hugging an embroidery hoop. She glanced at Chen Changsheng, gave a light humph, went over to a nearby set of steps, and sat down.

Without a word, she began practicing her embroidery.

The girl was clearly angry.

Chen Changsheng walked over and sat on his chair.

Seeing this, Ruyi firmly moved away a little, like she didn’t want to sit close to him.

“Ruyi mad?”

“Ruyi is not.”

“Then why move away?”

“Don’t sit with liars.”

“How did I lie to Ruyi?”

Ruyi poked the cloth with her needle, muttering, “When you left, you promised—one day. Who knows what you were really doing…”

She stabbed the fabric hard with her needle, as if venting frustration.

Chen Changsheng said, “Got held up by something.”

“Liar. Who knows if you wanted to come back at all.”

“Of course I came back. How could I not? Ruyi is such a clever, sensible girl.”

Ruyi humphed lightly. “Flattering Ruyi won’t work now. Ruyi knows you’re just trying to coax me like a child. Uncle Chen treats Ruyi like a little kid to be patted on the head!”

“Ruyi is an adult.”

“Hmm.”

Ruyi finally glanced up and immediately spotted the new, different flower on the tree.

“Why another flower? This one looks weird too.”

“Must have sprouted suddenly.”

Ruyi peered closely at the flower. “Uglier than that other one,” she declared, then looked away.

Chen Changsheng eyed it. “Admittedly, not terribly attractive. Probably the tree’s still too bare. When more flowers bloom, it’ll look better.”

“It’s the flower that’s ugly, not the tree.”

“Same difference.”

“Not the same.”

Ruyi was naturally stubborn. To her, ugly was ugly.

Ruyi turned back to her task. “Promise me next time.”

“Promise what?”

“You keep your word. The books say, ‘A true man’s word cannot be undone’. No lies. If you say one day, you mean one day.”

“Alright. I promise, Ruyi.”

“Pinkie promise?”

“Huh?”

“Pinkie promise!”

Ruyi looked deadly serious. “Only counts after we pinkie-shake.”

Chen Changsheng smiled reluctantly but extended his little finger.

Their thumbs pressed together firmly.

That sealed the deal.