Chapter 49: Fate is Least Up to Man
“It seems the Foundation Establishment Perfected One behind the scenes has finally given up!”
Lu Yang looked up at the sky. It was only because he possessed the [Primordial Chaos One-Qi Divine Talisman] and had the experience of several lifetimes that he could vaguely perceive the changes in his fate.
This feeling of a clear Dao heart and a wide-open sky was truly something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“Good, good.”
Discovering that the Foundation Establishment Perfected One was no longer plotting against him, Lu Yang instantly felt much more relaxed. What satisfied him even more was that another one of his projects had also made significant progress.
Lu Yang took out the [Primordial One-Qi Myriad Spirits Banner] and then summoned his [Primordial One Qi] clone.
The Myriad Spirits Banner was very special. Although it contained a seed space, only things related to the [Primordial Dao Scripture], like the [Primordial One Qi] clone, could enter it.
As the clone entered, Lu Yang felt his vision blur.
In the next second, a vast and boundless scroll slowly unrolled before Lu Yang’s eyes, like a comic strip. Inside each panel was a banner spirit.
These images had their own merits. Some were landscapes with households, some were isolated islands overseas, some were imperial palaces and forbidden cities, and some were celestial palaces of the Heavenly Court. In each of these images, a banner spirit brimming with spiritual light was walking about, eating, drinking, playing, or meditating and cultivating, looking just like a real person.
Although he had seen it many times, each time he saw it, Lu Yang couldn’t help but sigh with emotion:
“These images are probably formed from the memories of the banner spirits’ past lives… Letting the banner spirits live within the paintings to maintain their consciousness and memories—what a formidable artifact!”
With a thought from Lu Yang, the scene in the painting instantly changed.
All the banner spirits were gathered in one place. The original landscapes and households transformed into a huge factory and an assembly line.
At first, the banner spirits were somewhat dazed.
But soon, as the strongest among the banner spirits, Liu Xin was the first to regain clarity. He walked quickly to Lu Yang and bowed respectfully, “Subordinate greets Master.”
“How is the work going?”
“Answering Master, one hundred and thirty-two [Golden Light Talismans], one hundred and fifty-three [Five Thunders Talismans], and two hundred and ten [Sword Qi Talismans] have been produced. Master, please inspect them.”
As his voice fell, Liu Xin held up a thick stack of talismans and presented them.
“Well done, but…”
Lu Yang scanned with his spiritual consciousness and put away the talismans with satisfaction, but soon his face dropped into a scowl: “…Who allowed you to let them go back to rest?”
Ever since he exchanged Talisman Arts with Fairy Feixia, he had handed over the production of the three low-grade talismans to the group of banner spirits inside the Myriad Spirits Banner. Therefore, the banner spirits should have been drawing talismans for him day and night, all year round without rest. Yet, when he just came in to inspect, he found everyone resting.
This was outrageous! Defying heaven!
As a banner spirit, if you dare to rest today, I simply dare not imagine what you’ll dare to do tomorrow! This unhealthy trend must be nipped in the bud!
Thinking of this, Lu Yang narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice:
“Senior Brother Liu, I am very happy that you can organize the banner spirits to draw so many talismans, but I am very displeased that you let the banner spirits go rest.”
“Answering Master, this was a helpless move by your subordinate.”
Hearing this, Liu Xin hurriedly explained, “The art of drawing talismans requires a living person to use spiritual power as the brush and spiritual intelligence as the ink. However, banner spirits are people who seem alive but are actually dead.”
“Although they have spiritual power, their spiritual intelligence diminishes with every bit used.”
“If they draw talismans for a long time without being allowed to sleep and recuperate, one day all their spiritual intelligence will be exhausted, eventually causing them to dissipate without cause.”
“So what?”
Lu Yang’s response instantly stunned Liu Xin.
“The one thing the Myriad Spirits Banner doesn’t lack is banner spirits. If they work until they dissipate without cause, that’s perfect. I’ll go get a new one, which will have higher efficiency.”
“Oh right, dissipated banner spirits can also be used to feed other banner spirits.”
“Since banner spirits can endure hardship, they can endure even more hardship.”
“You banner spirits were born to work for me. Banner spirits who cannot work for me have no value in existence; just let them dissipate on their own.”
Lu Yang spoke in a flat tone, but Liu Xin listened with fear and trembling.
‘Animal… what an animal!’
