Hearing Lu Ming's words, Lu Jin was a little puzzled, but he smiled and held out his arm.
Lu Ming pushed back Lu Jin's sleeve, revealing a withered, aged arm. It was like a length of dead wood with little life left in it, covered in all manner of scars that were faintly visible. The passing years had made those scars extremely dark and dull, but they also seemed to have been etched into his flesh, impossible to erase.
Besides those old injuries, Lu Ming also found some fine new scars. A sharp Sword Qi emanated from them, constantly eating away at the flesh like a blade scraping against bone.
They were the lingering damage left when Lu Jin had used his arm to seal Lin Changkong's Primordial Qi at the hall assembly.
Yet even with such serious injuries, Lu Jin had remained calm and untroubled, never mentioning them to anyone. His iron-like resilience filled Lu Ming with admiration, but also made his heart ache for him.
Lu Ming had merely overused his divine ability at the hall assembly, putting a little too much strain on his body, yet Lu Jin had insisted he stay home and rest for two days, forbidding him to go out. But what about Lu Jin himself? He was clearly the one who had been hurt most severely, yet he had not rested at all. Instead, he had frequently appeared at the hall over the past two days to hold down the fort.
Lu Jin knew that he was the pillar holding Thunderfire Hall steady. He had to appear unharmed at all times, or those outsiders coveting the hall might dare lay hands on Thunderfire Hall and his family.
For the sake of this little family, the old man had truly borne all the pressure in silence.
Lu Ming's feelings were complicated. Only now did he understand that defeating Wang Chen and the others at the hall assembly was nothing to be proud of. Helping Thunderfire Hall claim the position of leading hall was only the beginning.
He still had to become a Divine Ability Master as soon as possible and help shoulder Lu Jin's burdens. At the same time, he had to help Thunderfire Hall become a fourth-rank Divine Ability Hall and qualify to attend the Great Luo Domain's Hundred Hall Mystic Assembly, so he could obtain the Blood-Burning Sacred Fire Talisman Lu Jin had spoken of.
The Blood-Burning Sacred Fire Talisman could ease and suppress the Spirit-Sealing Curse in the Lineage's bloodline. Once the Spirit-Sealing Curse was suppressed, the grades of Lu Jin, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei's Divine Ability Bones might receive a boost, perhaps even advancing to the high grade they had dreamed of.
Only then could the Lu Clan truly be said to have clawed its way out of its desperate plight.
Lu Ming knew that this was also Lu Jin's greatest hope.
Lu Ming gazed at the old man's scar-covered, withered arm. His fist slowly clenched, and his eyes grew resolute. For that day's sake, he could not let himself grow complacent over one little hall assembly.
He still had many things to do.
Lu Jin had placed all his hopes on Lu Ming's shoulders, even willing to risk his old life for him. Every resource the family had was devoted to him. With such hopes resting on him, how could Lu Ming think only of himself?
Lu Ming took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts, which had been surging like a tide. Then he activated his Divine Ability Bone, sending a torrent of Primordial Qi pouring into the Fire Lotus Mark.
The Fire Lotus Mark redirected all that Primordial Qi into the Flame of Life's fire seed.
Puff.
A faint cluster of emerald-green fire appeared in Lu Ming's palm.
Lu Jin, Lu Qingyan, and Lu Jinglei stared at the emerald flames. They looked faint, yet radiated a vast breath of life. The three men froze for several breaths, then seemed to realize something, shock and wild joy flooding their faces.
"Is... is this that spirit fire called the Flame of Life?" Lu Jin asked in surprise.
"A-Ming, you finally claimed that opportunity?!" Lu Qingyan's face was full of excitement. Although Lu Ming had obtained the opportunity earlier, this was the first time he had brought it out.
"Tsk, tsk. So many of our ancestors dreamed of finding out what opportunity was inside the black ring. I never thought we'd see it with our own eyes..." Lu Jinglei brought his broad face closer, curiously examining the emerald flames, which radiated abundant vitality, from every angle.
It was not just him. Even Lu Jin, who was normally so composed, gazed at the emerald flames with eyes full of curiosity.
After all, their Lu Clan's ancestors had paid far too heavy a price for this opportunity.
Smiling, Lu Ming held out his hand and let them examine it. At the same time, he carefully explained the Flame of Life's exact effects, including its ability to heal wounds.
"You mean you want to see if you can use this Flame of Life to treat the hidden injuries that have built up inside me?" Lu Jin was a little taken aback.
"A flame that can heal wounds? I've never heard of such a thing." Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei exclaimed in amazement. Though they found it incredible, they were also filled with anticipation. It sounded like something out of a fairy tale, but the Flame of Life had come from the great opportunity passed down by their Lu Clan's ancestors, after all.
"Father, let's try it. If it really works, wouldn't you be able to try refining True Qi and becoming a True Qi Master, just like Lin Changkong?" Lu Qingyan said.
Lu Jinglei nodded repeatedly. They both knew that being trapped in the Feather Robe Realm for so many years had weighed heavily on Lu Jin's mind.
