87: Zhu Guo helps Tie Jian, waiting for an opportunity to rescue

When the light barrier's fluctuations reached a certain critical point, the Five Elements Sword Rain Formation within finally unleashed its power!

From the rotating five-colored sword wheel, dozens of illusory metallic Flying Swords suddenly detached, transforming into streams of condensed golden light. Like eyes, they precisely pierced through the relatively weaker areas of the light barrier, shooting towards the Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivators who were frantically attacking!

"Watch out for the Sword Qi!" a Demonic Cultivator in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment exclaimed, waving his demonic blade to parry.

Clang, clang, clang!

Piercing metallic clanging sounds rang out! Although the golden Sword Qi was parried or dissolved by Devilish Qi, the sharp, demon-breaking intent it contained still caused several Demonic Cultivators' blood and Qi to churn, momentarily halting their offensive! One Demonic Cultivator in the Initial Stage of Foundation Establishment, unable to dodge in time, had a stream of Sword Qi penetrate his protective demonic aura, causing a bloom of blood to erupt on his shoulder as he cried out and retreated!

Although the counterattack of the Five Elements Sword Rain Formation could not severely injure these Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivators, it successfully disrupted their attack rhythm, forcing some of them to divert their attention to defense, greatly alleviating the pressure on the Profound Armor of the Vast Sea!

"Useless!" Bone-Erosion Devil Lord's eyes grew even more malevolent upon seeing his subordinates' offensive thwarted. His withered hand slowly rose, Devilish Qi surging in his palm, condensing into a constantly rotating, pitch-black demonic cone that emitted terrifying suction and annihilating aura! "I want to see how much of my power this incomplete Formation can withstand! Shi Gu Demonic Cone, go!"

Buzz!

The pitch-black demonic cone shot out silently; wherever it passed, space seemed to subtly collapse! Its speed was not fast, but it carried a terrifying will to lock onto and destroy everything, slowly yet irresistibly colliding with the violently fluctuating light blue light barrier!

Lin Feng and the others within the light barrier instantly felt an unprecedented pressure of death! The power contained in that demonic cone far exceeded the sum of all previous attacks!

The Shi Gu Demonic Cone rotated silently, carrying a terrifying aura of annihilating all things, like the gaze of death, slowly approaching the violently fluctuating Profound Armor of the Vast Sea light barrier. Inside the light barrier, the immense pressure seemed to solidify the air, and even the rotating sword wheel of the Five Elements Sword Rain Formation let out a groan of unbearable strain.

Zhao Tieshan, Liu Qing霜, Wu Ming, and the others' faces were ashen, desperately squeezing out the last trace of Spiritual Qi from their bodies into the Formation nodes, resisting the suffocating demonic might. Two Qi Refining Cultivators had even collapsed to the ground, their eyes filled only with despair.

Lin Feng stared intently at the slowly approaching demonic cone, then glanced at Iron Sword Shangren, whose aura on the reef was growing increasingly faint. A crazy thought flashed through his mind—to use the last bit of Divine Power, activate the Demon Slayer active skill, and combine it with the Qingfeng Thorn, perhaps he could block this attack again! But the price… would likely be his complete loss of combat ability, or even damage to his Foundation! And Iron Sword Shangren… would probably have no chance of survival!

No! There's still hope!

Just as the Shi Gu Demonic Cone was about to touch the light barrier, a resolute glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes, and he abruptly abandoned the thought of attacking. He slapped his Storage Pouch at his waist, and a jade box, carved from ten-thousand-year warm jade and emitting a misty Spiritual Qi, appeared in his hand. The moment the jade box opened—

Buzz!

An indescribable, pure and vast life aura, like the rising sun, instantly dispelled the oppressive demonic might and despair within the light barrier! A crimson glow illuminated every astonished face!

Inside the jade box, a fruit the size of a Dragon's eye lay quietly, entirely crimson like the purest flame gem, its surface naturally flowing with golden cloud patterns! The warm aura emitted by the fruit carried the fragrance of herbs and the essence of the earth; just a single whiff instantly invigorated one's spirit, and the depleted Spiritual Qi within his body seemed to become a tiny bit more active!

"Vermilion… Vermilion Fruit?!" Liu Qing霜's clear, cold eyes suddenly widened, and she gasped in surprise, her voice trembling with disbelief! As a core disciple of the Liu family, she instantly recognized this legendary healing sacred medicine! This fruit grows in places of extreme Yang where Earth Fire Spiritual Veins converge, ripening once every thousand years, containing vast life essence and Pure Yang Qi, making it a supreme treasure for repairing one's Dao Foundation, prolonging life, and healing injuries! Its value was immeasurable, often having no market price!

