The five preliminary trials, in order, were as follows: First Trial: Mind Strength; Second Trial: Innate Talent; Third Trial: Potential; Fourth Trial: Practical Combat; Fifth Trial: Fortune.
Even with
Just as Jiang Chen was privately savoring the deeper meaning of these trials, the voice of Patriarch Zhuiyang echoed once more: “Through these five trials, what kind of talent you possess, what level of potential you hold, and how far you can go in the future will essentially be distinguished. After these five preliminary trials, roughly ten thousand of you lucky individuals will advance to the second stage: the secondary competition.”
Four hundred thousand people, selecting ten thousand for the secondary round.
In the second stage, those ten thousand would join the appropriate age disciples of the four great sects to compete in the secondary competition.
From that group, three thousand lucky individuals would be selected to qualify for entry into a sect.
As for how many among those three thousand would make it into the final sixty-four for the decisive tournament, that remained uncertain.
After all, the three thousand would be facing competitors who were sect geniuses.
The number of secular geniuses among the final sixty-four spots was not expected to be high.
The gap between secular geniuses and sect geniuses was, after all, comprehensive.
“Alright, that’s enough about the preliminary content for now. Once you enter, each trial will naturally have personnel in charge. You will have the opportunity to understand the specific, detailed rules then. Remember, before entering, each of you must surrender your registration token to exchange for a competition badge, and receive your standardized attire and mask. Remember, you are participating this time in full anonymity. It is absolutely forbidden to reveal your true identity. If anyone asks why? It’s simple—to prevent cheating and ensure the four great sects select fairly!”
“In the secondary competition, the same applies. You might ask whether the sect disciples need to be anonymous? They certainly do not. They already belong to their respective sects. Participating in the secondary competition is merely to select the sixty-four who advance to the final. They do not need anonymity.”
This rule wasn’t hard to understand.
Secular martial artists came from different backgrounds, different nations. It was inevitable that some would have closer ties to certain sects than others.
This could lead to malicious competition, where personal connections overruled the rules.
So, anonymous participation was mandated, preventing the four great sects from recruiting based on connections, forcing them to allocate spots through fair competition.
Of course, while the rules were set this way, in practice, there was still some room for manipulation.
However, no matter what, nothing could be perfectly flawless. Rules were established to minimize the possibility of cheating as much as possible.
Some special circumstances were unavoidable, and there was simply nothing to be done about them.
Take Jiang Chen for example. His signature performance, once he entered the secondary competition, would inevitably be recognized sooner or later.
His brilliance was too dazzling; hiding it was impossible. Moreover, in a competition of this nature, Jiang Chen wouldn’t try to hide anything. In the final struggle, facing the top geniuses of the sixteen kingdoms, deliberately holding back would be irresponsible to himself.
“Alright, come forward according to your respective kingdoms to exchange for your competition badges and receive your standardized attire and masks.”
With the rules announced, Patriarch Zhuiyang drifted aside, yielding the stage to those responsible for the specific arrangements.
This time, each of the four great sects had selected over a thousand mid-to-high-level personnel, demonstrating the importance they placed on this selection.
Jiang Chen stood in the queue, patient and composed.
Suddenly, a flash of white light approached, and a figure landed before Jiang Chen.
It was a sect official mounted on a beast. His attire style was strikingly similar to the Nine Lion Patriarch of the
This person must be a high-ranking official from the Myriad Spirit Sect.
“Hello, my young friend. Among the four hundred thousand, I spotted you at a glance. You are Jiang Chen, correct?” The man wore a smile, his expression amiable and kindly.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am
“Sect Master Wang has very well-informed sources,” Jiang Chen replied with a faint smile.
“Haha! I’m afraid there are few in the sixteen kingdoms who *don’t* know that story now? Young friend Jiang Chen, I, Wang, won’t beat around the bush. I’ve come to invite you to join my Myriad Spirit Sect. Might you be interested?”
“Oh? Sect Master Wang, isn’t this recruitment attempt a violation of the rules?” Jiang Chen chuckled softly.
“The competition hasn’t started yet! As long as the selection hasn’t begun, it’s not a violation. If young friend Jiang Chen simply nods, I will immediately take you as my personal disciple. You won’t need to undergo the preliminary trials at all. You can participate directly in the secondary competition after the preliminaries here conclude.”
As the Deputy Sect Master of the Myriad Spirit Sect, Wang Tuo personally offering to take Jiang Chen as his disciple caused an immediate uproar around him.
Everyone looked at Jiang Chen with envy.
This treatment was like a pie falling from the sky—no need for preliminaries, direct entry into the secondary round! Furthermore, he wouldn’t have to struggle for one of the sect spots and could directly compete for the final sixty-four tournament places.
For a moment, exclamations filled the air around them.
There was envy, and there was jealousy.