Chapter 943: Truly Became Little Yang'zi

The sun sank into the west, bathing the heavens in a magnificent, multi-colored glow.

Outside Fenghuo City, upon the summit of Emerald Cloud Peak, sat a stone table flanked by stone stools, where a young youth and a maiden leaned close together.

The youth possessed a somewhat slender build, his face slightly pale yet refined and handsome.

The maiden wore a gown as white as pure snow, her skin like pristine jade and her beauty breathtaking.

Her head rested gently against his shoulder, and under the illumination of the setting sun, they resembled a pair of immortal lovers.

"Yao'er, I truly wish we could remain like this for a lifetime," the youth murmured softly, his face shining with a look of pure bliss.

"Brother Ming, of course we can; after all, we promised to be together for all eternity."

A blissful smile blossomed across the maiden's face as well.

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

Beholding the smile on Lu Yao's face, Lu Ming's gaze grew infinitely tender as he clasped her delicate, supple hand, saying, "Yao'er, though my meridians are blocked and I cannot condense true qi, as long as I can awaken my lineage, the Council of Elders will purchase spiritual herbs to clear my pathways. Then, I shall be able to cultivate."

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

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

A look of deep emotion surfaced in Lu Yao's eyes, and she asked further, "Brother Ming, did a lineage tester truly determine back then that you inherited your father's bloodline?"

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

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

With lightning speed, Lu Yao pressed a kiss onto Lu Ming's cheek, her face flushing crimson as she proffered the cup, saying, "Brother Ming, come, this is Yao'er's reward for you."

Lu Ming accepted 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 those words, he raised the cup and drained it in a single draught.

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 next instant, he felt the world begin to spin.

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

Lu Ming supported himself against the stone table and 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 has come, surrender it!"

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

Rumble!

Like a bolt from the blue, a thunderclap exploded within Lu Ming's mind.

"Yao'er!"

Lu Ming stared at Lu Yao in utter disbelief, but her eyes held nothing but profound indifference.

"Why? I loved you so much!"

Lu Yao's cold gaze pierced Lu Ming's heart like a barrage of sharp daggers; he roared in anguish and lunged toward her.

Yet Lu Yao merely stepped back slightly, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

"Duanmu Lin of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect began cultivating at six, cleared two divine meridians within half a year to enter the Warrior Realm, and stepped into the Master Realm at nine. Now, at sixteen, he is one of the four great geniuses of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect. And what of you? Weak, sickly, and possessed of blocked meridians—to put it bluntly, you are a mere waste. Even if you awaken your lineage, you will still be a waste. How can you compare to Duanmu Lin?"

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

The chilling words drifted callously from Lu Yao's lips.

Thud!

The middle-aged man then planted a heavy foot onto Lu Ming's back, a sharp dagger appearing in his hand as he barked, "Lu Ming, yield your bloodline!"

Ah!

At his spine, an agonizing, heart-wrenching pain 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 fiercely, bolting upright from the bed, causing the structure made of nanmu wood to let out a sharp creak.

Drenched in cold sweat and deathly pale, Lu Ming initially thought he had merely suffered a terrible nightmare, but he quickly realized this was no dream—it was reality.

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

Lu Ming was the heir of the primary lineage of the Lu family in Fenghuo City, and his father was the family patriarch. Lu Yao was the daughter of the Grand Elder of the first branch lineage.

Though of the same clan, they belonged to different branches. Having grown up together as childhood sweethearts, they were practically inseparable, and they had even exchanged solemn vows of eternal devotion in private.

Lu Ming could never have imagined that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder would strike against him to steal his bloodline.

"Strength... it is all because my strength is insufficient. If I possessed extraordinary talent and immense power, how would they ever dare treat me like this?"

Lu Ming clenched his fists tightly, his entire body trembling violently as his eyes turned bloodshot.

A waste!

That was the term Lu Yao had used to describe him; her words from three days ago seemed to echo in his ears even now.

Creek!

Just then, the bedroom door was pushed open, and a frail, middle-aged woman walked inside. Beholding Lu Ming on the bed, she asked with deep concern, "Ming'er, did you have another nightmare?"

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

Three days ago, it was Li Ping who had gone out to search for him out of concern for his safety, ultimately saving his life; otherwise, Lu Ming would already be dead.

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

Lu Ming looked at Li Ping, his gaze softening considerably as he said, "Mother, it is nothing, just a dream."

Noticing his pale complexion, Li Ping sat by the edge of the bed and touched his forehead, saying with a pained heart, "It has been three days now, and every time you cry out that Lu Yao has harmed you. Ming'er, what exactly happened? Could your injuries have been caused by Lu Yao..."

