CHAPTER 679: CHAPTER 81 FIERCE AND UNPARALLELED BLOCKADE OF FLAG GATE (PART 1)

These three Hua Dan cultivators were all under the Twelve Great Families. They had cultivated for less than a hundred years, barely managing to form Lower Three Grade pills with the strength of their clans, but they knew in their hearts that attaining the Dao was already hopeless for them; eventually, they would have to reincarnate and start anew.

However, reincarnation within the great clans also had its intricacies. If one was reborn to impoverished parents from humble households and happened to possess good aptitude, that would still be acceptable, as the clan elders could take them back and guide them in cultivation.

But if they lacked spiritual nature, they would be left to endure a life of hardship among ordinary mortals, serving others like beasts of burden, suffering toil and misery—and their fate might no longer concern anyone. Such prospects were something they were unwilling to accept. They harbored the hope of being born into wealthy and prosperous families, so that even if they could not walk the cultivation path in their next life, they could at least enjoy affluence and a carefree existence.

Yet, securing a rebirth into a wealthy family required them to render significant merit for their clans. Simply slaying demons over countless years was insufficient, and there was no certainty they could surpass their peers. At present, breaking through the Flag Gate was a prime opportunity, so all three rushed forward with determination.

As soon as they entered the Array Gate, they saw a figure stepping across the void, cutting through air and wind, hurtling toward them.

Amid the chaotic light and shadow of the array, dim and blurry, they could not discern who was approaching, which made all three of them instinctively grow guarded.

When the figure finally arrived, they saw it clearly—the man was over one zhang tall, twice the height of an ordinary person, with a crowned helm and armor, wielding a long staff. His attire was entirely different from that of usual cultivators. They recalled seeing this individual during the grand competition, and immediately gasped aloud: "Su Yihong!"

Panic struck their hearts instantly. They had initially entered with the mere intent of gaining an advantage, without much fighting spirit. Now, faced with the deadly presence of the infamous Su Family disciple coming at them brimming with murderous intent, fear overtook them, and all three turned simultaneously, attempting to flee.

Su Yihong had sensed earlier that the array formation was not functioning freely. He instantly guessed the intruders’ intentions and headed toward the Qian Position Sheng Gate without delay.

Seeing the intruders retreat on sight without offering resistance, his gaze turned fierce as he growled, "Where do you think you’re going?!"

A tiger-like roar erupted from his throat, resonating on all sides. Utilizing an unknown Dharma technique, he closed the distance in a single step, appearing directly behind the would-be escapees, raising his Black Dragon Cloud Rubbing Stick for a sweeping strike.

As the staff descended, it released a mournful sound tearing through the air. A disciple lagging slightly behind failed to evade in time, hastily turning back to summon a bowl-shaped Dharma Treasure. The bowl faced outward, emitting a glowing blue radiance as a shield.

To his horror, the Cloud Rubbing Stick treated the Dharma Treasure as if it were non-existent. With a loud "crack," it shattered the treasure into fragments, continuing unchecked to smash into the disciple’s chest, its immense force splitting him in two on the spot.

The two disciples ahead, seeing this, were stricken with terror. Capitalizing on Su Yihong’s brief pause, they leapt through the Flag Gate and fled the outer array in panic.

Outside the array, others had just begun wondering why, of the three who entered the gate moments ago, only two had emerged, looking utterly distressed. Before their confusion could clear, a figure launched itself out of the Flag Gate, moving with unparalleled speed. In just a few strides, the figure reached one of the fleeing disciples, thrusting the staff forward in a move as swift as lightning. The strike pierced the disciple’s right chest, followed by a violent twist, scattering flesh and blood into the air.

By now, the third disciple had fled dozens of zhang away, believing himself to have escaped danger. Su Yihong’s gaze hardened, his throat rumbled slightly, and he bellowed toward the disciple’s back.

With an explosive "boom," it seemed as though a massive drum roared in the air, deafeningly close. The disciple staggered like he’d been struck by lightning, stumbling hectically.

Su Yihong screeched piercingly, charged forward, leapt high, and swung his staff down. With a chilling "crack," the blow crushed the disciple’s head, and its remaining force pulverized the corpse into a mangled mass. The primordial spirit failed to escape before disintegrating entirely.

After dispatching the three, Su Yihong stood alone, staff in hand, blocking the front of the Array Gate with an imposing stance, coldly facing the thousand Mingcang Sect disciples ahead.

Qi Yuntian couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "I’ve heard it said that Su Yihong possesses an innate Spirit Root, nourished by Jade Liquid and Golden Medicine from the womb. Su Wentian himself has claimed inferiority, confessing nine chances out of ten to defeat—but now I see, the claims were not untrue."

The white-haired Daoist beside him repeatedly nodded in agreement, remarking, "This man is difficult to deal with. It will take skilled disciples to besiege him."

At this moment, a young cultivator stepped forward from below, elegantly adorned, with skin as smooth as powdered jade and a Dharma Sword at his waist, exuding an extraordinary air. He cupped his hands in salute, his face dark with anger, and declared, "Master Senior Brother, this man has slain my clan-brother. Please grant me leave to avenge this grievous blood debt!"

Qi Yuntian’s gaze fell upon him and nodded, saying, "Ah, Junior Brother Wu. Though Su Yihong’s cultivation is exceptional, you risk far too much facing him alone. It would be better to select others to go with you."