Chapter 909: The Upgrade of the Peach Blossom Gu, The Star King’s Omen of Great Misfortune!

First, the Peach Blossom Gu’s original effects of improving skin texture, temperament, appearance, and boosting attraction to the opposite sex have all doubled in strength!

It now infuses the body with a peachy fragrance that calms the mind of anyone who sees it and soothes the spirit of those who catch its scent.

In essence this upgraded Peach Blossom Gu mimics the effects of an acquired spirit body like the Immaculate Heavenly Fragrance Body. The host becomes like a blooming peach blossom drawing people in with an irresistible allure that stirs the heart.

Second beyond subtly enhancing peach blossom luck the Gu can now gather that fortune. Through Lu Changsheng’s own peach blossom destiny it condenses into Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme!

This Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme boosts overall heavenly fortune and offers protection by purifying emotional afflictions blocking poisonous mists and warding off heart demon disturbances.

In other words the Peach Blossom Gu doesn’t just amplify Lu Changsheng’s romantic luck anymore—it elevates his overall destiny too!

Third the Peach Blossom Gu’s innate ability Five Aggregates Peach Blossom Miasma has been upgraded.

Beyond the miasma it can now condense fragrances into a shower of blooming peach blossoms forming a Peach Blossom Law Domain.

This domain not only bewilders and enchants but also stirs up emotional illusions in others affecting their divine sense and consciousness.

Enemies trapped in the Peach Blossom Law Domain might even develop misguided affections toward Lu Changsheng mistaking him for a spouse or dao companion.

Those with weak dao hearts and wills could lose themselves entirely drowning in the domain’s illusions and falling genuinely in love with Lu Changsheng.

Beyond these comprehensive ability upgrades the Peach Blossom Gu has also gained the Blushing Peach Blossom ability—husband-boosting!

Though now it should be called wife-boosting!

Female cultivators who form a fated bond with Lu Changsheng can also benefit from the Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme gaining a boost to their fortune.

But it requires them to stay close to Lu Changsheng.

If they separate and the distance grows too great this dao rhyme boost will gradually fade away.

However Lu Changsheng can actively expend and channel the Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme to help his bonded female cultivators enhance their fortune purify emotional afflictions block poisonous mists and resist heart demon interference among other things.

This effect might seem ordinary at first glance like sacrificing his own benefits for others but in Lu Changsheng’s eyes it’s incredibly useful!

His wives and dao companions are gradually advancing from Core Formation toward Nascent Soul.

Helping his wives and concubines with Foundation Establishment or Core Formation is straightforward enough.

With Lu Changsheng’s current wealth and strength even someone with a low-grade spirit root could be pushed to Core Formation stage!

But Nascent Soul is different.

Breaking through to Nascent Soul demands excellence in every aspect of a cultivator.

Talent dao foundation and temperament—none can be lacking!

Any flaw in the foundation from previous realms could ripple forward and cause issues.

As for the Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation it blocks ninety-nine percent of Core Formation cultivators.

Many cultivators dare to risk everything for Foundation Establishment or Core Formation chasing that slim chance at the great dao.

But when it comes to breaking through from Core Formation to Nascent Soul few cultivators are willing to gamble.

Even if they luckily shatter their core to form the infant the ensuing thunder tribulation and heart demon tribulation mean near-certain death or worse utter annihilation.

That’s why so many cultivators reach the peak of Core Formation but never attempt the breakthrough content to halt there.

Among Lu Changsheng’s current wives he believes only Hong Lian can safely pass the Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation and achieve the breakthrough!

His other wives even if they cultivate to the peak of Core Formation would face enormous risks in attempting Nascent Soul.

But now with Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme offering boosts to fortune purification of emotional afflictions and resistance to heart demon interference!

The fortune boost goes without saying.

For Core Formation cultivators breaking through to Nascent Soul timing location harmony and even intangible destiny all play a role.

Lu Changsheng and Yun Wanshang have already proven this point.

When heavenly fortune favors you the timing aligns and inspiration strikes making Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul Condensation opportunities more likely!

Lu Changsheng doesn’t expect the Peach Blossom Gu to grant every wife a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul Condensation chance.

As long as it smooths out the storms under his fortune boost balancing the ups and downs to a stable state he’d be more than satisfied.

If it leads to exceptional performance even better.

After all a cultivator’s state during breakthrough is crucial it can tip the scales between success and failure.

Then there’s the resistance to heart demon interference.

This effect surely can’t completely nullify the heart demon tribulation.

But if it weakens the heart demon tribulation to some degree acting like a superior heart tribulation spirit item that would be enough!

