Chapter 2000: Fire Seed

Martial Arts and Immortals

The sun set, and the sky was ablaze with a fiery glow.

Outside Windfire City, on Cuiyun Peak, there was a stone table and stone benches. A young couple sat embracing each other.

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

The young woman wore a snow-white long dress; her skin was like jade, and her beauty was exquisite.

With her head resting on the young man's shoulder, bathed in the sunset, they looked like an immortal couple.

"Yao'er, I truly wish it could be like this forever!" the young man said softly, his face filled with a blissful smile.

"Brother Ming, of course it can! We promised to be together for a lifetime."

The young woman's face broke into a happy smile.

The young man's name was Lu Ming, and the young woman's name was Lu Yao.

Looking at Lu Yao's smile, Lu Ming's eyes grew even more tender. He held Lu Yao's delicate, boneless hand and said, "Yao'er, although my meridians are blocked and I can't cultivate True Qi, as long as I can awaken my bloodline, the Council of Elders will buy spiritual medicine to clear my meridians, and then I can cultivate."

"I will definitely become a powerful martial artist and protect you for a lifetime."

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

Lu Yao's eyes showed a touch of emotion. She then asked, "Brother Ming, did a脉测者 (Pulse-Reader) truly confirm that you inherited your father's bloodline?"

"Yes, Yao'er. So in the future, your man will definitely be a strong one," Lu Ming said with a confident smile.

Lu Yao smiled slightly, picking up the wine cup from the stone table. Inside, the famous Blood Orchid wine emitted a faint, sweet aroma.

Lu Yao swiftly kissed Lu Ming's cheek, her face flushing. Holding up the wine cup, she said, "Brother Ming, here, a reward from Yao'er."

Lu Ming took the cup and said, "Yao'er, you invite me to drink Blood Orchid wine every day. I'm truly grateful to have you by my side."

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

The wine's aroma lingered on his tongue, and Lu Ming's heart felt as sweet as the wine. But the next moment, he felt a dizzying sensation.

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

Lu Ming steadied himself by holding the stone table, looking at Lu Yao. At that moment, he noticed Lu Yao's expression was somewhat cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has only been with you for three years to nourish her pulse. Now that the time has come, why don't you contribute your bloodline?"

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

Boom!

It was like a bolt of lightning, striking Lu Ming's mind.

"Yao'er!"

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

"Why? I loved you so much!"

Lu Yao's cold gaze pierced Lu Ming's heart like sharp knives. He let out a roar and lunged towards Lu Yao.

But Lu Yao merely stepped back slightly, and he stumbled to the ground.

"Duanmu Lin of the Profound Origin Sword Sect, began cultivating at six, opened two divine meridians within half a year, entered the Martial Soldier realm, entered the Martial Master realm at nine, and is now sixteen, one of the four geniuses of the Profound Origin Sword Sect. And you? Frail, sickly, with blocked meridians. To put it plainly, you're just a waste. Even if you awaken your bloodline, you'll still be a waste. Can you compare to Duanmu Lin?"

"Such a genius is the perfect 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 help me awaken a stronger bloodline with your bloodline?"

A cold voice emanated from Lu Yao.

At this moment, the middle-aged man stepped on Lu Ming's back, and a sharp dagger appeared in his hand. He called out, "Lu Ming, offer up your bloodline!"

An excruciating pain in his spine instantly overwhelmed Lu Ming. He 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 shouted, abruptly sitting up in bed, causing the nanmu bed to creak.

Lu Ming was covered in sweat, his face pale. At first, he thought it was a nightmare, but he quickly realized it wasn't a dream but a painful reality that had already happened.

The events of several days ago resurfaced in his mind.

Lu Ming was the direct descendant of the Lu family in Windfire City; his father was the family head. Lu Yao was the daughter of the Great Elder of the Lu family's first branch.

Though from the same clan, they belonged to different branches. They grew up together, childhood sweethearts, practically inseparable. They had even made secret vows and promised to spend their lives together.

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

"Strength. Everything is because of my lack of strength. If I had extraordinary talent and powerful strength, how would they dare treat me this way?"

Lu Ming clenched his fists, trembling, his eyes bloodshot.

Waste!

This was what Lu Yao called him, and her words from three days ago still echoed in his ears.

Creak!

Just then, the door opened, and a frail middle-aged woman entered. Seeing 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, it was Li Ping who, worried about Lu Ming's safety, went looking for him and saved him. Otherwise, Lu Ming would have died.

Ever since the rumor spread six years ago that Lu Ming's father was killed while traveling, he and Li Ping had depended on each other.

Lu Ming looked at Li Ping, his eyes softening. He said, "Mother, I'm fine, it was just a dream."

Seeing Lu Ming's pale face, Li Ping sat by his bed, touched his forehead, and said heartbrokenly, "It's been three days, and every time you cry out that Lu Yao hurt you. Ming'er, what's really going on? Is your injury because of Lu Yao..."

Lu Ming said, "Mother, it's nothing, you misheard."

Lu Ming did not tell Li Ping that Lu Yao and the Great Elder were responsible, because Li Ping did not practice martial arts. Telling her would only put her in danger.

