This arrangement was as good as it could be.
But the question of who would go first and who would go after remained a thorny issue. Some suggested drawing lots—however the draw fell, that would set the order.
Jiang Chen smiled and said, "That's simple. As for the young geniuses' presentations, I'll go first this round. Next round, the Holy Lands go first. That's the fairest approach. What does everyone think?"
By taking the initiative, Jiang Chen won a wave of approval.
"Jiang Chen, young friend, you're refreshingly straightforward. Let's settle it then. Representatives of the Hundred Holy Lands—what do you say?"
Over on the Hundred Holy Lands side, they were silently cursing Jiang Chen for being cunning. Naturally, the presentations from the Holy Land elders carried far more weight. The young geniuses' speeches were merely supplementary. The order of who went first or last hardly mattered compared to the sequence of the elders' presentations.
But now that the other side had already said all the right things, if they jumped up to object, it would clearly show a lack of confidence and make them a laughingstock.
Still, even at a time like this, they couldn't concede on even minor details.
Saint Lord Zhao smiled and said, "In my opinion, we should still draw lots. That way, regardless of who wins or loses, it'll be transparent—no room for dispute."
Since the Hundred Holy Lands wanted to draw lots, then draw lots they would.
Yet somehow, the results of the lottery seemed tailor-made to cooperate with Jiang Chen—the order came out exactly as he had proposed.
After seeing the results, Jiang Chen laughed and said, "It seems I have the gift of foresight. Very well, since that's the case, this humble Jiang shall embarrass himself first. Senior fellow cultivators, peers and friends alike, please bear with me and offer your guidance. If you find anything I say wanting, please don't hesitate to correct me."
Jiang Chen was not, in truth, a modest person—but in a setting like this, a degree of modesty was necessary. It was simply what the occasion demanded.
Everyone applauded. Clearly, they were won over by Jiang Chen's poised and confident bearing. Even those who had held reservations about him had to admit that this young man possessed advantages unmatched by his peers—a unique charisma all his own.
Jiang Chen cleared his throat and began, "In fact, several seniors have already pointed out that the Ten Great Holy Lands stand as equals, with none superior to the others. Our Eternal Holy Land's decision to compete for the position of Alliance Leader came about through a confluence of favorable circumstances and impeccable timing. As the saying goes, the higher the position, the greater the responsibility. Though the seat of Alliance Leader is prestigious, the burden that comes with it is equally heavy. That is why, before competing for this role, our Eternal Holy Land gave careful thought to what kind of leader the Myriad Abyss Island truly needs, where the future of the Divine Abyss Continent is headed, and what contribution we can make to that state of affairs. Whether others have given these questions serious consideration, I cannot say—but speaking for myself, I have thought long and hard about them."
Upon hearing these words, the assembly could feel Jiang Chen's sincerity. Many of the elders nodded inwardly. Such a measured and dignified speech was a clear indication of Jiang Chen's exceptional character.
Jiang Chen continued, "Some have always sought to isolate the Myriad Abyss Island, believing that as long as the Island remains secure, the world has nothing to worry about. In normal times, this thinking isn't exactly wrong. But when chaos arrives, it becomes deeply problematic. The Divine Abyss Continent consists of two parts: the vast inland territories on one hand, and the boundless ocean on the other—our Myriad Abyss Island being the sovereign of those endless seas. You may all know that I come from the Human Territory—a region universally acknowledged as the weakest, one that has lost its heritage, its resources, and is widely considered to have no future. Yet the people of the Human Territory have now recognized the crisis. No matter how weak we are, we are all preparing for the turmoil to come. Why? Because across the inland territories, the shadow of the ancient Demon Race's devastation still looms. The Demon Tribulation could erupt at any time in the coming years. And when it does, do you truly believe it will have nothing to do with the Myriad Abyss Island? Do you think the demons will politely leave the Island alone simply because it belongs to the Ten Great Holy Lands?"
Clearly, the Demon Race was not in the habit of being so courteous. There was nowhere the demons would not go. The more powerful a place was, the more it was a juicy prize in their eyes.
"If I had to sum up the current situation in four words, it would be 'trouble within, threat without.' At a time like this, we must adopt an open-minded approach. If we still cling to the importance of sectarian boundaries, cling to prejudice and selfishness, each fighting our own separate battles—then whether it is the Myriad Abyss Island or the inland territories, all will fall. I need not extol the combat prowess of the Demon Race. And the extraterritorial adventurers from beyond will continue to pour in. Attacked from both inside and out, if the Divine Abyss Continent cannot unite as one, how can we possibly face such a predicament?"
Jiang Chen laid out the situation with crystal clarity, placing the brutal reality before everyone's eyes so that none could cling to illusions any longer.
For a moment, everyone—including the great figures of the Holy Lands—felt a heavy weight settle over their hearts. In truth, many of them had been adopting an ostrich mentality, deliberately or unconsciously avoiding all mention of the Demon Race. The extraterritorial battlefield was already stretching them to their limits. If the demons were to rampage as well, fighting on two fronts would make the situation infinitely more dire.
"Whether we are willing to accept it or not, this is how things will develop. Of course, there is no need to live in terror. The Divine Abyss Continent has its own reserves of strength. In the ancient era, the Demon Race was fearsome indeed—yet were they not ultimately brought low on this very land? The native forces have their own inherent advantages. Foreign invaders, no matter how powerful, lack roots and sufficient manpower. Eventually, they will exhaust themselves. What we must do is unite and prepare for the struggle. Only by fighting to the bitter end can we secure survival. If we lack the courage to hold firm in our convictions, then we had better prepare ourselves psychologically to become slaves of foreign races."
The harsh reality lay before them all.
"If our Eternal Holy Land takes the position of Alliance Leader, our first priority will be to address the extraterritorial battlefield—concentrating our forces to resolve the chaos there."
"Resolving the chaos on the extraterritorial battlefield will not happen overnight. But we must find a way to alter the trajectory of the Celestial Track, or find a method to conceal the Divine Abyss Continent's plane coordinates. That is the root of the problem."
"As long as we can conceal the plane coordinates, the foreign invaders will be unable to find our Divine Abyss Continent, and the external threat can be eliminated. Then, by focusing our strength against the Demon Race, our chances of victory will be greatly improved."
"Eliminating the external threat is one aspect; strengthening ourselves is another. Our Divine Abyss Continent must also elevate its own level. I am confident that, with the appearance of the Heaven Ranked Pill and the Taiyi Heaven-Mending Pill, the overall strength of every Holy Land will receive a tremendous boost."
"As for concealing the plane coordinates—it is not an easy matter, but neither is it without possibility."
At this point, Jiang Chen smiled and said, "That is all I have to say for now. If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. This humble Jiang will hold nothing back."
Every heart in the assembly was deeply shaken. What Jiang Chen had offered was not mere lofty rhetoric—it was a strategic framework covering the broadest directions of policy.
In truth, even the Divine Path elders of the Ten Great Holy Lands could hardly have conceived of more, and in certain details, Jiang Chen's thinking was sharper than theirs.