Chapter 1140: Why Is the Dish Cold?

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

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

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

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

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

"Yao'er, 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 did promise 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 Lu Yao's smile, Lu Ming's gaze grew even gentler; he clasped Lu Yao's delicate, boneless jade‑like hand and said, "Yao'er, although my tendons and vessels are blocked and I cannot condense true Qi, as long as I can awaken my bloodline, the Elder Hall will purchase a spirit medicine to unblock 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, there really was a pulse‑tester before; did you inherit your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er, so your future husband will certainly be a strong one." Lu Ming's face showed a confident smile.

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

Lu Yao kissed Lu Ming's face in a flash, her cheeks flushing red, then raised the wine cup and said, "Ming brother, here, Yao'er treats you."

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

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

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

"Yao'er, why am I a little dizzy? Your wine…"

Lu Ming leaned on the stone table, looking at Lu Yao, but at that moment he noticed Lu Yao's expression had turned a bit cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has been with you for three years just to nurture the vein; the time has come, so contribute 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'er!"

Lu Ming looked at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes were all cold.

"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.

"Duanmu Lin of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect began cultivating at six, opened two Divine Veins in half a year, entered the Warrior Realm, entered the Martial Master Realm at nine, and now at sixteen is one of the Four Great Talents of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect. And you? Frail and sickly, your meridians blocked—plainly speaking, you're just a waste. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you're still a waste. How could you compare to Duanmu Lin?"

"A talent like that 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 by using your bloodline to help me awaken an even stronger one."

The cold voice came from Lu Yao's mouth.

Clang!

At that moment, the middle‑aged man stepped a foot onto Lu Ming's back, a spear‑like dagger appearing in his hand, and shouted, "Lu Ming, surrender your bloodline!"

Ah!

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

Gradually, Lu Ming fell into boundless darkness.

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

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

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

The two shared the same clan but different branches, grew up together from childhood, inseparable, and privately had already sworn lifelong vows.

Lu Ming could never have imagined that Lu Yao would…

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

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

Waste!

That was Lu Yao's name 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 report six years ago that Lu Ming's father was killed while traveling abroad, he has been dependent on Li Ping for his livelihood.

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, stroked his forehead, and with a painful voice said, "It's been three days; each time you shout that Lu Yao harmed you, Ming'er, what exactly is happening? Could your injury be 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 martial ways; telling her would only endanger her.

Li Ping hesitated briefly and said, "Ming'er, from now on you may not call Lu Yao by name in front of others. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a Level 5 Bloodline and 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 'Family Head' directly might be deemed 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, his teeth about to shatter, blood flowing out.

Six years ago, rumors said Lu Ming's father was killed by someone; 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, 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 again."

"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 continually seeping out.

This pendant, cast in bronze, the size of a pea, was sent back by someone entrusted by Lu Ming's father before his accident; 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 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 at the Yintang acupoint between his brows.

"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 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 moment, 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 Lu Ming's abnormality, Li Ping grew 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 their bloodline is severed or damaged for other reasons, can undergo Bloodline Rebirth, regrowing a bloodline.

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

But also an extremely few individuals can break and then be established, break the cocoon and be reborn, rising from destruction, transcending the past, awakening a supreme bloodline.

But this probability is so tiny it can be neglected; ancient records show hardly any cases.

Transcending the past and awakening a supreme bloodline, Lu Ming didn't dare hope— 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.

Then the abnormal sensations gradually faded; Lu Ming's face broke into a smile as he said, "Mother, I'm fine!"

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

Then 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, don't worry!"

Lu Ming smiled and said.

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

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

"Ming'er, rest and heal, don't overthink!" 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 take up residence in the Main Residence, and since we lack the qualification to stay there, we were told to move out."

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

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

"You good-for-nothing, why are you shouting? Having a place to live is already a kindness; 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 was Lu Chuan, the elder brother of Lu Yao, 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 room; upon seeing a precious sword beside the bed, 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, meant to be kept for Ming'er's use; you cannot take it!"

Li Ping hurriedly reached out to grab 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, her body staggered backward, nearly falling to the ground.

"Mother!" Lu Ming bellowed.