Sure enough, just as the two discovered the flaw in the great formation and sighed inwardly, only able to slowly advance the Life and Death Gate despite having the will but not the strength, the giant ape's enormous fist had smashed out a square black-and-white outline where the banner gate stood. That dazzling black-and-white radiance stabbed into the gray formation like a Bright Sword. When the giant ape stretched out both hands, its tree-like fingers clasped precisely onto that black-and-white radiance!
"Open!" the giant ape bellowed thunderously. The entire formation began to tremble again. Amid a rumble like boulders rolling down a slope, the banner gate was forcibly torn up from within the formation by the giant ape. The black-and-white radiance quivered at first, then suddenly surged into the formation, blasting a huge passage through the gray formation!
With a crisp whoosh, a hurricane rushed into the passage. The black-and-white radiance in the giant ape's hands vanished, and ahead of the passage appeared the banner gate entrance through which the sword cultivators had entered earlier!
"Go!" The giant ape raised both arms and pounded its chest several times before roaring. All the avian cultivators and beast cultivators surged into the passage like flowing water and swiftly disappeared. The giant ape then turned back coldly, mockery flashing through its crimson eyes as its gaze landed squarely upon Yuan Zhongyu!
Yuan Zhongyu stared back unflinchingly into the giant ape's eyes, which seemed devoid of much human emotion, yet he said to Liang Mingfu, "Let us rest for a moment!"
"Yes, I shall follow Fellow Daoist Yuan's orders!" Liang Mingfu replied, ceasing the flow of his magic power. Yuan Zhongyu watched the giant ape turn away and depart at an unhurried pace. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he muttered, "What we have thought of...