168: Chapter 168 Heavenly Rank Gu Insect?

Clearly, the Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu before him belonged to the latter.

Ye Changge sighed inwardly, preparing himself for a long battle.

However, right at that moment—

A sudden change occurred!

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the long-dormant peach blossom luck gu worm suddenly let out a faint buzz!

The buzzing was tiny and light, yet it carried an indescribable pressure.

Like a king descending to look down upon his subjects.

The moment the Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu in Ye Changge's Dantian heard this buzz, its entire body stiffened!

Immediately, its "stay away" aura collapsed instantly like melting snow!

It curled into a ball, shivering as if it had met its natural enemy.

Or as if a subject had met their sovereign.

Ye Changge was delighted.

The peach blossom luck gu worm possessed a Heaven Rank Bloodline, while the Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu, though a rare variant, only had an Earth Rank Bloodline.

When the Earth Rank meets the Heaven Rank, it is like a subject meeting a king; there is only bowing and submission.

Sure enough, under the pressure of the peach blossom gu, the Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu curled into a ball, shivering, without a trace of its previous arrogant and fierce "stay away" aura.

Without any hesitation, Ye Changge immediately circulated the incredibly pure spiritual energy in his Dantian toward the Gu worm.

Spiritual energy surged like a tide, completely submerging the Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu.

The Gu worm was already suppressed by the peach blossom gu and couldn't move; facing Ye Changge's refinement now, it had no power to resist.

It could only allow the spiritual energy containing the Yin-Yang Dao Foundation's Origin to seep into its body, gradually imprinting it with Ye Changge's aura.

Time passed slowly.

After about the time it takes for a few incense sticks to burn—

Ye Changge slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes.

He looked down at the back of his right hand.

There was now a faint, cloud-like pattern, where threads could be vaguely seen intertwining; if one didn't look closely, it was almost imperceptible.

The Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu had recognized its Revered Master.

With a thought, Ye Changge established a clear connection with the Gu worm.

The feeling was mysterious beyond words, as if he had gained an invisible hand and a pair of shadowless eyes.

A slight smile appeared on his lips.

This was his first time formally refining a Gu worm; although there were some twists and turns, the outcome was much smoother than expected.

Then, he closed his eyes and carefully sensed the information transmitted by the Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu.

A moment later, he opened his eyes again, a flash of surprise in them, quickly replaced by intense joy.

In his view, the effect of this Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu was simply Heaven-Defying!

If one successfully refined this Gu during the Qi Refining Stage, it could be used against a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

If refined during the Foundation Establishment Stage, it could be used against a Core Formation Cultivator.

And if after Core Formation—

It could be used against a Nascent Soul Cultivator!

Ye Changge took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

What a terrifying ability!

Although the effect would gradually diminish as the target's cultivation increased, changing from "absolute control" to "subtle influence,"

This was still an ability sufficient to drive any Cultivator mad.

Think about it: an old Nascent Soul monster unknowingly having a love thread planted in them, developing a vague sense of goodwill toward you—

Even if it's just a little bit of goodwill, it's enough to change many things at a critical moment.

He steadied his mind and continued to perceive.

This Gu can connect a maximum of two people. If a third person is forcibly connected, the Thousand Silk Love Thread will break, and all previous efforts will be wasted.

As for the love thread itself—

Ye Changge moved his mind, trying to sense that mysterious existence.

However, there was nothing.

He understood. He hadn't used this Gu on anyone yet, so naturally, he couldn't sense the existence of the love thread.

The love thread isn't a physical object but an existence similar to Karma, formless and intangible yet real and perceptible. Once planted, it's like being tied by a red string—unbreakable and inextricably tangled.

Just then—

A cautious voice came from his side:

"Sen... Senior? You opened your eyes so soon? Is it... difficult to refine?"

Su Xiaotang had been guarding him; seeing his pensive expression, her heart tightened.

She pinched the corner of her skirt, full of guilt.

She was the one asking for Senior's help, yet the plan she proposed was so difficult to complete.

If Senior were harmed because of this, she really wouldn't know what to do.

Just as she finished speaking, a water-blue figure walked over from a distance.

It was Xiao Caiyue.

She had just finished re-arranging the Grand Array and wanted to check the situation. Seeing Ye Changge already awake and Su Xiaotang looking guilty, her beautiful eyes narrowed.

She stepped forward quickly, looking at Ye Changge with concern in her voice:

"Husband, have you run into some trouble?"

She paused and said softly:

"I have read some ancient books and know that refining Gu worms is extremely difficult. Usually, one needs to Cultivate its matching Cultivation Technique and proceed step-by-step, slowly nurturing it, to have a chance at success. This is why Gu cultivators are so rare in the Zhao State..."

As she spoke, a trace of worry flashed in her eyes:

"Husband, please don't push yourself too hard. This Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu is an Earth Rank Gu worm to begin with, and it has been refined once before, so its nature must be even more fierce.

Husband has never encountered the Path of Gu before; refining such a Gu worm so suddenly is no different from hitting a rock with an egg..."

The more she spoke, the more uneasy she felt.

What if the Gu worm backfires and hurts her husband?

The Gu worm provided by the other party was sincere, but it was also too risky.

Xiao Caiyue had already begun to consider whether to persuade Ye Changge to give up on this Gu and find another way.

However, Ye Changge shook his head and interrupted her:

"Xiao Tang, Caiyue—"

He paused, a smile appearing on his lips:

"I have already successfully refined it."

As his words fell, both women were stunned.

What?

Successfully refined?

Su Xiaotang's eyes widened, looking at Ye Changge in disbelief. Xiao Caiyue's beautiful eyes also widened suddenly, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

But immediately after, a thought occurred to them—

Husband (Senior) must be refining a Gu worm for the first time and doesn't know what it means to truly refine one, thinking he has succeeded.

How could this be possible?

Su Xiaotang pinched her skirt, hesitating to speak.

She wanted to tactfully tell Senior that refining a Gu worm wasn't like this.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Ye Changge.

But every time her Revered Master refined a Gu worm, it took several hours of being careful and walking on thin ice. And this Thousand Silk Love-Binding Gu was an Earth Rank Gu worm!

Earth Rank!

It was of a higher rank than the Gu worms her Revered Master refined!

How could it be successfully refined in just a few incense sticks' time?

Although Xiao Caiyue hadn't refined Gu, she had read many records in ancient books. She knew the difficulty of refining Gu was not something that could be done overnight.

Especially such a fierce Earth Rank Gu that had been refined by someone else?

"Senior..."

Su Xiaotang finally plucked up the courage to speak, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: