I'm just an ornamental fish in the water.

Under the torment of Heisha, the voice of the Taotie bloodline became extremely hoarse, mixed with faint wails.

It said, "The 'Satisfactory Buildings' aren't just one! They're many! A great many!"

"Throughout the entire Taotie Realm, there is a 'Satisfactory Pavilion'!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li frowned and continued, "Does that mean every Taotie has a 'Satisfactory Pavilion'?"

"Not every one of them, but a failed glutton!"

The Taotie bloodline descendant said hoarsely, "After each generation of Taotie is born, they will fight and devour each other. In the end, only the most outstanding bloodline will remain and be allowed to live in the ancestor's dojo!"

"All other Taotie will be driven out, and every driven-out Taotie will be given a Satisfactory Pavilion!"

It sounds like giving a child who has been kicked out of their home and has to start their own family some start-up capital and then letting them grow up freely.

Jiang Li pondered for a moment, then asked, "Besides that, what is the significance of Chengxin Tower for the Jinyun Clan?"

He didn't believe that the illegitimate son of the Jinyun clan, who was capable of even merging with the demon race to gain power, would be so kind as to provide a guarantee for the losers of his clan.

"Pay taxes! Every owner of a desirable apartment building must hand over food every year—it can be a soul, flesh and blood, or rare treasures—whatever it is, it must be provided!"

The Taotie bloodline said repeatedly, "Stop! I've already answered everything, stop!" The Grand Censor of the Western Terrace looked at Jiang Li with a probing gaze.

If there are no other problems, it should die.

Jiang Li understood the implication.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Li asked, "Do you know about Qinxin Pavilion?"

The Taotie bloodline was stunned, even forgetting to wail.

Even though it had already eaten itself and only had its mouth left, Jiang Li felt as if she could sense a gaze, as if it was staring intently at her.

The name "Qingxin Pavilion" shocked it to its core.

"How do you know... Aaaaaah!!!"

The Taotie bloodline's question was interrupted by Heisha, and extreme pain struck again, causing it to let out an extremely mournful howl.

Clearly, in the eyes of the Grand Censor of the Western Terrace, the descendants of the Taotie were not qualified to ask questions.

After a long while, the influence of the Black Fiend finally dissipated again, and the Taotie Bloodline was breathing heavily, seemingly trying to buy time.

It didn't want to answer Jiang Li's question, so even delaying the inevitable was preferable. But the restless Black Fiend wouldn't give it any chance to buy time.

Seeing that Hei Sha was about to pounce again, the Taotie Bloodline hurriedly said, "I know! I know!"

"Qingxin Pavilion is hidden in the vast land of China! It was built by a Taotie who cultivated at the ancestral temple! It seems to have been authorized by the ancestral master!"

"If what you say is true, how did you, a loser driven to the margins, know such confidential information?"

"I know because that Taotie is the very same Taotie that banished me! It once boasted to me about how highly regarded it was by the ancestor!"

"That's all I know, really all I know. Kill me! Please, just kill me!"

After being tormented by the Black Fiend several times at close range, the Taotie Bloodline's spirit finally collapsed; it was never a resilient mind to begin with.

Over the years, it has long been affected by the desires and souls it has devoured, to the point that my own spiritual essence has become fragile.

Jiang Li bowed slightly to the Grand Censor of the Western Terrace, indicating that she had no further questions.

So, the Grand Censor of the Western Terrace gently raised his hand and pointed.

The black aura surged, and the dense darkness seemed to transform into an even larger mouth, mercilessly devouring the gluttonous bloodline.

Nothing was left. But the Grand Censor of the Western Terrace did not stop; the Black Fiend began to spread after devouring the Taotie bloodline.

Until the entire Chengxinlou was enveloped.

Then Chengxinlou also disappeared.

The three of them appeared in an open space.

Jiang Li frowned, deep in thought, while the Seventh Princess lowered her eyes, seemingly feeling somewhat dejected.

Upon seeing this, the Grand Censor of the Western Terrace simply cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, now that this matter is settled, I will take my leave."

"etc."

The Seventh Princess suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with doubt and stubbornness, and said, "Grand Censor, you haven't answered my question yet!"

"Why doesn't the Heavenly Court clean up Beiju Luzhou?!"

However, the Grand Censor of the Western Terrace still did not answer. He remained silent, bowed again, and then disappeared into a hole in the ground.

The Seventh Princess bit her lip and subconsciously looked at Jiang Li.

Under the Seventh Princess's gaze, Jiang Li came back to her senses, temporarily putting aside other matters, and said softly, "Your Highness, there are some things that are not about right or wrong, good or evil." Her tone carried helplessness and a hint of sarcasm.

This is also why he only wants to stay in the Luoshui Divine Palace for the rest of his life; at least with the Goddess of Luoshui there, those filthy things have nothing to do with him.

He was unable to help everyone, so he could only choose to focus on his own well-being.

The seventh princess stood there blankly for a long time before turning around and walking towards the direction of the Intestineless Kingdom.

Jiang Li stepped forward, keeping a distance of no more than ten feet, and asked, "What brings Your Highness here?"

"Go and tell the people of the Intestineless Kingdom that they no longer need to send their second child away."

Without turning her head, the Seventh Princess said, "Without that Gluttonous Bloodline, and with Hei Sha having dealt with the Chengxin Tower, the curse of the Intestineless Kingdom must have disappeared."

"The Grand Censor is capable of doing this."

"They no longer need to sacrifice their children, nor do they need to worry about the curse."

Jiang Li opened her mouth, but then remained silent.

The Seventh Princess suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Jiang Li, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

The youngest princess of the Heavenly Court wore a complex smile as she looked up at Jiang Li and said softly, "I know this is the territory of the Taotie. Without this Chengxin Tower, there may soon be another Taotie bloodline, another Chengxin Tower to exploit the Cursed Gutless Kingdom."

"But at least... they have a period of time where they can have a second child without worry..."

"It's not their fault that they're in a place of darkness, and they had no choice, but... at least let them see the light."

"I know that doing this might have a very bad outcome, but... I just feel..."

"There should at least be a glimmer of hope..."

"Even if the price of seeing hope is a longer period of repeated decline..."

After saying that, the Seventh Princess continued walking forward, and Jiang Li followed behind her, watching her back.

This brat seems different now.

…………

"You're a little different than before."

Beneath a volcanic crater in the desolate, lifeless desert of Beiju Luzhou.

The area is covered with volcanic rocks, strangely shaped, resembling a forest made of stone. The man in black robes squatted unceremoniously in a corner of the stone forest, looking at the creature before him that had been forced into a corner with nowhere to retreat.

A small cat with snow-white fur and golden eyes, but slightly larger than two palms.

The kitten looked around, blinked in a very human-like way, its eyes full of helplessness.

"Ugh."

The kitten surprisingly spoke in a human voice, sighing, "Isn't this all thanks to you?"

"I'm already in such a miserable state, why are you still coming to find me?"

The black-robed man's face was still completely covered by his hood, but he could clearly see the kitten in front of him through the hood.

"But you weren't like this the last time I saw you."

"The last time you mentioned, it seems to have been before the Middle Ages, right?"

The kitten licked its paws and looked at the man in black robes with its golden eyes.

"Speak, what do you want from me?"