Chapter 1148

The setting sun sank, and rosy light filled the sky.

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

The youth was slight of build, his complexion somewhat pale, his features delicate.

The maiden wore a snow‑white robe, her skin like jade, her beauty peerless.

The maiden rested her head on the youth'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's face was full of a happy smile as he softly said.

「Ming gege, of course we can—we promised to be together for life. 」

A happy smile appeared on the maiden's face.

The youth's name was Lu Ming, the maiden's name was Lu Yao.

Looking at Lu Yao's smile, Lu Ming's gaze grew gentler; he took Lu Yao's soft, boneless jade hand and said: "Yao'er, although my meridians are blocked and I cannot condense true qi, as long as I can awaken my bloodline, the Elder Hall will then 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, Ming gege. 」

Lu Yao's eyes showed emotion as she said again: "Ming gege, a pulse tester once really tested you—did you inherit your father's bloodline?"

「Yes, Yao'er, so your future husband will surely be a mighty one. 」 Lu Ming's face showed a confident smile.

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

Lu Yao swiftly kissed Lu Ming's cheek, her face flushing; she raised the wine cup and said: "Ming gege, come, Yao' er offers you a drink."

Lu Ming took the cup and said: "Yao' er, you ask me to drink a cup of Blood Tongue Orchid Wine every day; I am 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, Lu Ming's heart felt as sweet as the scent—but the next moment he felt a bit dizzy.

「Yao' er, why do I feel a bit dizzy? This wine…」

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

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

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

Boom—rumble!

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

「Yao' er! 」

Lu Ming stared at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes were nothing but cold.

「Why? I love you so much! 」

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

But Lu Yao merely 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 Sect's Four Great Talents. And you? Weak and sickly, your meridians blocked—plainly, you're trash. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you're still trash—how can you compare to Duanmu Lin？」

「Only such a talent is worthy of being my match; to marry him one must awaken a mighty bloodline. Since you love me so much, why not fulfill my wish—use your bloodline to help me awaken an even stronger one？」

A cold voice issued from Lu Yao's mouth.

Thud!

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 piercing pain shot through his spine, instantly overwhelming Lu Ming; 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 let out a great roar, suddenly sitting up from the bed, the nanmu‑made bed creaked with a 'ga‑qi' sound.

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 what had really happened.

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

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

They are from the same clan but different meridians, having grown up together since childhood as childhood sweethearts; they can be said to be inseparable, and in private they have even sworn eternal vows, privately engaged for life.

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

"Strength, everything is due to my lack of strength; if my talent were extraordinary and my strength great, how could they dare treat me this way?"

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

Trash!

This is Lu Yao's name for him; her words from three days ago still echo in his ears.

Creak!

At this moment, the door was pushed open, and a frail middle-aged woman walked in, looking at Lu Ming on the bed, she asked with concern: "Ming'er, did you have another nightmare?"

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 look for him and saved him; otherwise Lu Ming would already be dead.

Ever since six years ago, when word spread that Lu Ming's father was killed while traveling outside, he has depended on Li Ping for survival.

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

Looking at Lu Ming's pale complexion, Li Ping sat beside his bed, touching his forehead, she said painfully: "It's already been three days; every time you shout that Lu Yao harmed you, Ming'er, what exactly is going on? Could it be that your injury is 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 bring her harm.

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

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

Lu Ming let out a low angry roar, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth clenched and grinding, his teeth about to shatter, fresh blood flowing out.

Lu Ming's father was rumored to have been killed by someone six years ago; 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 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 his nails dug into his flesh, fresh blood continually seeping out.

This pendant, cast of 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.

Fresh blood seeped from his palm, flowing toward the bronze pendant.

Buzz!

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

Before Lu Ming could react, the bronze pendant, upon a shake, turned into fine powder that drilled into his palm and vanished 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 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 brow 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 hot.

"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 undergo Bloodline Rebirth?" Lu Ming wondered.

Ancient texts record that only very few people, after their bloodline is stripped 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, undergo Cocoon Rebirth, 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 ever occurred.

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

Then the odd sensations gradually faded, Lu Ming's face showed a smile, and he said: "Mother, I'm fine!"

"Young Master, it's great you're alright; 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, rest easy!"

Lu Ming smiled and said.

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; they used to live in the Lu Family Main Residence, but this is not it.

"Ming'er, rest and recover, 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 was about to become Family Head, so she should move into the Main Residence, but we weren't qualified to stay, so they made us move out."

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

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

"You good-for-nothing, why are you shouting? Having a place to let you live is already a favor; aren't you grateful?"

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

"Lu Chuan, is that you!"

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

"Lu Chuan, we've all 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 came to take the sword!"

Having said that, Lu Chuan's eyes scanned the surroundings; upon seeing the 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, 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.