C2 Strange Black Gas

"There's no need for further discussion. Keep an eye on them and ensure they move to the Outer Mansion by the end of the day."

Lin Wentian dismissed Lin Yurou's pleas without a second thought and issued his command to the young men behind him. Then, he turned on his heel and departed without a backward glance.

Xiao Yu watched Lin Wentian's retreating figure, his fists tightening involuntarily.

Just for a servant of the Wang Family, the head of the Lin Family had nearly beaten him to death. And that wasn't enough; freshly awakened from severe injuries, he was now being forced out to the Outer Mansion, with onlookers to ensure they left, as if they were nothing more than lowly servants.

The indignity was unbearable!

"Patriarch..." Lin Yurou's face was etched with urgency, still hoping to reason with Lin Wentian.

"Mother, there's no point in pleading with him. Let's just go," Xiao Yu said, firmly grasping Lin Yurou's arm. He would endure any hardship rather than watch his mother demean herself by begging.

Besides, now that he had regained all his memories from his past life as the Ninth Heaven Sovereign, why should he fear an inability to cultivate due to a lack of innate talent?

Given some time, he was confident he would grow strong quickly. Then, he would take Lin Yurou and leave the Lin Family behind.

As for the Lin Family's current treatment, they would one day regret not having shown them kindness when he rose to power.

"What's all this dawdling for? You're nothing but an outsider, a worthless one at that. Pack your things and get out to the Outer Mansion, and do it quickly—we don't have all day to wait on you!"

The Lin Family youths who had accompanied Lin Wentian were urging them on with impatience, their faces twisted in mockery and scorn.

With a cold glance at them, Xiao Yu, despite the pain racking his body, began to silently gather his belongings.

His recovery was swift, a trait he had long since identified. Whenever the Lin Family inflicted injuries upon him, he would bounce back in a matter of days. This time was no different.

Lin Yurou, with a heavy heart, could do nothing but help Xiao Yu pack.

Living in the Lin Family, the mother and son didn't possess many belongings; they only took a few articles of clothing with them as they departed from the Inner Mansion to the Outer Mansion.

Their new abode paled in comparison to their previous one. It was merely a small cabin, just a few yards across, with furniture so cracked and worn it couldn't possibly be any older.

"This is where you'll be staying. And remember, now that you've left the Inner Mansion, you can't expect to eat and drink for free anymore. I'll find work for you tomorrow. You're a woman, but surely you can wash clothes and cook, right? Tomorrow, head to the laundry room. You must wash a hundred garments daily before you can return. If you don't meet the quota, there will be no food for you! And as for you, even though you're somewhat disabled, you can at least sweep and tend the fire, can't you?"

A group of young men had led Xiao Yu and Lin Yurou to this place, now giving them orders with a bossy air.

"Are you seriously expecting my mother to perform the tasks of a servant?" Xiao Yu was instantly enraged by the suggestion. He could tolerate a great deal, but he would never stand for his mother being insulted.

After all, despite their lack of favor within the Lin Family, Lin Yurou was still a direct descendant. Why should she be subjected to the work of a servant?

Clearly, these young men were not direct descendants of the Lin Family, so their boldness must have been backed by someone's orders from within the family!

It was evident that the Lin Family was intent on demoting them to the status of servants, deliberately making their lives difficult.

"What, after all these years of being taken care of, you leave the Inner Mansion and still expect to live here without contributing?" scoffed the speaking youth.

"Yuer, let it be. I've done these tasks before. I've been washing your clothes myself for years; it's not a big deal," Lin Yurou said, concerned that Xiao Yu might act rashly and escalate the situation, so she quickly held him back.

"Hmph, an outsider and a cripple, and you think you can avoid work after leaving the Inner Mansion? Do you really see yourself as part of the Lin Family? Look at what you really are!" The youths sneered at Xiao Yu dismissively and walked away without another word.