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

Lu Ming did not reveal that it was the work of Lu Yao and the Grand Elder, because Li Ping did not practice martial arts; telling her would only put her in grave danger.

Li Ping hesitated for a moment before saying, "Ming'er, in the future, you must not call Lu Yao by her name directly in front of others. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a fifth-grade bloodline and even cleared a divine meridian. She has now received the recognition of the Council of Elders. At the clan assembly two months from now, she will take charge of the Lu family and become its patriarch. Calling the patriarch by name directly will likely be viewed as disrespect."

"What? Lu Yao is 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 teeth ground together so hard they began to crack, causing fresh blood to seep from his gums.

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

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

"Father... where on earth are you? Ming'er believes you are not dead. But now, I am utterly powerless, and even the position of patriarch is about to be lost."

Lu Ming tightly gripped a pendant hanging around his neck; because he squeezed so fiercely, his fingernails dug deep into his flesh, causing blood to ooze out continuously.

This pendant, forged of bronze and the size of a broad bean, had been sent back by his father through an intermediary before his disappearance; for the past six years, Lu Ming had kept it close.

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

Hum!

Suddenly, the bronze pendant trembled faintly and became burning hot to the touch.

Before Lu Ming could even react, the bronze pendant shuddered violently, dissolving into fine particles of powder that burrowed straight into his palm and vanished without a trace.

Then, Lu Ming felt a searing energy course from his palm, tracing up his arm until it finally settled at the glabella point between his brows.

"The Nine Dragons are immortal; the lineage shall be reborn!"

Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted within Lu Ming’s mind, leaving his consciousness reeling and buzzing.

"The Nine Dragons are immortal; the lineage shall be reborn!"

"The Nine Dragons are immortal; the lineage shall be reborn!"

......

The relentless roars continued to echo through Lu Ming’s head, and soon after, a scorching tide broke forth from between his brows, rushing toward his spine.

The next moment, the roars vanished, but a fierce, itchy tingling spread across his spine as a wave of intense heat consumed his entire body.

"What is happening?"

Lu Ming was completely bewildered.

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

"Ming'er, what is wrong with you? Don't frighten your mother so."

Sensing the anomaly in Lu Ming, Li Ping grew even more terrified, utterly at a loss for what to do.

"A rebirth of lineage? Could it be that I truly can regenerate my bloodline?" Lu Ming wondered in astonishment.

Ancient texts recorded that only an exceptionally rare few, after having their bloodline stripped or destroyed by other means, could achieve a rebirth of lineage and grow a brand-new bloodline.

However, most regenerated bloodlines were of a very low grade, rendering them largely useless.

Yet, there existed an infinitesimal few who could break through the ashes to rebuild, emerging from destruction to transcend their past and awaken a supreme bloodline.

But the probability of this was so microscopic it could be ignored; ancient records noted only a handful of such instances since antiquity.

Transcending the past and awakening a supreme bloodline was something Lu Ming dared not dream of—the chances were simply too minuscule—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.

Gradually, the strange sensations faded, and a smile broke across Lu Ming’s face as he said, "Mother, I am fine!"

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

Just then, a young maiden walked over and spoke.

The girl was of a similar age to Lu Ming 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 said with a gentle smile.

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

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

"Ming'er, just focus on recovering from your injuries, do not overthink things," Li Ping said, though the fleeting sorrow and unshed 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 Patriarch and should rightfully occupy the main mansion, arguing that we have no right to remain, so she forced us to move."

To the side, Qiu Yue spoke with her silver teeth clenched, a surge of anger flushing her beautiful young face.

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

"What are you shouting for, you worthless cripple? 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 stepped into the room.

"Lu Chuan, it is you!"

Lu Ming barked in anger. This person was Lu Chuan, Lu Yao's biological elder brother, slightly older than Lu Ming.

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

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

"I am here to claim the sword!"

Having spoken, Lu Chuan’s eyes swept across the room. When they landed on a treasured sword resting by the bedside, his eyes lit up, and he immediately strode over to snatch it into his hand.

"Lu Chuan, that sword is the only keepsake left by Ming'er's father, meant for Ming'er to use in the future. You cannot take it away."

Li Ping hurriedly reached out to reclaim it.

"Get lost!"

With a forceful shove, Lu Chuan jolted the scabbard, unleashing a burst of strength. Li Ping was no cultivator and could not possibly withstand it; her body stumbled back, nearly crashing to the floor.

"Mother!" Lu Ming bellowed.