316. Lord of the pagoda

Chen Ren had never expected to see the medallion here, resting in the Watcher’s hand. Especially not as part of the inheritance.

As soon as he saw it, something inside him eased. He had been wondering for so long why he had not been able to find the medallion anywhere inside the pagoda. He had searched, fought, traded, climbed, survived, and still failed to get his hands on it.

Now he understood why. It had been inside the inheritance all along.

If he had never ended up on the last floor, he would never have been able to obtain it. In a strange way, luck truly had favoured him, even if that luck had dragged him through a qi-less desert for more than four years and forced him to fight an illusion of the golden dragon.

Chen Ren stepped forward and took the medallion from the Watcher’s hand. He inspected it carefully and realised his was truly the medallion.

Now, he had another one.

But even as relief filled him, another problem remained. He still had no idea what these medallions were actually for. They were clearly valuable. Too many dangerous people wanted them for that not to be true. Jun and the other demonic cultivators would not be risking so much for ordinary treasures.

Wang Jun seemed to be thinking the same thing.

“What do you know about these medallions?” the severed head asked.

The Watcher frowned slightly. “Actually, not much.”

Wang Jun’s glare sharpened. “How useful.”

“I only know that they are keys to the Gates of Immortal,” the Watcher said. “That is all that exists in my memory.”

Chen Ren looked down at the medallion again.

The Gates of Immortal.

He had heard of the name a few times by now, but he still had no idea what it led to. A trial, a realm, or some kind of inheritance. It could mean almost anything in the cultivation world.

“But I can tell you this much,” the Watcher added. “This medallion was passed down within the Azure Immortal Sect. So it is extremely valuable.”

Chen Ren already knew that part. Otherwise, someone like Jun would not be chasing after it.

Still, knowing that did not make the situation any less frustrating. He finally had another medallion in his hands, but he was still in the dark about what it truly did.

In the end, Chen Ren forced himself to put the thought aside.

He placed the medallion into his spatial ring, making sure it was stored safely before looking back at the Watcher.

“What else is in the inheritance?” he asked.

“A lot of things,” the Watcher said.

As he spoke, he opened another screen in front of them.

Chen Ren audibly gasped.

There was a lot of gold displayed. So much so that, for a second, he could simply stare.

It was enough to start a bank. The Watcher pointed at the screen and continued.

“Other than Sect Leader Yuren’s personal vault, which contains many artifacts, manuals, resources, and gold, as you can see, you also receive something very special.”

Wang Jun’s eyes narrowed. “What? Is he also getting the pagoda or something?”

“Actually, yes.”

Chen Ren froze.

“Since he is now the owner of the inheritance,” the Watcher continued, “he is also the owner of the Pagoda of Eternity. From this moment onward, Chen Ren can do whatever he wants with it.”

For a while, Chen Ren genuinely thought the Watcher was lying.

But there was no deceit on his face. In the first place, Chen Ren was not even sure if the man was capable of lying about something like this. The Watcher had been created to oversee the pagoda. If he said ownership had changed, then it was probably true.

Which meant Chen Ren now owned the Pagoda of Eternity. That thought was so massive that he could not immediately accept it.

The pagoda was not just a treasure. It was not just a building or a trial ground. It was a world in itself, filled with floors, cities, beasts, trials, resources, time-warping spaces, and secrets even Wang Jun did not fully understand. Countless cultivators had entered it over the centuries, risking their lives for opportunities hidden inside.

And now it belonged to him. Chen Ren slowly looked down at Wang Jun, who had gone still.

He probably understood the same thing. Whatever treasures were inside Sect Leader Yuren’s vault, they could not compare to the pagoda itself. Gold, manuals, artifacts, and resources were valuable, but the Pagoda of Eternity was on an entirely different level.

After a long silence, Wang Jun finally opened his mouth.

“Hey,” he said. “I also cleared the last floor, right?”

Chen Ren’s expression changed at once.

“I was there with this fool the entire time,” Wang Jun continued. “Shouldn’t I get part of the pagoda too? I literally helped build it.”

