tough choice

However, Gao Ming gradually discovered some benefits of this ability – his body became stronger, his strength increased, and his movements became more agile. He could walk like a breeze, light and ethereal. Both his vision and hearing showed significant improvements. Moreover, if he accidentally injured his skin and bled, the scars disappeared within a few days.

Of course, these changes in physical fitness didn't happen overnight but manifested after several years of accumulation.

Six years had passed, and not only did Gao Ming experience changes in his physical aspect, but the mist also seemed to become denser.

Unfortunately, apart from altering the body's qualities, the mist seemed to have no other uses.

Sometimes, he wondered if the strange awakening of this ability was the reason for his crossing from another world. Upon reflection, it seemed plausible. His predecessor had undergone two consecutives baptism ceremonies without this phenomenon, but after his spiritual cleansing through possession, this situation occurred, indicating that there was a factor related to himself.

However, Gao Ming had no understanding of abilities and couldn't analyze the ins and outs of it. Without entering the ranks of ability users, he wouldn't gain any information about abilities.

He couldn't help but think, "If I'm given an ability, why not just give me a better one!"

Gao Ming had the feeling that he wanted to spit blood. Awakening an ability but not being recognized by others was a very helpless situation.

Thinking up to this point, he withdrew his thoughts because he had to face a practical problem – how to live after leaving the clan. Gao Ming was very troubled because he hadn't chosen a direction for his future development. In this world of ability users, besides the privileged, ordinary people had to engage in various occupations at the grassroots level, such as agriculture, herding, handicrafts, commerce, and so on.

The Gao clan belonged to an agricultural clan, and within its influence, the fields were relatively fertile. Therefore, most commoners engaged in agricultural production, not only providing sustenance for the entire Gao clan but also engaging in grain trade with other clans.

The Yanzhou where the Gao clan was located was originally a densely populated area with developed agriculture, commerce, and handicrafts. Numerous clans occupied this area, and the influence was complex. However, overall, Yanzhou belonged to the sphere of influence of the super clan, the Li clan. Other clans, big and small, were vassal clans of the Li clan.

Although the clans below were vassal clans of the Li clan, there were still various conflicts of interest among them. Clan wars occurred when there were disputes, but as long as it didn't touch the interests of the Li clan, the Li clan turned a blind eye. Of course, if it really came to the point of extermination, the Li clan would intervene to mediate. Therefore, large-scale clan wars were rare.

After all, if a vassal clan were to be exterminated, it would weaken the war potential of the Li clan. The Li clan would definitely not allow such a thing to happen. In this world of ability users, powerful clans were not limited to just the Li clan. There were nine other super clans, and their influence was on par with the Li clan.

Additionally, there were twelve powerful clans with slightly weaker influence. Their positions in the world of ability users were also significant.

As for the Gao clan's influence, it was considered small, even negligible, in the world of ability users. Being a vassal under the Li clan was actually a good thing. At least, they wouldn't be absorbed by other clans.

This was what Gao Ming had learned in the marketplaces in the past. However, all this information had nothing to do with his current situation. What concerned him was how to live after leaving the clan. In his previous life, he was just a recent graduate who started working. His expertise was in dealing with computer software and hardware. Unfortunately, fate took a turn for the worse. At the height of his youth, he encountered a calamity and ended up in this savage world. Without computers, his technical skills were useless. Nevertheless, having been a modern person, he had some superficial understanding of various things.

Like the choices laid out before him now, there were several paths. The first was to become a tenant farmer, which could be ignored outright. Whether in his previous life or in this one, he had never done such hard labor.

The second option was to join a workshop as a laborer, which was worth considering. With his knowledge, he should be able to survive. With some capital, perhaps he could start his own workshop, tinker with inventions, and become prosperous.

The third was to join a merchant caravan as a companion. With his modern business acumen, he should be in demand. However, this was just speculation, and practice was often much more difficult than fantasy. Paper strategy was not a good phenomenon!

The fourth option was to become a servant in a noble family. This could be ruled out. Having been accustomed to being a modern person, serving others was something that made him furious. Although being a nanny in his previous life was also serving others, at least there was freedom and human rights, right?

