Chapter 155: Escape from Death

"Damn it!" Jiangnan muttered a low curse, his mind racing to devise a plan.

The light on the altar grew ever brighter, enveloping the entire cave in a five‑colored halo. Jiangnan could feel a destructive force coalescing.

"Jiangnan, what do we do?" Caili asked anxiously, her voice trembling.

Jiangnan inhaled deeply, a flash of resolve in his eyes: "I'll block this force; you find a chance to escape."

"No!" Caili immediately protested, "I can't abandon you!"

Li Qing also agreed, "Yes, Jiangnan. We'll figure it out together!"

Jiangnan glanced at the two, a warm current rising in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly sensed a powerful surge of energy.

"Watch out!" Jiangnan shouted, swiftly stepping in front of Caili and Li Qing.

In the next instant, the altar's light erupted, spreading outward like a tide. Jiangnan formed hand seals, true Qi surging through his body, creating a barrier before him.

Boom!

The energy wave slammed into the barrier, producing a deafening roar. Jiangnan clenched his teeth, supporting the barrier with all his might.

"Hahaha!" the Cult Leader roared with madness, "Jiangnan, you think you can block this force with your alone? How laughable!"

Jiangnan ignored the Cult Leader's mockery, concentrating fully on maintaining the barrier. Yet he could feel his own power draining rapidly.

"I can't hold this much longer," Jiangnan thought inwardly, fine beads of sweat beading on his forehead.

At that moment, he suddenly felt a warm hand rest on his shoulder.

"Jiangnan, I'm coming to help!" Caili's firm voice rang in his ear.

Jiangnan was startled, trying to stop her, but discovered that Caili was already channeling her true Qi into him continuously.

"Me too!" Li Qing stepped forward, placing a hand on Jiangnan's other shoulder.

The three's forces converged, and the barrier instantly became sturdier. Jiangnan felt the support of the two, a warm current swelling in his heart.

"Thank you," Jiangnan said softly, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes.

Seeing this, the Cult Leader's face grew even more feral: "Overconfident! You three think you can oppose this force?"

He swung his hands violently, and the altar's light burst forth with an even stronger surge of energy.

Jiangnan felt immense pressure, yet he did not retreat. With Caili and Li Qing's support, he felt as if he possessed boundless strength.

"We will surely make it through!" Jiangnan silently vowed in his heart.

The energy waves grew ever stronger, the cave shaking violently as if about to collapse. Jiangnan, Caili, and Li Qing clung together, pouring all their effort into sustaining the barrier.

The Cult Leader cackled incessantly, as if he already saw the dawn of victory. Yet at that moment, a new anomaly erupted!

The altar's light suddenly became unstable, flickering on and off as if it could extinguish at any moment. The Cult Leader's complexion changed, and he shrieked in terror, "No! This can't be!"

Jiangnan keenly sensed the change, his heart stirring. He snapped his eyes open, looked toward the altar, and saw the Five-colored Spirit Stone developing cracks.

"I see," Jiangnan thought, "the Five-colored Spirit Stone can't bear this force; it's about to shatter!"

At that instant, "Snap!" the Five-colored Spirit Stone shattered completely. The powerful energy ran uncontrolled, like a wild horse unleashed, ravaging the cave.

"No!" the Cult Leader let out a desperate howl, his whole body being sucked into the energy vortex.

Seeing this, Jiangnan shouted, "Quick, escape while you can!"

He hauled Caili and Li Qing toward the exit. The energy wave surged, smashing the massive stone that blocked the cave mouth.

The three seized the chance and burst out of the cave, a rumbling roar echoing behind them. Looking back, the entire cavern was collapsing.

"Run!" Jiangnan shouted, pulling the two forward as they kept fleeing.

Rumble!

The whole mountain shuddered violently, rocks falling like rain. Jiangnan dragged Caili and Li Qing, sprinting desperately through the collapsing cave.

"Watch the overhead!" Jiangnan barked low, slamming a palm to shatter the massive rock hurtling toward them.

Caili gasped, dodging the splintering debris, clutching Jiangnan's sleeve tightly. Li Qing, unwilling to lag, activated light steps to follow closely.

The three darted left and right through the collapsing cave, finally spotting a sliver of light streaming in from the exit.

"It's just ahead, hold on a little longer!" Jiangnan gritted his teeth, sprinting with all his might.

Boom!

A deafening crash, the cave mouth collapsed with a boom. Jiangnan's eyes and hands were swift; he grabbed Caili and Li Qing and leapt upward.

The three barely burst out of the opening, smoke and dust billowing behind them as the entire cavern crumbled completely.

"Huff… huff…" Jiangnan gasped, turning to look at the collapsed cavern, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes.

"Five-colored Spirit Stone…" he murmured softly, silently lamenting its loss. That precious stone was likely now buried deep within the mountain's belly.

"Jiangnan, are you okay?" Caili asked worriedly, gently tugging his sleeve.

Jiangnan came to his senses, shaking his head, "I'm fine. And you?"

"We're all fine," Li Qing said, patting dust from his body, "Thanks to you."

Jiangnan was about to speak when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching. He instantly became alert, positioning himself in front of Caili and Li Qing.

"Who?" Jiangnan barked low.

A lone silhouette materialized out of thin air—a hoary‑haired elder clad in a teal Daoist robe, a long sword on his back, exuding an ethereal aura.

"Shushan Elder?" Li Qing exclaimed, quickly bowing, "Disciple Li Qing, honored to meet you, Elder."

The elder gave a slight nod, his gaze fixed on the collapsed cavern, murmuring softly, "A step too late…"

Jiangnan furrowed his brows, his caution deepening. Why had this Shushan Elder come?

"Thank you, sir, for rescuing my Shushan Disciple," the elder said, withdrawing his gaze and offering a clasped‑fist salute to Jiangnan.

Jiangnan gave a slight nod, saying little. He could sense the elder's power was unfathomable.

"Li Qing, come with me back to the mountain," the elder said, turning to depart.

"Wait!" Caili blurted out, "Li Qing…"

Li Qing hesitated briefly, then bowed deeply to Jiangnan and Caili, "Brother Jiangnan, Miss Caili, thank you both for saving me. I…"

"Go." Jiangnan said lightly, "Shushan has always been your home."

Li Qing's eyes flashed with a hint of reluctance, yet he also knew this was not the time for many words. He solemnly bid farewell to the two, then followed the elder.

In the blink of an eye, the elder and Li Qing vanished into the sky, as if they had never appeared.

"Jiangnan…" Caili called softly, eyes full of worry.

Jiangnan was silent for a moment, then sighed lightly: "We should also leave now."

Caili nodded, following Jiangnan's steps. The two walked silently, heading down the mountain.

Jiangnan also felt a bit helpless,

He had come to Nanjiang this time precisely for the Five-colored Spirit Stone, but did not expect that, in the end, he still missed it.