Once suspicion took root in one person's heart, it would inevitably spread to others, creating a chain reaction.
Jiang Chen had not revealed himself. Instead, he remained hidden in the shadows, observing the reactions of everyone below. His spiritual sense was extraordinarily powerful, and the penetrating insight of his Heavenly Eye Divine Pupil was equally formidable.
Before long, he had identified several individuals who had been the loudest in whipping up the crowd, only to slip back into the throng once they had stirred everyone's emotions into a frenzy.
Jiang Chen committed every one of these agitators' features to memory.
He quietly relayed the information to the Ten Great Ancestors.
The Ten Great Ancestors immediately deployed their Divine Abilities, reaching into the crowd and dragging those individuals out for all to see.
When the crowd witnessed the Ten Great Ancestors taking action with their own hands, the atmosphere on the ground turned to sheer panic. Many turned pale, their entire bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"The Ten Great Sacred Lands are going to kill us!"
Someone in the crowd began stoking emotions once more. This time, Jiang Chen sent out the Divine Bird Vermilion Phoenix without hesitation. Its crimson dharma form flickered once and vanished into the crowd.
With a casual grab, it seized the troublemaker and lifted him into the air.
When the Divine Bird Vermilion Phoenix was dispatched, capturing the target was as effortless as reaching out a hand.
The Eternal Sacred Ancestor's expression was cold as frost. He spoke in an icy tone: "Everyone, use your heads for a moment. Do the Ten Great Sacred Lands truly need you as cannon fodder?"
"If we genuinely intended to use you as cannon fodder to draw the enemy's attention, we would have you scatter and flee in all directions — that would be the way to disperse the enemy's focus. Wouldn't it be far more convenient for the Ten Great Sacred Lands to slip away while the enemy gave chase?"
The Eternal Sacred Ancestor's words struck like a bolt from the blue. Every person present felt their hearts jolt, and upon a moment's careful reflection, the logic was undeniable.
If the Ten Great Sacred Lands truly wished to escape, this was exactly the approach they would take.
"To be frank with you all, the Ten Great Sacred Lands have long suspected that certain factions participating in the Genius Grand Tournament were colluding with outside enemies. We simply chose not to expose it. Now, in order to prevent widespread panic, we will not reveal who the moles are at this time. However, the individuals we have pulled from the crowd are under grave suspicion. To ensure that no innocent blood is shed, we will place these suspects under solitary confinement. Once we leave Pingsha Island and everyone is safe, we will conduct a thorough investigation. If they truly are traitors, the Ten Great Sacred Lands will execute them without mercy!"
"Now, the choice is yours. You too have the right to decide — board the airship and accept the arrangement made by the Ten Great Sacred Lands, departing this place safely, or remain on Pingsha Island, abandon the protection of the Ten Great Sacred Lands, and fend for yourselves."
The Eternal Sacred Ancestor's tone was not overbearing.
But at this juncture, everyone understood clearly that staying behind meant death.
Moreover, the Ten Great Sacred Lands had stated plainly that they would not send anyone to serve as cannon fodder.
After all, the Ten Great Sacred Lands were organizations of prestige and pride. They could not lie through their teeth in front of everyone, nor could they cast aside the dignity of their sacred lands to deceive these second- and third-rate factions.
In short order, especially among the factions that had long been loyal to the Ten Great Sacred Lands, many stepped forward to cooperate willingly.
"We will board the airship."
"The Ten Great Sacred Lands have always been our leaders. We trust they can guide us to safety."
"If even the Ten Great Sacred Lands are to be doubted, then there is no force in Myriad Abyss Island worthy of trust."
Before long, the majority of the factions had returned to the airship of their own accord. Only a small handful still hesitated, but seeing the crowd on the ground dwindle to almost nothing, they had no real choice and filed into the airship as well.
In the end, fewer than a few dozen people remained, milling about in place with no resolution.
The Eternal Sacred Ancestor regarded these remaining individuals with a cold gaze. Without question, even if these people had no actual ties to outside forces, they bore not the slightest sense of loyalty or belonging toward the Ten Great Sacred Lands.
The Ten Great Divine Dao Ancestors exchanged a knowing glance.