Chapter 1118

The setting sun casts its glow across the sky.

Outside Feng Huo City, on Cui Yun Peak, there stood a stone table with stone benches, where a young boy and girl leaned against each other.

The boy is slight of build, with a slightly pale complexion and delicate features.

The girl is dressed in a snowy white gown, her skin like jade, and her beauty is exquisite.

The girl rests her head on the boy's shoulder, and in the sunset's glow they resemble a celestial couple.

"Yao'er, I truly wish we could stay like this forever!" the boy said, a happy smile on his face.

We need to be consistent: For nicknames used as names, we use pinyin. For kinship terms we translate.

Thus we need to produce translations accordingly.

Now continue scanning lines for named entities.

"Brother Ming, of course we can—we promised to be together forever."

The girl's face lit up with a happy smile.

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

Gazing at Lu Yao's smile, Lu Ming's eyes grew gentler as he held her delicate, boneless jade hand and said, "Yao'er, although my meridians are blocked and I cannot cultivate true qi, if I can awaken my bloodline, the Elder Hall will purchase spirit medicine to clear my meridians, and then I will be able to cultivate."

"I will surely become a mighty martial artist and protect you for life."

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

Lu Yao's eyes showed emotion as she said, "Brother Ming, a pulse tester once checked and found that you inherited your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er, so the man you marry will surely be a strong one." Lu Ming said with a confident smile.

Lu Yao smiled slightly, lifted the stone table's wine cup, which contained the famous Blood Tongue Orchid Wine, giving off a faint fragrance.

Lu Yao swiftly kissed Lu Ming's cheek, her face flushing, then raised the wine cup and said, "Brother Ming, come, Yao'er rewards you."

Lu Ming took the cup and said, "Yao'er, you give me a cup of Blood Tongue Orchid Wine every day; I'm truly grateful to have you by my side."

Having said that, he raised the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

The wine's aroma lingered on his tongue, making Lu Ming's heart feel as sweet as the scent, but the next moment he felt a bit dizzy.

"Yao'er, why do I feel a little dizzy? This wine…"

Lu Ming leaned on the stone table and looked at Lu Yao, but he noticed her expression had turned a little cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has been with you for three years just to nurture your meridians; the time has come—offer up your bloodline!"

At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped out from the side—Lu Yao's father.

Boom!

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

"Yao'er!"

Lu Ming stared at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes were full of coldness.

"Why? I love you so much!"

Lu Yao's icy gaze was like a thousand daggers piercing Lu Ming's heart; he roared and lunged at her.

But Lu Yao merely stepped back slightly, and he crashed to the ground.

"The Xuan Yuan Sword Sect's Duanmu Lin began cultivating at six, opened two divine veins in half a year, entered the Warrior Realm, then at nine reached the Martial Master Realm; now at sixteen he is one of the sect's Four Great Talents. As for you—weak and sickly, your meridians are blocked—you're basically worthless. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you'd still be worthless. How could you compare to Duanmu Lin?"

Also "trash" is a generic insult, not a named entity.

"Only such a genius is worthy of me, Lu Yao; if we are to marry, you must awaken a strong bloodline. Since you love me so much, why not help me—use your bloodline to aid me in awakening an even stronger one?"

A cold voice issued from Lu Yao's lips.

Thud!

At that moment, the middle-aged man stepped on Lu Ming's back, brandishing a sharp dagger and shouted, "Lu Ming, offer up your bloodline!"

Ah!

A piercing pain shot through his spine, instantly overwhelming Lu Ming; he howled, his voice filled with loneliness, helplessness, and despair.

Gradually, Lu Ming sank into endless darkness.

"Lu Yao, Lu Yunxiong, why are you stealing my bloodline?"

Lu Ming let out a loud shout, suddenly sitting up, causing the nanmu wood bed to creak.

Lu Ming was drenched in sweat, his face pale; at first he thought it was a nightmare, but he quickly realized it was real.

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

Lu Ming, the main-line heir of the Feng Huo City Lu family, whose father is the head of the Lu Family; and Lu Yao, the daughter of the Grand Elder of the Lu Family's first branch.

Though they share the same clan but different branches, they grew up together from childhood, childhood sweethearts, inseparable, and even privately sworn to be together for life.

Lu Ming never expected that Lu Yao would join the Grand Elder in attacking him to seize his bloodline.

"Strength—everything is because I am weak. If I had extraordinary talent and great strength, they would never dare to treat me this way."

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

Worthless!

This is what Lu Yao called him; her words from three days ago still echo in his ears.

Creak!

At that moment, the door opened and a frail middle-aged woman entered, looking at Lu Ming

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

Three days ago, it was Li Ping who, worried about Lu Ming's safety, went out to search and saved him; otherwise Lu Ming would already be dead.

Since six years ago, when news spread that Lu Ming's father was killed while traveling abroad, he has depended on Li Ping for survival.

Lu Ming looked at Li Ping, his gaze softening, and said, "Mother, it's fine, it was just a dream."

Looking at Lu Ming's pale face, Li Ping sat beside his bed, touched his forehead, and said with heartache: "It's been three days already; every time you scream that Lu Yao harmed you, Ming'er—what on earth is going on? Could your injury 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 Grand Elder who did it, because Li Ping does not practice martial arts, and telling her would only endanger her.

Li Ping hesitated for a moment, then said, "Ming'er, from now on, in front of others you must not directly call Lu Yao by name. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a Level 5 Bloodline and also opened a Divine-level Meridian; he has already gained recognition from the Elder Hall. At the clan assembly in two months, he will take charge of the Lu Family and become its Family Head. Directly addressing the Family Head's name would likely be seen as disrespectful."

