Chapter 41

The deafening roar of the city's protective array shattering was like a death knell, striking the heart of every Witch Clan member.

The demon tide surged in like a black flood of death, pouring through the breach, roaring and howling as it rushed towards the nearest living beings – the Houtu Tribe!

"Hold the line! Rely on the array!" The High Priest's ancient yet firm voice echoed throughout the tribe.

All Witch Clan warriors gripped their weapons, their Blood Essence boiling, their eyes fixed on the approaching demon tide beyond the array's light barrier.

Li Su, stationed at the array's core, his Eight-Zhang Ink Bamboo form shimmering, connected his divine sense to the entire "Houtu Star Bedrock Array."

He could clearly feel the monstrous demon energy outside the array, the violent killing intent, and the pained groans of the earth being corrupted by demon power.

"Come on!" he roared inwardly, pushing the array to its limit!

BOOM!

The first wave of demon soldiers crashed hard against the Star Bedrock Array's light barrier! The earth-yellow starlight flared, and the heavy bedrock Dao charm erupted, instantly shattering dozens of low-level demon soldiers at the forefront!

Simultaneously, the starlight flowed, rapidly devouring and purifying the residual souls and Evil Qi scattered by the fallen demon soldiers, converting them into energy to sustain the array – this was the result of Li Su integrating the Soul Devour characteristic and the Jade Pendant's purification effect!

However, the demon soldiers were endless, with subsequent ones stepping over the corpses of their comrades to continue their frenzied assault! The light barrier rippled violently, and the pressure increased dramatically!

"Draw upon the earth veins, solidify the foundation!" Li Su's divine sense transmitted to the assisting Witch Clan priests.

Several priests immediately chanted ancient witch songs, pressing their hands to the ground, guiding deeper earth power into the array.

The Totem Pillar at the array's base shone brightly, temporarily stabilizing the light barrier.

But soon, several massive demon generals, whose auras rivaled that of a Celestial Immortal, charged out from the demon soldier horde!

One was a giant wolf covered in ethereal blue flames, another was a three-headed venomous python, and the third was a rhinoceros demon wielding a bone hammer and covered in bone armor!

They attacked simultaneously! Ethereal blue flames scorched the light barrier, venom corroded it, and the bone hammer struck heavily!

CRACK! Fine cracks appeared on the light barrier!

"Stellar Evil, backlash!" Li Su's eyes turned cold as he mobilized the Stellar Evil Energy accumulated within the array, condensing it into several black giant spikes shimmering with starlight, which suddenly pierced out from within the light barrier!

PFFT PFFT PFFT! The three demon generals, caught off guard, were struck by the Stellar Evil spikes! The ethereal blue fire wolf had its shoulder pierced, one of the venomous python's heads exploded, and the rhinoceros demon's bone armor was torn apart!

They let out pained roars, their assault faltering.

"Good opportunity! Kill!" Seeing this, the Witch Clan warriors within the array, led by the Great Witches, surged out from the array's pre-arranged attack openings, unleashing a storm of witch arts and combat skills upon the injured demon generals!

Strike while the iron is hot! The Witch Clan's fighting style had always been fierce and brave!

As the three demon generals were entangled and surrounded by the Witch Clan warriors, Li Su shifted the array once more!

On the light barrier, starlight flowed, forming a small stellar realm illusion, temporarily trapping the large number of demon soldiers that followed, causing them to lose their direction and trample each other.

At the same time, he secretly released Soul-Devouring Dark Light, specifically targeting commanders or spellcasters among the demon soldiers, further sowing chaos.

For a time, the Houtu Tribe, relying on this suddenly strengthened and extraordinary array, managed to temporarily withstand the first wave of the demon tide, even managing to counter-kill many demons!

This scene naturally drew the attention of the demon race's higher-ups and other regions of the Witch Clan.

"Hmm? When did the Houtu Tribe acquire such a powerful array?" The Witch Clan powerhouses fighting fiercely in other areas of the city wall were both surprised and delighted.

"Useless! Can't even take down a mere Houtu Tribe!" A displeased snort came from within the demon clouds. A sharp demonic wind, like a giant blade, slashed down from high above, directly cleaving towards the Star Bedrock Array! Its power far surpassed that of a Celestial Immortal; it was clearly a True Immortal Great Demon making a move!

Li Su's expression changed as he poured all his strength into the array, concentrating it at one point to forcefully resist the blow!

BOOM! The entire Star Bedrock Array shook violently, its light barrier dimmed by more than half, and even several Totem Pillars at the array's base showed cracks! Li Su's bamboo body trembled violently, his divine sense stung, and he almost lost his connection to the array.

The might of a True Immortal was terrifying indeed!

"Hmph! Let's see how many more blows you can block!" The True Immortal Great Demon, seemingly losing face, prepared to strike again.

Just then, from the center of Ten Thousand Witch City, a vast Ancestral Witch's Blood Essence surged into the sky, transforming into a giant earth-yellow palm that slammed towards the source of the demonic wind!

"Your opponent is me!" An ancient and powerful voice rang out. It was the Witch Clan powerhouse guarding the city center who had intervened!

A battle of True Immortal caliber unfolded in the sky, its residual energy sweeping in all directions.

Li Su breathed a sigh of relief, hastily repairing the array while swallowing pills to restore his divine sense.

Although it was dangerous just now, confronting a True Immortal-level power (even with the array's aid) gave him a clearer understanding of his own limits and the array's, and a deeper insight into the application of power.

The battle fell into a stalemate. The main force of the demon army was held back by the Witch Clan powerhouses near the gaps in the city wall, while on the Houtu Tribe's side, due to the Star Bedrock Array's excellent defense and counter-attacks, a portion of the demon soldiers were drawn in, but they couldn't break through for the time being.

Li Su continuously operated the array, sometimes defending, sometimes counter-attacking, sometimes creating illusions, applying everything he had learned to its fullest.

In the crucible of actual combat, he constantly adjusted and optimized the array's structure, his understanding of the fusion of stars, earth, bedrock, devouring, and protection Dao deepening.

He even began to attempt integrating some of the variations from the Eight Nine Mysterious Art into the array, making its operations more fluid and unpredictable.

In the baptism of blood and fire, his array Dao cultivation, combat awareness, and understanding of "battle" improved at an unprecedented rate.

[While operating the Star Stone Great Array in actual combat, array Dao proficiency greatly increased, and combination array techniques were comprehended.]

[Absorbing and refining battlefield Evil Qi and residual souls, cultivation accumulation increased, and the Soul Devour origin slightly strengthened.]

[Observing True Immortal-level combat, understanding of power tiers improved.]

[Through defense, comprehended the true meaning of "battle," and the battle heart was condensed.]

After an unknown amount of time, as Li Su repelled another wave of demon soldiers, he suddenly felt a premonition and looked up at the sky (though it was obscured by demon clouds).

He sensed that his connection to this world had become even closer, and the bottleneck of Earth Immortal peak had finally loosened completely amidst the continuous high-intensity consumption and replenishment!

The opportunity had arrived!