The Watcher gave him an apologetic look. “Sadly, that is not possible. The pagoda never designated you as a climber, Senior Wang Jun.”

Wang Jun grunted. “That is unfair to me.”

“It is how the rules work.”

“Then change the rules right now and let me have half the pagoda.”

Chen Ren immediately turned the head around so Wang Jun was no longer facing the Watcher.

“Do not start,” Chen Ren said.

Wang Jun glared up at him. “I am starting because I have been robbed.”

“You are a severed head.”

“A severed head who contributed.”

Chen Ren did not know how to argue with that, but he also had no intention of giving Wang Jun even imaginary ownership over half the pagoda.

“What are you even saying?” Chen Ren asked. “What would you even use it for?”

“I will hoard it until I get my body back,” Wang Jun said.

Chen Ren frowned. “You are not a dragon.”

“I can still hoard things.”

“Let me take it, and do not cause trouble,” Chen Ren said. “I will help you with whatever you want either way.”

Wang Jun went quiet.

For a moment, he actually seemed to think about it. Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Are you sure you will not say no to my requests?”

“Not unless they are truly outrageous.”

“Was asking you to give me the power to control half the pagoda outrageous?”

“Yes,” Chen Ren said immediately. “It was.”

Wang Jun grumbled, but Chen Ren ignored him and looked back at the Watcher.

“So I just get ownership of the pagoda like that?” Chen Ren asked. “Do I have to control it instead of you? Do I get any percentage of the profit here?”

The Watcher raised an eyebrow. “Profit?”

Chen Ren nodded. “Yes. I know the pagoda moves and works on its own, but if I am the owner of all this, can I control every puppet inside? Can I take a fee from them? I am basically the king of the pagoda now, and they are sort of like nobles. How does all of this work?”

Wang Jun started laughing.

The Watcher looked stunned for a moment, as if this was not the direction he had expected the conversation to go. Then he slowly composed himself.

“Actually,” he said, “you can try to do all of that if you want. But as the owner of the pagoda,” the Watcher continued, “there are two choices I am supposed to offer you first.”

Chen Ren frowned. “And what are those two?”

The Watcher looked at him calmly. He clutched his hands in front of him. “First, you can destroy the pagoda. And second, you can take control of it and do whatever you want with it.”

“Why would I destroy something like this?” Chen Ren asked immediately.

The Watcher did not seem surprised by the question. “Because if you take control of it, you need to keep it open for climbers,” he said. “They will still have the chance to enter the pagoda, challenge its floors, and take treasures out of it.”

Chen Ren frowned.

“The inheritance itself has already been claimed,” the Watcher continued. “But you will still need to think of appropriate prizes for anyone who manages to reach the top floor in the future. There is also the matter of handling the lords of each floor, though that should not be too difficult if you are the owner.”

Chen Ren went silent. Now that he thought about it, managing the Pagoda of Eternity did sound a lot like running a very strange business.

One that would require a massive amount of effort from his side.

He was not worried about someone else reaching the last floor anytime soon. If the fifteenth floor truly worked the way the Watcher said, then very few cultivators would even survive long enough to trigger the illusion. But that did not mean the rest of the pagoda would be easy to handle.

There were the floor lords, puppets, climbers, rules, treasures, shops, cities, and all the strange things he still didn’t fully understand. Some of the floor lords hated him, and some would probably resist. Some would even try to take advantage of any change in ownership.

It sounded extremely troublesome.

But even then, destroying the pagoda was not a real option.

The Pagoda of Eternity was likely the greatest creation in the entire empire. It was a treasure, a trial ground, a city, a world, and a source of resources all at once. It had existed for centuries, shaping the lives of countless cultivators. Giving up on something like that and letting it be destroyed was not sane.

At least, not to someone like Chen Ren. So he looked at the Watcher and said, “I will preserve it.”

The Watcher smiled faintly. “I thought you would say that.”

“Then why ask?”

“Because the choice still had to be offered.”

The Watcher raised his hand, and the screens around them shimmered slightly.

“If you choose to preserve the pagoda and take control of it,” he said, “and since you have also received the inheritance, you will need to make an announcement and formally take over the Pagoda of Eternity.”

