Old Man Ling and the others activated the sect-protecting grand formation. On top of that, the Yin Yang Bagua Plate could absorb energy from outside attacks to sustain the nine-colored barrier. The two combined had astonishing defensive power. Even energy spears condensed by hundred-man battle formations couldn't break through; they could only pass straight through the barrier.
However, weakened by the sect-protecting grand formation, the energy spears lost much of their power. They also paused for an instant when they struck the barrier, making them easy to dodge.
And so, the people defending Thundercloud Gorge used the metal pillars for cover as they dodged the attacks and counterattacked, focusing their fire under Li Huo and the others' direction. Though the energy shields had astonishing defensive power, they still shattered under the barrage of countless energy arrows, leaving the cultivators sustaining them exposed to attack. Some reacted quickly and escaped, but others were struck and killed.
They dared not enter the sect-protecting grand formation around the perimeter of Thundercloud Gorge through the air, and underground they faced the Stone Spirit Race's ambush. With Ling Tian and the others attacking them without pause, the cultivators from the Earth and Yellow interfaces found their advance deadlocked.
Under the rain of attacks, ripples rolled across the barrier, but it showed no sign of collapsing; if anything, it seemed to be growing stronger. The commanders of the Earth and Yellow interfaces gaped in astonishment.
But they were no ordinary people, and soon thought of a countermeasure. They organized tens of thousands of quasi-near-god experts into battle formations to use the Heaven Qian Spear secret art. They even formed a crack squad of more than ten near-god experts.
Quasi-near-god experts were far stronger than cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Sage Immortal stage. An energy