The second and third options were suitable for him, but Gao Ming found it challenging to choose!

Just as Gao Ming was undecided, a crisp voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard: "Brother Gao Ming, are you in?"

Then, a light and brisk footsteps echoed in the courtyard, indicating that the owner of the voice had already rushed into the courtyard. The slight frown on Gao Ming's face eased, replaced by a faint smile. He knew it was that clever little girl again.

Soon, the door slammed open with a bang. A seven or eight-year-old girl dressed in a bright yellow silk gown ran in like the wind. This little girl had bright eyes, white teeth, and a skin as fair as snow. She exuded an air of elegance, a prototype of a beauty.

Her attire and appearance were clearly a few levels higher than Gao Ming. Obviously, her status in the clan was relatively high, and she wasn't a child from a nearby courtyard.

The little girl, upon entering, began chattering away, "Brother Gao Ming, I called for you just now. Why didn't you respond?"

Gao Ming leaned back in his chair, smiling, "Little Sister Gao Ying, why do you have time to come to your big brother's place today? Do you want to hear a story again?"

"Hehe~~" Gao Ying hugged Gao Ming's arm, pouting coquettishly, "Brother Gao Ming, do you want to tell me? Gao Ying hasn't heard a story for several days."

Originally, Gao Ying was also a child born of a concubine. However, she had an elder brother who awakened an ability, so her status and that of her mother in the clan had risen significantly. This could be seen from the fact that a concubine could have two children.

In the clan, individuals like Gao Ming's father, Gao Bo, the heir to the clan leadership, had not only a legal wife but also several concubines and maids. Li Qing was one of them. The role of these concubines and maids was essentially that of reproductive tools, serving to bear offspring. After a single act of favor, if there were no accidents, there was almost no chance of receiving favor again or even having the opportunity for intimacy.

Of course, there were exceptions. If a concubine gave birth to a child whose ability awakened, then that concubine would truly gain attention and might have the chance to bear a second child.

Gao Ying's mother was such an example. If Gao Ying's elder brother hadn't awakened his ability, she might have ended up like Li Qing, living in a cold courtyard with her children.

Although Gao Ying had not awakened an ability, having an elder brother with abilities naturally elevated her status in the clan.

The two of them met by chance two years ago when Gao Ming, with nothing else to do, began telling stories to the siblings in the nearby courtyards. Gao Ying, who happened to have strayed into this courtyard group and gotten lost, overheard it. It immediately piqued her interest, and whenever she had time, she would come here to pester Gao Ming for stories. It had been two years, and Gao Ming's storytelling skills, luckily, kept Gao Ying entertained.

Now, the relationship between the two was quite amicable.

Of course, Gao Ming had a small selfish motive. Learning from Gao Ying that her elder brother treated her very well, if he could establish a connection with her elder brother through Gao Ying's relationship, perhaps there would be unexpected gains. He didn't want to deliberately please Gao Ying's brother, but in this world of survival of the fittest, without some reliance, it would be difficult to get by. Establishing good relationships now might open up more opportunities in the future.

Gao Ming pinched Gao Ying's cheek, chuckled, and began telling her a story.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was evening. Gao Ming cleared his throat and said, "Gao Ying, we'll stop here for today. If you want to know the next part of the story, please tune in next time."

"No, no, I still want to listen~~~~" Gao Ying pouted, her small mouth looking unwilling.

Gao Ming patted her hair, stood up, and despite sitting for the entire afternoon, he surprisingly felt no fatigue or soreness. Moreover, since crossing over until now, he had not fallen ill once. In his memories, his health had not been great from a young age. He attributed the improvement in his health to the seemingly useless ability.

He had heard that the bodies of ability users were immune to various illnesses.

"Be obedient, if you go back late, your mother might get angry."

After hearing this, Gao Ying's expression changed slightly. It seemed she was quite afraid of her mother.

However, she hesitated for a moment and seemed to want to say something.

Gao Ming's expression froze for a moment. He held Gao Ying's little hand, walked out of the room, and sent her reluctantly outside, saying, "Be good, if you go back late, your mother will be angry."