Jiang Chen understood what the Grand Master was getting at. The Hundred Sacred Lands were making such a show of themselves for a reason — after the alliance was formed, they clearly intended to vie for the position of alliance leader.
That said, Jiang Chen firmly believed that the small favors handed out during this selection process wouldn't affect who ultimately became alliance leader.
Moreover, the Hundred Sacred Lands' high-profile approach — constantly dangling welcome gifts and all manner of promises to recruit people — was far too conspicuous.
It was entirely possible that the Hundred Sacred Lands would end up painting a target on their own backs, rubbing the other Sacred Lands the wrong way and directing their hostility squarely at the Hundred Sacred Lands.
"Elder Zi Che, this selection process is too flashy. That's not necessarily a good thing. I think the Hundred Sacred Lands' behavior will only breed resentment. There's no need to compete head-on with them. If they want to play the fool and spend lavishly, let them."
Jiang Chen had not lost his composure.
Zi Che Min grew anxious: "The Hundred Sacred Lands are recruiting so many geniuses, and the Grand Master worries that they'll make even bigger moves later — snapping up the truly top-tier talent as well."
"Relax. So-called top-tier geniuses — whether ranked in the top ten or around the hundred-and-fiftieth — there's no real fundamental gap between them. Some people simply opened their minds a bit earlier, or had access to more resources. I think sometimes you need to take a broader view and look for details that others overlook. If you only go by ranking, it's easy to fall into a trap."
Jiang Chen patiently offered his counsel. He had no desire whatsoever for the Eternal Sacred Land and the Hundred Sacred Lands to engage in this kind of pointless competition. Overspending on recruitment during the selection would absolutely be a net loss.
Of the hundred and fifty names on the ranking, the ones truly worth spending a fortune to recruit would not exceed twenty.
And those who were so outstanding that Jiang Chen's eyes lit up at first glance were even fewer.
As they were speaking, they reached the genius ranked sixty-fifth.
The young man was introducing himself: "This junior is Su Tong, a cultivator from Anyun Island."
Jiang Chen's eyes flickered. He studied the young man, and a hint of a smile crept onto his lips. He hadn't paid much attention before, but now that he focused, he realized he actually knew this person.
Though the other party had clearly disguised his appearance, Jiang Chen felt certain this was an old acquaintance.
"Elder Zi Che, what kind of place is Anyun Island?" Jiang Chen asked curiously.
"Heh, Anyun Island doesn't have the best reputation. It's an island domain where pirates congregate — full of gangs and factions. It's widely recognized as one of the more chaotic places in the Myriad Abyss Island."
"Oh?" Jiang Chen watched the proceedings with interest, and sure enough, once this Su Tong announced he was from Anyun Island, the representatives from the Ten Great Sacred Lands all suddenly went deaf and mute.
"Our Sacred Land has no interest in this one?" Jiang Chen asked Zi Che Min.
"None. Cultivators from Anyun Island — their backgrounds are murky, their identities hard to trace. Better to avoid trouble."
It was clear this was the universal attitude among the Sacred Lands. They had no fondness for young geniuses from gang backgrounds. After all, gangs banded together primarily for profit, which was fundamentally different from the organizational model of sects or clans.
Sects were united by shared ideals and inherited traditions — those were the threads that bound them together.
Clans were bound by blood.
Gangs, on the other hand, were held together entirely by self-interest. It was widely understood that the web of relationships within a gang was far more complicated.
Jiang Chen watched as this Su Tong pitched himself with tremendous enthusiasm, and it was obvious that the young man was desperately eager to catch the eye of at least one Sacred Land.