Chapter 1 Seizing the Bloodline

The setting sun cast its fiery glow across the horizon.

Outside Feng Huo City, on Emerald Cloud Peak, stood a stone table surrounded by stone stools. A young couple leaned against each other, bathed in the warm light.

The young man was slender and pale, with delicate features.

The girl wore a long, snow-white dress. Her skin was like jade, and her beauty was breathtaking.

Her head rested on his shoulder, making them look like a pair of celestial beings in the sunset.

"Yao'er, I truly hope we can stay like this forever!" The young man said softly, his face filled with happiness.

"Ming-gege, of course we can. We promised to be together for all eternity."

A happy smile graced the girl's face.

The young man was named Lu Ming, and the girl, Lu Yao.

Looking at Lu Yao's smile, Lu Ming's eyes softened even more. He held her delicate, boneless hand and said, "Yao'er, although my meridians are blocked, preventing me from condensing true qi, as long as I can awaken my bloodline, the elders will buy spiritual herbs to clear my meridians. Then, I'll be able to cultivate."

"I will definitely become a martial arts expert and protect you for all eternity."

"Thank you, Ming-gege."

A touch of emotion flickered in Lu Yao's eyes. She then asked, "Ming-gege, have they ever tested you to see if you inherited your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er. So, your future husband will definitely be a strong man." A confident smile appeared on Lu Ming's face.

Lu Yao smiled slightly and picked up a wine cup from the stone table. The cup contained the renowned Blood-Tongue Orchid Wine, which exuded a subtle fragrance.

Lu Yao swiftly planted a kiss on Lu Ming's cheek, her face blushing. She raised the cup and said, "Ming-gege, come, Yao'er is rewarding you."

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

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

The fragrance of the wine lingered on his tongue, and Lu Ming's heart felt as sweet as the aroma. But in the next moment, he felt a sense of dizziness.

"Yao'er, why am I feeling a little dizzy? This wine..."

Lu Ming leaned on the stone table and looked at Lu Yao, but he noticed that her expression had turned cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has been with you for three years, just to nurture your bloodline. Now is the time. Offer up your bloodline!"

At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared from the side. He was Lu Yao's father.

Boom!

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Lu Ming's mind.

"Yao'er!"

Lu Ming looked at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes were filled with indifference.

"Why? I love you so much!"

Lu Yao's cold gaze was like a sharp knife, piercing Lu Ming's heart. He roared and lunged towards Lu Yao.

But Lu Yao simply took a step back, and he fell to the ground.

"Duanmu Lin from the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect started cultivating at the age of six, opened two divine meridians in half a year, and entered the Martial Warrior Realm. At the age of nine, he entered the Martial Master Realm. Now, at sixteen, he is one of the four great geniuses of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect. And what about you? Frail, sickly, and with blocked meridians. To put it bluntly, you're just trash. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you'll still be trash. Can you compare to Duanmu Lin?"

"A genius like him is a fitting 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 and use your bloodline to help me awaken an even stronger bloodline?"

A cold voice came from Lu Yao's mouth.

Bang!

At that moment, the middle-aged man stomped on Lu Ming's back, a sharp dagger appearing in his hand. He shouted, "Lu Ming, offer up your bloodline!"

Ah!

Drilling pain in his spine instantly overwhelmed Lu Ming. Lu Ming roared, his voice filled with loneliness, helplessness, and despair.

Gradually, Lu Ming sank into endless darkness.

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

Lu Ming roared and suddenly sat up in bed, causing the nanmu wooden bed to creak.

Lu Ming was covered in sweat and pale. At first, he thought it was just a nightmare, but he quickly realized that it was not a dream, but a reality that had already happened.

The events of a few days ago flashed through his mind again.

Lu Ming was the heir of the Lu family's main bloodline in Feng Huo City. His father was the head of the Lu family. Lu Yao was the daughter of the Great Elder of the Lu family's first branch.

They were from the same clan but different branches, grew up together, and were childhood sweethearts. They were inseparable, and they had even made vows of eternal love in secret.

Lu Ming never imagined that Lu Yao and the Great Elder would attack him and steal his bloodline.

"Strength, it's all because I'm not strong enough. If I had extraordinary talent and great strength, how would they dare to treat me like this?"

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

Trash!

That was what Lu Yao called him. Lu Yao's words from three days ago seemed to echo in his ears.

Creak!

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

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

Three days ago, Li Ping, worried about Lu Ming's safety, went out to search for him and saved him. Otherwise, Lu Ming would have died.

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

Lu Ming looked at Li Ping, his eyes softening. "Mother, it's nothing, just a dream."

Looking at Lu Ming's pale face, Li Ping sat on the edge of Lu Ming's bed and touched his forehead, her heart aching. "It's been three days, and you always shout that Lu Yao harmed you. Ming'er, what exactly happened? Could it be that your injuries were because of Lu Yao..."

Lu Ming said, "Mother, it's nothing. You must have misheard."

Lu Ming did not tell Li Ping that it was Lu Yao and the Great Elder who had done it, because Li Ping did not practice martial arts. Telling Li Ping would only harm her.

Li Ping hesitated for a moment and said, "Ming'er, you can't call Lu Yao by her name directly in front of others anymore. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a fifth-grade bloodline and also opened a divine meridian. She has now been recognized by the elders. At the clan gathering in two months, she will take charge of the Lu family and become the head of the Lu family. Calling the family head by name directly will be considered disrespectful."