"Then... then let's try it."
Lu Jin's aged face bore a mixture of emotions: nervousness, anticipation, and the anxious fear that his hopes might come to nothing. Such feelings rarely showed on the old man's face.
Seeing this, Lu Ming did not hesitate. He grasped Lu Jin's withered arm, directing the emerald-green Flame of Life to flow out and cover the entire arm.
Lu Jin withdrew all his Primordial Qi into his Divine Ability Bone, even dispersing the Primordial Qi in his flesh. Otherwise, with Lu Ming's current strength, it would have been difficult for him to make the power of the flames penetrate Lu Jin's flesh, even with the Flame of Life.
After all, the gap between their levels was simply too great.
With Lu Jin's cooperation, the emerald-green Flame of Life began to seep into his arm through his flesh and pores.
Lu Jin watched curiously. He found that when the Flame of Life touched his body, it did not cause an intense burning sensation. Instead, it felt like a soothing medicinal liquid carrying a gentle warmth.
"This flame really doesn't seem to have much destructive power."
Lu Jin spoke in amazement. Anything of the fire attribute was generally scorching and violent, full of destructive power, yet the Flame of Life before him possessed no destructiveness whatsoever. It was truly strange beyond belief.
As the emerald flames continued to flow through the flesh of his arm, Lu Jin's aged face gradually began to show signs of emotion.
At that moment, Lu Jin could clearly sense the hidden injuries deep within his arm growing weaker and dissipating. Some areas where those injuries had caused blockages and stagnation were also beginning to clear.
His Primordial Qi was starting to flow more smoothly.
His hidden injuries were healing!
Towering waves surged in Lu Jin's heart, and his lips trembled slightly. These hidden injuries had plagued him for decades, and every method he had tried to cure them had failed. Yet after only a short time under the emerald flames, they were already showing signs of disappearing!
The Flame of Life really did work!
Lu Jin could not stop his eyes from growing moist.
Seeing his expression, Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei immediately understood. They were so excited they wanted to laugh aloud, but they were afraid of disturbing Lu Ming. They could only hold it in, looking at each other and grinning foolishly.
Lu Ming maintained the Flame of Life with his full concentration. After about half an incense stick's time, the emerald flames in his hand grew weaker and weaker until they finally vanished altogether.
"Uh, I've run out of Primordial Qi," Lu Ming said awkwardly.
Maintaining the Flame of Life consumed his own Primordial Qi, and with his current strength, he clearly could not keep it up for long.
"Father, how did it work?" Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei asked expectantly.
Lu Jin looked at his left arm. The arm that had once been like dead wood now seemed much softer, with blood and vitality faintly circulating through it. He circulated his Primordial Qi, sending it through the flesh of his arm.
"Quite a few of the hidden injuries in my arm have disappeared. My Primordial Qi can flow through many places where it used to be sluggish and obstructed," he said, his expression complicated.
Lu Ming smiled with delight. "Grandfather, at this rate, as long as I use the Flame of Life to treat you every day from now on, I don't think it will take long to get rid of the hidden injuries in your arm. All the hidden injuries in your body won't be a problem either."
"Once those hidden injuries are dealt with, perhaps you won't be far from becoming a True Qi Master!"
"Then the Golden Gang Sword Hall will have a True Qi Master, and so will our Thunderfire Hall. Who would dare question our position as the leading hall?"
Hearing this, Lu Jin fell silent for a moment. Then a gentle, gratified smile appeared on his aged face.
"Good, good. Ever since you opened your bone, A-Ming, things have been getting better and better for the family. Perhaps the hardest days are already behind us."
"I believe that sooner or later, the Lu Clan will be restored to its former glory in your hands, A-Ming."
Lu Ming smiled and shook his head. "Wasn't that only possible because you held us together through the hardest years all by yourself, Grandfather? Otherwise, where would we be? But that's all in the past. From now on, let's work together to strengthen Thunderfire Hall and restore the Lu Clan."
Lu Jin sighed with gratification. "Back then, raising your father and second uncle nearly made me give up altogether. Thankfully, I decided to grit my teeth and hold on for one more generation. Heaven did not let my hard work go to waste. I finally lived to see you grow up, A-Ming."
Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei's faces turned awkward. If he wanted to praise his grandson, he could go right ahead, but did he really have to use his sons as stepping stones?
Lu Jin ignored the two of them and said to Lu Ming, "A-Ming, Workshop Master Zhou Xuan sent his niece to the hall to invite you to the workshop office. I expect he wants to give you the Barrier-Breaking Pill as your reward. Go with her."
Lu Ming's heart stirred at the words.
The Barrier-Breaking Pill called the Pattern-Transforming Lesser Yuan Pill.
He had now completed three rounds of bone refinement. His most pressing task was to find a way to break through the Divine Ability Barrier, form a true Divine Ability Dharma Mark, and become a Great Divine Ability Practitioner.
The Pattern-Transforming Lesser Yuan Pill was just what he needed to meet that pressing need!