Chapter 1110, Ambushed

Translator: Silavin

 

The Void World and the real world existed as two overlapping planes, yet they were never truly synchronised.

 

In other words, travelling thousands of kilometres through the Void might bring one out into the real world no more than a hundred metres from where one had entered. Equally, a single step through the Void could carry a person across multiple countries in an instant.

 

This fundamental uncertainty meant that even the Void Ancient God Ouyang Bai Ge had no way of pinpointing the location of the Sacred Jiang Family. As for the hope of analytically deriving its exact coordinates in the real world… that was a profoundly distant prospect.

 

Ouyang Bai Ge had spent three days on the problem and arrived at nothing conclusive.

 

During that same stretch of time, Lu Fan remained at the Ye Family, continuing to work through every connection and sphere of influence available to him, hoping to uncover more information about the Sacred Jiang Family.

 

…

 

Western Border. A stretch of wilderness utterly devoid of human habitation.

 

Situ Ying led a contingent of Situ Family members along the road towards the Sacred Yei Family. The Situ Family existed in a state of dependence upon the Sacred Yei Family, and the Sacred Land itself was a place of extraordinary secrecy under normal circumstances.

 

Even the Situ Family’s contact with it was limited. Without exceptional cause, the Situ Family would not ordinarily dare to disturb the Sacred Yei Family.

 

It was only because Lu Fan had been searching for the Sacred Jiang Family that the Situ Family had mustered the courage to contact the Sacred Yei Family and request their assistance in investigating the matter.

 

The Sacred Yei Family had extended its hand. Naturally, the Situ Family could not let that pass without an expression of gratitude.

 

And so, the Situ Family had gathered a collection of precious equipment and materials, entrusting them to Situ Ying to escort personally to the Sacred Yei Family.

 

On one hand, it served as a gift of thanks.

 

On the other hand, it was also the Situ Family’s tribute to the Sacred Yei Family.

 

After all, a Sacred Land of such prestige, sheltering an Ancient Noble Family of Supreme Tier like the Situ Family, was not doing so out of benevolence. The Sacred Yei Family still expected its corresponding tribute, and the Situ Family understood this perfectly well.

 

Situ Ying was long accustomed to such matters. The time for the Situ Family’s tribute had already been approaching anyway; along the way he had done Lu Fan a favour, adding a few extra precious materials to the offering. All things considered, the relationship cultivated with Lu Fan was the greater gain.

 

The large Sacred Ship cut swiftly through the sky, sailing through the upper air.

 

Situ Ying made no effort to conceal the oppressive weight of his aura, letting it roll outward so that any Monsters in the Western Border who sensed it would, of their own accord, give way and spare themselves the trouble.

 

Situ Ying was formidable in his own right, and with him as escort, the Sacred Ship met no obstruction and encountered no danger along its route.

 

This was a path he had travelled once a year for years. In fact, he did not even know how many times he crossed this path, he already knew of its layout without even thinking. And so, Situ Ying had closed his eyes to rest within the ship, treating the whole affair as little more than routine.

 

Then, without warning, the Sacred Ship lurched as though struck by some tremendous force, shuddering violently before losing all control.

 

Situ Ying’s eyes snapped open. He rose from his seat and sharply called out. “What’s happening!?”

 

A young man from the Situ Family came running over, his expression stricken with panic. “Something’s wrong! Our Sacred Ship has been ambushed!”

 

“Ambushed!?” Situ Ying’s brow furrowed immediately. “By Monsters?”

 

The young man replied anxiously. “No. The Sacred Ship gave no warning of any Monster approaching. This looks like the doing of a Player.”

 

“A Player!? Who would have the audacity!?” Situ Ying’s expression darkened at once, his eyes turning sharp and stormy.

 

Their Sacred Ship flew the banner of the Situ Family for all eyes to see. Even if someone held the Situ Family in contempt, surely they would show some deference to the Sacred Yei Family?

 

Everyone knew that the Situ Family’s backing was the Sacred Yei Family. If a Situ Family Sacred Ship appeared in these skies, was its destination not obvious? To deliver supplies to the Sacred Yei Family?

 

To strike at them was to give offence not only to the Situ Family, but to the Sacred Yei Family itself.

 

There was no time for the young man to reply. The Sacred Ship shook again under a second assault. The entire vessel was overturned, spinning uncontrollably through the air before smashing down into the ground.

 

*BOOM!*

 

The Sacred Ship crashed and shattered on impact, its Durability falling to zero in an instant. It exploded apart on the spot, reduced to a field of scattered components.

 

After a long moment, one section of debris was shoved aside from inside. Situ Ying stumbled out, completely dishevelled, his rage overwhelming.

 

For decades, no one had dared to ambush the Situ Family. He reached for a Health Potion without thinking, letting it mend some of the Damage to his body, then raised his voice. “Is everyone all right!?”

 

Responses came back from within the ruins of the wreckage. They came a few at a time, followed by Situ Family members picking their way out from amongst the debris. Each of them had suffered injuries to varying degrees in the crash.

 

Situ Ying took a quick headcount and found three people missing.

 

He had some recollection of all three. They were among the talented youths of the Situ Family. Though they were not of a High Level, but they were exceptionally gifted. He had brought them along on this trip to broaden their experience, to let them see the Sacred Yei Family with their own eyes. If by some fortune the Sacred Land saw worth in them and took them on as affiliated outsiders, that would be a great blessing for the Situ Family.

 

One of the three was Situ Ying’s own Nephew. This was a young man he had raised himself, someone truly close to him.

 

“Tugu!!” He called the name once, twice. However, no answer came.

 

One of the younger Situ Family members looked particularly wretched, as though on the verge of tears. His voice shook. “Tugu… h-he’s gone. I was in the same room with him! I watched it happen! When the ship exploded, Tugu took the blast head-on. He’s most likely…”

 

Situ Ying said nothing more. But his eyes, slowly filling with blood, spoke for him. He was in a state of complete fury.

 

“Who dares ambush my Situ Family!!?”

 

His roar tore through the air. A torrent of compressed energy detonating outward from his body, surging in every direction.

 

Around them was a dense forest with each tree of impossible height.

 

Only the howling of the wind answered him. There was not a single trace of any Player.

 

Seeing that no response came back, Situ Ying raised his voice further. “What’s this, you coward. Bold enough to act, but not bold enough to show your face!? You wretched coward! Do you truly believe that staying hidden means you can escape the Situ Family’s pursuit!?”

 

He was already reaching for an equipment to scan the surrounding area for anyone in Concealment, when a faint, contemptuous laugh drifted down from a tree not far away.

 

“Heh heh heh…”

 

Everyone turned towards the sound. There, perched on a branch above, sat a young man in white robes, looking down at them with open mockery.