2: Chapter 2 The Abandoned

The black shard on his chest throbbed with increasing intensity.

Lu Jin pressed down on his collar, his knuckles turning white as he forcefully suppressed the burning sensation.

The commotion in the Awakening Plaza felt as if it were muffled by a layer of water.

Some were celebrating, some were gossiping, and others were laughing.

Not a single sound was meant for him.

"Lu Jin, don't leave yet."

Just as he stepped off the platform, a school administrator in a gray robe blocked his path, his face wearing a routine, indifferent expression. "The Academic Affairs Office wants you to go over immediately. People from the Lu family have also arrived and are waiting for you at the VIP building."

Lu Jin glanced at him and nodded. "Understood."

The administrator had prepared a few words of comfort, but seeing his expression, he found he couldn't say them, and instead just shoved a temporary pass into his hand.

"Third floor of the Training Building, Department of Cultivation."

Lu Jin took the pass and turned to leave.

Behind him, someone called out to Lu Jingyao, their voice full of fawning.

"Senior Lu Jingyao, the city station interview is at the South Gate, and the Family Head is waiting for you too!"

"With Young Master Lu's awakening this time, our Lu family is truly going to produce a dragon!"

Laughter rolled out behind him.

Lu Jin didn't stop for a single step.

The third floor of the Training Building was much quieter than the plaza.

As soon as the door opened, three people were sitting in the room.

Han Zheng, the head of the Department of Cultivation; Zhao Qi, the grade instructor; and Lin Wei, his theory teacher.

His awakening report was already laid out on the table, and the bright red "F" on the top page felt like a slap in the face.

Han Zheng pushed his glasses up, his tone as crisp and detached as if he were reading an official document.

"Lu Jin, the school has adjusted your cultivation plan."

"You have been removed from the key cultivation list, basic subsidies will be discontinued, your reservation privileges for the Divine Realm Restoration Room have been revoked, your priority exchange rights for basic unit cards have been retracted, and the allocation of Unified Exam simulation resources has been cancelled."

"From today on, you will no longer enjoy the treatment of the key sequence."

Zhao Qi, sitting to the side, tapped the table and added, "Your Divine Realm is a Dead Ash Mine; the pollution is high, the carrying capacity is low, and the Gray-tailed Burrowing Rat is merely a low-tier omnivorous kin. Continuing to invest resources into a main combat route is not cost-effective."

"The school is not a charity."

The words were very realistic and also very harsh.

Lu Jin pulled out a chair and sat down. His gaze swept over the report, and he asked calmly, "Is my spot for the Unified Exam also cancelled?"

Han Zheng shook his head. "All Awakened have the right to register for the Unified Exam. However, the school will no longer cover your cultivation costs. If you want to participate, you can, but you must prepare at your own expense."

At his own expense.

These two words were tantamount to a death sentence.

Without divine fluid, without stability cards, and without basic unit supplements, a waste domain like the Dead Ash Mine would struggle even to feed a nest of Gray-tailed Burrowing Rats, let alone prepare for the Unified Exam.

Zhao Qi looked at him, appearing to offer advice, but in reality, he had already sealed his fate.

"Lu Jin, your theory grades aren't bad. If you switch to studying logistics and faith, you still have a path forward. Divine Realm maintenance, resource allocation, sacrificial text organization—you could get a job at the City Hall in these roles later. There's no need to make things difficult for yourself."

Lin Wei frowned, wanting to say something, but ultimately didn't speak first.

Lu Jin flipped the report to the last page, his gaze resting on the "Cultivation Termination Notice," his voice devoid of emotion.

"Is that all?"

Han Zheng was taken aback.

"What else do you want to ask?"

"Nothing." Lu Jin placed the report back on the table. "Everything on the surface has been cancelled, right?"

Han Zheng nodded. "Yes."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Qi, expecting him to lash out, had already furrowed his brows, but Lu Jin merely stood up and gently pushed his chair back in.

"Understood."

Still these three words.

No arguing, no shouting, no begging.

Han Zheng glanced at him, his tone softening for once. "Facing reality is not shameful. Forcing yourself down the wrong path is what truly makes you a failure."

Lu Jin didn't respond to this and turned to walk out.

When he reached the door, Lin Wei suddenly spoke up. "Wait."

Han Zheng frowned. "Teacher Lin."

