Dao of Money

Chen Ren wasn’t the only one who noticed the similarity between the sect in the scroll and the hologram from the medallion. Even Yalan, perched lazily on the shelf above, leaned forward—her sharp eyes narrowing as she met his gaze for a brief second. Neither of them spoke, but the look they exchanged said enough.

Chen Ren quickly schooled his expression back into neutrality, lowering his eyes to the scroll before anyone noticed. Fortunately, Princess Yanyue seemed too focused on the illustration before her to catch the exchange. Her tone was calm but carried the kind of authority that made everyone listen as she began to speak.

“The sect is called the Azure Immortal Sect, as I already mentioned,” she said, her finger gliding across the massive sprawl of towers and courtyards depicted in the image. “I believe you must have heard some of the rumors about what happened to it.”

Chen Ren nodded slightly. “There are a lot of rumors,” he said. “Everything from demonic practices to a curse that destroyed the sect from within.”

Princess Yanyue inclined her head. “There are, and honestly, even the royal family doesn’t know the truth. At least it’s not in any of the books I’ve read.” Her voice lowered a fraction, becoming more deliberate. “But we do know one thing about the sect that’s true. They had something so valuable that even the royal family covets it.”

Before Chen Ren could ask what she meant, Qing He spoke up from the side, her tone dry. “The Pagoda of Eternity.”

Yanyue’s lips curved faintly, as though pleased by the interruption. “Yes,” she said. “Even when the sect still stood, it was renowned because the sect leader of Azure Immortal Sect built the pagoda to choose his successor. He invited some of the greatest minds of his time to help him—Array Masters, Grand Alchemists, and cultivators who stood at the peak of power.”

City Lord Li Baolong, who had been quietly listening, added in a low voice, “Nascent soul cultivators.”

Chen Ren’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of Nascent soul cultivators. His mind immediately flashed back to Gu Tian and his late master—the spectral who had stood at that very realm. The memory brought a brief chill through him, but he forced himself to focus back on the conversation before him.

Princess Yanyue continued, her tone smooth but filled with restrained excitement. “The Pagoda of Eternity was opened once every year back when the sect still stood. Anyone within the first three realms of cultivation could enter and attempt to reach the top. If they succeeded, they would be chosen as the sect master’s successor and inherit not only his position but all of his treasures.”

She paused, letting that sink in before adding, “But that wasn’t all. Since other great sect leaders were involved in its creation, the pagoda itself was filled with treasures on every level. Each floor was said to hold rewards like rare materials, unique artifacts, and even cultivation manuals and techniques that no longer exist in our age.”

City Lord Li Baolong nodded thoughtfully. “Yes. The structure itself is marked with some of the most advanced spatial arrays ever made. From what’s been gathered, the inside of the pagoda is vast—possibly as large as a city, maybe even larger. With so many levels and the complexity of its design, calling it a pagoda isn’t accurate.” He glanced at the scroll, his eyes reflecting both awe and wariness. “It’s a world of its own. And on its highest floor lies the inheritance of the sect leader, a nascent soul cultivator.”

The room fell quiet again, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Even Yalan’s tail had stopped swishing as she stared at the scroll.

Then Qing He, who had been silently finishing her tea, set her cup down and spoke. “I didn’t know the royal family had this much information about the pagoda,” she said. “I knew the Guardian Sects had some idea it existed, but you’re speaking as if you’ve studied it in depth.”

Princess Yanyue’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “I have,” she said. “But you are wrong about one thing, Master Qing He. The royal family don’t have so much information, but I do. I was the only one who cared enough to dig through the royal archives. Most records of the Azure Immortal Sect were destroyed or deemed irrelevant, but there was one book that everyone overlooked.”

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes gleaming. “A journal. Written by a cultivator who lived for a century yet accomplished almost nothing worth recording. But somehow, his writings made their way into the royal library. And according to his notes, he was once a disciple of the Azure Immortal Sect.”

At that, Chen Ren’s eyes widened. His pulse quickened as he leaned slightly forward. “Does that mean it has records of the pagoda?”

Princess Yanyue nodded. “Scattered records,” she said, “but yes—there are records. From what’s written, the Pagoda of Eternity has fifteen floors in total. The cultivator who wrote the journal only managed to reach the fifth before retreating, but he documented most of what he encountered. Not everything, of course—some details were clearly too complex for him to understand—but what he left behind gives us a good idea of how to advance through the floors. And even hints of what lies beyond those he reached.” Her eyes sharpened as she went on. “It’s safe to say that even most geniuses from the Guardian Sects would fail inside. The pagoda tests more than strength or talent—it tests understanding. And that’s where you come in, Sect Leader Chen.”

Chen Ren blinked, confused. “What do you mean? I’m no genius.”

Yanyue’s lips curved in faint amusement. “No, you’re not. But your dao might be the key to fulfilling my goals.”

“My dao?” Chen Ren frowned. “How could that possibly help?”

