199. Who will go

Chen Ren felt a headache blooming behind his eyes the moment Wang Jun spoke. First Anji, now Wang Jun wanted to come with him to the pagoda. The Pagoda of Eternity wasn’t a sightseeing trip. Everything Princess Yanyue had told him painted it as a place where a single mistake could cost a limb, even a life.

Rubbing his temples, Chen Ren asked the only question that mattered. “Why?”

Wang Jun squinted as if the question itself offended him. “Why do I need to explain myself? I am a free man.”

“A free man with no arms, no legs, and no body,” Yalan said with a teasing purr in the end.

Wang Jun sniffed. “A man’s strength is in his head.”

Chen Ren sighed. “You can phrase it however you want, but you can’t go to the pagoda alone. Someone would have to carry you, and I don’t think you understand. Every Guardian sect will be there. If they find out what you are—”

“They won’t,” Wang Jun cut in immediately. “Not if you hide me.”

Anji quietly lifted him and set his head on her lap. “Master… Why do you want to come? I’m sure Sect Leader Chen will agree once he knows the real reason.”

Wang Jun grumbled, turning his face away. Suddenly he looked… almost pitiful. “I don’t want to be left behind while all of you run around. It’s boring here.”

Chen Ren raised a brow. “Qing He is staying back.”

Wang Jun shook in Anji’s lap. “And what should I do with her? Talk to her? Play board games? That old woman threatens to throw my head into the sky every time she sees me. I’m not safe with her!”

Yalan exhaled, unimpressed. “Why don’t you just tell us the real reason?”

Wang Jun glared at Yalan, his eyes narrowing. “And why exactly do you think loneliness isn’t a good enough reason?”

“Because it’s not,” Chen Ren said flatly. “You’ve probably been alone for hundreds of years. Every cultivator gets used to loneliness first. Don’t try to guilt-trip me with that crap now.”

Wang Jun sputtered, clearly offended, then grumbled, “You don’t believe me…” But when Chen Ren kept staring at him with his arms crossed, the old head deflated.

“Fine, fine,” Wang Jun muttered. He reluctantly added. “I just want to go back and see if I can take some inheritances for myself, alright? I still remember a few cultivators who worked on the pagoda. They left behind… very interesting things. And I still remember that.”

“Why do you need an inheritance?”

“To get back my body, of course!” Wang Jun barked, as if it was obvious. “Do you want me to stay as a head for life?”

Chen Ren’s brows rose, understanding flickering through his eyes. “A puppet master inheritance is in there.”

Wang Jun slowly nodded. “And a great alchemist inheritance too. And even a few master healers. All the annoying geniuses who helped build that place left something behind.”

Chen Ren’s eyes widened. Now it all made sense.

He had already tried to solve Wang Jun’s condition months ago. He and Hong Yi discussed building a puppet body—something functional, movable, responsive to qi—but Hong Yi had rejected the idea every time. It wasn’t a matter of willingness. He simply wasn’t skilled enough yet, and Wang Jun couldn’t use just any mechanical construct. It needed to be something his soul could control. Something refined enough to function as a real body.

Chen Ren never pushed further. He’d accepted it would take years—maybe decades—before Hong Yi reached that level.

But ancient inheritances, puppet master techniques, knowledge created by cultivators that far exceed anything in the current age… That changed everything.

Wang Jun didn’t need to say more. Chen Ren finally understood exactly why the old head was looking so damn desperate.

“And do you know the location of those inheritances?” Chen Ren finally asked.

Wang Jun paused, his face scrunching as if dredging through centuries of memory. “…Not exactly,” he admitted. “But I’m sure I’ll figure it out once I enter the pagoda. I never entered it after helping build the damn place, but I did see the designs, and might remember them once I get inside. That’s why you should bring me with you.”

Chen Ren rubbed his temples. “What about the fact that you’re a talking, walking head?”

Wang Jun snorted. “Just tuck me into a robe or something. You’re a crafty brat, I’m sure you can convince people I’m some sort of artifact. And the pagoda isn’t the same as walking into a city or sect. At worst, people think you’re a demonic cultivator.”

Yalan burst out laughing. “Yeah, as if that wouldn’t be a problem.”