Lin Wei ignored him and looked only at Lu Jin, her voice low. "There is one more clause in the school regulations."

"Before every Unified Exam, the school opens three public resource nodes. Students who aren't being cultivated can also fight for them. Whoever takes the node has the right to claim the corresponding resource pack. The list is public, and no one can stop them."

Zhao Qi's expression sank. "Lin Wei, this path is no different from suicide. Someone with his path—"

"He has the right to know." Lin Wei interrupted.

She pulled a thin metal page from her drawer and handed it to Lu Jin.

A few words were engraved on it.

[Qinglan No. 3 Middle School · Public Resource Node Contention Rules]

"The node contention is in seven days." Lin Wei looked at him. "If you want to go, don't wait for others to pity you."

Lu Jin took the metal page and lightly traced his finger over the lines of text.

Seven days.

Enough.

"Thanks, Teacher Lin."

He left after saying that.

Han Zheng sighed behind him. "Young people always have to hit a wall before they're willing to turn back."

Lin Wei watched the closed door, saying nothing.

She only remembered that on the awakening platform just now, this youth hadn't trembled once from start to finish.

That didn't look like accepting his fate.

It looked more like he was settling a score.

Top floor of the VIP building, Lu family council chamber.

When Lu Jin pushed open the door and entered, the room was already full of people.

On both sides of the ebony long table sat the elders of the Lu family who currently held sway. At the head sat the Second Elder, Lu Chengchuan, with a gaunt face and cold eyes, wearing a dark gold thumb ring.

Lu Jingyao sat at his right hand, having changed into clan attire embroidered with fire patterns. He looked as if he had just been lifted up by the stars, his brows and eyes full of spirit.

An electronic contract lay on the table.

The projection hadn't been turned off, and the heading was written clearly.

[Regarding the Reallocation of Resource Lines and Supply Quotas Formerly Under Observer Lu Chenyuan]

Lu Jin glanced at it and stood still.

Lu Chengchuan picked up his teacup and got straight to the point.

"It's good you came; it saves us another trip."

"The gray-spined ore line your father left behind, as well as the two portions of basic divine fluid, thirty faith crystals, and one low-tier card pool access privilege per month—the family has decided to reclaim them all and transfer them into the key cultivation pool."

"Jingyao is the most promising of this generation to challenge the top divine academies. Giving these resources to him will yield greater returns."

Someone nearby chimed in.

"Resources belong to the family, not to any single individual."

"Since Observer Lu Chenyuan is no longer here, his line naturally needs to be redistributed."

"With an F-grade waste domain, holding onto this quota is just a waste."

The person speaking had an expression of taking it for granted.

It was as if they weren't snatching away something a dead man had traded his life for, but simply rearranging teacups on a table.

Lu Jingyao leaned back in his chair, smiling lazily. "Third Uncle did make contributions to the family back then. Resources falling into my hands is better than them falling into a Dead Ash Mine and a rat's nest."

"At least, they won't be buried."

Lu Jin looked at the contract. "Do you need me to sign?"

Lu Chengchuan said indifferently, "Whether you sign or not, the result is the same. Letting you come here is just to leave you with some dignity."

Dignity.

Lu Jin suddenly found these two words very interesting.

When his father was alive, they gathered around and called him "Brother Chenyuan."

When his father died, they used sympathy and rules to strip away his belongings piece by piece.

Today, when it reached him, the son, even being robbed had become "leaving him with dignity."

He raised his hand and pulled the electronic contract in front of him.

The whole room quieted down a bit.

Some thought he was finally going to bow his head.

A hint of amusement even surfaced in Lu Jingyao's eyes.

Lu Jin scanned it twice and pushed the contract back.

"I won't sign."

The room went silent instantly.

Lu Chengchuan's gaze darkened slightly. "What did you say?"

"I said, I won't sign." Lu Jin looked at him. "This was earned by my father with military merit, not bestowed by the family."

A middle-aged clansman nearby sneered on the spot. "Military merit? Your father is already dead; dead men cannot hold onto things."

Lu Jin turned to look at him, his gaze so cold that the man's throat constricted.

"You are not qualified to make conclusions about the things he left behind."

"Insolent!" Lu Chengchuan slapped the table, making the teacup rattle. "Lu Jin, do you think you are still the person from three years ago who was qualified to negotiate with the family?"

