Chapter 1133: It Really Is a Conspiracy

The setting sun sank in the west, and rosy clouds spread across the sky.

Outside Feng Huo City, atop Cui Yun Peak, there was a stone table; beside it a stone bench, where a pair of teenage boy and girl leaned against each other.

The boy was slender, his complexion slightly pale, his features delicate.

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

She rested her head on his shoulder, and in the sunset's glow they resembled a pair of celestial lovers.

"Yao, I truly wish we could stay like this forever!" the boy said softly, his face full of a happy smile.

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

A happy smile spread across the girl's face.

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

Seeing the smile on Lu Yao's face, Lu Ming's gaze grew even gentler; he clasped Lu Yao's delicate, boneless jade‑like hand and said, "Yao, although my tendons and veins are blocked and I cannot condense true Qi, once I awaken my Bloodline, the Elder Hall will purchase a spirit pill to clear my meridians, and then I can cultivate."

"I will certainly become a martial strongman and protect you for a lifetime."

"Thank you, Ming brother."

Lu Yao's eyes showed moved emotion, and she added, "Ming brother, a pulse‑tester once examined you—did you inherit your father's Bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao, so in the future your husband will certainly be a strong one," Lu Ming said, a confident smile on his face.

Lu Yao gave a slight smile, lifted the wine cup on the stone table; the cup held the famed Blood Tongue Orchid Wine, emitting a faint fragrance.

Lu Yao flashed a kiss onto Lu Ming's face like lightning, her cheeks flushing red, she lifted the cup and said, "Ming brother, here, Yao treats you."

Lu Ming took the cup and said, "Yao, you invite me to a glass of Blood Tongue Orchid Wine every day; I truly appreciate having you by my side."

Having spoken, he lifted the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

The wine's aroma swirled on his tongue, and Lu Ming's heart felt as sweet as the scent, but the next moment he felt the world spinning.

"Yao, why am I feeling dizzy? Your wine..."

Lu Ming steadied himself on the stone table and looked at Lu Yao, but at that moment he noticed her expression had turned cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao has been with you for three years just to nurture the vein; the time has come, hand over your Bloodline,"

At that moment, a middle‑aged man appeared from the side; he was Lu Yao's father.

Boom—

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

"Yao!"

Lu Ming looked at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes were filled only with indifference.

"Why? I love you so much!"

Lu Yao's cold gaze was like a set of daggers piercing Lu Ming's heart; he let out a roar and lunged at her.

But Lu Yao only stepped back slightly, and he fell to the ground.

"Xuan Yuan Sword Sect's Duanmu Lin began cultivating at six, opened two Divine Veins in half a year, entered the Warrior Realm, at nine entered the Martial Master Realm; now sixteen, he is one of the Four Great Talents of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect. And you? Frail and sickly, your meridians blocked—plainly, you're useless. Even if you awaken your Bloodline, you're still useless. Can you compare with Duanmu Lin?"

"Such a talent is the perfect match for me, Lu Yao; to marry him I must awaken a powerful Bloodline. Since you love me so much, why not fulfill me—use your Bloodline to help me awaken an even stronger Bloodline."

The cold voice came from Lu Yao's mouth.

Clang!

At that moment, the middle‑aged man stepped his foot onto Lu Ming's back, a sharp dagger materializing in his hand, shouting, "Lu Ming, surrender your Bloodline!"

Ah!

A piercing pain at his spine instantly engulfed Lu Ming; he let out a howl, his voice full of lonely helplessness and despair.

Gradually, Lu Ming sank into boundless darkness.

"Lu Yao, Lu Yunxiong, why are you stealing my Bloodline!"

Lu Ming let out a roar, abruptly sitting up from the bed, the rose‑wood bed creaking with a 'creak'.

Sweat drenched Lu Ming's forehead, his complexion pale; at first he thought it was a nightmare, but he quickly realized it was not a dream, but a reality that had already occurred.

The scene from several days earlier resurfaced in his mind.

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

Though of the same clan but different branches, they grew up together from childhood, inseparable, and privately had already sworn eternal vows, privately committing to lifelong partnership.

Lu Ming could never have imagined that Lu Yao would side with the Grand Elder to strike at him and seize his Bloodline.

"Power—everything is because my strength is lacking; if my talent were extraordinary and my power great, how could they dare treat me so?"

Lu Ming clenched his fists, his whole body trembling, his eyes filled with blood vessels.

Useless!

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

Squeak!

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

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

Three days earlier, Li Ping, worried about Lu Ming's safety, went out searching and rescued him; otherwise he would have died.

Since the news six years ago that Lu Ming's father was killed while traveling abroad, he has relied on Li Ping 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 complexion, Li Ping sat at his bedside, touched his forehead, and said painfully, "It's been three days, you always shout that Lu Yao harmed you, Ming'er, what's really happening? Could it be that your injury is because of Lu Yao..."

Lu Ming replied, "Mother, it's nothing, you heard wrong."

Lu Ming did not tell Li Ping that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder were behind it, because Li Ping does not practice the martial path; telling her would only endanger her.

Li Ping hesitated briefly, then said, "Ming'er, from now on you may not address Lu Yao by name in front of others. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a Level 5 Bloodline and also opened a Divine-level Meridian; she has now received the Elder Hall's approval. At the clan meeting two months later, she will take charge of the Lu Family, becoming its head. Calling her by the Family Head's title might be considered disrespectful."

"What? Lu Yao will take charge of the Lu Family? She'll never succeed."

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

Lu Ming's father was rumored to have been killed by someone six years ago; for 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 panicked, merely holding his head, tears streaming down, saying: "Ming'er, don't scare Mother, Mother has already lost your father; I cannot lose you too."

Father... where exactly are you? Ming'er believes you won't die, but now Ming'er is powerless, unable to hold onto the family head position.

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 before Lu Ming's father's accident; for these six years, Lu Ming has always carried it with him.

Blood seeping from his palm flowed toward the bronze pendant.

Hum!

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

Before Lu Ming could react, the bronze pendant shook 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, after a while settling at the Yintang acupoint between his eyebrows.

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 originated from the Yintang and surged toward his spine.

The next moment, the roars ceased, but waves of numbness and itch spread from his spine, his whole body turning 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 on Lu Ming's body, Li Ping grew more frightened, at a loss what to do.

Bloodline Rebirth? Could I really undergo 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 also an extremely few individuals can break and then be reborn, undergoing Cocoon Rebirth, rising from destruction, transcending the past, awakening a supreme bloodline.

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

Transcending the past and awakening a supreme bloodline, Lu Ming didn't even think about it—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 strange sensations gradually faded; Lu Ming's face broke into a smile as 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, Li Ping's personal maid who had grown up with him since childhood.

Qiu Yue, I'm fine, rest assured!

Lu Ming smiled.

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

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

Ming'er, rest and recover, 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 and should move into the Main Residence, while we had no right to keep living there, so they made us move out.

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

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

You good-for-nothing, what are you yelling for? Having a place to live is already a kindness; shouldn't you be grateful?

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

Lu Chuan, is that you!

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

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

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

I've come to take the sword!

After saying 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.

Li Ping hurriedly reached out to snatch it.

Get lost!

Lu Chuan exerted force, the sword sheath trembled, releasing a burst of power; Li Ping, not a cultivator, could not withstand it, stumbling backward and nearly falling.

Mother! Lu Ming bellowed.