Chapter 537: White Zetsu Emerges, Terrifying War Potential

The setting sun cast a blaze of color across the sky.

Outside Windfire City, on Green Cloud Peak, there was a stone table, and beside it, stone stools where a young boy and girl leaned against each other.

The boy was thin, his face slightly pale but delicate.

The girl wore a long white dress, her skin like jade, her features breathtakingly beautiful.

With her head resting on the boy's shoulder, they looked like a pair of immortal lovers under the setting sun.

"Yaor, I wish we could be like this forever!" the boy said softly, a blissful smile spreading across his face.

"Brother Ming, of course we can—we promised to be together for our whole lives."

A happy smile appeared on the girl's face.

The boy's name was Lu Ming, and the girl's name was Lu Yao.

Looking at the smile on Lu Yao's face, Lu Ming's gaze softened even more. Holding her delicate, boneless jade hand, he said, "Yaor, even though my meridians are blocked and I can't condense true qi, as long as I can awaken my bloodline, the council of elders will buy a spirit medicine to clear my meridians, and then I can start cultivating."

"I will definitely become a martial arts powerhouse and protect you for the rest of your life."

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

With a moved look in her eyes, Lu Yao added, "Brother Ming, was it true that a pulse measurer once said you inherited your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yaor, so your future man will definitely be a strong one." A confident smile appeared on Lu Ming's face.

Lu Yao smiled faintly, picked up the wine glass on the stone table—inside was the famous blood-tongue orchid wine, exuding a faint fragrance.

Lightning fast, Lu Yao kissed Lu Ming on the cheek, her face flushing with shyness, then raised the glass and said, "Brother Ming, here, a reward from Yaor."

Lu Ming took the glass and said, "Yaor, you treat me to a glass of blood-tongue orchid wine every day. I'm really grateful to have you by my side."

With these words, he raised the glass and drained it in one gulp.

The wine's fragrance lingered on his tongue, and Lu Ming's heart felt as sweet as the bouquet—but the next moment, he felt the world spin around him.

"Yaor, why am I feeling dizzy? This wine of yours…"

Lu Ming supported himself against the stone table and looked at Lu Yao, but now he saw that her expression had turned cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yaor has stayed with you for three years only to nourish your bloodline. Now the time has come—offer up your bloodline!"

At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped out from beside them; it was Lu Yao's father.

Boom!

It was like a thunderbolt from a clear sky exploding inside Lu Ming's mind.

"Yaor!"

Lu Ming stared at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes were filled with nothing but coldness.

"Why? I loved you so much!"

Lu Yao's cold gaze struck Lu Ming's heart like sharp daggers. He roared and lunged toward her.

But Lu Yao merely stepped back, and he fell flat on the ground.

"Xuan-Yuan Sword Sect's Duanmu Lin—started cultivation at six, opened two divine meridians in half a year and entered the Warrior realm, reached the Master realm at nine, and now at sixteen he is one of the four geniuses of Xuan-Yuan Sword Sect. And you? Weak and sickly, your meridians blocked—in short, you're nothing but trash. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you'll still be trash. Can you compare to Duanmu Lin?"

"A genius like him is my Lu Yao's true match. If I want to marry into his family, I must awaken a powerful bloodline. Since you love me so much, why not do me a favor and use your bloodline to help me awaken an even stronger one."

The cold voice came from Lu Yao's mouth.

Thump!

At that moment, the middle-aged man stomped on Lu Ming's back, a sharp knife appearing in his hand. "Lu Ming, surrender your bloodline!"

Ah!

A piercing pain at his spine instantly overwhelmed Lu Ming. He screamed, his voice filled with loneliness, helplessness, and despair.

Gradually, Lu Ming fell into an endless darkness.

"Lu Yao, Lu Yunxiong—why did you take my bloodline from me!"

Lu Ming roared and suddenly sat up in bed, causing the nanmu-wood bed to let out a loud creak.

Lu Ming was drenched in sweat, his face pale. At first, he thought he had had a nightmare, but quickly realized this was not a dream—it was something that had already happened.

The scene from a few days ago surfaced in his mind again.

Lu Ming was a direct descendant of the main line of the Lu Clan in Windfire City, and his father was the clan head. Lu Yao was the daughter of the Great Elder of the first branch of the Lu Clan.

The two were from the same clan but different branches. They had grown up together since childhood, childhood sweethearts, inseparable. In private, they had even made vows and pledged themselves to each other.

Lu Ming never imagined that Lu Yao and the Great Elder would turn on him and seize his bloodline.

"Strength—it's all because I lack strength. If I had extraordinary talent and great power, how would they dare treat me like this?"

Lu Ming clenched his fists, his whole body trembling, his eyes bloodshot.

"Worthless!"

That was what Lu Yao had called him. Her words from three days ago seemed to still echo in his ears.

Creak!

Just then, the door pushed open, and a frail, middle-aged woman walked in. Looking at Lu Ming in bed, she asked with concern, "Ming'er, did you have another nightmare?"

This beautiful woman was Lu Ming's mother, Li Ping.

Three days ago, it was Li Ping, worried about Lu Ming's safety, who had gone out to look for him and saved him. Otherwise, Lu Ming would have died.

Ever since word spread six years ago that Lu Ming's father had been killed while traveling abroad, he and Li Ping had depended on each other for survival.

Lu Ming looked at Li Ping, his gaze softening, and said, "Mother, it's nothing, just a dream."

Seeing Lu Ming's pale face, Li Ping sat on the edge of his bed, touched his forehead, and said with heartache, "It's been three days. Every time you shout that Lu Yao harmed you. Ming'er, what exactly is going on? Could your injuries be because of Lu Yao…"

Lu Ming said, "Mother, it's nothing. You misheard."