Before Yanyue could answer, City Lord Li Baolong spoke. “According to the journal’s description, advancement through the pagoda relies on an exclusive currency that exists only within its walls. There are many paths between floors, but the most common and direct is through a lift that connects all fifteen levels. However,” he added, glancing at Chen Ren, “to access the lift, one must pay using that currency, and the cost multiplies exponentially with each level. At least that’s the case after the first four floors.”

Yanyue nodded. “Most cultivators who entered the pagoda either died or crippled themselves trying to obtain more of this currency. But according to the journal, there was one man—just one—who managed to pass beyond the tenth level.”

She paused for a moment, letting the tension in the air stretch thin before her next words fell like a hammer.

“And that man,” she said, “was said to have been blessed by the Golden Dragon. His dao…” Her gaze locked onto Chen Ren’s. “…was the same as yours.”

Chen Ren gasped and took time to react to all the information. He sat in silence, letting everything he’d just heard settle in his mind. The more he thought about it, the more overwhelming it became. There was too much information being thrown at him all at once—about the pagoda, the currency inside it, and someone who had supposedly walked the same path as him, thousands of years before.

Not only was there a medallion tied to the pagoda, but someone with the same dao had climbed nearly to its peak. He had always known the dao of money was rare—almost forgotten—and hence he had never heard of any other follower of it. Now to hear that someone before him had not only possessed it, but used it to reach the tenth floor of a nascent soul cultivator’s trial—it shook him more than he wanted to admit.

His mind turned quickly, breaking things down as he always did when something interested him. Was there going to be records of that person? If he went inside the pagoda himself, would he be able to find something about that ancient cultivator—something that would help him understand his dao better? And if that man had been blessed by the Golden Dragon too, then… could the dragon inside him know something about it? The thought lingered for a moment before Qing He’s voice cut through it, pulling him back into the conversation.

“So, you want Chen Ren to go into this pagoda?” she asked. “For what, exactly? Do you want him to chase after the inheritance of a dead nascent soul cultivator?”

Princess Yanyue shook her head slightly, her expression calm and collected. “No. I don’t think even with his dao, Sect Leader Chen will be able to reach the very top. The inheritance isn’t what I’m after.”

Her words made Chen Ren frown slightly, but she went on before he could interrupt. “What I want is something else. According to the journal I mentioned, the same cultivator who wrote the journal had written another book before his death. He recorded a lot of different things in it, but according to his own writings, he lost it somewhere inside. And from what we know, anything that’s lost in the pagoda becomes a treasure that can be purchased.”

City Lord Li Baolong leaned forward slightly, nodding. “That’s right. The pagoda absorbs everything left behind by those who enter it—artifacts, scrolls, even bodies. All of it becomes part of its internal treasury. If the man’s second book was lost, then it’s still there, waiting to be found. And since we know he only reached the fifth floor, the book should be somewhere within those first five floors.”

Princess Yanyue turned her gaze back to Chen Ren, her eyes sharp and assessing. “All I want,” she said, “is for you to enter the pagoda and find that book for me. I will also be entering the pagoda, by the way. But even with my own talents, I’m not arrogant enough to think I can get that book on my own.”

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Chen Ren looked up at her, brow furrowing slightly. “So there are others looking for it?”

The princess nodded. “Yes, a lot of my subordinates will be aiming for the book. Also, word has already spread about the pagoda, and the Guardian Sects have already sent their chosen disciples. There will be geniuses, nobles, even assassins inside. But honestly…” Her eyes softened just a fraction as she looked at him. “I will be relying on you more than any of them. Because of your dao and everything I have heard about you.”

She paused, her tone hardening again. “Still, I won’t lie. It will be dangerous. Many who enter won’t come out again. But I don’t care about the inheritance or the treasures. I only want that book.”

Chen Ren fell silent, lowering his gaze to the tea cup in front of him. He took a slow sip, his thoughts racing. What could possibly be in that book for her to risk everything for it? He doubted she would tell him. The pagoda sounded both exciting and deadly, but if one of the medallions really lay inside, then he needed to go regardless of her motives. The problem was, if he agreed too quickly, he wouldn’t get any benefits out of this other than the medallion. He needed to negotiate, but before he could open his mouth, a sharp voice broke through the air.

“I’m not letting Chen Ren go into the pagoda.”

Everyone turned toward Yalan, who had been perched silently on the shelf until now. Her tail flicked as she leapt down, landing gracefully beside him, eyes narrowed. “He’s my responsibility,” she said firmly. “And if only cultivators within the first three realms can enter, then I won’t be able to go in with him.”

Chen Ren’s eyes widened. Yalan had just spoken—openly—and more than that, she’d revealed herself as sentient in front of people who had no reason to know it. Before he could even say anything, she turned to glance at him and said dryly, “They already knew.”

He blinked. “They what—How?”

Princess Yanyue smiled faintly, completely unfazed. “I didn’t expect you to realise that,” she said, her tone almost teasing. “But yes, I already knew about the spirit beast that follows you.”

Yalan’s tail flicked once, “When we were coming to this room, your eyes kept glancing in my direction. You probably have an artifact that can sense qi signatures in the air—no matter how well they’re hidden.”