What? Lu Yao is to take charge of the Lu Family? She can forget it.

Lu Ming let out a low growl, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth clenched and clicking, his teeth about to shatter, blood flowing out.

Lu Ming's father was rumored to have been killed by someone six years ago; in these six years, the Lu Family has been managed by the Elder Hall, with no new Family Head appointed.

Seeing Lu Ming like this, Li Ping was terrified and at a loss, merely holding Lu Ming's head, tears streaming down, she said: "Ming'er, don't scare Mother, Mother has already lost your father, cannot lose you too."

"Father... where exactly are you? Ming'er believes you won't die; now, Ming'er is powerless, even the Family Head position may not be kept."

Lu Ming tightly gripped the pendant on his neck, using so much force that his nails dug into his flesh, blood continuously seeping out.

This pendant, cast of bronze and the size of a pea, was sent back by someone entrusted by Lu Ming's father before his accident; for these six years, Lu Ming has always carried it with him.

Blood seeping from his palm flowed toward the bronze pendant.

Buzz—

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

Before Lu Ming could react, the bronze pendant shuddered and turned into fine powder that drilled into his palm, disappearing into his hand.

Next, Lu Ming felt a scorching energy surge from his palm up his arm, and after a moment it settled in the Yintang Acupoint at his brow.

"Nine Dragons Immortal, Bloodline Rebirth!"

Suddenly, a tremendous roar echoed in Lu Ming's mind, shaking his mind with a buzzing.

"Nine Dragons Immortal, Bloodline Rebirth!"

"Nine Dragons Immortal, Bloodline Rebirth!"

The continuous roars kept echoing in Lu Ming's mind; then, a scorching breath emanated from his brow and surged toward his spine.

The next moment, the roars ceased, but waves of numbness and itch spread from his spine, and his whole body became scorching.

"What's going on?"

Lu Ming was completely at a loss.

At this point, the numbness and itch on his spine intensified, as if something were slowly growing.

"Ming'er, what's wrong with you? Don't scare Mother."

Sensing the abnormality in Lu Ming's body, Li Ping grew even more frightened, at a loss what to do.

"Bloodline Rebirth? Could I really achieve Bloodline Rebirth?" Lu Ming wondered.

Ancient texts record that only very few people, after having their bloodline stripped or damaged for other reasons, can undergo Bloodline Rebirth, regrowing a bloodline.

However, the regenerated bloodline is mostly low-grade and of little use.

But there are also extremely few individuals who can break and then be reborn, breaking the cocoon to be reborn, rising from destruction, transcending the past, and awakening a supreme bloodline.

But this probability is so small it can be neglected; ancient texts record that there have hardly ever been any such cases.

Transcending the past and awakening a supreme bloodline, Lu Ming didn't even think about it, since the odds were too slim; he would be thrilled just to awaken a bloodline.

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

At this moment, the abnormal sensations gradually faded, Lu Ming's face showed a smile, and he said: "Mother, I'm fine!"

"Young Master, it's great that you're alright; these past few days you've scared us to death!"

At this moment, a girl walked over and said.

The girl was about the same age as Lu Ming and extremely beautiful.

Lu Ming naturally recognized her; the girl's name was Qiu Yue, a personal maid of Li Ping, who had grown up with him since childhood.

"Qiu Yue, I'm fine, rest easy!"

Lu Ming smiled and said.

Then, Lu Ming glanced around, his expression suddenly changed, and he said: "Mother, where is this? This is not the Lu Family Main Residence!"

Lu Ming's father had formerly been the Family Head of the Lu Family, and they had always lived in the Lu Family Main Residence, but this is not it.

"Ming'er, take good care of your wounds and don't overthink it!" Li Ping said, but the fleeting sorrow and tears in her eyes were still caught by Lu Ming.

"Mother, what exactly is going on?" Lu Ming asked.

"Young Master, let me explain: we were driven out; Lu Yao said she would soon become the Family Head, so she should move into the Main Residence, but we have no right to keep living there, so they made us move out."

At the side, Qiu Yue clenched her silver teeth, spoke out the matter, her pretty little face flushed with anger.

"What? Lu Yao, you're going too far!" Lu Ming roared.

"You good-for-nothing, what are you shouting for? Having a place to live is already a favor; you should be grateful."

Just then, a voice sounded from outside the door, the door opened, and a young man stepped out.

"Lu Chuan, is that you!"

Lu Ming shouted angrily; this person's name was Lu Chuan, the older brother of Lu Yao, a bit older than Lu Ming.

"Lu Chuan, we've already left the Main Residence; why are you still coming here?"

Li Ping said, instinctively stepping in front of Lu Ming, as if fearing Lu Chuan might harm Lu Ming.

"I'm here to take the sword!"

Having said that, Lu Chuan's eyes scanned the surroundings; upon seeing a precious sword by the bedside, his eyes lit up, he immediately walked over and grabbed the sword in his hand.

"Lu Chuan, this sword is the sole token left by Ming'er's father, to be kept for Ming'er's use; you cannot take it away."

Li Ping hurriedly reached out to grab it.

"Get out of the way!"

Lu Chuan exerted force; the sword sheath trembled, releasing a burst of power; Li Ping, not a cultivator, could not withstand it, her body staggered backward, almost falling to the ground.

"Mother!" Lu Ming bellowed.