Chapter 1128: with translation of chapter title

The setting sun sank westward, rosy clouds filling the sky.

Outside Feng Huo City, on Cui Yun Peak, there was a stone table; beside it stood stone stools, where a boy and girl leaned against each other.

The boy was slight of build, his complexion somewhat pallid, his features delicate.

The girl wore a snow‑white long dress, her skin like jade, her beauty unsurpassed.

The girl rested her head on the boy's shoulder; in the sunset's glow they looked like a celestial couple.

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

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

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

The boy was named Lu Ming, the girl Lu Yao.

Gazing at Lu Yao's smile, Lu Ming's eyes grew tender; he took her soft, boneless jade hand and said, "Yao'er, although my meridians are blocked and I cannot condense true qi, if I can awaken my bloodline, the Elder Hall will purchase spirit medicines to clear my channels, and then I can cultivate."

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

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

Lu Yao's eyes shone with emotion as she added, "Brother Ming, a pulse tester once examined you—did you inherit your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er, so your future husband will surely be a strong one," Lu Ming said, confidence flashing on his face.

Lu Yao smiled faintly, lifted the wine cup on the stone table; it held the famed Blood Tongue Orchid Wine, exuding a light fragrance.

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

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

Having spoken, he raised the cup and drained it in one gulp.

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

"Yao'er, why do I feel faint? This wine..."

Lu Ming leaned on the stone table, gazing at Lu Yao, but at that moment he noticed her face had turned cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has accompanied you for three years merely 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—!

Like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, it exploded in Lu Ming's mind.

"Yaoer!"

Lu Ming stared at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes were filled only with coldness.

"Why? I love you so much!"

Lu Yao's cold gaze was like a series of sharp 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.

"Duanmu Lin of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect began cultivating at six, opened two Divine Veins in half a year, entered the Warrior Realm, reached the Martial Master Realm at nine, and at sixteen is one of the Four Great Talents of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect; you, however, are frail and sickly, your meridians blocked—plainly put, you are trash. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you remain trash—how can you compare to Duanmu Lin?"

"Such talent is the proper match for Lu Yao; to marry into the family you must awaken a powerful bloodline. Since you love me so much, fulfill my wish—use your bloodline to help me awaken an even stronger one."

The cold voice issued from Lu Yao's mouth.

Bang!

At that moment, the middle‑aged man stepped on Lu Ming's back, a dagger appearing in his hand, shouting: "Lu Ming, offer up your bloodline!"

Ah!

A heart‑rending pain pierced Lu Ming's spine; he howled, his voice full of loneliness, helplessness, and despair.

Gradually, Lu Ming sank into endless darkness.

"Lu Yao, Lu Yunxiong, why do you seize my bloodline!"

Lu Ming roared, suddenly sitting up from the bed; the nanmu‑made bed creaked "gee—".

Lu Ming drenched in sweat, face pale; at first he thought it a nightmare, but quickly realized it was not a dream but what had truly happened.

The scene from several days ago surfaced again in his mind.

Lu Ming, heir of the Lu Family's main line in Feng Huo City, his father being the Family Head; Lu Yao, daughter of the Lu Family's first branch Grand Elder.

Though of the same clan but different branches, they grew up together from childhood, inseparable as childhood sweethearts, even having sworn vows in private and pledged themselves to each other.

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

"Strength—everything is because my strength is insufficient; if I had extraordinary talent and great power, they would not dare treat me this way."

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

Trash!

This was Lu Yao's term for him; her words from three days ago still echoed in his ears.

Creak—!

At that moment, the door was pushed open, and a frail middle‑aged woman entered, looking at Lu Ming on the bed and asking with concern: "Ming'er, did you have another nightmare?"

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

Three days ago, Li Ping had worried about Lu Ming's safety, gone out to search, and rescued him; otherwise Lu Ming would already be dead.

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

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

Seeing Lu Ming's pale face, Li Ping sat beside his bed, touched his forehead, and said sorrowfully: "It's been three days; every time you cry out Lu Yao's name, Ming'er—what exactly happened? Could your injury be because of Lu Yao..."

