Chapter 1143: Chapter 1141: Hope You Can Strive to Catch Up_1
"A display of power?"
Shi Xiaole wore a smile that wasn’t quite a smile.
From the moment he stood at the entrance of the Ling Family’s gates, Shi Xiaole realized that this visit was unlikely to be a pleasant one. In theory, since his mother, Ling Yujie, was a great contributor to the entire Ling Family, he, as her son, should not be subjected to such treatment.
But the reality was otherwise.
The current family head, Ling Wenyu, was the younger brother of the previous head, who was Ling Yujie’s father, Ling Wenlong. It was said that when Ling Wenlong was in charge, Ling Wenyu’s branch had little influence.
Later, after Ling Yujie fell into misfortune and her life or death became uncertain, Ling Wenlong was ambushed by the Chou Family while searching for his daughter, resulting in severe damage to his martial prowess, forcing him to step down as the family head.
Once less influential, this branch rose to power. According to Ling Zixin, over the past decades, Ling Wenyu’s branch successfully took control of more than sixty percent of the Ling Family’s resources and power, effectively overpowering Ling Wenlong’s line.
So, it was quite normal for Shi Xiaole, who was of pure Ling Wenlong lineage, to be unwelcome.
"Zixin has paid her respects to Second Uncle and all the elders and uncles,"
Ling Zixin walked to the center of the hall, performed the proper greetings, and turned to look at Shi Xiaole. In the end, she did not ask him to join her. She had a premonition that Shi Xiaole would most likely refuse, which if he did, would only put him at a disadvantage.
Ling Wenyu hummed a response and nodded his head. His eyes, by no means murky, suddenly burst forth with a stunning sharpness aimed at Shi Xiaole standing beside Ling Zixin, and he shouted, "You, are you Yu Ji’s son? If you dare to deceive our Ling Family, you will bear the consequences!"
His voice thundered like a tempest, causing many ears to tremble.
Ling Zixin was shocked on the spot; being someone who had long held a position of authority, Ling Wenyu naturally had an intimidating presence.
Yet Shi Xiaole, the person involved, didn’t even blink his eyes, and his heartbeat and blood flow showed no signs of disturbance.
It should be known that this was not a martial showdown. The mighty head of the Ling Family would not bully the young, even if he disapproved of Shi Xiaole. This was a clash of aura and mental fortitude. To suddenly endure such a shout, even some present elders thought they could not remain undisturbed.
But the young man in green in the middle of the hall was just so calm. His mouth curled into a half smile, sarcastic yet fearless, reminding many of them of that man from a hundred years ago, causing their expressions to become complex and the room fell into silent reflection.
"Deception? It was Miss Ling who found me, not I who came knocking on purpose; the head of the Ling Family had better remember this point clearly. Also, the Ling Family is not something you can control single-handedly—you do not represent the entire Ling Family."
What is called ’uttering shocking statements relentlessly’? When Shi Xiaole spoke these words, everyone was taken aback.
Everyone knew that the last thing Ling Wenyu could tolerate was someone questioning his authority. Ever since he became the family head, anyone who dared to do so met a miserable fate.
This young guy had too much nerve!
"You scoundrel! You, a junior who knows nothing, how dare you question the family head? Apologize to him at once! According to our relations, he is your granduncle."
A fuming middle-aged man in brocade clothing scolded him and slammed down on the armrest of his wooden chair. Shi Xiaole glanced at him, noticing a resemblance between this man and Ling Zixin.
Ling Zixin transmitted her voice, "Little brother, this is my father, my aunt’s own brother, your blood uncle."
In the eyes of the brocade-clad middle-aged man, Shi Xiaole saw not anger but anxiety and joy, and he understood that the man’s scolding was actually a way of making excuses for him.
But he really didn’t need it.
Shi Xiaole was not a masochist. He had no habit of meekly accepting mistreatment or humiliation from those who intended to suppress him. Of course, all these were predicated on the fact that he had the strength.
Confident in his ability to leave unscathed and having no emotional ties to the Ling Family, why should he compromise?
"You impudent brat, who taught you to disrespect your elders?"