"My heavens… a Vermilion Fruit!" Zhao Tieshan's bell-like eyes almost popped out of his sockets as he looked at the crimson fruit as if he had seen a miracle!

Even the taciturn Wu Ming's eyes burst forth with a look of astonishment!

Lin Feng actually possessed such a Heaven-Defying divine item?! What was even more shocking was that he took it out without hesitation, intending to save Iron Sword Shangren!

"Brother Lin, you…" Zhao Tieshan's voice choked, the immense shock leaving him momentarily speechless.

"Saving a life now is more important than all external possessions." Lin Feng's voice was calm and firm. He quickly took out the Vermilion Fruit, condensed a trace of the gentlest water-elemental Spiritual Qi on his fingertip, and carefully placed the fruit into Iron Sword Shangren's mouth. The Vermilion Fruit melted upon entering his mouth, transforming into a warm,Hot crimson torrent that surged into Iron Sword Shangren's withered and shattered Meridians!

"Uh…" Iron Sword Shangren, in his coma, let out an unconscious grunt, and an abnormal flush instantly appeared on his pale face! The vast life essence, like the gentlest flame, began to forge and repair his damaged Heart Demon, internal organs, and the Sword Qi corroded by Devilish Qi! His weak aura, as if injected with a stimulant, began to recover and stabilize at a visible speed! From his collapsed chest, a faint crackling sound of bone growth could even be faintly heard!

The instant the Vermilion Fruit took effect!

Boom—!!!

The Shi Gu Demonic Cone finally slammed heavily onto the light barrier of the Profound Armor of the Vast Sea!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a grating, "sizzling" sound as if space was being forcibly torn and annihilated! The light blue light barrier, like ice thrown into concentrated sulfuric acid, rapidly turned pitch-black, corroded, and dissolved, centered on the point of impact of the demonic cone! The tenacious water ripple runes flashed wildly in resistance, but like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, they shattered in large swaths! The entire light barrier violently caved inward, and the cracks at the edges instantly expanded and spread, looking as if they were about to completely collapse!

Pfft!

Lin Feng, who was presiding over the Formation, bore the brunt of the impact, as if struck by a heavy blow, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out! Zhao Tieshan, Liu Qing霜, and Wu Ming also simultaneously groaned, their faces ashen, and their Spiritual Qi output instantly became chaotic! The sword wheel of the Five Elements Sword Rain Formation flickered erratically, almost disintegrating!

"Hold on!" Lin Feng's eyes were bloodshot. Disregarding his own injuries, he frantically squeezed out his last bit of strength into the Formation runes! Zhao Tieshan roared, like a wounded beast, his muscles bulging to their limit as he forcefully stabilized the node beneath his feet! Liu Qing霜 bit her lower lip so hard that blood seeped out, her Ice Soul Sword hovering before her, and ice-blue Spiritual Qi poured out without regard for the cost! A fierce glint flashed in Wu Ming's eyes, and he fiercely bit the tip of his tongue, spitting a mouthful of essence blood onto the Formation Flag in front of him!

With the combined strength of everyone, plus the spiritual invigoration brought by the Vermilion Fruit's life-saving effect, the light blue light barrier, on the verge of collapse, finally held firm under the terrifying annihilating power of the demonic cone! Although a huge, constantly writhing black hole had been corroded into it, and its light was extremely dim and flickering precariously, it ultimately… did not shatter!

"Hmm?" Outside the light barrier, Bone-Erosion Devil Lord frowned, clearly not expecting this incomplete Formation to still withstand an attack at seventy percent of his power. But seeing the huge hole in the light barrier, a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth: "Dying struggles! The next blow will send you to your graves!" His withered claw rose again, and an even denser Devilish Qi began to gather!

Inside the light barrier, Lin Feng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at Iron Sword Shangren, whose aura was gradually stabilizing and whose face was turning from ashen to rosy, a glimmer of hope finally appeared in his eyes. He turned to the exhausted but still resolute crowd, his voice hoarse but with a rock-like firmness:

"Hold on! Junior Martial Uncle Iron Sword… is about to wake up! As long as Junior Martial Uncle recovers, we… will have hope of waiting for reinforcements!"