Since Saints rarely resort to force, it was only natural that Ji Wangquan had never witnessed the true power of a Saint. But Chen Kuang had.
And he had seen it not once, but four times.
Now, there was even a Saint right beside him, whose mind and heart resonated with his own.
Chen Kuang understood clearly: the reason Ji Chengtian dared to threaten him using his family the very moment Lu Zhexuan attained sainthood was precisely because he understood the power of a Saint, and also its limitations.
Ji Chengtian's true objective was not to immediately force Chen Kuang into submission, but to create for him a dilemma.
Lu Zhexuan, no matter how strong, was only one person.
Yet Ji Chengtian had many trump cards at his disposal.
The distance between Liang and the Ancient Battlefield of Meditation spanned tens of thousands of miles. Even Chen Kuang, to say nothing of Saints, could not reach it instantly without burning considerable effort. For a Saint to rush there, they would have to go all out, and even then, the time required was uncertain.
If Chen Kuang wanted to ensure his family's safety during that window, then Lu Zhexuan would have to remain in Liang. Otherwise, what unpredictable variables might arise, no one could say.
With the Mysterious Divine Path Sect and the Martial Saint Pavilion at war, neither had the bandwidth to intervene, and if the Three Calamities Sect tried to fish in troubled waters, it would be all too easy.
Ji Chengtian's goal was to force Chen Kuang to choose: should Lu Zhexuan protect him, or protect the Chen Family?
Since Ji Chengtian had located the Chen family, he had clearly also investigated all of Chen Kuang's activities in Jishao Prefecture, and understood his temperament well.
Protecting himself, Chen Kuang could never bring himself to do it, not without damaging his Dao Heart.
Protecting his family, however, would mean placing himself once again in mortal danger...
Ji Chengtian had already predicted that Chen Kuang would choose the latter.
Every single time in the past, no matter how close he came to ending his precarious, hunted life, he had always thrown himself back into danger for the sake of someone, or something.
And this time would be no different.
Chen Kuang's response was simple:
"Each according to their own abilities."
All the back-and-forth earlier with Zhou Yanwei and Ji Wangquan was merely to stall for time, enough time for Lu Zhexuan to reach the Chen Residence.
Ever since Lu Zhexuan attained sainthood through "unwavering devotion," Chen Kuang, as the one she had been devoted to, had naturally gained a unique Divine Ability, the ability to share thoughts and communicate soul-to-soul with her, to perceive each other's state and send heartfelt messages.
Just now, while appearing to speak at length, Chen Kuang had in fact split his consciousness and sent Lu Zhexuan to the Chen family.
Naturally, Lu Zhexuan only truly cared about Chen Kuang's life.
But she also knew, if he abandoned his family, he would no longer be Chen Kuang, but a cold, heartless stranger.
This was a man who seemed ruthless, yet was in truth the most easily swayed by sentiment.
When Chen Kuang sweet-talked her into "going to meet the in-laws," even her Saintly mental state could not stop her from blushing furiously, yet in the end, she agreed.
But in truth, Lu Zhexuan had vaguely sensed something else: a Saint had emerged from the Sea of Reincarnation and Suffering.
This Saint could only be the Eastern Sovereign, who had once died in Liang.
If Chen Kuang wanted to escape, this figure was a gatekeeper that he would have to face.
Thus, Lu Zhexuan's trip was also partially to block that path for him.
Moreover, Chen Kuang had shared with her Huo Hengxuan's original plan: the Mysterious Divine Path Sect was to clash with the Martial Saint Pavilion, and only Wugou Pure Land could protect Chen Kuang now.
Especially since his cultivation methods needed a legitimate origin, lest he incur Wugou Pure Land's wrath in the future.
Lu Zhexuan weighed her options and made her choice. Their mind-speech exchange had, in truth, taken only a few heartbeats.
Now, she had already arrived.
Ji Wangquan's pupils contracted sharply. She had seen the phantom image dissipate, how could she not understand?
Within the transmission talisman in Chen Kuang's hand, the image of the Chen Residence now showed a Daoist nun stepping forth from the darkness.
She didn't even wave her sleeve, just a single thought, and most of the death warriors dropped dead instantly.
