Chapter 940: New Product of the Alchemy Room

The sun sank in the west, painting the entire sky in a kaleidoscope of glowing clouds.

Outside the City of Wind and Fire, upon the summit of Green Cloud Peak, a young lad and a maiden leaned close against one another beside a stone table and its accompanying benches.

The boy possessed a rather slender build, a slightly pale complexion, and a delicate, clean-cut face.

The girl wore a snow-white gown, her skin like pristine jade, her countenance breathtakingly beautiful.

Her head rested gently upon his shoulder, bathed in the lingering rays of the setting sun, making them look like a pair of divine lovers from the immortal realms.

"Yao'er, I truly wish we could remain like this for a lifetime," the youth spoke softly, his face brimming with a blissful smile.

"Brother Ming, of course we can, for we have already promised to be together for all our lives."

The girl's face blossomed into a happy smile.

The youth was named Lu Ming, and the maiden, Lu Yao.

Gazing at the smile on Lu Yao's face, Lu Ming's expression grew even more tender as he took her soft, delicate hand and said, "Yao'er, though my meridians are blocked and I cannot condense true qi, as long as I can awaken my bloodline, the Council of Elders will purchase spiritual herbs to clear my pathways, and then I will be able to cultivate."

"I will surely become a powerful warrior of the martial path and protect you for the rest of my days."

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

A look of profound gratitude touched Lu Yao's eyes, and she asked further, "Brother Ming, did a bloodline master truly test you before and confirm that you inherited your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er, so your man will definitely be a powerful cultivator in the future," Lu Ming replied with a confident smile.

Lu Yao smiled faintly and picked up a cup from the stone table; within it was the famous Blood Orchid liquor, wafting a subtle, delicate fragrance.

With lightning speed, Lu Yao planted a kiss on Lu Ming's cheek, her face flushing crimson as she raised the cup and said, "Brother Ming, come, this is Yao'er's reward for you."

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

With that, he raised the cup and drained it in a single gulp.

As the aroma of the liquor lingered on the tip of his tongue, Lu Ming's heart felt as sweet as the fragrance, but in the very next instant, the world began to spin around him.

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

Supporting himself against the stone table, Lu Ming looked at Lu Yao, only to find that her expression had grown utterly cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has stayed by your side for three years for no other reason than to nurture your bloodline, now that the time is ripe, hand it over!"

At that moment, a middle-aged man emerged from the shadows; it was Lu Yao's father.

Rumble!

Like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky, the words exploded within Lu Ming's mind.

"Yao'er!"

Lu Ming stared at Lu Yao in absolute disbelief, yet her eyes held nothing but icy indifference.

"Why? I loved you so much!"

Lu Yao's cold gaze pierced Lu Ming's heart like a succession of sharp daggers; he let out a furious roar and lunged toward her.

But Lu Yao merely took a slight step back, and he crashed heavily onto the ground.

"Duanmu Lin of the Mystical Element Sword Sect began cultivating at the age of six, opened two divine meridians within half a year to enter the Warrior Realm, reached the Master Realm at nine, and now at sixteen, he is one of the four great geniuses of the sect, while you are nothing but a sickly creature with blocked meridians, a worthless piece of trash, even if you awaken your bloodline, you remain trash, how can you ever compare to him?"

"Only such a genius is a worthy match for me, Lu Yao, and to forge a marriage alliance with him, I must awaken a powerful bloodline, since you love me so much, why not fulfill my wish and use your bloodline to help me awaken an even greater power?"

The callous words fell from Lu Yao's lips.

Thud!

The middle-aged man stepped heavily onto Lu Ming's back, a sharp dagger gleaming in his hand as he barked, "Lu Ming, surrender your bloodline!"

Ah!

An agonizing, bone-deep pain from his spine instantly engulfed Lu Ming; he shrieked, his voice filled with absolute loneliness, helplessness, and despair.

Gradually, Lu Ming sank into a boundless, suffocating darkness.

"Lu Yao, Lu Yunxiong, why did you steal my bloodline!"

