Chapter 102: The Su Family's First and Second Ancestors Fly into a Rage

He didn't know how much time had passed.

After traveling day and night without rest, he had spent two days on the road.

His body was already pushed to its limit, but Su Ting, sustained by sheer willpower, gazed into the distance. Several kilometers away, he could already see a corner of the towering city wall, and a look of joy spread across his face.

A surge of strength welled up from deep within him, driving him to quicken his pace toward the wall.

Changcheng was built to encircle the entire border of Huaguo. Fierce Beasts would launch attacks from every direction, so the nation had divided Changcheng into several hundred war zones, each guarded by at least two Earth Martial Realm cultivators and over a hundred Divine Image Realm Martial Artists.

The Su Family's assigned zone was Hao Zhanqu.

At this very moment, Hao Zhanqu had just repelled a wave of beast tide, and its personnel were exhausted and in need of rest.

The soldiers sat leaning against the wall to rest, their nerves daring not to relax in the slightest, because the next wave of attack could come at any moment.

Su Ting had just approached.

A Su Family clansman holding a long spear immediately blocked his way.

Just as this Su Family clansman on duty was about to rebuke him, he recognized the newcomer's face. Although the other was covered in dust and grime, he still identified him at a glance and instinctively said:

"Young Master Su Ting, how did you…"

Most of those conscripted to the Frontier were collateral branches of the Su Family. Compared to Su Ting, the eldest legitimate grandson of the main line, their status differed greatly, so his tone was extremely respectful, though his face showed confusion.

The Frontier was hardly a pleasant place.

Why had this young master of the main family left the comfort of Inside the Circle to come all the way to the Frontier, and in such a wretched state?

Su Ting was so exhausted he could barely catch his breath, but he still forced himself to grip the shoulders of the man before him and spoke in a weak voice:

"Quick! Go tell the First Ancestor and Second Ancestor… Jiang… Jiang Qin led men to attack Lingxi Shan. Everyone the Su Family left to guard Inside the Circle was wiped out except me. They—they even used the heads of our Su Family clansmen to build a watchtower of skulls! Tell the First Ancestor and Second Ancestor to avenge us!!!"

"It's all Jiang Qin's fault, he…"

His voice cut off abruptly, because Su Ting collapsed to the ground.

The Su Family clansman on duty hurriedly crouched down and, trembling, placed his hand beneath Su Ting's nose… there was not the slightest breath!

"D-done for!"

He had no time for anything else and frantically ran toward a nearby fortress.

Inside the fortress's command room.

The Su Family's First Ancestor Su Mingyun and Second Ancestor Su Mingqing were discussing how many resources to demand from the higher-ups this time.

Conscription could not be refused; once Huaguo fell, the Su Family would not fare well either. Therefore the Su Family had dispatched two Earth Martial Realm cultivators, but that did not mean they intended to throw their lives away for Huaguo. They only needed to ensure Changcheng would not be breached.

Those charging at the front were all Huaguo soldiers; the Su Family clansmen only needed to stay in the rear handling logistical affairs.

This way, the Su Family's losses could be minimized.

At the same time, they demanded massive resources from the higher-ups, then skimmed off seventy percent, leaving only thirty percent for actual defense. Not only would they not suffer a loss, they could make a killing. The longer the war dragged on, the greater their benefits.

The Su Family was not the only one doing this; the other ancient clans did the same.

As for those rank-and-file soldiers charging into the fray?

Who cared about them? They shared no blood ties—outsiders in the end. No matter how many died, they were nothing more than numbers; there was no need to feel any heartache at all!

Just as they were discussing, a figure pushed the door open in a panic and burst in.

Before they could rebuke him, the man spoke at a rapid pace:

"This is bad, First Ancestor, Second Ancestor! Something terrible has happened Inside the Circle!"

This man quickly repeated everything Su Ting had said earlier.

Su Mingyun's face changed drastically upon hearing it. He slammed the table and rose, "What! How dare that brazen little brat treat my Su Family like this!!!"

"What about Xiao Ting? Is he unharmed?"

"Young Master Ting… after he delivered the message, he… he died of exhaustion!"

The Su Family disciple lowered his head and haltingly finished his words.

Su Ting was the youngest of the juniors in the main line. From childhood he had been doted on by the three ancestors and groomed as the future heir of the Su Family. Yet now he had met such a tragic end…

Sure enough.

Both Su Mingyun and Su Mingqing instantly flew into a towering rage. The aura of their Earth Martial Realm erupted without concealment, and the windows of the command room shattered inch by inch, fragments crashing to the floor.

The Su Family disciple retreated from the command room in discomfort, only feeling better once outside.

"Damn Jiang Qin, damn the Zhenling Bureau!"

"My Su Family helped them guard the war zone, yet this is how they repay us! Elder brother, this grudge must be avenged. Everyone we left to guard Inside the Circle was the future seed of our Su Family, and now they're all gone!"

"If this grudge is not avenged, I, Su Mingqing, swear I am no man!"

Su Mingyun spoke with a dark expression:

"What has happened has happened. An accounting will certainly be demanded. Fortunately, we brought some of our younger juniors with us when we came out. Once the disaster ends and we return Inside the Circle, with you and me there, the Su Family will recover quickly."

"Therefore, we cannot completely tear faces with the Zhenling Bureau at this moment."

"This war zone must also continue to be held."

Hearing these words, Su Mingqing calmed down again. After all, they were men who had lived for over a century; what they always considered was the rise and fall of the family. If they tore faces with the Zhenling Bureau now, then the Su Family would truly be finished.

"The war zone must be held, but this Jiang Qin must die. Otherwise, my Su Family will never be able to hold its head up again."

"Even if we report this matter to the Zhenling Bureau, they won't side with us. Jiang Qin's talent is too terrifying… but if he's a dead genius, then the result would be different."

A living Jiang Qin could fight across realms and slay an Earth Martial cultivator; the Zhenling Bureau would not let anything happen to him.

But a dead Jiang Qin held no value whatsoever.

Su Mingyun quickly formed a plan, and a sinister smile surfaced on his aged face.

He spoke: "I will remain here to continue guarding. You take half of the family juniors and rush back Inside the Circle at the fastest speed. You must kill Jiang Qin as quickly as possible. He destroyed my Su Family, and my Su Family destroying him is only justified. The Zhenling Bureau still needs our help to guard the war zone, so they may not necessarily stand up for that boy."

"Good!"

Su Mingqing nodded in agreement.

So what if Jiang Qin could fight across realms and slay an Earth Martial cultivator? He himself had been tempering himself in the Earth Martial Realm for over fifty years and had long since stepped into the mid Earth Martial Realm, far beyond what an early Earth Martial Realm cultivator could compare to. Moreover, what he was most adept at was the Way of Slaughter.

Dealing with one kid is more than enough.

Once the two had settled on a plan, they set to work immediately, without leaking a single word.

Ten minutes later.

Su Mingqing led half of the Su Family forces from the warzone and quietly departed, violating regulations by returning to Inside the Circle without authorization.

But both Su Mingqing and Su Mingyun subconsciously overlooked one thing.

Why would Jiang Qin make a move against the Su Family…

Su Mingqing had led his people less than a hundred miles out of the warzone when the fleet of flying vessels was racing at top speed above the cloud layer.

Suddenly.

A shrill alarm sounded from within each flying vessel.

"Warning! Warning!"

"Unknown energy fluctuation detected, exceeding the detection threshold; signal transmission is being blocked. Suspected to be some kind of powerful Domain. Recommend immediate evacuation! Repeating… recommend immediate evacuation!"