Zhou Yanwei broke out in cold sweat, paralyzed in place.
The remaining death warriors went into suicidal attacks, but Lu Zhexuan merely flicked her horsetail whisk. Ethereal and transcendent, she struck without effort, yet the warriors were torn apart body and soul.
In this way, the Chen Family was saved.
Ji Wangquan had lost her bargaining chip.
But this, too, was the most opportune moment!
She shouted:
"By the decree of the Emperor, Chen Kuang is to be detained, dead or alive! Offerings, take action!"
The ones sent to the Chen Residence were death warriors. But the ones here in ambush, were Consecrated Experts.
They must have used secret techniques to hide themselves miles away, waiting for Lu Zhexuan to leave before appearing.
Now, four figures stepped out, one in each direction, all of them near the peak of the Grandmaster realm!
Add to that the Grandmaster already standing behind Ji Wangquan, representing Great Zhou, that made five Grandmasters dispatched by Ji Chengtian... and likely more in hiding.
If they failed to capture Chen Kuang, next to arrive might be Profound Realm experts.
Besides the Three Calamities Sect's Supreme Elder, who was already peak Profound Realm, Great Zhou still had two Profound Realm experts in service to the imperial court.
Whether they would appear today remained to be seen.
Chen Kuang swept his cold gaze across them, and said with biting chill:
"Ji Chengtian really holds me in high regard."
Ji Wangquan didn't dare show the slightest carelessness, retreating swiftly as she said:
"Your deed at Eastern Court Lake, defeating three Grandmasters to offer their heads to the Dragon King, has made it to the Canglang Evaluation. You're famous throughout the land. How could we not take you seriously?"
Five Grandmasters, encircling him.
Thunder rumbled in Chen Kuang's mind, this was his Blood Premonition triggering, but his soul had been too heavily taxed, and the warning signals were now faint and unclear.
Fortunately, with the many passives he'd unlocked, he now had a method to restore his soul:
[Head over Heels: The more people miss you, and the stronger their attachment, the more powerful your soul becomes, and the faster it recovers.]
A simple passive.
At first glance, it seemed to encourage him to build a vast harem and become a charm demon. But in truth, this ability didn't specify whether the other party's longing was love... or hatred.
In other words, provoking hatred worked too, and in this, Chen Kuang was a true master.
Now, without even trying, he had five more people wholeheartedly thinking about him.
With so many enemies, passives like "Invincible Before the Divine", and "Last-Second Reversal" activated in full.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Kuang turned and fled.
The five Grandmasters turned into streaks of light and chased after him.
Two of them exchanged glances and split off, trying to flank him.
But they soon met unexpected resistance,
"If you want to touch Chen Kuang, you'll have to get through this old man first!"
It was Ling Yazhi who stepped out to block one of the Grandmasters!
The rest of the sect Grandmasters also stepped forward:
"Since it's each by their own ability, count me in too!"
"Haha, such a lively scene, this old man will stir things up a bit too!"
"A good time to loosen the joints."
"Amitabha, Heaven holds mercy for all. Might the Princess show them some grace?"
Ji Wangquan's breath caught in her throat.
Never had she imagined that the Grandmasters chosen by various sects to maintain order would, at this critical moment, all stand against Great Zhou.
She shouted:
"The soldiers of Great Zhou are fighting on the front lines-!"
Xu Datong cut her off, spitting angrily:
"At the Northern Plains, Ji Chengtian may dare retreat three li, but never three hundred. If the Night Barbarians break through, even he will suffer! This is clearly just a bluff!"
Seeing this, Tang Qiusheng and the others were stunned for a moment, then broke into wide smiles, rushing forward to assist Chen Kuang.
But one of Great Zhou's Grandmasters was a master of Godspeed techniques, in a blink, he appeared behind Chen Kuang, curved around, and struck directly at his chest with a palm.
Chen Kuang had no room to dodge, but suddenly, a paper crane zipped through the air beside him, faster than the eye could follow.
Then came an elderly voice:
"Chen Kuang, you once promised me a poem, do you still intend to keep your word?"
Chen Kuang's eyes lit up:
It was the Master of Liberty Mountain!