Chapter 389: The White Lotus Sect Is Still Too Upright
Regarding the doctrines and development model of the White Lotus Sect, Lü Yang carefully questioned its three Divine Lords. The answers he received left him utterly astonished.
"Master may not know this,"
The three Divine Lords—Green Lotus, Purple Lotus, and Golden Lotus—explained. Among them, Purple Lotus was a great Divine Lord comparable to mid-stage Foundation Establishment, while Golden Lotus had reached the peak of mid-stage.
Naturally, Golden Lotus Divine Lord spoke first:
"Although our White Lotus Sect deceives minds, we do not rely solely on deception. If we merely tricked people without offering real benefits, we could never have gathered so many believers."
"Moreover, minds ensnared through deception require daily spells to control, which is extremely cumbersome. The incense offerings produced this way are far less pure than those from fanatical believers. Thus, unless absolutely necessary, we rarely resort to such methods. Instead, we rely on genuine benefits to win believers' heartfelt devotion."
"Exactly, exactly!"
Green Lotus Divine Lord quickly chimed in: "Our sacred land, the [Vacuum Native Land], is a true paradise where people live free from disasters and fears."
"All believers yearn for it."
"That's why they place unwavering faith in our White Lotus Sect."
Purple Lotus Divine Lord added: "Every year, we select the most devout believers from our followers and send them to the [Vacuum Native Land] to enjoy the ultimate pleasures of the world."
"Then we hold them up as examples."
"The remaining believers, seeing this, naturally emulate them, aspiring to the same fate and striving harder to contribute to the sect, offering all their wealth and faith."
After listening to the three Divine Lords' explanations, Lü Yang quickly grasped how the White Lotus Sect operated—and was profoundly shocked.
"Wait, you actually support your believers?"
That's right. According to the three Divine Lords, the [Vacuum Native Land] genuinely provided for fanatical believers, spending untold sums daily to sustain them!
The operational model was simple: the many supported the few. The blood and sweat of countless low-ranking White Lotus followers funded the upkeep of those in the [Vacuum Native Land]. Periodic cycles of replacement ensured liquidity, maintaining stable incense offerings for the entire sect.
"This is unavoidable,"
Golden Lotus Divine Lord sighed. "These stubborn commoners must be given hope. Otherwise, they revolt, destabilizing morale and reducing incense offerings."
"However, in recent years, the sect has faced many difficulties."
"Even with strict screening, the number of believers in the [Vacuum Native Land] keeps growing, and daily expenditures keep rising."
"In recent months, the sect has struggled to make ends meet. That's why we dispatched disciples to this remote area—to expand new sources of incense offerings and recruit more useful, hardworking believers. After all, the more followers we have below, the better those in the [Vacuum Native Land] can live."
"You all..."
Lü Yang shook his head, looking at the three Divine Lords with an expression of exasperation. "This is the White Lotus Sect? Your methods are still too upright!"
"...Huh?"
The three Divine Lords were stunned. They were accustomed to being called a heretical sect, but this was the first time anyone had criticized them for being too upright.
Then Lü Yang spoke calmly: "Fundamentally, why must you spend money to support them?"
"What else can we do?"
Golden Lotus Divine Lord asked, puzzled. "Believers are people. People need food, have desires, seek enjoyment—all of which require money..."
"Believers still count as people?"
"Can't you just use illusions? Turn coarse buns into delicacies, rags into fine silks, then bewitch their senses into believing it's all real. Wouldn't that achieve the same effect while saving money?"
Frankly, Lü Yang found even this wasteful.
The Myriad Spirits Banner was far more efficient. Once transformed into Banner Spirits, they no longer needed food—spiritual energy alone sustained them. All luxuries could be manifested within the banner.
A textbook case of cost-cutting efficiency.
Not to mention, Banner Spirits were unique. Regardless of prior beliefs, once willingly entered, their hearts held only loyalty, producing pure incense offerings.
"Enough. Take me to your believers."
At Lü Yang's command, the three Divine Lords dared not disobey. As White Lotus Sect Divine Lords, each had their own incense-offering territories.
Seven Luminaries Heaven, several remote cities.
The City God temples here had long been abandoned. Every household now enshrined White Lotus Sect tablets, praying devoutly day and night.
But recently, something changed.
Previously, the tablets responded by preaching White Lotus doctrines and depicting the wonders of the [Vacuum Native Land], rousing believers' fervor.
Now, a new name appeared.
[Sky of Separation]
"Leave behind all worldly fears and hatreds, ascend to the highest heavens—no conditions, all may enter willingly..."
At first, no one believed it.
But when the White Lotus Sect Divine Lords they once worshipped personally testified, disbelief became impossible. Especially since Lü Yang packaged it so well.
"Everyone, your hardships are over!"
"Good days are here!"
"The Wusheng Laomu has descended, willing to deliver all. Believers of all genders and ages may enter the [Sky of Separation] and enjoy eternal bliss..."
Who wouldn't be entranced?
Especially since these were White Lotus Sect believers—each convinced of their piety. With Divine Lords vouching, surely it was real!
Instantly, the crowd surged.
Lü Yang didn't even need to act. He simply opened the Myriad Spirits Banner's entrance, and countless people rushed in headlong.
What they believed before no longer mattered.
First, lure them in using the name [Wusheng Laomu]. Once inside the banner, their faith would be whatever he decreed—effortless control.
"Tsk!"
Witnessing this, the three White Lotus Divine Lords gasped. Yet Lü Yang remained utterly unmoved.
Living beings entering the banner, like Chen Xin'an and Ancestor Nether Whisper, weren't truly dead. Beyond absolute loyalty, little else changed.
Some might call this cruel.
But in the Saint Sect, we call it efficiency.
'Still, we can't take everyone at once. This is just a stopgap to accumulate incense offerings—Banner Spirits can't reproduce.'
Once stabilized, Lü Yang planned to establish a Myriad Spirits Banner Elderly Care Center.
Simply put: only convert elderly nearing the end of their natural lifespans into Banner Spirits, enabling sustainable exploitation.
'Later, I can preach doctrines like: "Work hard and bear many children in youth, and ascend to paradise in old age." This ensures explosive population growth and annual large-scale harvests.'
Isn't that perfect?
Smirking at the thought, Lü Yang released the newly converted Banner Spirits back outside, delaying their faith transition.
"No rush... slow and steady wins the race."
Swift faith shifts might alert the White Lotus Sect—especially the [Wusheng Laomu], a supreme Divine Lord comparable to perfected Foundation Establishment, beyond his current means to confront.
Thus, he would erode them step by step!
Using these converted White Lotus believers as a foundation, he'd gradually assimilate the rest until the entire sect was reborn!
Once all White Lotus followers became Banner Spirits—
What could the [Wusheng Laomu] do then?
By then, the White Lotus Sect's orthodoxy would reside in the [Sky of Separation]!