Chapter 390
Chapter 390
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 390
Chapter Title: The White Lotus Cult is Still Too Righteous
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Regarding the White Lotus Cult's doctrines and operational model, Lu Yang carefully questioned the three White Lotus Divine Lords, and the answers he received left him utterly astounded.
"Master may not realize."
The three Divine Lords were Green Lotus, Purple Lotus, and Golden Lotus. Purple Lotus rivaled a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, while Golden Lotus was at the peak of the mid-stage.
Naturally, Golden Lotus Divine Lord spoke first:
"Though our White Lotus Cult sways hearts and minds, we do not deceive without cause. Pure deception yields no real benefits and cannot gather so many followers."
"Moreover, controlling minds with spells requires constant daily casting and is exceedingly tedious. The incense produced is far less pure than that from true zealots. Thus, unless absolutely necessary, we avoid such arts and instead rely on tangible benefits to win sincere devotion from our followers."
"Quite right, quite right!"
Green Lotus Divine Lord hurriedly agreed. "Our sacred land, the Vacuum Homeland, is a true paradise of bliss. Those who dwell there suffer no disasters, no hardships, no fears."
"All the faithful yearn for it."
"That is why they hold unwavering faith in our White Lotus Cult."
Purple Lotus Divine Lord added, "Among the followers, we select the most devout each year and send them into the Vacuum Homeland to enjoy supreme bliss."
"We use them as examples."
"The remaining followers see this and naturally follow suit, yearning all the more and striving harder for the cult—donating all their wealth and faith."
After the three Divine Lords' explanations, Lu Yang quickly grasped how the White Lotus Cult truly operated. He sank into profound shock.
"You're not... actually sustaining your followers?"
Indeed, according to the three Divine Lords, the Vacuum Homeland genuinely supported its fanatic followers, expending vast sums of money daily without count!
The model was simple: the many sustained the few. The blood and sweat of countless low-level White Lotus followers funded those in the Vacuum Homeland, with periodic culls and fresh recruitment to ensure circulation and maintain the cult's incense stability.
"It can't be helped."
Golden Lotus Divine Lord sighed. "These rabble always need some hope, or they'll stir trouble. Trouble means unstable hearts and diminished incense."
"But in recent years, the cult has faced many difficulties."
"Even with rigorous selection, the followers in the Vacuum Homeland keep growing, and daily expenditures mount."
"In the past few months, we've been running deficits, so we sent disciples to this remote place to develop new incense sources and recruit more useful, hardworking followers. After all, the more at the bottom, the better the Vacuum Homeland thrives above."
"You lot..."
Lu Yang shook his head, gazing at the three Divine Lords with an expression of utter disappointment, as if chiding unpromising students. "This is the White Lotus Cult? Your style is still far too righteous!"
". . . Huh?"
The three Divine Lords froze. They had heard cults called many things before, but this was the first time anyone claimed the White Lotus Cult's style was too righteous.
Lu Yang continued calmly, "In the end, why are you wasting money to sustain them?"
"What else can we do if not?"
Golden Lotus Divine Lord asked, puzzled. "Followers are people too. People need food, have desires, crave luxuries—all requiring money."
"Followers count as people?"
"Can't you use a bit of illusion? Turn coarse gruel into the guise of delicacies, rags into silks and satins, then befuddle their senses so they believe it real? Same effect, money saved?"
To Lu Yang's mind, it was pure waste.
The Ten Thousand Spirits Banner was far more efficient. Once transformed into banner spirits, they needed no food—spiritual energy sufficed, and all luxuries could be simulated within.
A perfect cost-cutter and efficiency booster.
Not to mention banner spirits' unique nature: no matter their prior thoughts, once willingly entering the banner, loyalty was absolute, and their incense pure.
"Enough. Take me to see your followers."
At Lu Yang's command, the three Divine Lords dared not refuse. As White Lotus Divine Lords, each had their own patch of incense territory.
In the Seven Luminaries Heaven, several remote cities.
The city god temples here lay forgotten. Every household enshrined White Lotus Cult altars, praying fervently day and night.
But in recent days, things had changed.
Previously, the altars' responses preached White Lotus doctrines and visions of the Vacuum Homeland's bliss, firing up the followers.
Now, a new name appeared.
Lihen Heaven.
"Free from all worldly fears and hardships, severing hatreds, ascending to the highest heaven—no conditions required, all may enter willingly."
At first, none believed.
But when the White Lotus Divine Lords they once worshipped appeared in person to preach, doubt vanished. Lu Yang had packaged it masterfully.
"Everyone, your days of suffering are over!"
"Good times are upon you!"
"The Unborn Ancient Mother has descended to ferry all. All followers, regardless of age or gender, may enter Lihen Heaven and enjoy eternal bliss henceforth."
Who could resist such words?
Especially these White Lotus followers, each convinced of their own devotion, now endorsed by a Divine Lord—it had to be true!
In an instant, the crowd surged.
Lu Yang needed do nothing but open the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner's entrance and place it there. Countless people rushed in, one after another.
What they believed before mattered not.
Lure them in with the Unborn Ancient Mother's name, then once inside the banner, their faith was his to dictate—a mere word sufficed.
"Hiss!"
Witnessing this, the three White Lotus Divine Lords gasped, but Lu Yang remained utterly composed.
Living souls entering the banner—like Chen Xinan or Tingyou Ancestor Master—did not mean true death. Save absolute loyalty, little else changed.
Some might call it cruel.
But in the Primal Saint Sect, we called it efficient.
'Can't take them all at once, though. This is just a stopgap to stockpile incense. Banner spirits can't breed, after all.'
Once stable, Lu Yang planned a Ten Thousand Spirits Banner Senior Care Center.
In essence: convert only the elderly nearing their lifespan's end, yet not quite dead, into banner spirits—for sustainable overfishing.
'Then I can issue doctrines: work hard in youth, bear three or four children, and in old age ascend to paradise for reward. This sparks population booms and annual mass harvests.'
Wouldn't that be ideal?
Grinning at the thought, Lu Yang released the newly converted banner spirits back out, without forcing faith shifts yet.
"No rush... Haste makes waste."
Too sudden a change would alert the White Lotus Cult—especially the Unborn Ancient Mother, a peak Foundation Establishment powerhouse he couldn't yet face.
So, he would erode them step by step!
Using these banner spirit White Lotus followers as foundation, gradually devour the rest until the entire cult was replaced!
When all White Lotus followers became banner spirits...
What then of the Unborn Ancient Mother?
By then, the true White Lotus orthodoxy would lie in Lihen Heaven!
(End of chapter)