Chapter 49: Not a Bit Within One's Control

“It seems that Foundation Establishment True Person behind the scenes has finally given up!”

Lu Yang looked up at the sky. It was only because he possessed the Innate Primordial Chaos One Qi Divine Talisman and the experience of several lifetimes that he could faintly perceive the shifts in destiny.

This feeling of a clear Daoist heart and boundless horizons was something he truly hadn't experienced in a long time.

“Good, very good.”

Realizing that the Foundation Establishment True Person was no longer plotting against him, Lu Yang felt much more relaxed. Even more satisfying to him was the significant progress made on his other project.

Lu Yang took out the Innate One Qi Myriad Spirit Banner and then summoned his Innate One Qi Clone.

The Myriad Spirit Banner was quite unique; although it contained a mustard seed space within, only things related to the Innate Daoist Books, such as his Innate One Qi Clone, could enter it.

As the clone entered, Lu Yang felt a sudden blur before his eyes.

In the next second, a vast and boundless scroll slowly unfurled before him, resembling a picture book where each frame contained a banner spirit.

These portraits each had their own unique characteristics: some depicted mountain landscapes and rural homes, some showed isolated islands in the overseas, some featured imperial palaces and forbidden cities, and others depicted the celestial palaces of the Heavenly Court. Within these paintings, banner spirits with unrestrained spiritual light were moving about—some eating, drinking, and playing, others meditating in cultivation—looking just like real people.

Despite having seen this many times, every viewing left Lu Yang unable to help but marvel

“These portraits are likely formed from the memories of the banner spirits from before they died... allowing the spirits to live within the paintings to prevent their consciousness and memories from dissipating. What an incredible treasure!”

With a thought from Lu Yang, the scenes in the paintings shifted instantly.

All the banner spirits were gathered in one place. The original scenes of mountain homes and landscapes transformed into a massive factory with a production line.

At first, the banner spirits were somewhat dazed.

However, Liu Xin, being the strongest among them, was the first to regain clarity. He stepped quickly toward Lu Yang and said respectfully, “This subordinate greets the Master.”

“How is the work progressing?”

“Reporting to Master, we have produced one hundred and thirty-two Golden Light Talismans, one hundred and fifty-three Five Thunder Talismans, and two hundred and ten Sword Qi Talismans. Please, Master, inspect them.”

As he finished speaking, Liu Xin held out a thick stack of talismans.

“Well done, however...”

Lu Yang’s spiritual sense swept through them, and he tucked the talismans away with satisfaction, but his expression quickly turned sour. “...Who gave you permission to let them go back to rest?”

Ever since he had exchanged talisman techniques with Fairy Feixia, he had assigned the production of the three low-grade talismans to the banner spirits within the Myriad Spirit Banner. Therefore, the spirits should have been working day and night, year-round, to draw talismans for him. Yet, upon entering to inspect, he found everyone resting.

How could this be allowed? This was sheer audacity!

As banner spirits, if they dared to rest today, what would they dare to do tomorrow? He couldn't even bear to imagine it! This kind of corrupt trend had to be nipped in the bud!

Thinking of this, Lu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a heavy voice

“Senior Brother Liu, I am very happy that you can organize the banner spirits to draw so many talismans, but I am very unhappy that you let them all go to rest.”

“Reporting to Master, this subordinate had no choice,” Liu Xin explained hurriedly. “The art of drawing talismans requires a living person to use their magic power as the brush and their spiritual wisdom as the ink. However, banner spirits are people who are effectively dead despite appearing alive.”

“While they possess magic power, their spiritual wisdom is consumed bit by bit with every use.”

“If they draw talismans for long periods without being allowed to sleep and recover, they will eventually exhaust all their spiritual wisdom, which will ultimately lead to them dissipating without cause.”

“And what of it?”

Lu Yang’s response left Liu Xin momentarily stunned.

“The Myriad Spirit Banner never lacks banner spirits. If they get so tired that they dissipate, then so be it. I will simply go and get a new one; it will yield even higher efficiency.”

“Oh, right, dissipated banner spirits can also be used to feed the other banner spirits.”

“Since the banner spirits can endure hardship, they can endure even more.”

“You banner spirits were born to work for me. A banner spirit that cannot work for me has no value in existing. Just let them dissipate on their own.”

Lu Yang spoke in a flat tone, but Liu Xin listened with terror.

*‘Beast... you absolute beast!’*

Watching how Lu Yang utilized the Myriad Spirit Banner, Liu Xin felt that he himself was practically a saint; in the past, he had only summoned the banner spirits during combat.