Then she looked at Chen Ren, expression sharpening. “So? What do you think? You’re really planning to bring these two into the pagoda?”

Chen Ren fell silent.

His gaze moved from Yalan to Anji—who looked hopeful, biting her lip—and then to Wang Jun, who already seemed convinced he was coming along. Both of them had their reasons. Both of them had already made their own choices.

He couldn’t pretend he didn’t understand.

The pagoda wasn’t a simple inheritance ground—it was also an opportunity. A place where a cultivator’s entire future could change. Qing He herself had told him how important artifacts and inheritances were for long-term strength. For many cultivators, they were as valuable as cultivation realms themselves.

Chen Ren understood ambition. He had built his entire path on it. So instead of denying them, he finally spoke: “We’ll have a meeting.”

Both Anji and Wang Jun blinked, confused.

“A… meeting?” Anji asked.

Chen Ren nodded. “Yes. If anyone wants to join me, I’ll give them the chance. But only after they understand the dangers of the pagoda. Anyone who goes with me will know exactly what they’re walking into, and then they can decide for themselves.”

***

True to his word, Chen Ren didn’t waste any time. He found Tang Xiulan first and told her to round up every cultivator in the sect. He also made sure to inform her—very firmly—that Princess Yanyue was not to barge into the meeting or learn anything about it.

It took two whole hours before everyone finally assembled.

Zi Wen had been out scouting around the village with Sori. Hong Yi and Feiyu were elbow-deep in their talisman printing press, trying to get the new design to work. Luo Feng had been tending to the rare seeds they brought back from Red Peak City. Qing He arrived last, yawning, and declared that she was only joining because the meeting “seemed more interesting than listening to Princess Yanyue talk for another hour.” The princess had been trying to catch up with her former tea-shop master and Qing He found that unbearable.

Once everyone—including Xiulan—was in the room, Chen Ren didn’t delay.

“By now,” he began, “I assume you all know about the Pagoda of Eternity.”

Everyone nodded… except Luo Feng, who blinked at them with a confused expression.

“What’s that?” he asked.

Zi Wen answered before Chen Ren could. “A place in the Corpse Lands that holds the inheritance of a nascent soul cultivator, and who knows how many treasures. Cultivators from all over the empire are preparing to enter it.”

Chen Ren nodded. “That’s the gist of it.”

He let his gaze sweep across the room.

“Yalan and I are already going in. Anji wants to come. Wang Jun also wants to come.” He took a brief pause as others looked at the head who only snorted. “So before anything else, I want to ask: do any of you want to join us? If you’re interested, speak now.”

Hong Yi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Wouldn’t that place be extremely dangerous?”

Chen Ren didn’t sugarcoat it.

“All four Guardian sects will be there,” he said. “And many Established sects. Rogue cultivators too. And who knows if demonic cultivators would decide to give it a chance too. There will be danger at every corner.”

At that, Hong Yi visibly shuddered. “I believe I’ll stay in the sect,” he said quickly. “The work on the press is more important than treasure hunting. It’s helping me with my dao quite a lot.”

Feiyu snorted. “You just don’t want to end up facing your former sect, if there's a chance they will be there.”

Hong Yi shrugged without shame. “Yes. Even with my mask, it’s too stressful to be anywhere near them. So I will refrain.”

Chen Ren nodded. It was a good decision. He had no idea if the Blood Iron Sect would be there, but in case they were, he didn’t want them to suspect Hong Yi was alive.

He turned to Feiyu. “What about you? Staying here too?”

Feiyu nodded. “Yeah, but not because I’m scared of the pagoda. I think it could be fun, honestly. But I’m not really one for adventure. I’d rather spend my time working on more firearm prototypes and the press. And from the sound of it, the pagoda will take quite a while.”

“Two to three months is what I’m thinking,” Qing He said dryly. “If Chen Ren doesn’t get himself killed.”

“I won’t,” Chen Ren replied. “I know how to preserve my life at least.” Then he looked at Luo Feng. “You want to come, Luo Feng?”

