Chapter 949: Confessing Honestly

The setting sun sank westward, draping the sky in a magnificent glow of twilight.

Beyond the walls of Fenghuo City, atop the peak of Mount Cuiyun, a youth and a maiden nestled closely against each other beside a stone table flanked by matching stools.

The youth possessed a slender build, his complexion slightly pale, though his features were delicate and handsome.

The maiden was clad in a snow-white dress, her skin like pristine jade, possessing a countenance of peerless beauty.

Resting her head gently upon the youth’s shoulder beneath the fading rays of the sun, they resembled an ethereal pair of immortal lovers.

"Yao'er, how I wish we could remain like this for a lifetime," the youth said softly, his face illuminated by a blissful smile.

"Brother Ming, of course we can, for we did promise to stay together for the rest of our lives."

A radiant, happy smile blossomed upon the maiden’s face.

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

Gazing at the smile on Lu Yao's face, Lu Ming's gaze grew infinitely tender as he took her soft, delicate hand in his, saying, "Yao'er, though my meridians are currently blocked and I cannot condense true qi, once I awaken my bloodline, the Council of Elders will purchase spirit medicines to clear my paths, and then I will be able to cultivate."

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

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

Deeply moved, Lu Yao's eyes softened as she added, "Brother Ming, did a bloodline tester truly confirm that you have inherited your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er, so in the future, your man will definitely be a peerless expert," Lu Ming replied, a confident smile gracing his face.

Lu Yao smiled faintly and lifted a goblet from the stone table; within it was the famous Blood-Tongue Orchid Wine, which diffused a subtle, delicate fragrance.

Kissing Lu Ming on the cheek with lightning speed, her face flushing crimson, she raised the goblet and said, "Come, Brother Ming, a reward from your Yao'er."

Taking the cup, Lu Ming said, "Yao'er, you treat me to a cup of Blood-Tongue Orchid Wine every single day; I am truly grateful to have you by my side."

Having spoken, he raised the goblet and drained it in a single draught.

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

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

Supporting himself against the stone table, Lu Ming looked toward Lu Yao, but at that moment, he realized her expression had turned icy 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, surrender your bloodline to us!"

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

Boom!

Like a bolt of thunder 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 utter indifference.

"Why? I loved you so much!"

Lu Yao's freezing gaze pierced Lu Ming's heart like a barrage of sharp daggers; with a furious roar, he lunged toward her.

But Lu Yao simply stepped back lightly, causing him to fall prone upon the ground.

"Duanmu Lin of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect began cultivating at age six, cleared 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 Xuanyuan Sword Sect; but what about you? Frail, sickly, with blocked meridians—to put it bluntly, you are nothing but a piece of trash. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you remain trash. Can you even hope to compare to Duanmu Lin?"

"Only a genius like him 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 deeply, why not fulfill my desires? Use your bloodline to help me awaken an even grander power."

The chilling words spilled from Lu Yao's lips.

Thud!

At that instant, the middle-aged man planted his foot heavily upon Lu Ming's back, a sharp dagger appearing in his hand as he barked, "Lu Ming, yield your bloodline!"

Ah!

An agonizing, piercing pain at his spine instantly overwhelmed Lu Ming; he shrieked, his voice laden with profound loneliness, helplessness, and despair.

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

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

With a thunderous roar, Lu Ming bolted upright in bed, causing the nanmu wooden frame to let out a sharp creak.

Drenched in sweat and deathly pale, his initial thought was that he had suffered a nightmare, but reality swiftly dawned upon him; this was no dream, but an absolute fact that had already transpired.

The scenes from a few days ago flooded his mind once more.

Lu Ming was the heir to the main lineage of the Lu Family in Fenghuo City, and his father was the Family Head, while Lu Yao was the daughter of the Grand Elder of the first branch lineage.

Sharing the same clan but from different branches, they had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, virtually inseparable, having long since exchanged solemn vows and pledged their lives to one another in secret.

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

"Strength, it all stems from my lack of strength! 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, his eyes completely bloodshot.

Trash!

That was the epithet Lu Yao had given him; her words from three days ago seemed to echo right beside his ears.

Creak!

Just then, the bedroom door was pushed open, and a frail, middle-aged woman walked in; looking at 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, frantic over Lu Ming's safety, had gone out searching and saved him; otherwise, Lu Ming would already be a corpse.

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

Looking at Li Ping, Lu Ming's gaze softened as he said, "Mother, it is nothing, just a dream."

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

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

Lu Ming did not tell Li Ping that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder were the culprits, for Li Ping did not practice martial arts; telling her would only bring her harm.