Lu Ming roared as he bolted upright from the bed, causing the nanmu wooden frame to creak loudly under the sudden movement.

Drenched in sweat and deathly pale, he initially thought it was just a nightmare, but reality quickly set in; this was no dream, but a horrific truth that had already transpired.

The events of a few days ago flashed vividly across his mind once more.

Lu Ming was the heir of the main lineage of the Lu family in Wind and Fire City, and his father was the family patriarch, while Lu Yao was the daughter of the Grand Elder of the first branch lineage.

Born of the same clan but different branches, they had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, virtually inseparable, and had even exchanged sacred vows of eternal devotion in secret.

Never in his wildest dreams did Lu Ming imagine that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder would turn against him to steal his bloodline.

"Strength, it is all because I lack strength, if I possessed extraordinary talent and great power, how would they ever dare treat me like this?"

Lu Ming clenched his fists so hard his entire body trembled, his eyes completely bloodshot.

Trash!

That was the title Lu Yao had given him, her words from three days ago still echoing relentlessly in his ears.

Creak!

The bedroom door was pushed open, and a frail, middle-aged woman walked in, looking at Lu Ming upon the bed with deep concern, "Ming'er, did you have that nightmare again?"

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

Three days ago, it was Li Ping who, worried for his safety, went out searching and saved his life; otherwise, Lu Ming would already be a corpse.

Ever since word arrived six years ago that Lu Ming's father had been killed while traveling abroad, he and Li Ping had depended entirely on each other.

Lu Ming's gaze softened as he looked at her and said, "Mother, it is nothing, just a dream."

Noticing his pale complexion, Li Ping sat at the edge of his bed, placing her hand on his forehead as she said sorrowfully, "It has been three days, and every time you scream that Lu Yao harmed you, Ming'er, what exactly happened, could your injuries be because of her..."

Lu Ming replied, "Mother, it is really nothing, you misheard."

Lu Ming chose not to reveal that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder were the culprits, for Li Ping did not practice the martial path, and knowing the truth would only bring her mortal danger.

Li Ping hesitated for a moment before saying, "Ming'er, from now on, you must not speak Lu Yao's name directly in front of others, two days ago, she awakened a fifth-grade bloodline and opened a divine meridian, gaining the recognition of the Council of Elders, at the clan assembly in two months, she will take charge of the Lu family and become the new patriarch, speaking her name directly might be viewed as disrespect."

"What? Lu Yao wants to take charge of the Lu family? In her dreams!"

Lu Ming let out a low, furious growl, his eyes filling with blood as his jaws ground together so fiercely that his teeth threatened to shatter, causing fresh blood to seep from his gums.

Ever since the rumors of his father's demise six years ago, the Lu family had been governed by the Council of Elders without a newly appointed patriarch.

Seeing Lu Ming in such a state, Li Ping was frightened out of her wits; she could only cradle his head as tears streamed down her face, crying, "Ming'er, do not scare your mother, I have already lost your father, I cannot lose you too."

"Father... where on earth are you, I believe you are not dead, but now I am powerless, and even your position as patriarch is about to be stolen away."

Lu Ming gripped a pendant around his neck tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh from the sheer force, causing blood to ooze out continuously.

The bronze pendant, the size of a broad bean, had been sent back by his father through an acquaintance before his disappearance, and Lu Ming had kept it close for six long years.

The blood from his palm seeped out, flowing directly onto the bronze artifact.

Hum!

Suddenly, the bronze pendant trembled minutely and grew scalding hot.

Before Lu Ming could comprehend what was happening, the pendant shuddered violently, dissolving into fine powder that bored straight into his palm and vanished without a trace.

Then, Lu Ming felt a searing energy trace up from his palm, climbing his arm until, moments later, it settled within the Hall of Impressions acupoint between his brows.

"The Nine Dragons are undying; the bloodline shall be reborn!"

Suddenly, a colossal roar thundered within Lu Ming’s mind, leaving his head buzzing and ringing.

"The Nine Dragons are undying; the bloodline shall be reborn!"