Princess Yanyue blinked, momentarily taken aback, then gave a small, impressed nod. “You’re oddly perceptive,” she said in an even tone. “But I suppose it’s expected from a powerful spirit beast.” She turned her gaze toward Chen Ren, her expression softening a little. “I’m sorry about that. One of my rings does exactly what the elder spirit beast said—it detects fluctuations in qi nearby. It’s a precaution I use to sense spies or assassins, not to pry into anyone’s secrets. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”

City Lord Li Baolong nodded in agreement, his tone earnest. “That’s true. I have known about the ring for a while and it’s simply for safety. Still,” he glanced between the two, “I must say, I didn’t expect such a being to accompany you, Chen Ren. Is she your master, perhaps?”

Chen Ren looked from Yalan to the city lord, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “Something like that,” he said after a short pause. “She’s… taught me a lot, at least.”

Yalan gave him a sideways glance, then turned back to Princess Yanyue, her voice steady and cold. “And like I said, I have no intention of sending him to his death. The Pagoda of Eternity might hold countless treasures, but if what you say is true—if disciples from Guardian and Established Sects will all gather there—then it won’t be a simple trial. It’ll be a slaughter.”

She stepped closer, her tone dropping slightly. “You said it yourself: no one knows what happens inside. If people die there, who will confirm it? Who will even know?”

Qing He finally spoke, setting her empty cup down with a soft clack. “That’s right. The pagoda sounds like a perfect place to bury rivals,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. “And if even half of the empire’s geniuses will be stepping inside, I wouldn’t be surprised if more than a few ‘accidents’ happen. It’s not just unsafe—it’s an open invitation for murder under the guise of a trial.”

“Nothing in cultivation is ever safe, Master Qing He,” Princess Yanyue said quietly. “You’re the one who taught me that.”

Qing He’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “True,” she said, “but you also know there’s a difference between facing danger we must confront and diving headfirst into danger we can easily avoid. The latter is foolish, and you know that too.”

The princess went silent at that, her expression tightening just a little as she pressed her lips together. For the first time since she’d entered the sect, she looked slightly less composed.

At one end, Qing He and Yalan were trying to shield him like two walls standing firm between him and danger, but Chen Ren knew that he couldn’t let them make this decision for him. He wasn’t a child to be protected. So, taking a quiet breath, he straightened his back and took control of the conversation.

“I’m pretty sure,” he said, looking directly at Princess Yanyue, “that you’ll be able to find something to let Yalan enter the pagoda with me.”

The princess’s brows lifted slightly, her expression unreadable. “And why do you think that?” she asked.

“Because you’re a princess,” Chen Ren said simply. “You clearly have the backing of City Lord Li Baolong as well. If you can’t get one treasure that allows her to enter the pagoda, then no one in the empire can.”

For a moment, silence hung in the air as the princess tapped her finger against the table, thinking. Her eyes drifted briefly toward City Lord Li Baolong, who nodded slowly.

“There is something we can use,” Li Baolong said finally. “An Essence Locking Pill. It suppresses one’s cultivation down to the foundation establishment realm for about a week. It’s mainly used to rebuild a weak foundation or restructure the meridians, but it’s… not pleasant. Painful, even. Still, it should be enough to let her enter the pagoda.”

Chen Ren’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “But we’d need more than one, right?”

“Yes,” Princess Yanyue said, folding her hands together. “The pagoda will stay open for at least a month, maybe two. We’d need several pills for her to remain inside that long, and they’re not cheap.”

Qing He let out a quiet snort, leaning back in her chair. “Money isn’t exactly a problem for you,” she said dryly.

Yanyue’s lips curved just slightly. “That’s not the point, Master Qing He. I still need to decide how much I’m willing to invest in this venture.” Her eyes flicked toward Yalan. “But… having a powerful elder spirit beast on our side does sound useful.”

Yalan’s tail swished behind her as she said evenly, “I don’t know what will happen inside that tower, but I can promise one thing—I’ll deal with any arrogant cultivator who thinks about bullying Chen Ren.”

Her tone was cold enough to make even City Lord Li shift slightly in his seat.

Chen Ren smiled faintly, looking from her to the princess. “Let’s say you do manage to get the pills,” he said. “And Yalan can come with me. Even then, I’d still need a reason to go into that pagoda for you.”

Princess Yanyue arched her brow. “A reason? I’m already spending quite a bit just to make that possible.”

“Yes,” Chen Ren said and clutched his hands in front of him, “but spending that much only increases the chances that I’ll actually find what you want. It doesn’t mean I’ll do it for free.”

A long silence followed, heavy enough that the sound of the teacups settling on the table felt loud. Princess Yanyue’s eyes lingered on him, and for the first time since she’d arrived, her expression shifted—just slightly with a hint of annoyance—but then it was gone, replaced by her usual composed look.

Finally, she leaned back and said coolly, “Very well, Sect Leader Chen. What do you want?”

Chen Ren’s lips curved into a small, confident smile. “Why don’t we start the negotiations?”

***

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