Xiao Yu's heart was filled with an icy chill. The Lin Family's treatment of him was callous, showing no regard for his mother's origins within their own family. They treated her like a mere servant, leaving Xiao Yu utterly disheartened.

He resolved to take his mother away from the Lin Family as soon as possible; he couldn't bear to see her suffer there any longer. Yet, to leave the Lin Family and make their way in the Outer Mansion, he knew they would need considerable strength.

After tidying up their quarters with Lin Yurou, Xiao Yu retreated to his own room. Despite the small size of their living space, they were fortunate enough to each have a separate room.

"If it weren't for me, my mother might not have faced such hardship in the Lin Family. I refuse to let her endure any further humiliation!" he vowed.

Seated cross-legged on his bed, Xiao Yu began his cultivation practice.

In this world, martial prowess was paramount. The Lin Family's fawning over Wang Fei was simply because the Wang Family held greater power.

If Xiao Yu could wield such formidable strength, they would never dare treat him this way.

As he delved into his cultivation, Xiao Yu's brow soon furrowed in frustration.

Even before regaining his memories, he had been exposed to the art of cultivation, practicing diligently every day. Yet, no matter how hard he worked, he couldn't muster even a hint of progress.

Previously, he had no explanation for his struggles, but now, with the memories of his past life—having lived for tens of thousands of years—he quickly detected something peculiar within himself.

Whenever he began to cultivate, an eerie Black Fog would emerge within him.

This Black Fog permeated his entire being, lurking within his meridians. The moment he commenced his cultivation and the power of heaven and earth flowed into him, it was instantly consumed by the Black Fog, leaving no trace behind.

"No wonder I've been unable to advance in my cultivation all these years; it's this Black Fog that's been sabotaging me!" Xiao Yu realized, scrutinizing the dark miasma with a furrowed brow.

He had assumed that with the vast knowledge from his previous life, he would swiftly overcome any impediment to his cultivation in this life. Yet now, he faced an unexpected challenge.

Having lived for eons, perusing innumerable ancient texts and achieving a cultivation level that stunned the world, there was little Xiao Yu hadn't encountered. But this Black Fog within him was something entirely new and unseen.

"It seems I can only suppress this eerie Black Fog before I can even consider cultivating."

Xiao Yu bowed his head in contemplation, mulling over which method to use to quell the strange force.

Despite being unfamiliar with the Black Fog, his vast repository of memories from tens of thousands of years provided him with numerous suppression techniques.

After a short while, Xiao Yu rose and exited his room, making his way to Lin Yurou's door to knock.

"Yuer, why are you not yet asleep?" Lin Yurou emerged, eyeing Xiao Yu quizzically.

"Mother, do you have any crystal stones? Could you spare some for me?" Xiao Yu inquired. He had devised a plan to suppress the Black Fog within him but required some crystal stones to do so.

These crystal stones, rare Odd Stones mined from deep within the earth, were imbued with the earth's vital essence. They were essential for cultivation, forming arrays, or crafting weapons and were sought after by nearly all cultivators.

Crystals also served as the common currency in this realm, exchangeable for a myriad of items. A single crystal could purchase ten catties of grain.

"Yuer, you're asking for crystal stones? Just a moment," Lin Yurou responded, taken aback. Xiao Yu was known for his thoughtfulness, having never before requested crystal stones from her. This was indeed a first.

She retreated into her house, only to reappear shortly after with a small pouch in hand. "Yuer, I don't have many crystal stones—just around three hundred. Will that suffice? If not, I can try to find more," she offered.

"There's no need; this is plenty," Xiao Yu replied with a smile, though he felt a pang of sorrow.

Three hundred crystal stones might seem substantial, but any direct member of the Lin Family could easily procure such an amount. Lin Yurou's limited offering was telling of the hardships she had faced within the Lin Family over the years.

With the three hundred crystal stones in hand, Xiao Yu departed from the Lin Family's Outer Mansion, heading into the city.