The massive flood gobbled up all the siege weapons, land-bound Cryanids, and cultivators below the Monster Realm. Some Monster Realm cultivators too close to ground zero, or too slow to fly up, were swept away. Most drowned. Only Mammoth Stage cultivators were strong enough to fight the current and escape into the air.
As for the upper world forces, they had been warned before the invasion. The moment they saw Zheng Chun pull out the sculpture, they disengaged from combat and flew up.
The flood submerged the portal. Inquisitors had already stopped pouring out, not because there were no longer any inquisitors on the other side, but because one of Zheng Chun's aides had sent a message talisman warning the other side. They would wait until the water calmed down before resuming the portal crossing.