"Kneel and apologize immediately!"
"According to the family rules, you should be severely punished!"
Following Ling Cunyi’s outburst, many others angrily voiced their indignation.
Shi Xiaole mentally noted the faces of these people. Surprisingly, he found that there were some who remained silent, their attitudes ambiguous.
At the head of the room, Ling Wenyu also observed the reactions of the high-ranking members of the Ling Family in secret, and upon seeing this, his eyes flickered with a dark and ominous gleam.
He was only a junior coming to recognize his kin; why should he have to appear in person and even summon all the high-ranking members from Lingtian Mansion? It was because Ling Wenyu wanted to use the occasion to gauge people’s stances.
Good, the identity wasn’t even confirmed yet, and some were already entertaining their own schemes. Ling Yujie ah Ling Yujie, what virtues and abilities do you have that these elders remember you so fondly!
"Silence!"
Ling Wenyu’s loud command instantly quieted the hall. He stared at Shi Xiaole and suddenly made a motion through the air, and a tremendous force filled the space all around.
"This is bad..."
Ling Cunyi nearly jumped up.
Ling Wenyu was one of the top ten experts in the Ling Family, just a step away from becoming the Forbidden Martial Emperor. If he targeted Shi Xiaole, the latter wouldn’t even have a chance to struggle.
But everyone was mistaken; the force of the strike did not head towards Shi Xiaole, but instead drew upon another force from within the hall—an array system.
The next moment.
A dazzling light surged within Shi Xiaole’s body, corresponding with a giant stone placed at the center of the ancestral shrine deep within Lingtian Mansion, both shining in the sky.
In the forgotten peach grove.
A window of the small building was pushed open.
Ling Wenlong looked at the two beams of light converging, tears streaming from his aged eyes, a face filled with joy and sorrow.
Ling Hu also choked up a bit, "If it can attract the Lingtian Stone, it must be the Young Master, it must be the Young Master who has returned."
Within the hall.
A pin drop could be heard.
Everyone sensed the disturbance inside the ancestral shrine. They looked at each other, and finally, unable to believe it, they turned their gazes towards Shi Xiaole, who stood at the center.
For thousands of years, only the Ling Family members with the purest bloodline had been able to stir the Lingtian Stone. The last one to cause such a disturbance was none other than Ling Yujie.
Like mother, like son?
At that moment, no one doubted Shi Xiaole’s identity any longer. And those who had not scolded him, even those who had, their expressions changed once again.
Soon, the light within Shi Xiaole’s body faded.
"Child, where are your father and mother?"
Someone couldn’t wait and asked immediately.
Shi Xiaole shook his head, "Since birth, I have never seen them."
"Then where did your martial skills come from?"
From his aura, it appeared that Shi Xiaole had actually reached the level of the Void Origin Realm, which was no simple feat.
"Merely a stroke of fortune. I obtained the martial techniques in a secret realm."
"How old are you this year?"
"Eighty."
This answer was blurted out by Shi Xiaole after hearing Ling Zixin’s voice transmission. He was not afraid of the Ling Family, but being alone against the martial forces of the South Sea, it was indeed necessary to hide his capabilities to some extent.
Although due to the connectivity with the Floating Stone Realm, his true age would soon be spread back to the South Sea, that was a matter for the future.
Ling Zixin silently heaved a sigh of relief.
But for the other members of the Ling Family, it was slightly shocking.
An eighty-year-old Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor was considered a peerless genius anywhere. Of course, the strength gap between Martial Emperors of the same realm could be significant.
From what Shi Xiaole implied, it seemed that he was an independent cultivator, and such individuals often lack proper guidance. This results in insufficient refinement within their cultivation realm and thus, a power far inferior to the geniuses of top forces.
Regardless, Shi Xiaole’s talent was definitely extraordinary. Besides, considering who his parents were, how could he possibly be mistaken?
As for the likelihood of Shi Xiaole lying, it was very low. Judging by all his actions so far, he was clearly someone who revealed his prowess. Why would he belittle himself?
Moreover, if this were to be belittling, then how high must his talent be? It was completely impossible.