In that case with Lu Changsheng’s help his wives concubines and dao companions would essentially gain a twenty percent boost to their Nascent Soul formation odds out of thin air.

It might not sound like much.

But a twenty percent increase in Nascent Soul odds is enough to make a cultivator risk their life for a successful breakthrough!

“Though the first and third effects feel pretty useless this Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme is still incredibly valuable.”

Lu Changsheng felt his appearance and temperament didn’t need further enhancement.

Otherwise he’d be like a walking succubus.

He already had to mask his looks and aura in daily life.

Especially this body fragrance effect.

When he first acquired the Immaculate Heavenly Fragrance Body Lu Changsheng had disliked this aspect immensely.

As a proper man why would he want to exude a constant fragrance? It felt utterly improper.

Later when his physique upgraded to Chaos Body he gained full control over the Immaculate Heavenly Fragrance Body’s scent effect minimizing it as much as possible.

He only unleashed it during intimate moments with his wives never otherwise.

Now with the Peach Blossom Gu adding another body fragrance effect Lu Changsheng found it truly bothersome.

Fortunately this effect was under his control not a passive trait.

As for lowly tactics like the Five Aggregates Peach Blossom Miasma and Peach Blossom Law Domain Lu Changsheng felt indifferent.

In all the years since acquiring the Peach Blossom Gu the only time he used the Five Aggregates Peach Blossom Miasma was against the Six Paths Demon Concubine when desire overwhelmed him and instinct took over.

He’d never deployed it otherwise.

“Still better than nothing.”

Lu Changsheng didn’t dwell on it too much.

A cultivator could never have too many techniques.

Each additional method meant one more way to counter enemies.

The Peach Blossom Law Domain might seem useless.

But against multiple cultivators or female ones with vulnerabilities in their divine sense or heart it could deliver unexpected victories.

“Congratulations Master on refining an Immortal Gu!”

Seeing Lu Changsheng open his eyes with his aura settling Ah Youduo immediately stepped forward to offer her respects. Her eyes brimmed with admiration feeling her master now seemed even more ethereal like a descended immortal.

“Ah Youduo you’ve worked hard these past days.”

Lu Changsheng lightly waved his hand changing out of his tribulation-damaged robes for fresh ones standing tall and graceful like a jade tree in the wind.

The Peach Blossom Gu’s ascension to Immortal Gu greatly enhanced a cultivator’s appearance features posture and temperament.

Yet Lu Changsheng’s looks showed no real change mainly his aura grew warmer adding an indescribable charm that drew people in and captivated hearts.

On one hand improvements to appearance and posture were subtle unfolding over time.

On the other his features looks and posture had already been elevated to the immortal grace level through the Immortal Grace Technique Peach Blossom Gu Immaculate Heavenly Fragrance Body Chaos Body and his cultivation realm leaving little room for further gains.

Any additional enhancement transcended mundane notions of beauty becoming something akin to a manifestation of rules and dao rhyme.

Much like charm technique arts.

Many high-level cultivators practicing charm arts used their methods to enhance posture appearance and display their beauty and allure thereby enchanting others.

Though Lu Changsheng hadn’t cultivated charm arts himself.

His series of charm enhancements already rivaled those of many charm art practitioners.

“Master is too kind. Witnessing the birth of an Immortal Gu is my honor.”

Facing Lu Changsheng Ah Youduo had long set aside her pride as sect leader and Nascent Soul True Lord.

With the tribulation complete Ina arrived from the distant Five Saints Hall bringing their daughter Lu Jiangtang to offer congratulations.

The young girl adored and revered her father asking why Daddy had to face a tribulation.

“This tribulation is called the Immortal Gu Tribulation.”

Lu Changsheng explained to his daughter that by enduring the tribulation alongside the Gu insect the bond between master and Gu grew tighter allowing full mastery over the Gu’s power.

Ah Youduo nearby gained a spark of insight.

Ina’s beautiful eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

She hadn’t realized the earlier heavenly tribulation was an Immortal Gu Tribulation marking her master’s Gu ascending to Immortal Gu.

As a cultivator from the Five Poisons Sect Immortal Gu represented the pinnacle of their aspirations.

“No wonder my Gu insects were restless and trembling earlier.” Ina recalled how her Gu had submitted and paid homage to Lu Changsheng deepening her reverence and respect for the handsome man before her.

Afterward!

Afterward!

Afterward!

Lu Changsheng tested the Peach Blossom Gu’s new abilities on Ah Youduo and Ina.

Influencing a Core Formation cultivator like Ina with the Five Aggregates Peach Blossom Miasma was effortless let alone the Peach Blossom Law Domain.

