Chapter 156: Escape from Death

"Damn it!" Jiangnan muttered, his mind racing to devise a countermeasure.

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 protested immediately, "I can't abandon you!"

Li Qing agreed, "Right, Jiangnan. We'll figure something out together!"

Jiangnan glanced at the two, a warm current rising in his chest. Just as he was about to speak, he sensed a massive energy wave.

"Watch out!" Jiangnan shouted, springing forward to shield Caili and Li Qing.

In the next instant, the altar's light erupted, spreading outward like a tide. Jiangnan formed seals with both hands, 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, pouring all his strength into holding the barrier.

"Hahaha!" the Cult Leader roared madly, "Jiangnan, you think you can block this force single‑handed? How laughable!"

Jiangnan ignored the Cult Leader's mockery, focusing entirely on maintaining the barrier. Yet he could feel his own strength draining rapidly.

"I can't hold this much longer," Jiangnan thought, fine beads of sweat forming 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 startled, trying to stop her, but realized 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 whispered, 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 stand against this force?"

He swung his hands violently, causing the altar's light to burst into an even stronger energy wave.

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

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

The energy wave grew ever stronger, the entire cave shaking violently as if about to collapse. Jiangnan, Caili, and Li Qing clung together, pouring all 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 erratic, flickering as if about to extinguish. The Cult Leader's face changed, and he shrieked in terror, "No! This can't be!"

Jiangnan keenly sensed the shift, his heart stirring. He snapped his eyes open, gazing at the altar, and saw the Five-colored Spirit Stone cracking.

"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 massive energy ran wild, like a runaway stallion ravaging the cave.

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

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

He grabbed Caili and Li Qing, sprinting toward the cave entrance. The energy wave surged, smashing the boulders blocking the exit.

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

"Run!" Jiangnan shouted, pulling the two forward.

Rumble!

The whole mountain quaked violently, debris raining down. Jiangnan hauled Caili and Li Qing, racing desperately through the collapsing cave.

"Watch the ceiling!" Jiangnan barked, smashing a boulder crashing toward them with a single palm.

Caili gasped, dodging the splintering debris while clinging tightly to Jiangnan's sleeve. Li Qing, unwilling to lag, activated his light skill and followed close behind.

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

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

Boom!

A deafening crash, the cave mouth collapsed. Jiangnan's eyes flashed, grabbing Caili and Li Qing and leaping forward.

The three barely burst through the opening, smoke and dust billowing behind them as the entire cavern collapsed completely.

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

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

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

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

"We're all fine," Li Qing patted the dust off, "Thanks to you."

Jiangnan was about to speak when a powerful aura surged near. He instantly went on guard, positioning himself before Caili and Li Qing.

"Who?" Jiangnan barked.

A lone silhouette materialized out of thin air: an elderly man with white hair, clad in a teal Dao robe, sword on his back, bearing an immortal bearing.

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

The elder nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on the collapsing cavern, murmuring softly, "Arrived a step too late…"

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

"Thank you, sir, for rescuing my Shushan Disciple," the elder said, bowing his fist to Jiangnan in gratitude.

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 leave.

"Wait!" Caili blurted, "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 calmly, "Shushan was always 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, worry filling their eyes.

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

Caili nodded and followed Jiangnan's steps. The two walked silently, wordlessly, down the mountain.

Jiangnan also felt a bit helpless,

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