Lu Yang keenly sensed his emotion and gave a gentle smile. “Senior Brother Liu, I believe you understand how fierce the competition among banner spirits is. To be honest, if we didn't share some ties as fellow disciples, I wouldn't have given you full responsibility for this matter. You should learn to be grateful.”

“Otherwise, think about it: using this banner spirit is the same as using that one. Why would I use you?”

“It is only because we are fellow disciples. I have achieved what I have today thanks to you. Don't worry, as long as you work hard, I certainly won't mistreat you.”

Liu Xin: “...”

While Lu Yang was inspecting the work within the Myriad Spirit Banner, in another secret chamber of the Blood Clothing Pavilion, Yun Miaoqing was currently embroiled in an internal struggle.

“How can this be...”

Her expression was an indescribable mix of joy and shock. On her neck, the token symbolizing her status as a disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion was emitting a glow.

It was a communication spiritual light!

As long as one circulated magic power to touch it, one could communicate with the person on the other side of the light. She had never imagined her token possessed such a function!

But why had no one contacted her before?

In the next second, Yun Miaoqing heard a familiar voice ring in her ear: “Miaoqing? Very good. You haven't died; it seems you still have some destiny left.”

“You are... Sister!?”

Yun Miaoqing’s beautiful eyes widened in astonishment.

The reason she had extended an olive branch to Lu Yang previously was partly because she believed in his character, and partly because she had full confidence in her own background.

As long as Lu Yang was willing to turn over a new leaf, she could have the Sword Pavilion accept him.

This was because her family, the Yun family, had once produced a Sect Leader of the Sword Pavilion, a Golden Core True Monarch. Although they had declined in power, they were still a great immortal clan within the Sword Pavilion.

However, she herself was not highly valued by the family. The one truly held in high regard was her sister—Yun Miaozhen, a true disciple of the Sword Pavilion. She practiced the Taiyi Golden Radiance Daoist Book and was dedicated to bitter cultivation, even refusing to use medicinal pills to accelerate her progress. She was one of the rare true disciples to have mastered great divine abilities while still in the late stages of Qi Refinement.

To describe her as a "heavenly prodigy" would not be an exaggeration in the slightest.

Yun Miaoqing and Yun Miaozhen—though their names differed by only one character and they were biological sisters, the difference in their talent and temperament was as vast as the gap between clouds and mud.

“Where are you now?”

A cold voice drifted out from the shimmering light. “Your innate destiny was insufficient, which is why you fell into the calamity of the Demonic Sect. Now that it is fulfilled, you should emerge from the tribulation.”

*I can return to the Sword Pavilion?*

Yun Miaoqing was momentarily stunned, but she was immediately overcome with immense joy. She hurriedly said, “I am in the Blood Clothing Pavilion within the Skeleton Mountain Market. Sister, are you coming to fetch me?”

“The Blood Clothing Pavilion?”

Yun Miaozhen paused slightly before saying, “Were you taken advantage of by that Master of the Blood Clothing Pavilion? Very well, I shall slay him for you; it can be considered the completion of your merit.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Miaoqing was instantly stunned. She quickly said, “Sister, you misunderstand! Although Brother Lu comes from a demonic background, he is not an evil man. On the contrary, his heart leans toward the righteous path, and his talent is exceptional. I feel that rather than killing him, it would be better to persuade him to reform, which could also provide assistance to the righteous path...”

Before Yun Miaoqing could finish her sentence, a sharp reprimand cut her off.

“Absurd!”

In the next second, outside the Skeleton Mountain Market, a tall, heroic woman in white robes and a crane-feathered cloak, with sword-light shimmering in her beautiful eyes, suddenly crushed the jade talisman in her hand.

Beside the woman, a middle-aged man frowned and asked, “What is it?”

“Miaoqing is beyond saving!”

Yun Miaozhen shook her head and sighed. “She is pleading for a demon; I fear she has already fallen deep into a tribulation from which she cannot extricate herself. There is no longer any hope for her to escape the calamity...”

“Then what does Junior Sister intend to do?”

“...To the Demonic Sect Market!”

As the words fell, an unnamed fury suddenly rose in Yun Miaozhen's heart.

Yun Miaoqing was her biological sister, and her appearance was seventy percent similar to her own...

Thinking of this, Yun Miaozhen felt a sudden sense of discomfort and subconsciously pulled her legs together.

Immediately following that, a flash of killing intent surged across her exquisite, pretty face: “A demon has bewitched my sister. If I do not slay him with my own hands, my mind will never find peace!”