Chapter 2003: On the Way

Wuxia Xianxia

The sun set, casting a boundless glow across the sky.

Outside Firewind City, on Cuiyun Peak, stood a stone table and stools. A young man and woman huddled together.

The young man was slender, with a slightly 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, they looked like an immortal couple bathed in the sunset.

"Yao'er, I truly wish we could stay like this forever!" the young man said softly, a blissful smile on his face.

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

A happy smile bloomed on the young woman's face.

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

Seeing Lu Yao's smile, Lu Ming's gaze grew even softer. He held Lu Yao's slender, boneless hand and said, "Yao'er, even though my meridians are blocked and I can't condense 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 all eternity."

"Thank you, Brother Ming."

Lu Yao's eyes showed emotion. She then asked, "Brother Ming, did a meridian tester really confirm that you inherited your father's bloodline?"

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

Lu Yao smiled faintly and picked up a goblet from the stone table. Inside was the famous Blood Orchid Wine, emitting a faint, clear fragrance.

Lu Yao swiftly pecked Lu Ming's cheek, her face flushing. She raised the goblet and said, "Brother Ming, here, Yao'er's treat for you."

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

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

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

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

Lu Ming leaned on the stone table and looked at Lu Yao, but at that moment, he noticed Lu Yao's expression was somewhat cold.

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has been with you for three years, nothing more than to nurture your bloodline. Now the time has come; hand over your bloodline!"

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

Boom!

Like a bolt from the blue, a sound exploded in Lu Ming's mind.

"Yao'er!"

Lu Ming looked at Lu Yao in disbelief, but her eyes held only indifference.

"Why? I loved you so much!"

Lu Yao's indifferent gaze was like a series of sharp knives piercing Lu Ming's heart. He roared and lunged towards Lu Yao.

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

"Duanmulian of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect started cultivating at six, opened two divine meridians within half a year, entering the Martial Warrior realm. He entered the Martial Master realm at nine, and now at sixteen, he's one of the four great geniuses of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect. And you? Weak and sickly, with blocked meridians. To put it bluntly, you're just a good-for-nothing. Even if you awakened your bloodline, you'd still be useless. Can you compare to Duanmulian?"

"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? Use your bloodline to help me awaken an even stronger one."

Lu Yao's voice was cold.

At that moment, the middle-aged man stepped on Lu Ming's back. A sharp knife appeared in his hand, and he cried, "Lu Ming, offer your bloodline!"

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

Gradually, Lu Ming sank into boundless darkness.

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

Lu Ming roared, suddenly 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 this was not a dream, but a fact that had already happened.

The events of several days prior resurfaced in his mind.

Lu Ming was the direct descendant of the Lu family in Firewind City; his father was the family patriarch. Lu Yao, on the other hand, was the daughter of the First Branch Elder of the Lu family.

Though from the same clan, they belonged to different branches. They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts, practically inseparable. They had even made private vows of eternal love.

Lu Ming never imagined that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder would turn on him and steal his bloodline.

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

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

Useless!

This was how Lu Yao had referred to him. Lu Yao's 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 on the 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 to look 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 during his travels outside, he and Li Ping had depended on each other.

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

Seeing Lu Ming's pale face, Li Ping sat by his bed, touching his forehead, and said with a pained heart, "It's been three days. You keep shouting that Lu Yao harmed you, Ming'er. What exactly happened? Could it be that your injury was caused by Lu Yao..."

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

Lu Ming did not tell Li Ping that Lu Yao and the Grand 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, you must not call Lu Yao by her name in front of others anymore. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a Level Five bloodline and even opened a divine meridian. She has now gained the recognition of the Council of Elders and will take charge of the Lu family at the clan meeting in two months, becoming the Lu family head. Calling the family head by name might be seen as disrespectful."

"What? Lu Yao will take charge of the Lu family? She wishes!"

Lu Ming let out a low roar, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth grinding audibly, as if about to shatter, with blood seeping out.

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

Seeing Lu Ming in such a state, Li Ping was terrified and beside herself. She just held Lu Ming's head, tears streaming down her face, and said, "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, unable to even hold onto the position of family patriarch."

Lu Ming tightly clutched a pendant around his neck. He squeezed so hard that his fingernails dug into his flesh, and blood continuously seeped out.

This pendant, made of bronze and the size of a broad bean, had been sent back by his father through someone before his accident. Lu Ming had kept it with him for the past six years.

Blood seeped from his palm and flowed 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 specks of powder that drilled into his palm and vanished.

Then, Lu Ming felt a searing energy rise from his palm, up his arm, until it stopped at his glabella, 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 ringing in Lu Ming's mind. Then, a burning sensation emanated from his glabella, surging towards his spine.

The next moment, the roars vanished, but a tingling itch emerged from his spine, and his whole body became scalding 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."

Sensing Lu Ming's abnormality, Li Ping became even more frightened and helpless.

"Bloodline rebirth? Can I really undergo bloodline rebirth?" Lu Ming wondered.

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

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

But there were also a very, very few individuals who could rise from destruction, breaking free like a chrysalis, emerging from ruin to transcend their past and awaken an ultimate bloodline.

However, this probability was negligibly small. Ancient texts recorded only a handful of such cases throughout history.

Lu Ming didn't dare to dream of transcending his past and awakening an ultimate bloodline, as the chances were too slim. He would be immensely happy if he could just awaken a bloodline.

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

At this point, the strange 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 said.

The young woman was about the same age as Lu Ming and remarkably beautiful.

Lu Ming naturally recognized her. Her name was Qiu Yue, Li Ping's personal maid, and she had grown up with him since childhood.

"Qiu Yue, I'm fine, don't worry!"

Lu Ming smiled faintly.

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

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

"Ming'er, just rest and don't worry too much!" Li Ping said, but the fleeting sorrow and tearfulness in her eyes did not escape Lu Ming's notice.

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

"Young Master, let me tell you. We were driven out. Lu Yao said 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, Qiu Yue clenched her silver teeth, recounting the events, her pretty little face full of indignation.

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

"You good-for-nothing, what are you yelling about? It's already a blessing to have a place to live; shouldn't you be grateful?"

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

"Lu Chuan, it's you!"

Lu Ming roared in anger. This person was Lu Chuan, Lu Yao's older brother, who was also a bit 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've come to take the sword!"

With that, Lu Chuan's eyes scanned the surroundings. When he saw a treasured sword beside 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 away!"

Li Ping quickly reached out to snatch it back.

"Get lost!"

Lu Chuan exerted force, shaking the sword sheath, and a burst of power erupted. Li Ping, not being a cultivator, could not resist. She staggered backward, almost falling to the ground.

"Mother!" Lu Ming roared.