212: Using our bodies as a shield, we will share this calamity.

Li Ao's roar, steeped in towering rage and unyielding will, seemed to truly infuriate the existence hidden in the void.

High above, the mass of dark purple tribulation clouds violently churned. The central vortex, resembling an Eye of Destruction, coldly locked onto the embracing pair below and the defiant long saber. The first divine lightning bolt being consumed by the "silent ruin" did not cause the heavenly punishment to vanish; rather, it seemed to have provoked an even stronger killing intent.

Within the clouds, the color was no longer solely dark purple; wisps of heart-palpitating grayish-white began to interweave. That was... the aura of Soul annihilation!

"Buzz—!"

The "silent ruin" long saber autonomously floated, spanning the space in front of Li Ao and Medusa. The blade hummed, dark gold patterns flowed, emitting a Chaos halo that constructed a solid barrier. Having consumed the power of the heavenly punishment at its inception, it possessed immense spirituality. It clearly perceived its master's determined will and the fatal threat they faced, moving to protect him on its own.

However, Li Ao knew that relying solely on the "silent ruin," which had just formed and had not yet fully integrated with him, to independently bear this clearly stronger second wave of heavenly punishment was nearly impossible. Furthermore, he absolutely could not tolerate Medusa being affected in the slightest.

"Retrieve!"

With a thought, Li Ao suppressed the double agony wracking his Soul and Physical Body, fully circulating the nearly depleted Fighting Qi and Saber Intent within him. The floating "silent ruin" emitted a compliant chime, transforming into a stream of dark gold light that instantly merged into his body, settling deep within his Dantian Qi Sea.

Using his body as a sheath, he housed the weapon and concealed its edge!

This was the most perilous, yet currently the only way to maximize the power of the "silent ruin" while simultaneously using himself as a shield to protect Medusa. The instant the divine weapon entered his body, a vast, slightly volatile Chaos energy surged back, scouring his nearly depleted Meridians. This brought a tearing, swollen pain, but also gave his spirit a slight boost.

Simultaneously, the arm embracing Medusa's waist tightened, completely sheltering her in his arms, using his own back to directly face the descending destructive lightning.

"You..." Medusa was momentarily stunned by his almost overbearing protective posture. She struggled slightly, only to be held even tighter.

"Don't move!" Li Ao's voice was decisive and brooked no argument, carrying a kind of almost tyrannical tenderness she had never heard before. "This time, listen to me."

Medusa raised her eyes, gazing at his profile so close to her. His face was pale from pain and weakness, yet his features were resolute, as if carved by a saber and axe. In his eyes, fixed on the tribulation cloud, burned unyielding flames and cold killing intent, and deeper still was a determination to sacrifice himself for her.

She fell silent. Having dominated the Fighting Qi Continent for many years, when had she, Queen Medusa, ever needed such protection? When had she ever leaned so vulnerably into a man's embrace? Yet, at this moment, sensing the unsteady but extraordinarily firm heartbeat radiating from his chest, and smelling the scent of blood and lightning mixed on him, a strange, unprecedented sense of security quietly overwhelmed her physical pain and inner stubbornness.

She stopped struggling, simply resting her cheek gently against his solid chest. Her slender hands silently gripped the fabric of his robe. The remaining Fighting Qi within her quietly circulated, not for attack, but in preparation to share the burden with him at the final moment.

And it was precisely at this moment—

"Boom!!!"

The second heavenly punishment descended!

This bolt of lightning was no longer purely dark purple; instead, it transformed into a bizarre lightning pillar interwoven with three colors: purple, white, and black! It contained not only the Nirvana Power capable of destroying the Physical Body, but also the breath of annihilation that directly eroded the Soul, along with an extreme coldness that seemed to freeze time and space!

Before the lightning pillar even arrived, the terrifying pressure of will descended first, stronger than the first by more than several fold! The entire space of the Earth Core Furnace wailed in protest, and the surrounding rock walls began to collapse over large areas, crumbling into dust.