Lu Jingyao spoke up with a smile, his tone lighter than anyone else's.

"Don't be so angry, Granduncle."

He looked at Lu Jin as if looking at a foolish joke.

"If you are truly unconvinced, it's simple."

"Let the results speak."

"But you awakened a Dead Ash Mine and are raising Gray-tailed Burrowing Rats. Do you even deserve the surname Lu with such a waste domain?"

As soon as these words fell, many people in the room laughed.

Some laughed subtly, some laughed directly.

Yet Lu Jin also smiled.

Very faintly.

"Whether I bear the surname Lu or not is not for you to decide."

"If you want to take the resources, take them."

"But you'd better hold onto them tightly."

Lu Jingyao narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Lu Jin slapped the metal rule page onto the table.

"The school is opening resource node contention in seven days."

"If the family won't give it, I'll go snatch it myself."

"The resources belong to whoever has the ability. If you want to prove you are stronger than me, don't just talk here; wait for me at the node."

The laughter in the room stopped.

Resource node contention has always been for those who are so poor they have no other path and must fight for their lives.

Casualties are not uncommon.

Direct descendants on popular routes wouldn't deign to touch such low-level blood feuds.

But now, Lu Jin had put it on the table.

Lu Jingyao stared at the rule page, the smile on his face fading bit by bit.

Not because he was afraid.

It was because this was no longer a plea, but a declaration of war.

Lu Chengchuan said coldly, "Absurd. Can the meager resources of a public node compare to the family's key pool?"

Lu Jin looked at him. "Then that's even better. You don't have to give charity, and I don't have to owe anyone."

Lu Chengchuan's expression was ugly.

What he loathed most was the stubbornness in this youth's speech, just like Observer Lu Chenyuan.

Poor, useless, yet his spine was straighter than anyone's.

"Get out." He waved his hand with a dark face. "Since you don't know what's good for you, from today on, the family will terminate all maintenance and supplies for your father's old house. Live by your own ability, and don't use the Lu family's name anymore."

Lu Jin nodded. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

He turned and left.

This time, no one laughed.

The moment the door closed, someone in the room whispered, "This kid is truly crazy."

Lu Jingyao sat in his original seat, staring at the door, the fire in his eyes deepening bit by bit.

"Resource node contention?"

The corners of his mouth slowly curled up.

"Fine."

"I will make him understand that something crawling out of a trash heap doesn't even have the right to touch fire."

When dusk fell, Lu Jin returned to the old alley in the west of the city.

The alley was narrow, the wall plaster peeling, and it was full of dust whenever the wind blew.

This was the old house his father had left behind, very far from the Lu family ancestral home, so far it felt like two different worlds.

The courtyard gate was half-ajar.

There were footsteps inside.

Two Lu family servants were moving things out, all the ornaments, wooden cabinets, and offering lamps that still had some value in the old house. Seeing Lu Jin return, the two froze, and one of them braced himself and said, "The Second Elder ordered that the supplies for the old house be terminated and the storehouse needs to clear its accounts..."

Lu Jin glanced at them. "Keep moving your things."

The two exchanged glances, didn't dare to say more, and hurried out with the items.

The courtyard suddenly became empty.

The wind blew through the dilapidated wooden corridor, making a creaking sound.

The room was very dark.

On the offering table sat his father's spirit tablet, with a layer of incense ash accumulated, as if no one had touched it for a long time.

Lu Jin walked over, placed his awakening certificate on the table, and lit three incense sticks.

As the flame flared up, it illuminated that young and cold face.

"They say what you left me is a waste domain."

"They aren't wrong."

The smoke drifted slowly upward.

Lu Jin looked at the spirit tablet, his eyes devoid of tears or smiles.

"But if you really only left me a piece of trash, then I will raise it myself into something that can bite people to death."

The shard on his chest suddenly burned.

Hotter than it was on the awakening platform.

Lu Jin lowered his head and reached out to pull it from his collar.

It was a black fragment the size of a knuckle, with rough edges, like a corner forcefully broken off from some gigantic object. For three years, it had been silent, like a stone that wouldn't shine.

At this moment, a faint dark red light lit up inside the fragment.

Like fire hidden in ash.

Lu Jin hadn't had time to look closely.

In front of the offering table, the black fragment shook violently.

Crack.

A thin crack split open along the center of the fragment.