Ziche Min had always been resolute when it came to matters of principle. He immediately relayed Jiang Chen's attitude to the Great Sacred Lord.
The Great Sacred Lord had originally thought very highly of this Lan Huang. But after hearing Ziche Min's account, he cast a meaningful glance at Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen harbored no selfish motives whatsoever. Therefore, no matter how much subtext the Great Sacred Lord's gaze carried, Jiang Chen couldn't care less.
Perhaps the Great Sacred Lord would misunderstand, thinking he was trying to prevent other geniuses from joining the Eternal Sacred Land.
Jiang Chen naturally wouldn't explain himself too thoroughly. If the Great Sacred Lord insisted on thinking that way, Jiang Chen could only say it was a pity — and he would feel a slight measure of disappointment in the Great Sacred Lord's magnanimity and foresight.
But in the end, the Great Sacred Lord did not press the matter.
The Eternal Sacred Land's abrupt withdrawal caught everyone off guard. Originally, people had assumed the Eternal Sacred Land would vie with the Hundred Sacred Land right down to the wire.
Yet the Eternal Sacred Land had pulled out this early, and no one quite understood why.
That said, the other Sacred Lands were naturally pleased to see the Eternal Sacred Land bow out. At the very least, they had one fewer formidable competitor to contend with.
It had to be said that the Eternal Sacred Land's unexpected withdrawal robbed the contest for Lan Huang of much of its excitement. As for the other Sacred Lands, none of them matched the Hundred Sacred Land in sheer determination.
If the Eternal Sacred Land had still been in the running, riding the momentum they'd built, there might have been a chance of putting up a real fight against the Hundred Sacred Land.
But with the Eternal Sacred Land gone, the other Sacred Lands crumbled against the Hundred Sacred Land's dominance, giving up one after another without putting up much resistance.
In the end, Lan Huang was — without any doubt — destined to become a member of the Hundred Sacred Land.
But then, something unexpected happened.
Just as the people from the Hundred Sacred Land were preparing to make their acceptance speech, Lan Huang suddenly spoke up: "I am deeply grateful for the Hundred Sacred Land's generous offer. Lan is truly honored. However—"
At that, Lan Huang paused, a look of utmost sincerity appearing in his eyes. "However, the only goal I had in coming here was to have the privilege of joining the Eternal Sacred Land. Even if the Eternal Sacred Land offers me no promises at all, I would still wish to join."
The air at the venue seemed to plummet by a dozen degrees.
The senior figures from the Hundred Sacred Land had been beaming moments ago, their faces full of jubilant smiles. But after hearing these words, their expressions froze instantly, frost creeping across their faces.
Lan Huang had actually said something like this at this critical juncture?
Was this a slap across the Hundred Sacred Land's face?
Lan Huang's gaze was clear and earnest. He cupped his fists and bowed deeply toward the Hundred Sacred Land delegation. "Esteemed seniors, the Hundred Sacred Land is the leading power of the Myriad Abyss Island. In my heart, it is absolutely a top-tier existence. If anyone is at fault, it is entirely this junior's own fault. I have an obsession in my heart, which is to join the Eternal Sacred Land. I hope that one day, I may stand alongside Brother Jiang Chen of the Eternal Sacred Land."
Jiang Chen — again!
The senior figures of the Hundred Sacred Land wore iron-gray expressions, one and all. There was no denying it — this slap was brutal. But Lan Huang's tone was so sincere, and his meaning was crystal clear: this wasn't because the Hundred Sacred Land was lacking, but because he, Lan Huang, had a fixation, an obsession.
There was a saying that one doesn't strike a smiling man. Since Lan Huang had spoken with such earnestness, if they now turned around and targeted him, people would laugh at the Hundred Sacred Land for lacking magnanimity.
After all, the Hundred Sacred Land hadn't reached the point of grasping at straws, nor were they so desperate that they couldn't survive without this one genius.