98: The martial arts tournament opens, and the rules suddenly change.

The earth-shattering upheaval that occurred before the opening of the Seven Sect Martial Gathering was like a super storm sweeping across Tiannan City, its aftershocks lingering for a long time.

For a time, the entire Tiannan City was in turmoil... The next day, early morning.

As the first ray of morning light pierced through the clouds and shone upon the majestic Tiannan City main city, built entirely of white jade, a long, ancient bell chime suddenly rang out from the very center of the city, from the hundred-zhang-tall Wentian Platform!

"Dong—!!!"

The bell chime resonated through the sky!

The entire Tiannan City completely erupted in excitement at this moment!

The Seven Sect Martial Gathering officially began!

Above the plaza outside the city, the teams of the Seven Sects, who had been waiting for a long time, transformed into seven streaks of light of various colors under the leadership of their respective Sect Masters, soaring into the sky and converging towards the Wentian Platform, which symbolized the highest glory of the Tiannan Dynasty!

The Wentian Platform was carved by the founding Emperor of the Tiannan Dynasty using a supreme Divine Ability, cutting a giant meteorite ten li in circumference from the outer starry river, and meticulously crafting it over a hundred years.

It floats above Tiannan City, perpetually shrouded in clouds and starlight, and is the most sacred place in the entire Dynasty!

When Lin Ye's footsteps, following the Qingyun Sect's team, finally landed on the cold and solid black rock ground, even his usually unperturbed state of mind couldn't help but stir slightly.

He could clearly feel that every inch of land beneath his feet contained a vast and boundless terrifying power originating from the stars!

At this moment, the Wentian Platform was already a sea of people!

In addition to the Disciples of the Seven Sects who were about to compete, tens of thousands of royal nobles, immortal Cultivator families, and Loose Cultivators from all over the Dynasty surrounded the huge viewing platform, making it impenetrable!

Their gazes, like the most scorching flames, were all fixed on the seven teams in the center of the plaza, representing the highest combat power of the younger generation of the Tiannan Dynasty!

Lin Ye was still his "old self."

He wore ordinary Inner Sect Disciple attire, blending his figure into the end of the team, with a perfectly appropriate expression of "nervousness" and "unease" on his face, completely out of place among the arrogant and formidable Geniuses of the other six Sects.

His appearance immediately drew an irrepressible murmur of whispers.

"Look quickly! That's Lin Ye!"

"Which one? Which one? The Qingyun Sect dark horse who punched Yan Lie into oblivion?"

"That's him! The scrawny kid who looks like a handyman! Tsk tsk, truly one cannot judge a book by its cover!"

However, amidst this curiosity and awe, there were also icy stares filled with endless malice and killing intent!

In the Xuanhuo Sect's formation, dozens of Disciples were staring at him with eyes that wished they could devour him alive!

Lin Ye seemed oblivious to this.

Just then, at the very top of the Wentian Platform, on the golden viewing Dragon throne, a middle-aged figure wearing a nine-dragon golden robe, a purple-gold crown, and exuding supreme majesty, slowly stood up.

He was the current Monarch of the Tiannan Dynasty!

"Everyone!"

His voice was not loud, yet it seemed to contain a terrifying power where words became law, clearly resounding in everyone's ears!

"The Seven Sect Martial Gathering, held once every ten years, is the foremost event in the Cultivation world of my Tiannan Dynasty!"

"Today, I, along with all you countless Cultivators, shall witness it together!"

"I declare!"

"This year's Seven Sect Martial Gathering... officially begins!"

Before his words even finished!

He suddenly waved his Dragon sleeve!

"Rumble!!!"

The entire Wentian Platform actually trembled violently at this instant!

One could see that in the center of the plaza, the ground paved with black meteorites slowly split open to both sides, revealing a huge, bottomless chasm!

An ancient bronze altar, filled with endless ancient and profound aura, slowly rose from the ground!

In the center of the altar was embedded a continuously rotating, seven-colored precious pearl as large as a millstone, seemingly containing an entire Small World!

"What... what is that?!"

"Previous Martial Gatherings never had such a thing!"

Just as everyone was filled with doubt and alarm at this sudden change, the Monarch of Tiannan's voice, full of supreme majesty, rang out again!

"I know you all have doubts in your hearts."

"Previous Martial Gatherings all determined their final rankings through arena battles. While they could determine superiority, they ultimately... lacked a bit of ferocity and struggled to truly test your ability to react when faced with unknown dangers."

"Therefore, I have decided! To change the rules of this year's Martial Gathering!"

Boom!!!

Upon hearing this, the entire audience erupted in an uproar!

Even the seven Sect Masters, including Su Changqing, subconsciously showed a trace of solemnity on their faces.

"This year's Martial Gathering will no longer feature any arena battles!"

The Monarch of Tiannan's voice, like thunder, exploded in everyone's ears!

"Instead, there will be a... Secret Realm free-for-all!"

He extended his hand, pointing to the continuously rotating seven-colored precious pearl in the center of the altar.

"This treasure, named 'Linglong Secret Realm,' is a supreme treasure passed down for a thousand years by my Dynasty's imperial family! Within it, a Small World has formed, simulating a thousand-li expanse of primitive mountain forest, full of unknowns and dangers!"

"Soon, all participating Disciples from your Seven Sects will enter it!"

"Each Disciple will have a 'Sect Token' affixed to their body, representing their respective Sect! This Token cannot be destroyed, cannot be stored in a Storage Pouch, and can only... be taken!"

"For every Token taken from another Sect, ten points will be added to your own Sect!"

"And once you lose your own Token, it means... elimination! You will be automatically teleported out by the Secret Realm's power, and five points will be deducted from your Sect!"

"After three days, the Secret Realm will close!"

"Finally, the total accumulated points of each Sect will determine the... final ranking of this year's Martial Gathering!"

These revolutionary new rules left all the Disciples present completely stunned!

Arena battles turned into... Secret Realm free-for-all?!

What kind of "Martial Gathering" was this?

This was clearly a battle royale!

"Of course," the Monarch of Tiannan's voice rang out again, "Although this Secret Realm is a simulation, the pain within it is one hundred percent real. If you suffer a fatal injury within it, the 'Linglong Secret Realm' will automatically teleport you out, preserving your life. But the cost will be your... Sect Token!"

After a brief moment of dead silence, completely different reactions erupted from the formations of the Seven Sects!

In the Heavenly Sword Manor's formation, Sword Without Dust's handsome face showed a trace of solemnity.

What he excelled at was the straightforward, unyielding Dao of the Sword! This kind of free-for-all, full of unknowns and variables, was not the best stage for him.

However, in the Beast Taming Sect's formation, the wild young man suddenly burst into laughter! The terrifying Spirit Beast beside him, resembling a Qilin, let out an excited roar!

This kind of primitive mountain forest-like battlefield was practically a custom-made hunting ground for Beast Taming Sect Disciples who excelled at tracking and hunting!

In the Qingyun Sect's team, there was a gloomy atmosphere.

They already had the fewest members and the weakest overall strength. In this kind of free-for-all without any rule restrictions, if they were targeted by the main force of other Sects, their fate would almost certainly be... certain death!

However, amidst this atmosphere of solemnity and unease, only one person's eyes shone with an unprecedented, dazzling... light of excitement!

Lin Ye!

Free-for-all?!

Secret Realm?!

This... this was simply a stage custom-made for him!

His already eager Advanced Stealth Technique, Basic Reconnaissance Technique, and the Nine Heavens Star Array, capable of turning the tide, finally had... a place to be used!