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, and at the clan assembly two months from now, she will take charge of the Lu Family as its new Head. Directly speaking the name of the Family Head might be deemed disrespectful."

"What? Lu Yao wishes to take charge of the Lu Family? In her dreams!"

Lu Ming let out a low, furious growl, his eyes bloodshot and his teeth grinding together so fiercely that they threatened to shatter, allowing blood to seep through.

Ever since the rumors of Lu Ming's father's death six years ago, the Lu Family had been governed by the Council of Elders, and no new Family Head had been appointed.

Seeing Lu Ming in such a state, Li Ping panicked entirely, wrapping her arms around his head as tears streamed down her face, crying, "Ming'er, do not frighten your mother. I have already lost your father; I cannot lose you too."

"Father... where on earth are you? Your Ming'er believes you are not dead. But now, your Ming'er is powerless, and even the position of Family Head is about to be lost."

Lu Ming tightly gripped a pendant hanging around his neck, squeezing so hard that his nails dug deep into his flesh, causing blood to steadily ooze out.

The pendant was cast of bronze, the size of a broad bean, and had been sent back by his father via a messenger just before his disappearance; Lu Ming had kept it close to his person for the past six years.

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

Hum!

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

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

Then, Lu Ming felt a searing energy stream from his palm, climbing up his arm, and after a moment, settling into the Yintang acupoint between his brows.

"Nine Dragons immortal, the lineage reborn!"

Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted in Lu Ming’s mind, leaving his consciousness buzzing violently.

"Nine Dragons immortal, the lineage reborn!"

"Nine Dragons immortal, the lineage reborn!"

......

The successive roars echoed relentlessly in Lu Ming’s mind, and soon after, a scorching breath surged from between his brows, rushing toward his spine.

In the next moment, the roaring ceased, but a wave of intense numbness and itching spread across his spine, his entire body turning scalding hot.

"What is happening?"

Lu Ming was completely bewildered.

By now, the itching along his spine grew even more fierce, as if something were slowly growing.

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

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

"Lineage reborn? Could it be that I can truly regenerate my lineage?" Lu Ming wondered in his heart.

Ancient texts recorded that only an exceedingly rare few, after having their bloodline stripped away or damaged due to other reasons, could achieve a rebirth of their lineage and grow a new bloodline.

However, most reborn lineages were of an extremely low rank, rendering them largely useless.

Yet, there were a select, minuscule few who could break through their limits to rise anew, breaking from their cocoons to soar from the ashes of destruction, transcending their past to awaken the ultimate lineage.

But the probability was so minuscule as to be negligible; according to ancient records, there were barely a few instances of this throughout history.

To transcend his past and awaken the ultimate lineage was something Lu Ming did not dare contemplate—the chances were simply too slim after all—he would be overjoyed just to awaken any bloodline.

With a bloodline, he would be able to practice martial arts and alter his own destiny.

Gradually, the strange sensation in his body 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 to death these past few days!"

Just then, a young maiden walked over and spoke.

The maiden was about the same age as Lu Ming and possessed a striking beauty.

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 the surroundings, his expression shifted abruptly as he demanded, "Mother, where is this? This is not the main estate of the Lu Family!"

Lu Ming’s father had once been the Patriarch of the Lu Family, and they had always resided in the main estate, but this place was clearly not it.

"Ming'er, just focus on recovering from your injuries, do not overthink things!" Li Ping said, but 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 Family Head, so it is only right that she moves into the main estate, and since we are no longer qualified to reside there, they forced us to move."

To the side, Qiu Yue spoke up through gritted silver teeth, her beautiful young face flushed with burning anger.

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

"You useless waste, what are you shouting for? Giving you a place to stay is already a charity 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 to reveal a young man walking in.

"Lu Chuan, it is you!"

Lu Ming snarled. This person was named Lu Chuan, Lu Yao’s biological older brother, and he was slightly older than Lu Ming.

"Lu Chuan, we have already left the main estate, what are you still coming here for?"

Li Ping spoke up, her body instinctively shielding Lu Ming, as if terrified that Lu Chuan might harm her son.

"I am here to claim the sword!"

Having said that, Lu Chuan’s eyes swept across the room, and upon spotting a precious sword resting beside the bed, his eyes lit up. He immediately strode over and snatched the sword into his grasp.

"Lu Chuan, that sword is the only keepsake left behind 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 surge of force, Lu Chuan jolted the scabbard, unleashing a burst of power. Li Ping was not a cultivator and had no way to withstand it; her body reeled backward, nearly crashing to the ground.

"Mother!" Lu Ming bellowed.