"Zixin, recount the details of how you encountered Shi Xiaole," said Ling Cunyi in that moment.
Ling Zixin immediately began to narrate, but intentionally omitted the conflict between Shi Xiaole and the Carefree Sect.
After the story was told, Ling Wenyu’s gaze was profound, and he suddenly ordered, "Summon all the direct descendants of the third generation to the hall." Someone retreated at his command and, in no time, a group of people entered orderly, paying their respects to everyone in the hall.
Among them, Shi Xiaole saw Ling Cunli. The latter seemed to guess that the earlier disturbance was caused by Shi Xiaole, and his gaze towards Shi Xiaole became colder.
Ling Wenyu said, "Zixin, introduce your cousin to the rest. As members of the Ling Family, it would be ridiculous not to recognize each other."
Ling Zixin was taken aback, then realizing what was asked, she began to introduce them to Shi Xiaole one by one.
From left to right, the scholarly-looking middle-aged man was Ling Wenyu’s eldest son, Ling Cunxiao, next to him was his wife Duan Jiner. Upon meeting Shi Xiaole, both the husband and wife greeted him with smiles.
The tallest and most arrogant in appearance was Ling Wenyu’s second son, Ling Cunlian, who merely glanced indifferently at Shi Xiaole upon hearing he was Ling Yujie’s son.
The third son was Ling Cunli, whose case did not need further mention.
And Ling Zixin’s father, Ling Cunyi, was Ling Wenlong’s eldest son, ranked fourth among the second-generation direct descendants. The youngest son, Ling Cunwei, due to his absence from Lingtian City, did not appear.
Besides the second generation, there were also the direct descendants of the third generation, a total of eight people standing together. Their gazes at Shi Xiaole mixed with strangeness, curiosity, closeness, and hostility.
Once the introductions were concluded, Ling Wenyu declared, "In the past, Yu Ji made great contributions to our Ling Family. Shi Xiaole also has half the blood of our Ling Family running through his veins; we should not treat him unfairly."
"From today onwards, Shi Xiaole will reside in Wenhua Courtyard, be provided with one Qi Storage Pill each month, and be allowed access to all the martial arts in the Ling Family’s Book Collection Building..."
With each clause Ling Wenyu mentioned, the expressions of the people below underwent a change. This treatment was too generous, almost on par with the Ling Family’s three greatest talents.
The Qi Storage Pill might sound ordinary, but in reality, it was a precious medicinal pill capable of refining Vigorous Air and enhancing its quality. In the entire South Sea, fewer than thirty forces possessed Qi Storage Pills, and they were always in scarce supply.
Of course, for those with highly refined Vigorous Air, the Qi Storage Pill didn’t have much effect, but it could be exchanged for resources, and there were plenty of people in need of it.
And the Ling Family’s Book Collection Building held ten sets of top-tier martial arts, which were unimaginable for independent cultivators of the Martial World. Shi Xiaole probably had never seen so many top-tier martial arts before.
Many looked at Ling Wenyu. His actions not only displayed his generosity but also pacified the lineage of Ling Wenlong and strengthened the cohesion among other members of the Ling Family, showing them that as long as they contribute, the Ling Family would not let them down. It was indeed a brilliant move.
"Shi Xiaole, you were adrift in the Martial World of East Victory and beyond the reach of our Ling Family. From now on, the Ling Family will provide you with the best resources, hoping you will catch up with the tasks, and soon stand shoulder to shoulder with the three great talents of our Ling Family. Jianming, you will guide him in his cultivation in these coming days," Ling Wenyu instructed.
Ling Jianming, one of the three great talents of the Ling Family, entered the Void Origin Realm at the age of seventy-two. His father was Ling Wenyu’s eldest son, Ling Cunxiao.
Upon hearing this, Ling Jianming, distinguished and composed, stepped forward, bowed in assent, and did not forget to give Shi Xiaole a friendly smile.
"That’s enough for today. Everyone may disperse," Ling Wenyu waved his hand and stood up to leave, leaving behind an imposing figure for the crowd.