Seeing Lu Yang’s application of the Myriad Spirits Banner, Liu Xin felt that he himself was simply a great philanthropist; he used to only summon banner spirits during 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 fact that you and I still have some fellowship as sect brothers, 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 works, using that banner spirit also works. Why should I use you?”
“Isn’t it because we are from the same sect? It is also thanks to you that I am where I am today… Don’t worry, as long as you work hard, I definitely won’t treat you unfairly.”
Liu Xin: “…”
While Lu Yang was inspecting work inside the Myriad Spirits Banner, in another secret chamber of the Blood-Clad Tower, Yun Miaoqing was currently caught in an internal conflict.
“How could it be…”
Her expression was hard to decipher as joy or shock. On her neck, the token symbolizing the status of a disciple of the [Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion] was emitting light.
This was communication spiritual light!
As long as one circulated spiritual power to contact it, one could communicate with the person on the other side of the spiritual light. She just never expected her token to have this function!
But why had no one contacted her before?
In the next second, Yun Miaoqing heard a familiar voice ringing in her ear: “Miaoqing? Very good, you are not dead. It seems you still have some fate left.”
“You are… Older Sister!?”
Yun Miaoqing’s beautiful eyes widened, revealing a look of astonishment.
The reason she had extended an olive branch to Lu Yang earlier was partly because she trusted Lu Yang’s character, and partly because she had sufficient confidence in her own background.
As long as Lu Yang was willing to turn over a new leaf, she could make the Sword Pavilion accept him.
Because her Yun Family had once produced a Sword Pavilion Sect Master, a [Golden Core Perfected Lord]. Although it had declined now, it was still a great immortal clan within the Sword Pavilion.
However, she herself was not highly regarded by the family. The one truly valued was her older sister—Yun Miaozhen, a True Disciple of the Sword Pavilion who cultivated the Golden Flower Great Unity Scripture.
She was dedicated to bitter cultivation, even refusing to take pills to artificially boost growth, and was one of the very few True Disciples who cultivated a Great Divine Ability while in the Late Stage of Qi Refining.
To describe her as a “Proud Daughter of Heaven” would not be an exaggeration in the slightest.
Yun Miaoqing, Yun Miaozhen. Although their names differed by only one character and they were full sisters, their talent and aptitude were worlds apart.
“Where are you now?”
Spiritual light shimmered, and a cool voice came from within— “Your innate fate was insufficient, which is why you suffered the calamity of falling into the Demonic Sect. Now that it is complete, you should escape your tribulation.”
Could she return to the Sword Pavilion?
Yun Miaoqing was briefly stunned, then infinite joy arose. She hurriedly said, “I am in the Blood-Clad Tower of the [Skull Mountain] market. Sister, are you coming to pick me up?”
“Blood-Clad Tower?”
Yun Miaozhen paused slightly, then said, “Were you taken advantage of by that Master of the Blood-Clad Tower? Never mind, I will behead him for you, and that can count as the completion of your merit.”
Hearing this, Yun Miaoqing was instantly stunned and hurriedly said, “Sister, you misunderstand. Although Dao Brother Lu comes from the Demonic Sect, he is not a villain. Instead, his heart leans toward the Orthodox Path, and his talent is excellent. I think rather than killing him, it would be better to persuade him to turn over a new leaf. He could also be a help to the Orthodox Path…”
Before Yun Miaoqing could finish her sentence, a light scolding interrupted her directly.
“Absurd!”
In the next second, outside the [Skull Mountain] market, a tall, valiant woman wearing a white robe and a crane cloak, with sword light contained in her beautiful eyes, suddenly crushed the jade talisman in her hand.
Beside the woman, a middle-aged man frowned and said, “What happened?”
“Miaoqing is beyond saving!”
Yun Miaozhen shook her head and sighed. “She pleaded for the demon. I fear she is already deeply trapped in the tribulation and cannot extricate herself. There is no hope of escaping the tribulation anymore…”
“Then what do you intend to do, Junior Sister?”
“…Go to the Demonic Sect market!”
As her voice fell, a nameless anger suddenly arose in Yun Miaozhen’s heart.
Yun Miaoqing was her full sister, and her appearance was seventy percent similar to her own…
Thinking of this, Yun Miaozhen felt uncomfortable all over and subconsciously brought her legs together.
Immediately after, a trace of killing intent flashed across her exquisite face: “The demon bewitched my sister. If I don’t behead him with my own hands, my thoughts will not be clear!”
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