Chapter 1 Bloodline Plunder

The setting sun cast its fiery glow across the sky.

Outside Feng Huo City, atop Green Cloud Peak, sat a stone table surrounded by stone stools, where a young couple nestled close together.

The boy was slender, his face slightly pale, with delicate features.

The girl, clad in a snow-white dress, possessed jade-like skin and exquisite beauty.

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

"Yao'er, I truly hope it can be like this forever!" the boy said softly, his face radiating happiness.

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

A blissful smile graced the girl's face.

The boy was named Lu Ming, and the girl, Lu Yao.

Gazing at Lu Yao's smile, Lu Ming's eyes softened further as he took her delicate, boneless hand. "Yao'er, although my meridians are blocked, preventing me from condensing true qi, as long as I can awaken my bloodline, the elders will purchase spiritual medicines to clear my meridians, then I can cultivate."

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

"Thank you, Ming-gege."

Lu Yao's eyes filled with emotion. "Ming-gege, has a meridian tester ever confirmed that you inherited your father's bloodline?"

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

Lu Yao smiled slightly, picking up a wine cup from the stone table. Inside was the renowned Blood Tongue Orchid Wine, emitting a subtle fragrance.

Lu Yao swiftly kissed Lu Ming on the cheek, her face flushed with embarrassment, then raised the wine cup. "Ming-gege, here, Yao'er rewards you."

Lu Ming accepted the cup. "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.

As the wine's fragrance lingered on his tongue, Lu Ming's heart felt as sweet as the wine itself. But in the next moment, he felt a dizzying sensation.

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

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

"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has been with you for three years, simply to nurture your bloodline. Now that the time has come, offer up your bloodline!"

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

Rumble!

It was like a bolt of lightning, exploding in 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 sharp knives, piercing Lu Ming's heart. He roared and lunged toward Lu Yao.

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

"Duanmu Lin of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect, cultivated at six, cleared two divine meridians in half a year, entered the Warrior Realm, entered the Martial Master Realm at nine, and is now sixteen, one of the four geniuses of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect. And you? Frail, 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?"

"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 use your bloodline to help me awaken an even more powerful bloodline?"

The cold words came from Lu Yao's mouth.

Bang!

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

Ah!

The 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 do you want to steal my bloodline!"

Lu Ming roared and suddenly sat up in bed, causing the catalpa wood bed to creak.

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

The events of a few days prior replayed in his mind.

Lu Ming was a direct descendant of the Lu family in Feng Huo City. His father was the head of the Lu family. Lu Yao was the daughter of the First Branch Elder of the Lu family.

Though from the same clan but different branches, the two had grown up together since childhood, childhood sweethearts, inseparable. They had even secretly pledged their love and made vows of eternal commitment.

Lu Ming never imagined that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder would attack him, stealing his bloodline.

"Strength, it's all because I lack strength. If I had extraordinary talent and great strength, how would they dare to treat me like this?"

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

Trash!

That was Lu Yao's name for him. Lu Yao's words from three days ago still 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 and asking 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, had gone out to search for him and rescued him. Otherwise, Lu Ming would have already died.

Ever since news of Lu Ming's father being killed during his travels six years ago, he and Li Ping had relied on each other.

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

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

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

Lu Ming didn't tell Li Ping that Lu Yao and the Grand Elder were responsible, because Li Ping didn't cultivate martial arts. Telling Li Ping would only harm her.

Li Ping hesitated. "Ming'er, from now on, you can't call Lu Yao by her name directly in front of others. Two days ago, Lu Yao awakened a Grade Five bloodline and also cleared a divine meridian. Now she has gained the recognition of the elders. At the clan gathering in two months, she will take charge of the Lu family and become the Lu family head. Directly calling the family head's name would be considered disrespectful."