Feminine wiles weren’t likely to work on Jiang Chen. Moreover, the holy girls and youngdies among the sixteen gold hairpins had their own reputations to uphold. Aside from the naturallyscivious ones, they generally couldn’t stoop so low as to approach him themselves.


    Two or three tried to use their natural and supernatural charms to get closer to Jiang Chen, but he dealt with them distantly. Nothing they did worked remotely well on him. They tried very hard, but couldn’t find an opening.


    Jiang Chen kept his agreement with the sacrednd in mind. He remained affable throughout the opening segment. No one was turned away.


    He greeted everyone with warmth and civility. This garnered him a certain amount of goodwill, since no peer of his was more renowned than he.


    Jiang Chen’s martial dao talent was a mystery to the world atrge. Some said he was only initial empyrean realm, while others imed he was mid.


    Because he was reserved rather thanmanding, his cultivation remainedrgely a secret.


    However, the ten sacrednds nevercked for top geniuses.


    Several of the best didn’t recognize Jiang Chen’s strength. ording to their sources, Jiang Chen had helped the Eternal and Martial Sacred Lands through various strategies and his helper, a sacred beast.


    Because he couldn’t employ thetter inbat during thepetition, they believed that they would be more than a match for him.


    Common sense dictated that since Jiang Chen had only risen to prominence in recent years, his strength was limited. Given how he had traded blows with Xiahou Zong a while back, he was probably only mid empyrean. What could two more years of progress give him? Fifth, maybe sixth level?


    Quite a few made this kind of assumption.


    Yes, the rumors about him were intimidating, but most chose to believe that the gossip had been spread in order to exaggerate his exploits in the eyes of the world. The grandpetition of geniuses would serve to test his true mettle against his fellows.


    Though the various factions hadrgely arrived, thepetition was in no hurry to begin.


    In the first few days, their leaders gathered together to figure out a set of rules for the event. They wanted to reach a consensus as best as possible.


    The younger geniuses took this time to connect with and test each other. Some formed groups and cliques.


    The ten sacrednds were the driving forces behind the rest, gs that showed which way the wind blew. Considering Jiang Chen had assisted the Martial Sacred Land in the past, its young people favored him.


    Aside from Martial, Abyssal Divine Nation was on good terms with Eternal as well. These three sacrednds formed a bloc, of which there were a total of four blocs.


    After gathering some information, Jiang Chen understood the gist of the undercurrents. Some of the sacrednds didn’t have high hopes of winning in thepetition, but others were set upon the crown.


    Those in thetter category were hostile toward him. Their young geniuses asionally chatted with him, but only in order to assess what kind of person he was.


    The second and third-rate factions hadergely to partake in the festivities and make themselves better known to their superiors. Catching the eye of the sacrednds was in itself a sess.


    ordingly, a segment before the actualpetition was the selection of geniuses from the weaker factions. If they were particrly excellent, they had the chance of being chosen by the sacrednds and bing their disciples.


    This was a show of sincerity from thetter. The ten sacrednds wanted to take the first steps toward publicizing the offworld battlefields.


    Jiang Chen knew that they hadn’t done so before out of worries that it would cause rampant chaos.


    However, not doing so had already led to rather disastrous consequences, and the sacrednds felt quite strained in any case. It was necessary to find new recruits and a wider field of participants to bolster their numbers.


    For the second and third-rate factions, this was an opportunity. If even one of their geniuses was chosen, they might very well rise to the top too. Thus, each genius from every faction was diligent and involved.


    Though Jiang Chen didn’t have much work to do, Ziju Min drafted him to strategize.


    “Young master Chen, I think highly of your keen eye. The Eternal Sacred Land would like to obtain every genius avable to us, even if that means choosing a few in error. Your very presence could help attract other promising talents toward us.”


    Jiang Chen wasn’t going to oppose the sacrednd’s ns. He was happy to see it take in new blood. “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to help.”


    The first prime and Ziju Min were both very pleased with his attitude.


    “That’s right, Jiang Chen. When thepetition begins, the forefathers from all the sacrednds will be in attendance. The prizes are particrly abundant here, as is the renown from the final ranking. In fact, it may very well influence your position in Myriad Abyss in the days toe. Be sure to do your best. Don’t hold anything back.” Ziju Min uttered some additional advice in a low voice.


    Jiang Chen knew that the rules had likely been decided on. “I’m here already, so I might as well give it my all.”


    “Alright. I’m counting on you.” The elder was gratified to hear it.


    There were several hundred second and third-rate factions in attendance at thepetition. Even Rejuvenation and Tritalent had participants present.


    The factions that Jiang Chen had recent run-ins with, like Heavenlight and Bluesmoke, were here as well.


    The people from Bluesmoke seemed to know that he had been responsible for ughtering arge contingent of Blue Eagle Guards. They looked at him with muted hostility and aplicated swirl of other emotions.