Chapter 5179 — Trial Rules
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Cross-tier challenges?" The crowd was startled. For an ordinary disciple this was something almost unimaginable, and yet it was also the mark of a genius disciple. Anyone capable of a cross-tier challenge was no simple character, and so naturally deserved to be counted among the geniuses.
"That's right. You may challenge anyone on a higher-tier team, with no limit on the number of attempts, and your opponent may not refuse. So long as one of you succeeds even once, you need not take part in the regular matches and will likewise earn your trial qualification automatically," Xin Yi'an nodded.
The crowd's expressions varied at these words. Beyond the regular rules there was this one special rule as well; this Trial Grand Tournament had clearly been thought through very carefully, which showed just how much the upper echelons of the Ancient Alliance valued it. And precisely for that reason, they had all the more need to think of every means to perform well, for what was at stake was not only the Ancient Trial before their eyes, but very likely their future prospects within the Ancient Alliance as well.
"May I ask, Uncle-Master Xin, what happens if one fails the cross-tier challenge and also fails to win three of five in the regular matches?" the crowd asked, unable to hide their worry.
"Then you simply fail to obtain trial qualification, and once this mortal-world training is over you'll be sent straight back to the Ancient Little Jianghu. Of course, even if the prospective disciples recruited by the various sects do win three of five, they must still succeed in breaking through to Foundation Establishment before the Ancient Trial begins; otherwise they are automatically struck from the rolls and counted as no member of the Ancient Alliance, and naturally have no right to take part in the Ancient Trial either," Xin Yi'an explained.
At these words the crowd fell to exchanging glances. By Xin Yi'an's account, did that not mean more than half of them would be weeded out?!
In past years the Ancient Trial had always been preceded by a Trial Grand Tournament, and each time some people were indeed eliminated, but at most it was a mere formality, culling a few worthless stragglers. Never before had there been a precedent of eliminating half the field. After all, the Trial Grand Tournament was only the prelude to the Ancient Trial, not the Ancient Grand Tournament itself—how could it be made so harsh?
"Uncle-Master Xin, this is the Trial Grand Tournament, not the Ancient Grand Tournament. Surely it isn't that serious?" the crowd asked, eyes wide and pleading.
"Ordinarily, no. But this Ancient Trial is a once-in-a-millennium occurrence, far more perilous than usual, so it is only proper to set the Trial Grand Tournament a little stricter. It is for the sake of your safety," Xin Yi'an said sternly.
"But if safety is truly the concern, then just let us stronger disciples go. There's no need to make it so complicated, is there?" The speaker was a late-stage Foundation Establishment disciple, and the other stronger Ancient Alliance disciples around him chimed in one after another, every face flushed with indignation.
Under the present rule of three wins out of five against one's own tier, if anyone stood to lose the most, it was surely these people.
Disciples like them—late-stage Foundation Establishment or even stronger—deserved by any reasonable standard to have the right to take part in the Ancient Trial. But with this rule in place, even among their number a batch would inevitably be culled. Think about it: if even full-circle Foundation Establishment disciples were denied a place in the Ancient Trial, would word of that not make them the laughingstock of the world?!