Chen Ren raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Stolen story; please report.

“You need to announce your ownership.”

“That would make everyone know who I am.”

“You do not have to reveal your name,” the Watcher said. “But an announcement still has to be made.”

Chen Ren’s frown deepened. “Why?”

“It is something Sect Leader Yuren wanted,” the Watcher said. “The pagoda was never meant to change hands quietly.”

Chen Ren wondered why something like that was even necessary.

But in the end, he supposed that if he was going to take over the pagoda, things were going to change anyway. If the climbers suddenly noticed new rules, new rewards, or changes in how the floors operated, rumours would spread regardless. In that case, it might actually be better to be upfront about it.

At least to a point.

Chen Ren looked at the Watcher. “How are you going to announce it?”

The Watcher smiled and jumped down from his floating seat. “You can sit there.”

Chen Ren looked at the chair.

“There are options to broadcast through the entire pagoda,” the Watcher continued. “Every single floor will hear you.”

Chen Ren paused. That sounded almost like a news broadcast.

It was extremely convenient. A little too convenient, honestly. Chen Ren immediately felt the urge to understand how it worked. If such a thing could be copied, even in a much weaker form, it would be useful for his sect, his businesses, and whatever else he built in the future.

But that thought only lasted for a moment.

Because then he began thinking about what would happen if he revealed himself as the new owner of the Pagoda of Eternity.

The result would be disastrous.

It would not only attract the attention of the Guardian sects. The emperor himself might want a piece of him. Chen Ren was already going to be watched by people powerful enough to crush him easily due to his achievements here, and announcing that he owned the Pagoda of Eternity sounded like a perfect way to turn their interest into greed.

They would ask for the pagoda. If he refused, they might try to use force

Even if they did not act openly, they could pressure him in a thousand other ways. They could interfere with his sect, block his businesses, send spies, or make his life so troublesome that he would regret ever revealing the truth.

And Chen Ren still wanted to do business in the empire.

He still wanted to grow his sect. The last thing he wanted was to become the center of a storm before he was even strong enough to survive it.

So if he had to announce himself as the new owner, then he had to take more than a few steps to hide his identity.

Ideas began flowing through his head almost immediately.

He didn’t need to appear as himself. He didn’t need to give his name. He did not even need to let people know he was a young cultivator from a new sect. If the pagoda could broadcast his voice, then it might also be able to alter it. If the Watcher could create illusions, then perhaps it could show a false figure.

He could be a mysterious owner. Someone with enough mystery around him that powerful people would hesitate before making a move.

Chen Ren slowly looked back at the floating chair, and for the first time since the Watcher mentioned the announcement, his expression became thoughtful rather than alarmed.

If he had to step onto the stage, then he would do it properly. And more importantly, he would make sure no one knew who was truly standing there.

Chen Ren looked down at Wang Jun.

The severed head seemed to be thinking along the same lines.

So Chen Ren picked him up properly and moved a little to the side to discuss it with him. Fortunately, Wang Jun was fully in favour of keeping Chen Ren’s identity a secret. If anything, he seemed even more certain about it than Chen Ren was.

After all, revealing himself would create a very dangerous mess.

So the two of them discussed several ways to make sure Chen Ren did not die an early death after gaining the greatest treasure in the world. The Watcher listened from the side, his expression growing more and more complicated with every idea they brought up.

He was clearly not on board with the plan.

Even after Chen Ren finally decided what he wanted to do and asked whether it was possible, the Watcher did not answer at once.

“We can do everything you said, but I do not know if it is necessary.”

Chen Ren raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“You would be going out of your way to make sure the greatest achievement anyone could gain in this era is not attached to your name,” the Watcher said. “Conquering the Pagoda of Eternity is not a small matter. It is the kind of thing that would make your reputation spread across the world.”

“That is fine by me,” Chen Ren said. “There would be too much trouble otherwise.”

The Watcher shrugged slightly. “Actually, even if someone goes after you, the pagoda itself is indestructible unless demigods personally come to destroy it. And with everything inside this place, you will have a lot of firepower at your disposal.”