Lu Ming said: "Mother, nothing, you misheard."

Lu Ming did not tell Li Ping that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder had done it, for Li Ping does not practice martial arts; telling her would only bring her harm.

Li Ping hesitated, then said: "Ming'er, from now on, in front of others you must not call Lu Yao by name directly; two days ago Lu Yao awakened a Level 5 Bloodline and even opened a Divine‑level Meridian, gaining the Elder Hall's approval; in two months at the clan assembly she will take charge of the Lu Family and become its head. To address the head by name outright would be seen as disrespectful."

"What? Lu Yao will take over the Lu Family? She wishes!"

Lu Ming let out a low growl, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth clenched and grinding, as if they would shatter, blood flowing out.

After rumors spread six years ago that Lu Ming's father had been killed, the Lu Family has been managed by the Elder Hall these six years, with no new Family Head appointed.

Seeing Lu Ming like this, Li Ping was terrified and at a loss, merely holding his head as tears streamed down, saying, "Minger, don't scare Mother, Mother has already lost your father; I cannot lose you too."

"Father... where are you? Minger believes you won't die, but now he is powerless, even the Family Head position may slip from his grasp."

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

Then Lu Ming felt a scorching energy rise from his palm up his arm, and after a moment it settled in the Yintang Acupoint between his brows.

"Nine Dragons Immortal, Bloodline Rebirth!"

Suddenly, a tremendous roar echoed in Lu Ming's mind, shaking it so that it buzzed.

"Nine Dragons Immortal, Bloodline Rebirth!"

"Nine Dragons Immortal, Bloodline Rebirth!"

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

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

"What's going on?"

Lu Ming was completely at a loss.

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

"Minger, what's wrong? Don't scare Mother."

Sensing the abnormality in Lu Ming's body, Li Ping grew more frightened and felt at a loss.

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

Ancient texts record that only very few people, after their bloodline is taken away or damaged for other reasons, can undergo Bloodline Rebirth and regrow a bloodline.

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

But also an extremely few can break and then establish, break the cocoon to be reborn, rise from destruction, transcend the past, and awaken a supreme bloodline.

But this probability is so tiny it can be neglected; ancient texts record that hardly any cases have occurred in history.

Transcending the past and awakening a supreme bloodline, Lu Ming didn't dwell on it—the odds were too slim; he would be thrilled just to awaken any bloodline.

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

At this time, the abnormality slowly faded from his body, Lu Ming's face broke into a smile as he said, "Mother, I'm fine!"

"Young Master, it's wonderful you're unharmed; these past 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, Li Ping's personal maid, who had grown up with him since childhood.

"Qiu Yue, I'm fine, don't worry!"

Lu Ming smiled.

Then Lu Ming glanced around, his face 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 place is not it.

"Minger, rest and heal, don't overthink!" Li Ping said, but the fleeting sorrow and tear in her eyes were still caught by Lu Ming.

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

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

Beside her, Qiu Yue clenched her silver teeth and spoke out, her pretty little face flushed with anger.

"What? Lu Yao, you're bullying too much!" Lu Ming roared.

"You trash, what are you shouting for? Having a place to live is already a favor to you; still no gratitude?"

Just then, a voice sounded outside the door, the door opened, and a youth stepped out.

"Lu Chuan, is that you!"

Lu Ming angrily shouted, this person named Lu Chuan, is Lu Yao's older brother and also a bit older than Lu Ming.

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

Li Ping said, instinctively stepping in front of Lu Ming, seemingly afraid Lu Chuan might harm Lu Ming.

"I came to take the sword!"

After speaking, Lu Chuan's eyes scanned the room; upon seeing the Precious Sword beside the bed, his eyes lit up, he immediately walked over and extended his hand to grab the sword.

"Lu Chuan, this sword is the Sole Token left by Lu Ming's father, meant to be kept for Lu Ming's use; you cannot take it."

Li Ping hurriedly reached out to snatch it.

"Get lost!"

Lu Chuan exerted force, the sword sheath shook, and a burst of power erupted; Li Ping, not a cultivator, could not resist, her body staggered backward, almost falling to the ground.

"Mother!" Lu Ming roared.