Just then, the ends of the eight chains suddenly emitted an eerie light.

The crimson ice crystals grew wildly like cancer cells, each one shimmering with a chilling light.

Sima Yan's soul struggled in agony, and with each struggle, the blood-red ice crystals grew half an inch toward his heart, mercilessly announcing the countdown to his life.

Upon hearing the threat from the woman in red, Zhao Yuwei's face turned deathly pale.

The longsword in her hand trembled slightly involuntarily.

She glanced at Xiao Feng beside her, then at the trapped Sima Yan, her heart breaking.

How would she make this choice?

Undoubtedly, she would never allow Xiao Feng to be in danger, but Sima Yan was, after all, her friend.

Should we just let him die like this?

Tears welled up in her eyes; this difficult choice felt like a heavy burden, making it hard for her to breathe.

She bit her lower lip tightly, gripping the longsword in her hand even tighter.

Xiao Feng noticed Zhao Yuwei's struggle. He gently took her hand and said softly, "Yuwei, don't be afraid. We will definitely find a way to rescue Sima Yan."

Zhao Yuwei looked up at Xiao Feng, but at that moment, the woman in red sneered, interrupting their tender moment: "Time is running out, Zhao Yuwei. You'd better make a decision quickly, otherwise..."

Before she finished speaking, the crimson ice crystals moved even closer to Sima Yan's heart.

Sima Yan let out a shrill scream, his soul trembling violently as if it were about to collapse at any moment.

Zhao Yuwei turned around abruptly, tears welling up in her eyes.

She looked at Xiao Feng, then at Sima Yan, and the long sword in her hand trembled even more violently.

But at this moment, she was thinking about what kind of decision to make.

"No, I would rather not save Sima Yan than let Xiao Feng die!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a sinister smile appeared on the woman in red's face, and she sneered, "Zhao Yuwei, you really are something, not caring about Sima Yan's life or death."

Before she finished speaking, the woman in red quickly formed hand seals, manipulating the crimson ice crystals.

The crystals seemed to come alive, frantically stabbing towards Sima Yan's body.

In the blink of an eye, the ice crystals pierced through his skin and went straight for his heart.

Although Sima Yan's physical body did not show any obvious reaction due to the separation of his soul and spirit, blood continued to gush from his wounds.

Crimson liquid flowed down the iron chains, forming horrifying pools of blood on the altar.

His body twitched slightly, as if he were enduring immense pain.

The illusory soul emitted a faint groan from the side.

Xiao Feng witnessed all of this and was extremely anxious.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, yet he felt no pain whatsoever.

"I must find a way to save Sima Yan!" he roared inwardly. "But how can I break this damned formation?"

Just then, Xiao Feng suddenly discovered that the formation had begun to absorb Sima Yan's body, and a powerful suction force was continuously drawing Sima Yan's life force into the formation.

He was shocked, knowing that if this situation continued, Sima Yan would be trapped in the formation forever, doomed to eternal damnation.

"No, we absolutely cannot let this happen!"

Xiao Feng's eyes widened in anger, his aura surging, and he decided not to sit idly by and wait for his death.

He formed hand seals, and the spiritual energy within his body surged forth like a river bursting its banks.

"Water Curtain Sky Splendor!" Xiao Feng roared.

In an instant, the water molecules in the surrounding air seemed to be summoned and quickly condensed.

In the blink of an eye, a huge curtain of water formed in front of Xiao Feng.

The water curtain was crystal clear, emitting a faint blue light, like a giant mirror.

Immediately afterwards, the faint sound of a dragon's roar could be heard coming from within the water curtain.

Nine water dragons slowly emerged from the water curtain, each one lifelike with clearly defined scales.

They bared their fangs and claws, their dragon bodies radiating a powerful aura.

The woman in red had underestimated Xiao Feng, but upon seeing this scene, her beautiful eyes revealed a look of horror.

She gritted her teeth, leaped down from the top of the pillar, formed a hand seal, and a strong red light emanated from her body.

"Hmph, let me test your Water Curtain Sky Splendor!"

However, Xiao Feng's Water Curtain Heavenly Splendor was far more powerful than she had imagined.

The water curtain, carrying nine water dragons, surged towards the woman in red like an unstoppable torrent.

Before the woman in red could mount an effective defense, she was instantly engulfed by the curtain of water.

With a loud "boom," the woman in red was thrown violently into the air and crashed heavily to the ground.

Her face was filled with disbelief, and her eyes revealed a hint of despair.

"This...how is this possible?" The woman in red struggled to her feet, staring at Xiao Feng in disbelief. "You...how could you possess such immense strength?"

Xiao Feng smiled coldly and did not answer.

He walked slowly forward, the water curtain and celestial splendor following him like a shadow, emanating a chilling pressure.

Xiao Feng's long sword flashed with cold light, pointing directly at the throat of the woman in red.

The sharp killing intent emanating from the sword tip pressed down, and the woman in red immediately broke out in a cold sweat, daring not to make a move.

"Release Sima Yan!" Xiao Feng shouted coldly, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

The woman in red swallowed hard, glancing at Sima Yan, who was trapped not far away.

Eight soul-binding chains were wrapped around Sima Yan's body, emitting a faint green light.

The chains seemed to have a life of their own, constantly writhing as if they were absorbing Sima Yan's life essence.

"This...this is impossible!" The woman in red said innocently, "Sima Yan is already trapped by the formation, even if I wanted to release him, I couldn't!"

Xiao Feng's eyes sharpened as he carefully surveyed his surroundings.

The eight soul-locking chains seemed to be wrapped around Sima Yan's body, and he didn't know how to save him.

At this moment, the entire formation was shrouded in a thin layer of blood mist, and faint wails could be heard, which was terrifying.

"Since that's the case, then I'll kill you first!" Xiao Feng's killing intent intensified, and with a slight force from the tip of his sword, he drew a bloody mark on the red-clad woman's neck.

"Wait!" the woman in red hurriedly begged for mercy, "I'm willing to serve you like a slave, young master, just please spare my life!"

Xiao Feng snorted coldly, dismissing such petty tricks with disdain.

He had already seen through the woman in red's trick; was she trying to deceive him?

impossible.

Just then, Zhao Yuwei urgently reminded him, "Xiao Feng, don't listen to her nonsense!"

"As long as the core of the formation is destroyed, Sima Yan will naturally be able to escape!"

Zhao Yuwei carefully observed the arrangement of the formation, her brows furrowing slightly.

"I've seen this formation. Perhaps if just one of the bronze pillars is destroyed, the entire formation will collapse!"

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Xiao Feng's eyes.

Just as he was about to adopt Zhao Yuwei's suggestion, he heard a cold laugh from the side.

The man in the black robe curled his lips into a mocking smile.

"Heh, how naive." The man in black robes slowly stepped forward, his expression mocking. "You think you can rescue Sima Yan by destroying the array's core? How childish."

Xiao Feng's heart skipped a beat. What did that mean?