"The Nine Dragons are undying; the bloodline shall be reborn!"

......

The successive roars echoed incessantly in his mind, and then, a burning breath surged from between his brows, rushing toward his spine.

The next instant, the roaring vanished, but a wave of prickling itchiness spread along his spine, and his entire body became scalding hot.

"What is happening?"

Lu Ming was completely bewildered.

By now, the itchiness along his spine grew more intense, as if something were slowly sprouting.

"Ming'er, what is wrong with you? Do not frighten your mother."

Sensing the anomaly in Lu Ming, Li Ping grew even more terrified, completely at a loss.

"Bloodline rebirth? Could I truly be undergoing a bloodline rebirth?" doubt flickered in Lu Ming’s heart.

Ancient texts recorded that only a precious few, after having their bloodlines stripped or damaged by other means, could achieve rebirth and grow a completely new one.

However, most reborn bloodlines were of a very low grade, rendering them of little practical use.

Yet there were an infinitesimally small number of people who could break through destruction to stand anew, emerging from the ashes to surpass their past and awaken a supreme bloodline.

But that probability was so negligible it could be ignored; ancient records showed only a handful of such cases since time immemorial.

Surpassing his past to awaken a supreme bloodline was something Lu Ming dared not contemplate, for the chances were simply too slim; he would be overjoyed just to awaken any bloodline at all.

With a bloodline, he could cultivate the martial path and alter his own destiny.

As the strange sensations in his body gradually subsided, a smile graced Lu Ming’s face, and he said, "Mother, I am fine!"

"Young Master, it is wonderful that you are well! You have frightened us half to death these past few days!"

Just then, a young maiden walked over and spoke.

The maiden was around Lu Ming's age and possessed an exceedingly beautiful countenance.

Lu Ming naturally recognized her; her name was Qiu Yue, Li Ping’s personal maidservant who had grown up alongside him since childhood.

"Qiu Yue, I am fine, do not worry!"

Lu Ming replied with a gentle smile.

Then, as his gaze swept across the surroundings, his expression shifted abruptly, and he asked, "Mother, where is this? This is not the main Lu family mansion!"

Lu Ming’s father had once been the Master of the Lu family, and they had always resided in the main mansion, but this place was entirely different.

"Ming'er, just focus on recovering from your injuries, do not overthink things!" Li Ping said, though the fleeting sorrow and tears in her eyes did not escape Lu Ming's notice.

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

"Young Master, let me tell you. We were driven out. Lu Yao claimed she is about to become the Family Head and should rightfully occupy the main mansion, while we have no right to remain there, so they forced us to move."

To the side, Qiu Yue spoke through clenched silver teeth, her beautiful little face flushed with anger.

"What? Lu Yao, you go too far!" Lu Ming roared in fury.

"What are you shouting for, you useless trash? Having a place to stay is already a blessing bestowed upon you, yet you show no gratitude?"

Right at that moment, a voice rang out from beyond the door, which was then pushed open as a young man walked in.

"Lu Chuan, it is you!"

Lu Ming barked angrily; this person was named Lu Chuan, the elder brother of Lu Yao, and he was slightly older than Lu Ming.

"Lu Chuan, we have already left the main mansion, what are you still doing here?"

Li Ping spoke, her body instinctively stepping in front of Lu Ming as if fearing Lu Chuan might harm him.

"I am here to take the sword!"

With those words, Lu Chuan’s eyes scanned the room, and upon spotting a precious sword beside the bed, his eyes lit up; he strode over immediately and snatched the weapon into his grasp.

"Lu Chuan, that sword is the sole keepsake left by Ming'er’s father to be used by Ming'er in the future, you cannot take it away."

Li Ping lunged forward in a desperate attempt to reclaim it.

"Get lost!"

Lu Chuan exerted his strength, jolting the scabbard forward with a burst of power; Li Ping was no cultivator, so how could she withstand it? Her body staggered backward, nearly crashing to the floor.

"Mother!" Lu Ming bellowed.