Chen Ren believed him.

Just the city lords alone were enough to be regarded as major powerhouses by the empire. If the entire pagoda moved under his command, then ordinary forces would have no chance of doing anything to him.

But that was the problem. The city lords were not his supporters yet.

They did not even know he was the owner. More importantly, Chen Ren had already angered a few of them badly. He had taken advantage of rules, interfered with their plans, and caused enough trouble that some of them would probably not be pleased to learn he now had authority over them. That was something he would have to deal with carefully.

So Chen Ren simply shook his head. “I understand that. But I believe this is the better way right now.”

Wang Jun snorted. “You only want him to reveal his identity because Yuren always liked bragging about the things he did.”

The Watcher’s expression stiffened slightly.

Wang Jun continued, “That bastard could not sneeze without wanting someone to write a poem about it.”

Chen Ren looked down at him. “Was he really that bad?”

“He created a fifteen-floor pagoda and named it the Pagoda of Eternity,” Wang Jun said. “What do you think?”

Chen Ren had no answer to that.

“He was attention-hungry,” Wang Jun said. “And he gave you those traits too.”

The Watcher looked offended. “I am not attention-hungry.” Wang Jun stared at him. “I simply believe people should be able to flaunt their achievements.”

“That is the same thing.”

“It is not.”

Chen Ren decided not to get involved.

The Watcher turned back to him. “Either way, if you have already decided, then I have no right to argue further.”

He clicked his fingers. At once, robes and a mask fell onto the ground in front of Chen Ren.

Chen Ren picked them up.

Both were dark in colour. The robes were black with faint silver lines running through the fabric, and the mask was smooth and featureless except for narrow openings over the eyes. Just holding them made Chen Ren feel as if wearing them would make him look like a demonic cultivator.

Or some kind of dark lord.

It was not exactly the image he had in mind, but he did not complain. In the end, this was better than showing his real face to everyone inside the pagoda.

So he put them on.

The robes covered his body completely, hiding his build, clothes, and even the way he carried himself. The mask settled over his face, and the moment it did, a cool sensation spread across his skin. His features were hidden, his aura felt muted, and even his voice seemed to change slightly when he tested it with a quiet breath.

Only after that did Chen Ren move toward the Watcher’s chair.

He sat down slowly.

The Watcher stood beside him, helping with each request Chen Ren had made. Some of them were simple. Alter his voice. Hide his true aura. Make sure no one could sense his cultivation. Show a false figure through the broadcast instead of his real body. Nothing too complicated, at least according to the Watcher.

But Chen Ren doubted the man would have agreed to any of it if he had not conquered the pagoda.

Even now, it still did not feel real. He had conquered the Pagoda of Eternity. He owned it.

That truth was too large to fully settle inside him at once. Perhaps it would take days, weeks, or even months before he truly understood what it meant. For now, all he could do was take a deep breath and prepare himself for what came next.

The Watcher looked at the screens around them.

“It is ready,” he said. “In the next ten seconds, you will be broadcast to every single person inside the pagoda.”

Chen Ren nodded.

He adjusted the mask once, then checked the robes to make sure every part of his body was hidden. Nothing about him could be exposed. Not his face, not his aura, not even his ordinary voice.

When everything was ready, the screens around him appeared again.

One after another, they opened in the air, giving him a view of all fifteen floors. Chen Ren saw the tutorial floor, the cities, the forests, the battlefields, the hidden regions, and the qi-less desert he had escaped from. He saw puppets, floor inhabitants, sect disciples, wandering cultivators, merchants, guards, and climbers from every corner of the pagoda.

Then, slowly, they all began to look up.

Across every floor, people raised their heads toward the sky.

Chen Ren felt their attention settle on him.

For a moment, his fingers tightened against the armrest of the chair. Then he forced himself to calm down.

He was not Chen Ren right now. He was not a young sect leader from a small, growing sect. He was not a cultivator who had stumbled into the final floor by accident and survived through desperation.

He was the new lord of the pagoda.

So Chen Ren spoke.

***

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