Chapter 49: Not Even Half a Point is Up to Man

"It seems the Foundation Establishment True Person behind the scenes has finally given up!"

Lu Yang raised his head to gaze at the sky; only because he possessed the Innate Hunyuan One Qi Divine Talisman and had experiences from several past lives could he vaguely perceive the changes in his fate.

This feeling of a clear Dao heart, vast as the sea and sky, was something he truly had not experienced in a long time.

"Good, good!"

Discovering that the Foundation Establishment True Person was no longer plotting against him, Lu Yang immediately felt much more relaxed; what satisfied him even more was that his other project had also made significant progress.

Lu Yang took out the Innate One Qi Myriad Souls Banner, then summoned his Innate One Qi clone.

The Myriad Souls Banner was unique; although it contained a mustard-seed space, only entities related to the Innate Dao Scripture, such as the Innate One Qi clone, could enter it.

As the clone entered, Lu Yang suddenly felt the scene before his eyes shift.

The next second, a vast, boundless scroll unfolded before Lu Yang's eyes, resembling a comic strip where each panel contained a banner spirit.

These portraits each had their own distinct features: some depicted landscapes and homes, others isolated islands overseas, imperial forbidden cities, or celestial palaces; within each portrait, a banner spirit radiating spiritual light was moving about, either eating, drinking, and playing, or sitting in meditation to cultivate, looking just like a real person.

Although he had seen this many times before, every viewing still made Lu Yang sigh with emotion:

"These portraits are likely transformations of the banner spirits' memories from when they were alive. Keeping the banner spirits living within these paintings maintains their consciousness and prevents it from scattering. What a powerful magic treasure!"

With a thought from Lu Yang, the scenery within the paintings instantly changed.

All the banner spirits were gathered in one place, and the original scenes of landscapes and homes transformed into a massive factory and an assembly line.

At first, the banner spirits were somewhat dazed.

However, very quickly, as the strongest among the banner spirits, Liu Xin was the first to regain clarity; he hurried over to Lu Yang and said respectfully, "Subordinate greets Master."

"How is the work progressing?"

"Replying 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 inspect them, Master."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Xin held up a thick stack of talismans and presented them.

"You've done well, but..."

Lu Yang swept his spiritual sense over them, satisfied as he put the talismans away, but soon his face drooped into a frown: "... ho authorized you to let them go rest?"

Ever since he exchanged talisman techniques with Fairy Feixia, he had assigned the production of three low-grade talismans to the banner spirits inside the Myriad Souls Banner; therefore, the banner spirits should have been working day and night, year-round, drawing talismans for him, yet when he just came in to inspect, he found everyone resting.

How could this be tolerated? This was deceiving heaven!

As a banner spirit, if you dare to rest today, what will you dare to do tomorrow? I dare not even imagine! This unhealthy trend must be nipped in the bud!

Thinking this, Lu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice:

"Senior Brother Liu, I am very happy that you could organize the banner spirits to draw so many talismans, but I am very displeased that you let the banner spirits go rest."

"Replying to Master, this subordinate had no choice."

Hearing this, Liu Xin hurriedly explained: "The art of drawing talismans requires a living person to use magic power as the brush and spiritual wisdom as the ink; however, banner spirits are people who appear alive but are actually dead."

"Although they possess magic power, their spiritual wisdom diminishes with every use."

"If they draw talismans for a long time without being allowed to sleep and recuperate, one day they will exhaust all their spiritual wisdom, ultimately causing them to scatter without cause."

"So what?"

Lu Yang's response left Liu Xin momentarily stunned.

"The Myriad Souls Banner lacks nothing less than banner spirits; if they tire themselves out and scatter without cause, that is perfect; I will go get a new one, which will yield higher efficiency."

"Oh right, scattered banner spirits can also be used to feed other banner spirits."

"Since banner spirits can endure hardship, then they can endure even more hardship."

"You banner spirits were born to work for me; banner spirits that cannot work for me have no value in existing, so just let them scatter on their own."

Lu Yang spoke in a calm tone, but Liu Xin listened with trembling heart.

'A beast... truly a beast!'

Watching how Lu Yang utilized the Myriad Souls Banner, Liu Xin felt he himself was practically a great benefactor; previously, he had only summoned the banner spirits during magical battles.

Lu Yang keenly perceived his emotions and smiled gently: "Senior Brother Liu, I believe you also understand how fierce the competition among banner spirits is now; to be honest, if not for the few points of fellowship between us as sect brothers, I wouldn't have let you take full charge of this matter; you should learn to be grateful."

