Chapter 49: Not Even Half a Choice
Chapter 49: Fate's Relentless Hand
"It seems the Foundation Establishment True Person behind the scenes has finally given up!"
Lü Yang gazed skyward. Only someone like him—possessing the Innate Primordial Chaos Divine Talisman and multiple lifetimes of experience—could vaguely perceive shifts in destiny.
This clarity of Dao heart, this boundless freedom—he hadn't felt it in so long.
"Excellent, truly excellent!"
Discovering the Foundation Establishment cultivator had ceased scheming against him lifted a weight from Lü Yang's shoulders. Even more satisfying was the significant progress in another project of his.
Lü Yang retrieved the Innate Qi Myriad Spirits Banner and summoned his Innate Qi Avatar.
The Myriad Spirits Banner was peculiar. Though it contained dimensional space within, only entities connected to the Innate Dao Book like his avatar could enter.
As the avatar stepped inside, Lü Yang's vision blurred momentarily.
The next instant, an endless scroll unfurled before him like a picture book, each panel depicting a Banner Spirit in motion.
The scenes varied dramatically—some showed idyllic mountain villages, others isolated islands, imperial palaces, or celestial courts. Each contained a radiant Banner Spirit engaged in activities: dining, amusing themselves, meditating—living as if truly alive.
Though he'd seen this many times before, it never failed to awe him:
"These images must be manifestations of the Banner Spirits' living memories... To sustain their consciousness by trapping them in these paintings—what an extraordinary treasure!"
With a thought, the scenes shifted.
All Banner Spirits gathered in one location, the pastoral landscapes transforming into a massive factory with assembly lines.
At first, the spirits seemed disoriented.
But soon, Liu Xin—the strongest among them—regained clarity and approached Lü Yang respectfully. "This subordinate greets the master."
"How goes production?"
"Reporting, master: 132 Golden Light Talismans, 153 Five Thunder Talismans, and 210 Sword Qi Talismans completed. Awaiting your inspection."
As he spoke, Liu Xin presented a thick stack of talismans.
"Well done. However..."
Lü Yang scanned them with divine sense, stashing them away satisfied—only to immediately frown. "...Who authorized their rest breaks?"
After exchanging talisman techniques with Fairy Feixia, he'd assigned production of these low-grade talismans to the Banner Spirits. They were supposed to work tirelessly day and night. Yet during his inspection, he'd caught them resting.
This was unacceptable! Defying heaven itself!
If Banner Spirits dared rest today, what might they attempt tomorrow? Such corrupt practices must be nipped in the bud!
Narrowing his eyes, Lü Yang said gravely:
"Senior Brother Liu, your organizational skills please me. But allowing rest periods? That displeases me greatly."
"Master, this subordinate had no choice," Liu Xin hastily explained. "Talisman creation requires living beings to channel magic power as brush and spiritual wisdom as ink. Yet Banner Spirits are neither fully alive nor dead."
"We retain magic power, but spiritual wisdom diminishes with use."
"Continuous production without restorative sleep would eventually drain their spiritual wisdom completely, causing them to dissipate."
"So what?"
Lü Yang's response stunned Liu Xin.
"The Myriad Spirits Banner never lacks for spirits. If some dissipate from exhaustion, I'll simply acquire replacements—likely more efficient ones."
"Oh, and the dissipated ones can nourish the others."
"If spirits can endure hardship, they can endure greater hardship."
"You exist solely to serve my purposes. Spirits who cannot work have no value. Let them fade away."
Lü Yang's tone remained calm, but Liu Xin trembled inwardly.
'Monster... Absolute monster!'
Compared to Lü Yang's exploitation, Liu Xin felt almost virtuous—he'd only summoned Banner Spirits during combat!
Noticing his discomfort, Lü Yang smiled kindly. "Senior Brother Liu, you understand the competitive landscape here. Frankly, were it not for our sect ties, I wouldn't have entrusted you with this responsibility. You should be grateful."
"After all, any spirit could manage this. Why you?"
"Only because we're fellow disciples, and I owe my current position to you... Rest assured, diligent service will be rewarded."
Liu Xin: "......"
......
While Lü Yang inspected production, in another Blood Garment Tower chamber, Yun Miaoqing wrestled with inner turmoil.
"How could this be...?"
Her expression flickered between joy and shock. Around her neck, the jade pendant marking her Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion affiliation glowed brightly.
A communication signal!
Channeling magic power would connect her to the caller—but she'd never known her token possessed this function!
Why had no one contacted her before?
Then a familiar voice spoke in her ear: "Miaoqing? Good, you live. It seems fate still favors you."
"You're... Sister!?"
Yun Miaoqing's beautiful eyes widened in astonishment.
Her earlier overtures to Lü Yang stemmed partly from confidence in his character, but equally from faith in her family's influence.
If Lü Yang renounced wickedness, she could secure his acceptance into the Sword Pavilion.
Her Yun Clan had once produced a Sword Pavilion Sect Master—a Golden Core True Lord. Though their status had declined, they remained an influential lineage.
Yet the clan valued not her, but her elder sister—Yun Miaozhen, a true disciple who cultivated the Taiyi Golden Radiance Pill Book. She refused performance-enhancing elixirs, achieving great divine abilities during Qi Refining—a true prodigy.
Yun Miaoqing and Yun Miaozhen shared similar names and blood, but their talents differed as heaven from earth.
"Where are you now?"
The cool voice continued: "Your deficient destiny led to this demon sect ordeal. Now fulfilled, you may escape this tribulation."
Return to the Sword Pavilion?
Briefly stunned, Yun Miaoqing overflowed with joy. "I'm at Blood Garment Tower in Skeleton Mountain Market! Are you coming for me?"
"Blood Garment Tower?"
Yun Miaozhen paused. "That tower master drained your vitality? No matter. I'll execute him—consider your merit complete."
Yun Miaoqing hurriedly corrected: "Sister, you misunderstand! Fellow Daoist Lü may hail from a demonic sect, but he's no villain—his heart leans righteous, his talent extraordinary. Rather than killing him, we should—"
"Preposterous!"
The sharp rebuke cut her off.
Outside Skeleton Mountain Market, a tall woman in white crane-feather robes—her piercing eyes gleaming like unsheathed blades—crushed a jade talisman in her hand.
A middle-aged man beside her frowned. "What troubles you?"
"Miaoqing is beyond redemption!"
Yun Miaozhen sighed. "Pleading for a demon's life—she's trapped in tribulation with no hope of escape..."
"Your plan?"
"...We go to the demon sect's market!"
As she spoke, inexplicable fury ignited within her.
Yun Miaoqing—her mirror image in features—now violated by some demon. The very thought felt like her own defilement...
Her legs clenched involuntarily as revulsion coursed through her.
Then murderous intent flashed across her exquisite features. "That demon corrupted my sister. Until I sever his head, my Dao heart knows no peace!"