Although the first option wasn't bad, Shenhe had no desire to continue living under the shadow of the Lone Star Calamity.
If her fate could be changed outright, then that was the path she wanted—without hesitation.
"In that case, I'll reverse your fate right now."
Since Shenhe had already made her choice, Lin Ze immediately took action.
Compared to crafting a custom cultivation method, directly overturning the Lone Star Calamity was far simpler.
There was no need to obey fate, no need to follow destiny's rules.
He simply flipped everything—overriding causality itself.
The more ominous the names Lone Star and Calamity, the greater the fortune once reversed.
Shenhe couldn't see what Lin Ze did.
But she could feel it.
The baleful energy within her vanished in an instant.
At the same time, something indescribable yet profound took its place.
Without hesitation, Shenhe crossed her legs, closed her eyes, and began to comprehend the change.
Not long after, Cloud Retainer emerged from her adeptal realm, having finally calmed Ganyu down.
Yanfei followed her out.
Ganyu stayed behind—still too embarrassed to face Lin Ze.
"Shenhe…?"
Cloud Retainer needed only a glance to sense the transformation.
But instead of relief, her brows furrowed.
She couldn't read Shenhe's fate anymore.
Not because it was bad—
But because it was too good.
So good that its manifested effects didn't match any conventional destiny she knew.
It was stronger—far stronger—than what such a fate should produce.
Even Cloud Retainer herself was affected.
The mechanical designs she'd been stuck on for years suddenly loosened, insights bubbling up unbidden.
"I reversed her fate directly," Lin Ze said casually.
"Changing it into a different destiny was possible, but that would've been more trouble than it was worth."
That was the explanation he gave.
In truth, Lin Ze had simply chosen the laziest—and cleanest—solution.
Rewriting destiny line by line was tedious.
Flipping it outright with Black Flag power was effortless.
And safe.
Now Shenhe's fate was no longer merely auspicious.
Anyone who encountered her would prosper—success would come early, fortune would follow.
With the added effects of a reversed Lone Star Calamity, Shenhe had effectively become a walking miracle.
"Are you certain this won't harm her?" Cloud Retainer asked.
"Harm?" Lin Ze snorted.
"She could stroll around outside and trip over rare opportunities."
"At this point, she's basically a lucky charm—a living auspice."
Cloud Retainer fell silent.
That was… far better than she'd ever hoped for.
"Wherever Shenhe goes, good things will happen," Lin Ze continued.
"Once she adapts, have her remove the red ropes and stay close to Ganyu."
"She might not even need guidance—Ganyu's knot could untangle itself."
"Master… the baleful energy inside me is gone," Shenhe said, opening her eyes.
"In its place, there's this…"
She summoned the newly born energy within her.
A hazy yet dense auspicious aura condensed in her palm.
Auspicious energy was even rarer than baleful qi—and far harder to control.
Seeing Shenhe manipulate it with ease, Cloud Retainer finally relaxed.
"Auspicious energy is a blessing," she said.
"Shenhe, remove the red ropes."
"Yes, Master."
One by one, the red cords fell away.
With each strand removed, Shenhe's presence changed.
Her suppressed emotions resurfaced.
Tears welled in her eyes—not from pain, but release.
The air felt gentle. Harmonious. Blessed.
At the instant the final rope dropped, Cloud Retainer's mind cleared—
The mechanical bottleneck she'd struggled with for years dissolved.
"Your auspicious energy is too concentrated," Cloud Retainer warned after a pause.
"You must learn to restrain it."
"But… isn't auspicious energy a good thing?" Yanfei asked, confused.
"Why suppress it?"
"Because excess turns blessing into disaster," Cloud Retainer replied gravely.
"An unintelligent beast absorbing this energy could awaken and stumble onto a 'fortunate path'—even a blood-drinking cultivation method would count as 'fortune' to it."
"If left unchecked, anyone near Shenhe would achieve effortless success and lose the will to strive."
"Too much good, uncontrolled, becomes calamity."
She paused, then added:
"By restraining it, the effects remain mild—brief good luck, nothing more."
"Shenhe, you must keep it contained."
"I can," Shenhe nodded.
"This energy is far easier to control than the baleful qi ever was."
With a thought, she drew the aura back in.
The overwhelming sense of harmony faded, though Shenhe herself still seemed almost transcendent.
"For now," Cloud Retainer said,
"Train with your senior sister Ganyu."
"She carries qilin blood—controlling auspicious energy comes naturally to her."
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