Chapter 954: Embryonic Form of the Seven Emotions Dao Fruit

The evening sun sank in the west, casting a brilliant glow across the heavens.

Outside the City of Wind and Fire, atop the Peak of Emerald Clouds, sat a stone table flanked by matching stools, where a pair of young lovers leaned close together.

The youth was of slender build, his countenance somewhat pale, yet possessing refined and handsome features.

The maiden wore a gown as white as fresh snow, her skin like flawless jade, her beauty peerless and breathtaking.

Her head rested gently against his shoulder, bathed in the amber rays of the setting sun, looking for all the world like a pair of divine immortals.

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

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

A smile of pure happiness graced 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 eyes grew even more tender as he took her soft, delicate hand in his and said, "Yao'er, though my meridians are currently blocked and I cannot condense true qi, as long as I can awaken my lineage, the Council of Elders will purchase spirit medicine to clear my channels. Then, I shall be able to cultivate."

"I will surely become a grand master of the martial path and protect you for the rest of our days."

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

A look of deep moving affection appeared in Lu Yao's eyes, and she asked, "Brother Ming, did a lineage-measurer truly confirm back then that you inherited your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er, so in the future, your man will definitely be a peerless powerhouse," Lu Ming said, a confident smile spreading across his face.

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

Like a flash of lightning, Lu Yao planted a kiss upon Lu Ming's cheek, her face flushing crimson as she raised the cup and said, "Brother Ming, come, a reward from your Yao'er."

Lu Ming took the goblet and said, "Yao'er, you treat me to a cup of Blood Orchid wine 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 draft.

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

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

Lu Ming braced himself against the stone table and looked toward 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 lineage. Now that the time has come, surrender your bloodline!"

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 absolute frigidity.

"Why? I loved you so much!"

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

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

"Duanmu Lin of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect began cultivating at the age of six, cleared two divine meridians in half a year to enter the Warrior Realm, and reached the Martial Master Realm at nine. Now sixteen, he is one of the four great geniuses of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect. And what of you? Frail, sickly, with blocked meridians—to put it bluntly, you are nothing but trash. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you remain trash. How could you ever compare to Duanmu Lin?"

"Only such a genius is a worthy match for me, Lu Yao. To form 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 cold, detached words drifted 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, surrender your lineage!"

Ah!

An agonizing, soul-piercing pain at his spine instantly engulfed Lu Ming; he shrieked, his voice filled with harrowing loneliness, helplessness, and total despair.

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

"Lu Yao! Lu Yunxiong! Why did you steal my bloodline?!"

Lu Ming roared fiercely, bolting upright from his 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 returned—this was no dream, but a horrific event that had already transpired.

The scene from a few days ago flashed vividly across his mind once more.

Lu Ming was the direct heir of the main branch of the Lu Family in the City of Wind and Fire, his father being the Family Head. Lu Yao was the daughter of the Grand Elder of the first collateral branch.

Though of the same clan, they belonged to different lineages; they had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, virtually inseparable, and had secretly exchanged vows of eternal devotion.

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

"Strength... it is all because I lack strength. If my talent were extraordinary and my power immense, how would they ever dare treat me thus?"

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

Trash!

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

Creak!

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

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

Three days ago, it was Li Ping who, frantic for Lu Ming's safety, had gone out searching and rescued him; otherwise, Lu Ming would already be a corpse.

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

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

Noticing his pale complexion, Li Ping sat by his bedside, placing a hand on his forehead as she said sorrowfully, "It has been three days, and each time you scream that Lu Yao has harmed you. Ming'er, what exactly happened? Could your injuries truly be because of Lu Yao..."

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

Lu Ming did not reveal that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder were the culprits, for Li Ping did not practice the martial path; telling her would only place her in mortal peril.

Li Ping hesitated for a moment before saying, "Ming'er, in the future, you must not call Lu Yao by her name directly before others. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a fifth-grade bloodline and cleared a divine meridian. She has already gained 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 the new Head. Calling the Family Head by name would surely be deemed disrespectful."

"What?! Lu Yao wishes to rule the Lu Family? In her dreams!"

Lu Ming let out a low, furious growl, his eyes bloodshot as his jaws ground together so fiercely that his teeth threatened to shatter, and fresh blood began to seep from his lips.

