Chapter 186: Escape

More than a dozen dazzling magic tools, including scissors, short halberds, giant claws, and green forks, struck the yellow light barrier one after another, causing its glow to dim further.

Liu Jiyuan's yellow formation plate developed several tiny cracks, and his brows furrowed deeply. "The formation won't hold! Everyone, follow me to engage the enemy and cut them down!"

Liu Jiyuan shouted loudly while casting a spell into the formation plate. The yellow light barrier immediately dissipated. He then conjured a red sphere, the size of an egg, and hurled it at the descending yellow seal.

"Boom!"

With a loud bang, the red sphere transformed into a large expanse of crimson flames, engulfing the yellow seal.

Liu Jiyuan flicked his sleeve, and five gleaming green flying swords shot out. They blurred, then transformed into a single fifteen-foot-long green giant sword, striking towards the yellow seal.

The others also manipulated their magic tools, attacking the descending yellow seal. If it were to land, everyone would surely perish.

With a thunderous explosion, the yellow seal was shattered to pieces by dozens of magic tools.

More than a dozen venomous insects charged towards Liu Jiyuan and his companions: black centipedes with four wings on their backs, purple-bodied eight-legged spiders, and giant toads with numerous swellings on their skin, among others.

In front of the insects were more than a dozen strangely shaped magic tools. Just as Liu Jiyuan was about to face them, a cry of alarm rang out: "The Nangong couple has fled!"

Wang Changsheng watched with his own eyes as Nangong Chen crushed an earth-escape talisman and, along with Song Yufeng, burrowed into the ground to escape.

If he remembered correctly, Nangong Chen had once auctioned off a talisman treasure. He fled immediately without even attempting to fight.

With the Nangong couple's escape, Wang Changsheng and the others also lost their will to fight.

Li Hongyuan crushed a fire-escape talisman, dissolving into scattered sparks.

Others either crushed escape talismans or conjured flying magic tools.

Wang Changsheng was also quick. He crushed an earth-escape talisman and disappeared underground.

Lin Junting conjured a flying magic tool, but before he could leap onto it, several magic tools had already reached him. He hastily conjured a yellow shield and held it before him.

Just then, two large yellow hands suddenly emerged from the ground, grabbing Lin Junting's feet.

Two green flying forks circled behind Lin Junting, momentarily piercing through his head. Lin Junting collapsed to the ground, his face filled with an expression of disbelief.

The yellow hands were, of course, Wang Changsheng's doing. At that moment, several Foundation Establishment cultivators had used earth-escape talismans to flee. After he burrowed underground, he used a strength-amplifying talisman. As for whether Lin Junting lived or died, he didn't care.

Enveloped in yellow light, Wang Changsheng rapidly descended deeper underground.

More than an hour later, Wang Changsheng emerged from the ground, covered by a thick yellow protective barrier.

He was now in a green bamboo forest. He suppressed his spiritual energy fluctuations and released his divine sense.

To his great relief, there were no other cultivators nearby.

Nangong Chen deserted the battlefield. Given his family's influence, he might not face punishment. However, if Wang Changsheng were to return to Immortal Fate City after deserting, he would certainly be in trouble. If the Song State won, and his desertion were to be revealed, he would not fare well. If the Wei State won, he had the blood of Wei State cultivators on his hands, and the Wei State might not tolerate him.

Considering that Wei State cultivators might be searching, he did not immediately return to Green Lotus Mountain. He began walking forward.

Half an hour later, he exited the bamboo forest, and a narrow mountain valley appeared before him.

Wang Changsheng frowned slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He raised a hand, and three blue flying knives shot out, striking towards a patch of bushes.

"Cousin Changsheng, it's me."

Zhao Ningxiang's voice suddenly rang out. She emerged from the bushes, covered by a thick yellow light barrier.

Wang Changsheng quickly changed his spell, and the three blue flying knives abruptly changed direction, flying back into his sleeve.

During the escape earlier, Zhao Ningxiang had crushed a wood-escape talisman to flee.

