CHAPTER 683: CHAPTER 83: MOVING MOUNTAINS TO BREAK THE VANGUARD

Fang Hong, Chen Guo, and Wei Chi Yang saw this scene, and without a word, turned and left.

Having suffered consecutive injuries, any other person would likely have died several times over, but Su Yihong, as a Power Dao Practitioner with an unyielding body, could not be killed in a single strike. If one failed to finish him off once, they would likely lose the opportunity. Unless many lives were sacrificed to exhaust his Primordial Qi, victory would remain unlikely.

However, Su Yihong was not alone at this moment. If he sensed his strength waning, he could retreat into the Array Gate behind him at any time. As long as his clansmen assisted and delayed his enemies briefly, he could ingest Elixir Pills and return to the fight rejuvenated.

Fang Hong and his two companions, born from the same disciple lineage and tempered through countless battles, had exceptionally keen judgment. When they noticed Su Yihong beginning to rise, they immediately retreated to a distant spot.

They were pragmatic, knowing it was futile to continue the fight. Without hesitation, they abandoned their prior plans and fled swiftly.

As for the Jiluo Golden Cone, Fang Hong abandoned it decisively, without the slightest concern that it might end up in enemy hands.

This Dharma Treasure was a Mystical Artifact. Without Sacrificial Refinement, it would be impossible for anyone to wield it. The Su Family’s fate was sealed—once Su Yihong died, retrieving it would no longer pose a problem.

Su Yihong held his staff horizontally, his gaze sharp and furious as he stared at the retreating figures, shouting angrily, "Cowards! You dare to ambush but lack the courage to fight face-to-face!"

Fang Hong and his companions turned a deaf ear. As arrogant as Su Yihong might be, he dared not stray far from the Array Gate. As long as they remained unharmed, they had no reason to care about his taunts.

Under the peculiar gazes of the other disciples, the three returned beneath the stage but dared not leave without permission. Standing before Qi Yuntian, they felt a bit uneasy and awkwardly said, "Senior Brother, we acted rashly out of concern for our fellow disciples..."

Qi Yuntian didn’t wait for them to finish and casually waved his hand, saying, "The three of you bear no fault. Step aside."

He fully understood Fang Hong’s personality. This man was most adept at exploiting opportunities, willing to risk his life if even the slightest chance arose.

The prior incident in Perch Eagle Land was a result of this characteristic, which led to their capture by the Three Pools Lake Demon. Qi Yuntian had long judged these three as unreliable, and he had no spare time to quarrel with them now. He ordered them to stand aside and ceased paying them attention.

Qi Yuntian surveyed the disciples below the stage and loudly asked, "Which fellow disciple wishes to step forward and challenge Su Yihong?"

The crowd hesitated, none stepping forward. They had all witnessed how Su Yihong had endured such grievous injuries without falling.

Lacking suitable Dharma Treasures, even sending dozens of people at once might yield success—but at the cost of lives, and any of them might be the ones sacrificed. Naturally, no one dared accept the challenge readily.

After retreating below the stage, Fang Hong carefully reflected on the recent battle, feeling that if he had been bolder, he might have had a chance to kill Su Yihong. Just as he was steeped in regret, he noticed a stir among the disciples farther away. Their expressions carried a hint of excitement, and some even exclaimed aloud. Utterly perplexed, he asked, "What’s happening?"

The answer quickly became apparent. A dazzling rainbow streaked across the sky, rushing directly toward Su Yihong in the arena.

"It’s Zhang Yan!"

Fang Hong sneered dismissively and said, "Hmph. The three of us couldn’t succeed, so what can he accomplish alone?"

Wei Chi Yang and Chen Guo agreed wholeheartedly. Su Yihong was known for his ferocity and tenacity. Despite their high self-regard, they couldn’t think of a way to defeat him in single combat.

Seeing the sword light approaching, Su Yihong’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He squinted slightly, seized his bow and arrow, seated himself firmly, and again drew his bow, aiming at the sky with razor-sharp precision.

This bow, the Pingling Bow, was capable of striking demon birds and spirit beasts, delivering death over a hundred miles in an instant. Any struck would face certain doom, while even a glancing blow could sever limbs, crack bones, and shatter bodies.

After aiming briefly, Su Yihong released the string. The bowstring thrummed near his ear, launching a black shadow with an eerie, piercing whistle, speeding forward like lightning.

The arrow light was indeed fierce, yet Zhang Yan remained composed and unmoved. With a single thought, a sword light jumped from his side, meeting the arrow midair. With a resonant "clang," he deflected it.

Then he reached out, effortlessly catching the arrow in his hand. After inspecting it briefly, he grasped its tip and tail, applying force. With a sharp "crack," he broke it in two and discarded the fragments from atop the clouds.

Su Yihong’s pupils contracted. With a loud shout, he unleashed more than a hundred Magic Artifacts hovering above his head. Their vibrant colors scattered across the sky. Pointing forward, these artifacts spun forth like thousands of fireflies, streaking toward Zhang Yan.