Ling Xiao had naturally heard the Si family members'earlier words. As for the servants guarding the gate, they were, of course, dead.
He had come precisely to annihilate the Si family; how could he possibly show any mercy?
However, he hadn't expected Si Lin to have such courage, daring to conspire to defect right under the Ling Clan's nose!
"Hehe, may I ask what brings Young Master Ling Xiao here?" Si Lin asked, his face gloomy, silently signaling everyone not to act rashly.
"Can't I come to the Si family without a reason? You two, wait outside the hall." Ling Xiao grinned, turned to instruct the two guards beside him, then stepped into the hall. Seeing Si Cong's corpse still lying on the ground, he frowned. "Not buried yet? Planning a resurrection?"
"Uh, Young Master, it's a custom of our Si family. Usually, when a clansman dies, they are placed in the hall for relatives to mourn." Cold sweat gradually beaded on Si Lin's forehead.
He did intend to leave the Ling Clan and find a new master.
But the words 'Ling Clan' were deeply engraved in the hearts of all Si family members, making it impossible to summon any will to resist.
Moreover, Ling Xiao was accompanied by two Divine Marquis realm experts.
The Si family only had himself, Si Lin, who had reached the Divine Marquis realm, and he was merely at the first grade.
The ancestor was in perennial seclusion; trying to awaken him now would probably be too late.
"Quite a unique custom your Si family has. I almost thought you had some grievance against my Ling Clan." Ling Xiao sneered, kicking Si Cong's corpse, which was blocking the path, aside.
This act instantly provoked anger among the many Si family experts present; they glared at Ling Xiao, eyes burning with rage.
"Hmm? My apologies, my apologies. The deceased deserves respect, the deceased deserves respect." Ling Xiao gave an awkward laugh and kicked the corpse back to its original spot.
"Ling Xiao, you go too far!!" Finally, someone could no longer suppress their fury and shouted coldly at Ling Xiao.
"Go too far?" Ling Xiao frowned, looking at the old man in the hall with a baffled expression. "Family Head Si, didn't you explain it clearly to them?"
"Uh, Young Master, I've already made it clear to them. Si Cong provoked the Second Young Master; his death was deserved, utterly deserved..." Si Lin wiped the cold sweat from his brow, forcing a obsequious smile.
"No, no. Ah, Family Head Si, you misunderstand me. I wasn't talking about that." Ling Xiao shook his head, his expression suddenly turning deadly serious.
"Hmm? Could it be that Ling Xiao is here to apologize?"
For a brief moment, Si Lin's resolve wavered.
If the Ling Clan Young Master was truly here to apologize today, how should he respond?
"Didn't I tell you before? Your Si Family is just a dog raised by my Ling Clan. How can bullying you be called 'going too far' against people? Poor choice of words!" Ling Xiao shook his head again.
The expressions of all the Si family experts in the hall had now completely twisted into ferocious, grim masks.
If it weren't for the two Ling Clan Divine Marquis experts standing outside the hall, they would have probably already torn him to pieces.
"Hehehehe... A dog. Poor choice of words..." Si Lin suddenly lowered his head, letting out a few bleak, soft laughs. "My Si Family has always been loyal to the Ling Clan, serving the Ling Clan as masters for generations... To think that in the end, our status is merely that of a dog..."
"Young Master, oh Young Master, if the Ling Clan falls into your hands, how long can it last in the Holy State?"
"You're mistaken. Calling you dogs is already flattering your Si Family. At least dogs are loyal. Your Si Family isn't even as good as dogs." A mocking smile suddenly curled on Ling Xiao's lips. He waved his hand lightly, and a disheveled figure materialized out of thin air, landing in front of the crowd.
In recent days, he'd discovered that the space within the Myriad Worlds Glazed Pagoda was truly a wonderful place.
Just tossing people inside made them undetectable even to a Divine Emperor.
Besides, the ancient pagoda now recognized him as its master. Although he couldn't yet break the barrier to the second level, the power of the first level should be more than enough to suppress a Divine Marquis expert.
"Si... Si Quan?!!!" Instantly, the entire Si family fell into a deathly silence.
Even Si Lin's eyes widened sharply when he saw the limp figure on the floor.
How was this possible?
The expert he sent to contact the Qin Clan... how did he end up in Ling Xiao's hands?
And from the looks of it, he had clearly been subjected to Soul Search.
Damn it! Had their plan been exposed?
But if exposed, why would the Ling Clan only send Ling Xiao and two Divine Marquis experts?
Unless... Ling Xiao intended to use this to blackmail the Si family into serving him?
One had to admit, once someone started overthinking, it could be fatal.
But this wasn't entirely Si Lin's fault. Ling Xiao's reputation was simply too poor, to the point that hardly anyone in Hantian City genuinely wanted him to become the Young Master.
Now that the young masters of the various Ling Clan branches were nearly adults, the heir would likely be decided soon. It made sense for Ling Xiao to be currying favor now.
Yes, that must be it.
Otherwise, given the Ling Clan's decisive and ruthless nature, they would have simply sent someone to exterminate the Si family. Why send Ling Xiao to humiliate them?
"Family Head Si, is this what you call unwavering loyalty?" The mockery on Ling Xiao's face grew thicker.
He hadn't come to the Si family for fun.
He came for the Si family's accumulated resources and... the souls of their experts.
After devouring the remnant soul of the ancient corpse from the ruins, Ling Xiao felt his Soul Palace was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Idle hands were the devil's workshop. Besides, the Si family had deliberately walked into the line of fire. Ling Xiao was more than happy to use them as nourishment.
And being able to utilize their final bit of value meant the Si family would die a worthy death!
"Uh... Young Master Ling Xiao, let me explain..." Si Lin stammered.
"Explain what? This guy's soul has been searched to tatters by my Ling Clan. Family Head Si, stop pretending. Your Si family's plan has been exposed." Ling Xiao grinned sinisterly, a demonic light seeming to surge in his eyes.
Rumor had it the Si family ancestor was a Divine King realm expert. I wonder if he'd be a match for Mi Yong inside the Myriad Worlds Glazed Pagoda?
"Young... Young Master! I beg for your mercy! My Si family is willing to serve you like dogs or horses henceforth, loyal only to you alone from this day forward!" Si Lin threw himself to his knees with a thud, his face pleading.
Behind him, although visibly resentful, all the Si family members knelt down following Si Lin's lead.
"Loyal only to me?" Ling Xiao leaned down, looked at the kneeling Si Lin, and slowly shook his head. "Family Head Si, once a dog's heart changes, what loyalty is there to discuss? I came today to wipe out your Si family."
"Wha... what? Wipe out the Si family..." Si Lin's eyes narrowed sharply. The imposing aura of a Divine Marquis erupted from his entire body. "Then, Young Master... you really shouldn't have come today."
Boom!!
A strange fluctuation suddenly enveloped the entire Si family hall without any warning.
Then, the two Divine Marquis experts standing outside the hall looked on in horror as the entire Si family residence seemed to vanish into thin air.
"Damn it! It's a formation!!"