Li Ao's pupils sharply contracted. He held Medusa tightly. The "silent ruin" within his body frantically vibrated, unleashing all its Chaos Saber Intent. This power underwent Fusion with his residual Nirvana Dou Qi and the strength of the newly Awakening "Original Saber Soul," transforming into an incomparably solid, dark gold light barrier that seemed capable of isolating the rules of heaven and earth, firmly shielding the pair within.

"Block... this for me!!"

He roared hoarsely, blood once again seeping from his seven orifices due to the extreme overload. His appearance was ghastly, but his spine remained perfectly straight, like an unbending battle saber!

"Bang—!!!"

The three-colored lightning pillar violently slammed onto the dark gold light barrier.

This time, there was no silent erosion and consumption; instead, a world-shattering boom erupted! The violent energy shockwave spread out in a sudden ring, scouring the entire Earth Core Furnace. Countless amounts of magma were instantly vaporized, exposing the scorched rock beneath.

"Crack..."

After holding for less than a single breath, the light barrier, which concentrated all of Li Ao's power and the Origin of the "silent ruin," emitted the sound of shattering under the immense strain! Cracks quickly spread across it like a spider web.

"Ugh Ah—!"

The moment the light barrier shattered, the vast majority of the impact force and the terrifying Soul annihilation power slammed squarely into Li Ao's back!

His entire body violently shuddered. He felt as if he had been struck by a ten-thousand-zhang mountain moving at a speed surpassing space and time. His spine emitted a jarring crunching sound, seeming ready to snap the next instant! Even more terrifying was the Soul attack, which felt like countless red-hot steel needles fiercely piercing his Sea of Consciousness, threatening to completely shred and annihilate his consciousness!

Blood spewed wildly from his mouth, splashing onto Medusa's purple robe, mingling with her previous bloodstains until they were indistinguishable.

"Li Ao!"

Medusa clearly felt the violent trembling of his body and his instantly collapsing aura. Her heart clenched sharply, and she cried out involuntarily. Ignoring everything else, she forcibly activated her already damaged Meridians. Majestic Seven-Colored Dou Qi surged forth, transforming into a brilliant seven-colored light shield, attempting to shoulder a portion of the pressure for him.

However, how could the power of heavenly punishment be ordinary?

The seven-colored light shield instantly shattered under the residual force of the three-colored lightning pillar, lasting only a brief moment. Medusa groaned. Her suppressed injuries immediately flared up again, and blood spilled from the corner of her lips, her face turning deathly pale.

Nevertheless, their combined efforts ultimately neutralized the core destructive power of this second heavenly punishment.

When the lightning faded, a massive scorched crater was left behind. Li Ao knelt on one knee, supporting himself with his hand on the ground, barely preventing collapse. Medusa, still in his arms, was also brought to a half-kneeling position. Both were gravely injured and in wretched condition.

Li Ao's back was entirely scorched and bloody, with stark white bone visible. The damage to his Soul level made his consciousness hazy. Medusa's situation was equally grim, with her internal injuries severely aggravated.

However, the tribulation cloud high in the sky, though having shrunk slightly, still showed no intention of dissipating. The Eye of Destruction continued to gather power, seemingly vowing not to stop until these two ants who dared defy the heavens were utterly obliterated.

Li Ao struggled to raise his head, gazing at the continually brewing tribulation cloud. His bloodstained face showed no despair; instead, he managed a crazy, cold smile.

He looked down at the woman in his arms, who was equally scarred but whose eyes remained stubborn. His voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows:

"It seems... this damned Heaven is determined to take our lives..."

He took a deep breath, the air tasting of blood, yet an even more blazing flame ignited in his eyes. It was the absolute resolve of one who found life only by embracing death:

"Since that's the case... Cai Lin, dare you... go crazy with me one more time?"

His gaze fell upon the Qi Sea, where the "silent ruin," slightly dimmed from continuously resisting the heavenly punishment but still trembling defiantly, rested, along with the—[nirvana star core]—that had been dormant deep within his Soul, serving as his greatest trump card!