Even a Nascent Soul cultivator like Ah Youduo would be affected by the Peach Blossom Law Domain becoming bewildered and enchanted with emotional illusions stirred up.

As for the Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme any female cultivator bonded with him could gain its benefits.

But short-term interactions built the boost slowly unless he expended Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme directly.

With the Peach Blossom Gu freshly ascended to fourth-rank its Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme reserves were limited.

It required harmonious intimate time with female cultivators to steadily gather and form more Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme.

Of course to amass large amounts of peach blossom fortune and condense Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme forming new bonds with high-level female cultivators was key.

With already bonded women it relied on daily interactions to slowly accumulate peach blossom fortune which was quite gradual.

“Isn’t this just forcing me to bond with other female cultivators? You sneaky thing.”

Lu Changsheng shook his head speechless at the Peach Blossom Gu’s method of condensing Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme condemning it inwardly.

Would he Lu Ancestor really seek out female cultivators for bonds just for some Peach Blossom Dao Rhyme with ulterior motives?

Even if he formed bonds it would be love at first sight mutual affection destined fate or for the sake of family future and the bigger picture!

Though he’d completed his tasks in Jin Kingdom this trip Lu Changsheng wasn’t rushing to leave.

For one he wanted to properly accompany Ah Youduo Ina and his daughter Lu Jiangtang among others.

Additionally he summoned weaponsmiths from the Five Poisons Sect Heavenly Corpse Sect and Yin Ghost Sect to continue refining spirit treasures for him.

The spirit treasure being refined was none other than the Misty Dust Banner’s sub-banner—the Small Misty Dust Banner.

Years ago Lu Changsheng had found cross-country travel cumbersome and time-consuming.

If he could replicate the Small Misty Dust Banner and embed it into the earth veins of places like Yin Ghost Sect and Fuhai Sect he could use the Misty Dust Banner for swift back-and-forth travel.

After becoming a fourth-rank weaponsmith he was confident in replicating this sub-banner.

But material limitations had delayed it.

After the battles at Fuhai Sect Yin Ghost Sect and the Liang-Yue War Lu Ancestor’s pockets were flush allowing him to gather the materials for replicating the Small Misty Dust Banner.

He planned to oversee the forging of the first Small Misty Dust Banner then have the local weaponsmiths replicate a second one.

Moreover Lu Changsheng genuinely wanted to train these weaponsmiths.

He intended to entrust future spirit treasure recasting and embryo forging to these weaponsmiths along with those captured from Liang Kingdom.

Otherwise Lu Ancestor would be stretched too thin unable to keep up.

While Lu Changsheng busied himself with replicating the Small Misty Dust Banner back in Jiang Kingdom’s Immortal City of Damengze at the City Lord’s Mansion.

“Why hasn’t Husband returned yet?” Hong Lian wondered surprised.

Through Bihu Mountain she knew Lu Changsheng had returned from Liang Kingdom.

But he’d immediately headed to Jin Kingdom with Qu Zhenzhen and her brother.

Except for Xu Ruoyin who came to the Immortal City of Damengze half a year ago another Core Formation cultivator claiming to be from Starry Sea’s Divine Maiden Palace had visited.

Though Hong Lian didn’t take such a Core Formation cultivator seriously.

She knew the situation in Starry Sea.

She’d also heard Lu Changsheng recount his general experiences in Starry Sea knowing he’d once entered Divine Maiden Palace.

She figured this woman named Qin Yuning’s visit likely related to whatever Lu Changsheng had done in Divine Maiden Palace.

Since it was just a Core Formation cultivator visiting and not an urgent crisis she hadn’t activated the emergency transmission talisman to inform Lu Changsheng.

To avoid disturbing him and making him drop Jin Kingdom matters to rush back.

But with so much time passed and Lu Changsheng still not returned Hong Lian couldn’t help worrying he’d get caught up outside for years again.

“If he hasn’t returned yet I should notify Husband.”

Hong Lian thought to herself. On one hand it was about Xu Ruoyin and Qin Yuning.

On the other her preparations for Nascent Soul were nearly complete ready to attempt the breakthrough.

At that moment in the Immortal City of Damengze atop a pavilion tower.

Qin Yuning wore a blue-and-white tasseled gown her figure tall and elegant standing gracefully.

She’d come on her master’s orders to meet the deputy city lord of the Immortal City of Damengze Changsheng True Lord.

With him absent she’d waited here.

After all she couldn’t afford to slack on her master’s entrusted task.

Over these six months she hadn’t just waited idly cultivating in seclusion but also paid attention to and inquired about the local news in Jiang Kingdom.