“I don’t think I could,” he admitted, lowering his head in a sigh. “I want to… but I just planted the seeds we brought back, and they need tending. I’m trying to grow a spiritual farm and garden, and that takes a lot of time. So I don’t want to leave right now.”

Chen Ren nodded, his mind drifting for a moment. Maybe he would be able to find more spiritual seeds inside the pagoda—something rare or ancient—that Luo Feng could use to build the foundation of the sect’s future fields.

It was a possibility worth keeping in mind.

He recalled the alchemical gardens he’d seen in the medallion’s hologram. If those existed inside the pagoda’s recreated world, then spiritual seeds were practically guaranteed. But that was something for later.

Right now, he turned to Zi Wen.

“What about you, Zi Wen? Anji and Wang Jun already want to come, so it’s just you left.”

Before Zi Wen could even answer, Qing He’s eyes narrowed and she turned to the head. “I don't understand how you are going to enter the pagoda until he knows how to grow legs. Do you?”

Wang Jun sniffed proudly. “Chen Ren will be carrying me.”

Chen Ren shot him a flat look. “I have not agreed to that yet.”

“There’s no one else strong enough to carry me around,” the head countered. “And protect me in case someone tries to steal me away. I am a very valuable head, you know.”

Chen Ren pinched the bridge of his nose. “We’ll talk about that later.”

He shifted his attention back to Zi Wen.

Zi Wen still hadn’t answered. He was standing with his arms folded, brows drawn slightly as if weighing the decision carefully. After a few seconds, he looked up at Chen Ren.

“Do you think I would be able to progress to the foundation establishment realm if I do well inside the pagoda?”

Chen Ren paused to think before answering honestly. “Probably. There will be a lot of treasures there. And even though the Azure Immortal Sect wasn’t known for beast taming, they took help from many famous cultivators when building it. Some of those must have left behind taming knowledge or beast-related inheritances.” He tilted his head. “You’re already at the peak of the qi refinement realm, right?”

Zi Wen nodded. “Yes, I am. But there’s nothing interesting to tame around Meadow Village. All the beasts here are too weak. I’ve been thinking about taking a journey anyway, to find something worthy.”

Yalan stretched her tail and spoke up. “Although the Corpse Lands mostly have demonic beasts, I do think the pagoda will be full of different beasts left inside as guardians for treasures. Older sects loved doing that.”

Zi Wen smiled, a rare spark of excitement flickering in his usually calm eyes. “I would like to come then. I can’t let go of an opportunity to advance my cultivation, gain new treasures and tame unique beasts.”

Chen Ren nodded once. “Then it’s decided. Anji, Yalan, Zi Wen, Wang Jun, Whiskey, and myself—we’ll head to the pagoda with the princess.”

He turned toward Tang Xiulan. “Xiulan will handle the sect in my absence, and Qing He can protect it if there are any threats.”

Tang Xiulan nodded confidently. “That will be fine by me.”

Qing He snorted. “Always giving an old woman all the heavy tasks.”

Chen Ren pretended he didn’t hear that and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a rolled parchment and spread it across the table. Everyone leaned in at once.

Drawn on it was a tall tower—the pagoda—sketched floor by floor. Sections of the parchment were filled with annotated warnings, diagrams, layouts, rough estimates of danger zones, and Princess Yanyue’s descriptions scribbled in Chen Ren’s handwriting.

“I made this during my talks with Princess Yanyue,” he said. “I’m sure she doesn’t know everything, but she knew enough for me to sketch what we should expect from the first five floors.”

The group studied the parchment closely.

Chen Ren tapped the first drawing.

“As you can see, the first floor is basically the tutorial of what’s to come. Basic beasts, basic traps, and basic currency-gathering. After that… things ramp up.”

He let his finger drift upward along the parchment, stopping on the fifth floor. “Since a whole group from our sect is going, our goal isn’t just to help the princess. It’s to gather as many treasures, artifacts, and cultivation manuals as possible. All of it will help us qualify as a true Established Sect when we get back.”

He paused dramatically.

“And a lot of that… depends on what we’re going to do on the fifth floor.”

Anji frowned. “What are we going to do on the fifth floor?”

Chen Ren looked up at her, then grinned. “Well, of course, we’re going to start a business.”

***

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