Li Ping hesitated, then said, "Ming'er, in front of others, you can no longer call Lu Yao by her given name. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a Level Five bloodline and even opened a divine meridian. She has now been recognized by the Council of Elders and will take charge of the Lu family at the clan meeting two months from now, becoming the Lu family head. Calling the family head by name might be seen as disrespectful."

"What? Lu Yao is going to take charge of the Lu family? She wishes!"

Lu Ming let out a low roar, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth grinding audibly, as if they would shatter, blood even oozing out.

After the rumor six years ago that Lu Ming's father was killed, the Lu family had been managed by the Council of Elders and had not appointed a new family head.

Seeing Lu Ming in this state, Li Ping was terrified and helpless. She just held Lu Ming's head, tears streaming down her face, saying, "Ming'er, don't scare your mother. Your mother has already lost your father, I cannot lose you too."

"Father... where are you? Ming'er believes you're not dead. Now, Ming'er is powerless, even the position of family head can't be held."

Lu Ming tightly gripped a pendant around his neck. He squeezed so hard that his fingernails dug into his flesh, and blood began to seep out.

The pendant, cast from bronze and the size of a broad bean, was sent back by someone Lu Ming's father entrusted before he disappeared. Lu Ming had kept it with him for six years.

Blood seeped from his palm, flowing onto the bronze pendant.

Suddenly, the bronze pendant trembled slightly and became scalding hot.

Before Lu Ming could react, the bronze pendant vibrated, turning into tiny specks of dust that burrowed into his palm and vanished.

Then, Lu Ming felt a searing energy originating from his palm, traveling up his arm, and after a moment, settling in the Yin Tang acupuncture point between his eyebrows.

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

Suddenly, a massive roar echoed in Lu Ming's mind, making his head buzz.

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

"Nine Dragons Undying, Bloodline Rebirth!"

The continuous roars kept reverberating in Lu Ming's mind. Subsequently, a burning sensation emanated from between his eyebrows, surging towards Lu Ming's spine.

The next moment, the roars disappeared, but a tingling itch emerged from his spine, and his entire body became burning hot.

"What's happening?"

Lu Ming was completely bewildered.

At this moment, the tingling itch on his spine grew more intense, as if something was slowly growing.

"Ming'er, what's wrong? Don't scare your mother."

Feeling Lu Ming's unusual state, Li Ping became even more frightened and helpless.

"Bloodline Rebirth? Can I really have a bloodline rebirth?" Lu Ming wondered.

Ancient texts recorded that only a very small number of people, after their bloodline was stripped or damaged for other reasons, could undergo bloodline rebirth, growing a new bloodline.

However, most reborn bloodlines were of very low grade and not particularly useful.

Yet, there were an extremely rare few who could break through adversity, undergo a complete transformation, rise from destruction, transcend their past, and awaken a supreme bloodline.

But this probability was so small it was negligible; ancient texts recorded only a few such cases throughout history.

Transcending the past and awakening a supreme bloodline was not something Lu Ming dared to think about; the probability was simply too low. He would be thrilled if he could just awaken a bloodline.

With a bloodline, he could cultivate martial arts and change his destiny.

At this point, the unusual sensations on his body slowly disappeared. Lu Ming smiled and said, "Mother, I'm fine!"

"Young Master, it's wonderful you're okay! You've scared us half to death these past few days!"

Just then, a young woman walked over and spoke.

The young woman was about Lu Ming's age and extremely beautiful.

Lu Ming naturally recognized her; her name was Qiuyue, Li Ping's personal maid, and she had grown up with him.

"Qiuyue, I'm fine, don't worry!"

Lu Ming smiled slightly.

Then, Lu Ming's gaze swept around, his face suddenly changing. He said, "Mother, where is this? This isn't the Lu family's main residence!"

Lu Ming's father used to be the head of the Lu family, and they had always lived in the main residence, but this place was not it.

"Ming'er, just focus on recovering; don't worry too much!" Li Ping said, but the fleeting sadness and tears in her eyes were still caught by Lu Ming.

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

"Young Master, let me tell you. We were driven out. Lu Yao said that she was about to become the family head and should rightfully move into the main residence, and that we were not qualified to continue living there, so she made us move out."

Beside him, Qiuyue clenched her silver teeth, recounting the events, her pretty little face flushed with anger.

"What? Lu Yao, you're going too far!" Lu Ming roared.

"You waste, what are you yelling about? It's already a blessing that you have a place to live; shouldn't you be grateful?"

Just then, a voice sounded from outside the door, which then opened, revealing a young man.

"Lu Chuan, it's you!"

Lu Ming yelled angrily. This person was Lu Chuan, Lu Yao's older brother, and slightly older than Lu Ming.

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

Li Ping said, instinctively stepping in front of Lu Ming, seemingly afraid that Lu Chuan would harm him.

"I came to get the sword!"

With that, Lu Chuan's eyes scanned the room. When he spotted a precious sword by the bed, his eyes lit up, and he immediately walked over, reaching out to grasp the sword.

"Lu Chuan, this sword is the only keepsake Lu Ming's father left behind. It's meant for Lu Ming in the future; you can't take it!"

Li Ping quickly reached out to snatch it back.

"Get lost!"

Lu Chuan exerted force, shaking the scabbard, and a burst of power erupted. Li Ping, not being a cultivator, couldn't resist. She staggered backward, nearly falling to the ground.

"Mother!" Lu Ming roared.