Lu Ming did not tell Li Ping that it was Lu Yao and the Great Elder who had done this, because Li Ping did not practice martial arts. Telling her would only put her in danger.

Li Ping hesitated for a moment, then said, "Ming'er, in the future, you must not speak Lu Yao's name directly in front of others. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a fifth-grade bloodline and also opened a divine-level meridian. She has now received the approval of the Elder Council. At the clan meeting two months from now, she will take charge of the Lu Clan and become its head. Calling the clan head by her name directly might be seen as disrespect."

"What? Lu Yao is going to take charge of the Lu Clan? She wishes!"

Lu Ming let out a low, furious roar, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth grinding so loudly they seemed about to shatter; blood even seeped out.

Since news spread six years ago that Lu Ming's father had been killed, the Lu Clan had been managed by the Elder Council for these six years, with no new clan head installed.

Seeing Lu Ming like this, Li Ping was terrified and at a loss. She could only hold his head and let tears fall continuously, saying, "Ming'er, don't scare your mother. I've already lost your father; I can't lose you too."

"Father… where are you? Ming'er believes you aren't dead. But now, I am powerless—I can't even keep the position of clan head."

Lu Ming clutched tightly at a pendant hanging from his neck. He was gripping it so hard that his nails pierced his flesh, and blood kept seeping out.

This pendant, cast from bronze and the size of a broad bean, had been sent back by someone on Lu Ming's father's orders just before the incident. For the past six years, Lu Ming had worn it constantly.

The blood from his palm seeped out and flowed onto the bronze pendant.

Hum!

Suddenly, the bronze pendant trembled slightly and grew scorching hot.

Before Lu Ming could react, the bronze pendant shook violently, then turned into fine powder, burrowed into Lu Ming's palm, and vanished into it.

Then, Lu Ming felt a scorching energy flow from his palm, up his arm, and after a moment, settle in the Yintang acupoint between his eyebrows.

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

Suddenly, a great roar sounded in Lu Ming's mind, making his head buzz.

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

The roar continued, ringing repeatedly in Lu Ming's mind. Then, a blazing surge of energy started from between his eyebrows and rushed toward his spine.

The next moment, the roar vanished, but a tingling numbness spread along his spine, and his entire body grew scorching hot.

"What's happening?"

Lu Ming was completely baffled.

At this point, the numbness along his spine grew even more intense, as if something was slowly growing.

"Ming'er, what's wrong? Don't scare your mother."

Feeling the anomaly in Lu Ming's body, Li Ping grew even more frightened and didn't know what to do.

"Bloodline rebirth? Can I really achieve bloodline rebirth?" Lu Ming wondered inwardly.

Ancient records state that only very few people, after having their bloodline stripped or damaged for other reasons, can undergo bloodline rebirth and grow a new bloodline.

However, most reborn bloodlines are of very low grade and useless.

Yet there are extremely rare individuals who can break through to stand anew, emerge from the cocoon, rise from destruction, transcend the past, and awaken a supreme bloodline.

But the probability is so small it can be ignored; ancient records say there have been only a few cases throughout history.

Transcending the past and awakening a supreme bloodline—Lu Ming didn't think about that; after all, the chance was too slim. He would be overjoyed just to awaken any bloodline.

With a bloodline, he could practice martial arts and change his fate.

At that moment, the strange sensation on his body slowly faded, and Lu Ming broke into a smile. "Mother, I'm fine!"

"Young master, it's so good that you're fine! These past few days, you scared us to death!"

Just then, a young girl walked over and spoke.

The girl was about the same age as Lu Ming, and she was extraordinarily beautiful.

Lu Ming naturally recognized her. The girl's name was Qiu Yue, Li Ping's personal maidservant, and she had grown up with him since childhood.

"Qiu Yue, I'm fine. Don't worry!"

Lu Ming said with a smile.

Then, Lu Ming glanced around and his expression suddenly changed. "Mother, where is this? This isn't the Lu Clan's main mansion!"

Lu Ming's father had once been the clan leader, and they had always lived in the Lu Clan main mansion, but this place was not it.

"Ming'er, just focus on recovering. Don't overthink things!" Li Ping said, but the fleeting grief and tears in her eyes were still caught by Lu Ming.

"Mother, what exactly happened?" Lu Ming asked.

"Young master, let me tell you. We were kicked out. Lu Yao said she was about to become the clan leader and that she deserved to live in the main mansion, while we no longer had the right to stay there, so she made us move out."

Beside him, Qiu Yue clenched her silver teeth and revealed the matter, her pretty little face flushed with anger.

"What?! Lu Yao, you've gone too far!" Lu Ming roared.

"You trash, what are you yelling about? Letting you have a place to live is already a blessing. You should be grateful!"

Just then, a voice sounded from outside the door, and then the door was pushed open, revealing a young man.

"Lu Chuan, it's you!"

Lu Ming shouted angrily. This person was named Lu Chuan, Lu Yao's own elder brother, and he was a bit older than Lu Ming.

"Lu Chuan, we've already left the main mansion. What are you doing here?"

Li Ping said, instinctively stepping in front of Lu Ming, as if afraid Lu Chuan would harm him.

"I've come to take the sword!"

After saying that, Lu Chuan's eyes swept around the room. When he spotted a precious sword beside the bed, his eyes lit up, and he immediately walked over, reaching out to grab the sword.

"Lu Chuan, this sword is the only keepsake left by Ming'er's father, meant for Ming'er to use in the future. You can't take it away!"

Li Ping quickly reached out to snatch it back.

"Get lost!"

Lu Chuan exerted force, and the scabbard shook, sending out a burst of power. Li Ping was not a martial practitioner and couldn't withstand it. She staggered backward and nearly fell to the ground.

"Mother!" Lu Ming shouted.

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