When she learned about this deputy city lord of the Immortal City of Damengze ‘Changsheng True Lord’ Qin Yuning felt puzzled and confused.

She couldn’t understand how her master knew of this Core Formation cultivator and why she’d send her to deliver a message to him.

Given her master’s cultivation and status interacting with the Lord of Dameng City Yangming True Lord would make more sense.

During her inquiries Qin Yuning had also heard about the Lord of Dameng City Yangming True Lord quelling the Liang-Yue War.

Though Jiang Kingdom seemed barren and backward compared to Starry Sea.

The strength displayed by this Lord of Dameng City Yangming True Lord was undeniably impressive.

He was a top-tier Nascent Soul cultivator a mid-stage powerhouse!

So Qin Yuning strongly suspected her master meant for the message to go to the Lord of Dameng City instead.

But Qin Yuning knew her master wouldn’t err on such matters.

She could only suppress her confusion and quietly await Changsheng True Lord’s return from the Liang Kingdom frontlines.

In Starry Sea at Starrymoon Hall.

“Omen of misfortune misfortune misfortune!”

In the divination chamber the Star King’s face paled looking grim.

Previously his divinations of his own fortune showed fluctuating omens with more bad than good as he sought a path to survival.

Upon learning the Lord of Dameng City Yangming True Lord had captured and slain six Nascent Soul cultivators confirming him as a reincarnated great power he rested and gathered strength expending great costs to divine anew.

Now after this round of calculations everything pointed to misfortune even faintly forming an omen of great misfortune!

As a top diviner the Star King knew well what an omen of great misfortune meant—a brush with death a calamity of annihilation!

With Starrymoon Hall’s fourth-rank forbidden grand array and numerous defenses even if the Turtle Immortal Patriarch or Six Paths Demon Lord attacked he’d remain unafraid able to hold them at bay.

Yet now ensconced in Starrymoon Hall he was on the verge of an omen of great misfortune.

How could such a divination not terrify the Star King?

“Yue Zun!”

The Star King immediately realized Yue Zun might betray him.

After all Yue Zun co-managed Starrymoon Hall operating the defensive arrays. Even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would be repelled empty-handed.

For him to face an impending omen of great misfortune while in Starrymoon Hall there could only be one reason—Yue Zun’s betrayal.

Or rather Yue Zun abandoning aid to him perhaps even assisting others!

Thinking this the Star King’s expression grew darker.

Though he and Yue Zun weren’t dao companions they’d known and worked together for centuries.

Now she might betray him over some ethereal ancestral decree—how could he not be furious?

“In just two short years my divinations shifted from fluctuating fortunes with more ill than good to nearing an omen of great misfortune. This means that person’s strength and methods are advancing at a terrifying pace!”

“Beyond Yue Zun this person must have other means. If I delay further they might truly be able to kill me outright.”

The Star King’s heart trembled.

As a top diviner his survival skills were exceptional.

He’d sense danger through spiritual intuition whenever it approached.

That’s precisely why he felt the looming death crisis so acutely.

“Even if this person isn’t the Eastern Emperor or the reincarnation of Yuhai Mountain’s lord they’re on the same level. At this rate of growth extinguishing me in the future is just a matter of time. I can’t keep sitting here waiting for death.”

The Star King’s face turned cold and somber.

He believed once the Lord of Dameng City had the means to utterly destroy him he’d storm Starrymoon Hall.

“Flee. For now my only option is to flee.”

After a moment’s thought the Star King decided.

He’d abandon Starrymoon Hall’s foundation and escape Starry Sea.

After all if he couldn’t provoke them he’d choose to run.

“I must act quickly. Such reincarnated top powers can’t be measured by normal standards—they might achieve late-stage Nascent Soul combat power in mere decades.”

Having cultivated to this level and dared to join Zhenhai Patriarch in ambushing the Eastern Emperor’s Heir the Star King was decisively resolute.

Though Starrymoon Hall’s foundation was rare and precious in his heart it paled compared to his life.

His lifespan was long his future boundless with hopes of late-stage Nascent Soul—how could he sit idly awaiting doom here?

With his cultivation strength and divination inheritance he’d find a place anywhere he went!

Immediately the Star King swallowed a pill to heal restoring the essence blood and origin lost from divination to avoid Yue Zun noticing anything amiss.

Earlier upon fleeing back from Fuhai Sect to Starrymoon Hall Yue Zun had already sensed something off about him.

Over these two-plus years he’d been secluded in the chamber divining nonstop.

If Yue Zun saw his depleted essence blood and reduced lifespan she’d surely deduce much.