"Otherwise, think about it: using this banner spirit is using one, using that banner spirit is also using one; why should I use you?"

"Isn't it just because we are sect brothers? If I have achieved today, it is largely thanks to you; rest assured, as long as you work hard, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

Liu Xin: "..."

Just as Lu Yang was inspecting work inside the Myriad Souls Banner, in another secret room within the Blood Robe Tower, Yun Miaoqing was currently embroiled in an internal struggle.

"How could it be like this..."

Her expression was indescribably mixed with joy and shock, and on her neck, the token symbolizing her status as a disciple of the Yushujiange was emitting light.

This was communication spiritual light!

As long as one circulated magic power to touch it, one could communicate with the person on the other end of the spiritual light; she just never expected her token to have this function!

But why had no one contacted her before?

The next second, Yun Miaoqing heard a familiar voice sound in her ear: "Miaoqing? Very good, you are not dead; it seems you still have some fate."

"Are you... Elder Sister!?"

Yun Miaoqing widened her beautiful eyes, revealing a look of shock.

The reason she had previously extended an olive branch to Lu Yang was, on one hand, her conviction regarding Lu Yang's character, and on the other, her full confidence in her own background.

As long as Lu Yang was willing to renounce evil and return to the righteous path, she could get the Jiange to accept him.

This was because the Yun family she belonged to had once produced a Jiange Sect Master, a Golden Core True Person; although they had declined now, they were still a great immortal clan within the Jiange.

However, she herself was not highly regarded by the family; the one truly valued was her elder sister—Yun Yun Miaozhen, a Jiange true disciple who cultivated the Taiyi Jinhua Dan Scripture, devoted herself entirely to bitter cultivation, even refusing to take elixirs to force growth, and was one of the very few true disciples who had cultivated a great divine ability while still in the Late Stage of Qi Condensation.

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

Yun Miaoqing and Yun Yun Miaozhen; although their names differed by only one character and they were biological sisters, the difference in their talent and brilliance was as vast as the clouds and the mud.

"Where are you now?"

The spiritual light shimmered, and a cold voice emerged from it: "You were born with insufficient fate, which is why you suffered the calamity of falling into the Mo Sect; now that it is complete, you should escape this tribulation."

She could return to the Jiange?

Yun Miaoqing was stunned for a brief moment, then immediately felt infinite joy rise within her; she hurriedly said, "I am in the Blood Robe Tower at the Skull Mountain Market; Elder Sister, are you coming to pick me up?"

"Blood Robe Tower?"

Yun Yun Miaozhen paused slightly, then said, "Have you been harvested for dual cultivation by that Blood Robe Tower Master? Never mind, I will cut him down for you, which will also count as your merit being complete."

At these words, Yun Miaoqing instantly froze and hurriedly said, "Elder Sister, you misunderstand; although Daoist Brother Lu comes from a demonic sect, he is not an evildoer; on the contrary, his heart leans toward the righteous path, and his talent is excellent; I feel that instead of killing him, it would be better to persuade him to renounce evil and return to the righteous path, which could also aid the righteous path..."

Before Yun Miaoqing could finish speaking, a soft rebuke directly interrupted her.

"Absurd!"

The next second, outside the Skull Mountain Market, a tall woman dressed in white robes and a crane-feather cloak, with sword light hidden within her beautiful eyes and an heroic, valiant demeanor, suddenly crushed the jade talisman in her hand.

Beside the woman, a middle-aged man frowned and asked, "What is wrong?"

"Miaoqing is beyond saving!"

Yun Yun Miaozhen shook her head and sighed: "She pleads for a demonic head; she has likely fallen deep into a tribulation from which she cannot extricate herself, with no hope of escaping the calamity anymore..."

"Then what does Junior Sister plan to do?"

"... o to the Mo Sect market!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a nameless fury suddenly arose in Yun Yun Miaozhen's heart.

Yun Miaoqing was her biological sister, sharing seven parts of her appearance; now she had been harvested for dual cultivation by a demonic head; was that scene not as if she herself had also been...

Thinking this, Yun Yun Miaozhen felt uncomfortable all over and subconsciously drew her legs together.

Immediately, a trace of killing intent suddenly flashed across her exquisite, pretty face: "The demonic head has bewitched my sister; if I do not personally slay him, my thoughts will not be clear!"

(End of Chapter)