Ever since rumor claimed his father had been killed six years ago, the Lu Family had been governed by the Council of Elders without a new Family Head being appointed.

Seeing Lu Ming in such a state, Li Ping was frightened out of her wits; she could only cradle his head, tears streaming down her face as she wept, "Ming'er, do not terrify your mother so. 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, Ming'er is powerless, and even your position as Family Head is about to be stolen away."

Lu Ming tightly gripped a pendant hanging around his neck, clutching it with such vehemence that his fingernails pierced his own flesh, causing blood to ooze forth continuously.

The pendant was forged of bronze, no larger than a broad bean, and had been sent back by his father through an intermediary just before his disappearance; Lu Ming had kept it close for the past six years.

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

Buzz!

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

Before Lu Ming could comprehend what was happening, the bronze pendant shuddered violently and dissolved into fine specks of dust, burrowing straight into his palm and vanishing without a trace.

Then, Lu Ming felt a searing energy course from his palm, up through his arm, and after a moment, settle into the Yintang acupoint between his brows.

"The Nine Dragons never die, the bloodline is reborn!"

Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed within Lu Ming's mind, leaving his head buzzing and ringing.

"The Nine Dragons never die, the bloodline is reborn!"

"The Nine Dragons never die, the bloodline is reborn!"

......

The successive roars echoed relentlessly within Lu Ming's mind, and then, a burning breath erupted from between his brows, surging down toward his spine.

The next moment, the roars vanished, but an intense tingling sensation spread along his spine, and his entire body grew scorching hot.

"What is happening?"

Lu Ming was utterly bewildered.

At this moment, the prickling itch on his spine grew even more violent, as if something were slowly growing there.

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

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

"Bloodline rebirth? Could it be that my bloodline can truly be reborn?" Lu Ming wondered in his heart.

Ancient texts recorded that only a rare few individuals, after having their bloodlines stripped or destroyed by other means, could achieve bloodline rebirth, growing a completely new bloodline.

However, most reborn bloodlines were of a very low rank and of little use.

Yet, there were an exceptionally minuscule few who could rise anew from destruction, breaking out from their cocoons like a butterfly, transcending their past to awaken an ultimate supreme bloodline.

But this probability was so small it could be ignored; ancient texts recorded barely a few cases throughout history.

Transcending the past to awaken a supreme bloodline 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 at all.

With a bloodline, he would be able to cultivate the martial path and alter his own destiny.

Gradually, the strange sensation in his body faded away, and a smile appeared on Lu Ming's face as he said, "Mother, I am fine!"

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

Just then, a young maiden walked over and spoke.

The girl was around the same age as Lu Ming and was exceedingly beautiful.

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, Lu Ming's gaze swept over their surroundings, and his expression suddenly changed drastically as he said, "Mother, where is this? This is not the main residence of the Lu family!"

Lu Ming's father had once been the Patriarch of the Lu family, and they had always lived in the main residence, but this place was clearly not it.

"Ming'er, rest well and heal your wounds, do not overthink things!" Li Ping said, yet the fleeting sorrow and glimmer of tears in her eyes were nonetheless caught by Lu Ming.

"Mother, what on earth happened?" Lu Ming questioned.

"Young Master, let me tell you. We were driven out. Lu Yao claimed she is about to become the Patriarch and should naturally move into the main residence, while we are no longer qualified to live there, so they forced us to move out."

To the side, Qiu Yue clenched her silver teeth and spat out the truth, her lovely young face flushed with fury.

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

"You worthless cripple, what are you shouting for? Giving you a place to live is already a blessing bestowed upon you, and 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's you!"

Lu Ming barked furiously. This man was named Lu Chuan, Lu Yao's biological elder brother, and he was slightly older than Lu Ming.

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

Li Ping said, instinctively placing herself in front of Lu Ming as if terrified that Lu Chuan might harm him.

"I am here to claim the sword!"

Having said that, Lu Chuan's eyes scanned the room, and upon spotting a precious sword resting beside the bed, his eyes lit up as he strode over immediately, reaching out to grasp it in his hand.

"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 snatch it back.

"Get lost!"

With a surge of strength, Lu Chuan jerked the scabbard, unleashing a burst of power. Li Ping was not a cultivator and could not possibly resist it; her body stumbled backward, nearly crashing to the floor.

"Mother!" Lu Ming bellowed.