"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?!

"Heh. This is the unanimous decision of the Ancient Alliance's upper echelons. Does anyone object?" Xin Yi'an's single sentence cowed the crowd. However dissatisfied they might be, they would never dare set themselves against the Alliance's high council; otherwise not only would their prospects be grim, they might not even keep their lives.

Besides, though their strength was not lacking, those truly displeased with the rule were only the ones at the bottom of their own tier. The truly outstanding core disciples of the various sects would not regard this little difficulty as worth a thought. Put plainly, only the weak would air such grievances—and being weak, how would they have the nerve to defy the decision of the Alliance's upper echelons?

Had it been Bing Wushuang, faced with such grievances he would at most have given a cold snort, disdaining even to waste a word in explanation. But Xin Yi'an was far more honest and kindhearted. Seeing that the crowd still seemed dissatisfied, he thought it over and decided to offer a few words of explanation.

"I said long ago that the purpose of this Trial Grand Tournament is to select disciples with both strength and potential, and the rules of the matches are not all that severe. If any of you truly meet the conditions, then obtaining trial qualification will not be difficult. But if you have rank and nothing else, with no potential to speak of, then there is nothing more to say. Better to return to the Ancient Little Jianghu early than to go to the Ancient Trial and stand in the way of other, more promising disciples," Xin Yi'an said.

The words were hardly pleasant, but the reasoning held. From the perspective of the various Ancient sects, the value of a straggling full-circle Foundation Establishment disciple fell far short of a Foundation Establishment novice of outstanding aptitude. Yet if both were sent into the Ancient Trial at once, the one to profit would inevitably be the full-circle disciple.

After all, under normal circumstances a novice Foundation Establishment disciple could never hope to match a full-circle one, and so a situation all too easily arose that left every Ancient sect's high council gnashing their teeth in frustration: entering the same Ancient Trial, the brilliant and truly worthy genius disciples found every step a struggle, while the high-ranked, potential-less stragglers snatched the opportunities out from under them—squatting on the latrine and producing nothing.

Yet even the Ancient Alliance's upper echelons could not simply decree that only the genius disciples might obtain opportunities, while all others, no matter how high their rank or how great their strength, must stand aside. If such a ruthless, inhuman rule were truly proclaimed, the vast ranks of ordinary disciples would likely have risen in revolt long ago.

Hence this unprecedented set of rules, by which outstanding disciples of every tier could be selected, and at the same time those mediocre disciples who had rank but nothing else could be weeded out, clearing the way for the geniuses truly worth cultivating—two birds with one stone, as the saying goes.

Having come to this point, the crowd, though still unwilling to accept it, dared not prattle on any further. The matter was settled; the more they grumbled, the more useless it was, and the more trouble they brought upon themselves. Better to use what little time remained to plan carefully for the Trial Grand Tournament ahead.

"Very well, the rules have all been announced. Since no one has any further questions, we shall rest briefly and then begin the first round of the drawing and matching. Of course, if any disciple wishes to attempt a cross-tier challenge, please raise it before the drawing. Once the draw takes effect, you cannot withdraw midway—fight you must," Xin Yi'an declared. (To be continued~^~)