"Cousin Ningxiang, are you alone?" Wang Changsheng asked somewhat nervously, fearing that Zhao Ningxiang would lead him back to Immortal Fate City.

"Cousin Changsheng, don't worry, I won't urge you to return to the front lines. If you don't mind, you can hide with me for a few days."

Zhao Ningxiang finished speaking and turned to walk into the valley.

Wang Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then followed her.

At the end of the valley was a long waterfall, its clear water flowing into a pool.

A white cloud appeared under Zhao Ningxiang's feet, and she flew into the waterfall, disappearing from sight. Wang Changsheng followed closely.

Behind the waterfall was a passage several dozen feet long. At its end was a simple stone chamber about a hundred feet in size, with clear signs of artificial excavation.

Zhao Ningxiang took out a green meditation mat, sat cross-legged, and solemnly told Wang Changsheng, "Cousin Changsheng, when the Wei State cultivators leave, you should return to Green Lotus Mountain! Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. If I'm no longer around, I hope you'll help take care of the Zhao family."

Wang Changsheng hesitated for a moment, then agreed, asking curiously, "Cousin Ningxiang, are you returning to the front lines?"

"Yes, I still have things to do and must return to the front lines. I..."

Zhao Ningxiang's words were cut off by Wang Changsheng. "Be careful, someone's coming. They seem to have found us."

He stood up and moved to the right side of the passage, while Zhao Ningxiang stood on the left. Both were on high alert.

They had clearly suppressed their spiritual energy fluctuations, so how could someone have found them here? Was the other party's divine sense exceptionally powerful, rendering their qi-concealment technique useless?

"I am Nangong Chen. May I know the name of the fellow Daoist inside?"

Nangong Chen's voice suddenly echoed. They had seen a figure fly into the waterfall from a distance in the sky and wanted to hide together. Even if discovered by Wei State cultivators, someone could distract the enemy, buying them time to escape.

Wang Changsheng looked at Zhao Ningxiang, his face full of hesitation.

"Cousin Changsheng, please invite them in! It would be troublesome if we delay too long and the Wei State cultivators discover us."

Zhao Ningxiang's tone was calm, but a hint of killing intent quickly flashed in the depths of her eyes.

Wang Changsheng thought Zhao Ningxiang made sense. He took two steps forward and said loudly, "Fellow Daoist Nangong, I am Wang Changsheng. If you don't mind, please come in! It'll prevent the Wei State cultivators from finding you."

Zhao Ningxiang quickly walked to a corner, took out a small green cauldron, inserted a green sandalwood incense stick, and lit it. Then she took out a shimmering blue talisman, crushed it, and the green cauldron disappeared.

Wang Changsheng noticed everything she did.

"Cousin Changsheng, this doesn't concern you. If you're afraid, you can leave!" Zhao Ningxiang transmitted to Wang Changsheng.

At this moment, Nangong Chen and Song Yufeng flew in, both covered by a thick green protective barrier, their faces filled with vigilance.

Seeing Zhao Ningxiang, Song Yufeng's eyebrows furrowed, and she was about to leave. Suddenly, a deafening roar came from outside.

"Quickly, remove your protective barriers and suppress your spiritual energy fluctuations! You two want to die, but I don't want to die with you." Zhao Ningxiang said coldly, her tone quite displeased.

The enemy was nearby, so Nangong Chen and Song Yufeng dared not delay. They hastily removed their barriers and suppressed their spiritual energy fluctuations.

They found a corner, sat down cross-legged, their faces full of vigilance.

Wang Changsheng vaguely guessed what was happening. He had originally wanted to leave, not wanting to get involved, but the enemy was nearby, and leaving at this moment would be unwise.

He hesitated for a moment, then sat down in a corner, holding his breath.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The explosions continued, as if someone was fighting nearby. The four dared not reveal the slightest spiritual energy fluctuation.

After about fifteen minutes, the explosions stopped, but they still dared not leave.