Chapter 1 Betrayal

The setting sun cast its golden rays across the sky.
Outside Feng Huo City, atop Green Cloud Peak, a stone table stood, flanked by stone benches. A young couple sat nestled together.
The boy was slender, his face pale, yet his features were handsome.
The girl wore a snow-white dress, her skin like jade, her beauty breathtaking.
Her head rested on his shoulder, bathed in the sunset's glow, resembling a pair of celestial beings.
"Yao'er, I truly hope we can be like this forever!" the boy 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 boy was named Lu Ming, and the girl, Lu Yao.
Seeing the smile on Lu Yao's face, Lu Ming's eyes softened. He took 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 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 revealed a hint of emotion. She then asked, "Ming-gege, did the meridian testers say 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, picked up a wine cup from the stone table, filled with the famous Blood Tongue Orchid Wine, which exuded a delicate fragrance.
Lu Yao swiftly kissed Lu Ming on the cheek, her face flushed with shyness. She raised her cup and said, "Ming-gege, come, Yao'er rewards you."
Lu Ming took the cup and said, "Yao'er, you treat me to a cup of Blood Tongue Orchid Wine every day. I'm truly grateful to have you by my side."
With that, he raised the cup 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 itself. But the next moment, he felt a dizzying sensation.
"Yao'er, why am I feeling a bit dizzy? This wine..."
Lu Ming steadied himself on the stone table and looked at Lu Yao, but he noticed her expression was cold.
"Hahaha, Lu Ming, Yao'er has stayed with you for three years, simply to nourish your bloodline. Now is the time. Offer up your bloodline!"
At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared from the side. It was Lu Yao's father.
Boom!
Like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky, the words exploded 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 stabbing into Lu Ming's heart. He roared and lunged towards Lu Yao.
But Lu Yao simply stepped back, and he fell to the ground.
"Duanmu Lin of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect, began cultivating at six years old, opened two divine meridians in half a year, entered the Warrior realm, entered the Martial Master realm at nine years old, and is now sixteen years old, one of the four geniuses of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect. And you? Frail, sickly, meridians blocked. 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 worthy of me, Lu Yao. To form a marital 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 more powerful bloodline."
A cold voice came from Lu Yao's mouth.
Bang!
At that moment, the middle-aged man stepped on Lu Ming's back and took out a sharp knife. He shouted, "Lu Ming, offer up your bloodline!"
Ah!
Excruciating pain in his spine instantly overwhelmed Lu Ming. He roared, his voice filled with loneliness, helplessness, and despair.
Gradually, Lu Ming fell into boundless darkness.
"Lu Yao, Lu Yunxiong, why did you steal my bloodline!"
Lu Ming roared and suddenly sat up in bed, causing the nanmu 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 it was not a dream, but a reality that had already happened.
The events of a few days ago replayed in his mind.
Lu Ming, the heir of the Lu family's main lineage in Feng Huo City. His father was the head of the Lu family. And Lu Yao, the daughter of the Great Elder of the Lu family's first branch lineage.
Although they were from the same clan but different branches, they had grown up together since childhood, childhood sweethearts, practically inseparable. In private, they had even made vows of eternal love.
Lu Ming never imagined that Lu Yao and the Great Elder would attack him and steal his bloodline.
"Strength, it's all because I lack strength. If my talent was extraordinary and my strength was powerful, how would they dare treat me like this?"
Lu Ming clenched his fists, his whole body trembling, his eyes bloodshot.
Trash!
That was Lu Yao's name for him. Lu Yao's words from three days ago still echoed in his ears.
Creak!
At that moment, the door was pushed open, and a delicate 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, it was Li Ping who, worried about Lu Ming's safety, went out to look for him and saved him. Otherwise, Lu Ming would have already died.
Ever since the news of Lu Ming's father's death six years ago while traveling outside, he and Li Ping had depended on each other for survival.
Lu Ming looked at Li Ping, his eyes softening. He said, "Mother, it's nothing, just a dream."
Looking at Lu Ming's pale face, Li Ping sat down on the edge of Lu Ming's bed, touched Lu Ming's forehead, and said with heartache, "It's been three days, and every time you shout that Lu Yao harmed you. Ming'er, what exactly happened? Could it be that your injuries are because of Lu Yao..."
Lu Ming said, "Mother, it's nothing, you must have misheard."
Lu Ming didn't tell Li Ping that it was Lu Yao and the Great Elder who had done it, because Li Ping didn't cultivate. Telling Li Ping would only harm her.
Li Ping hesitated for a moment, then said, "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 level five bloodline and also opened a divine meridian. Now she has been recognized by the elders and will take charge of the Lu family and become the head of the Lu family at the clan meeting in two months. Calling the head of the family by their name directly will be considered disrespectful."