The disciples who had entered the top 1000 were surprised by Sun Wen's sudden order, but they still flew towards the empty fighting platform all at once.
The platform was obviously large enough to easily hold more than a few thousand people in it, let alone just a thousand of them.
Shun Long led Liu Mei and Jiang Chen and flew towards the platform as well, as they joined the rest of those disciples who were in the top 1000 in the Martial Roll of Honor.
Sun Wen nodded his head once he saw the 1000 outer court disciples gathered on the platform, before he spoke loudly a moment later, his voice entering the ears of every single disciple in the arena
''The fights between the top 1000 will start now. The rules will be the same-''
''There is no need for this.''
Before the white-robed Elder Sun Wen could finish speaking, the Grand Elder's voice suddenly interrupted him, causing everyone, including Shun Long and the other disciples around him, and even the purple-robed Bai Liuxian and the old man by her side who were standing in the sky above the arena, to turn their attention towards the Grand Elder all at the same time.
The Grand Elder shook his head and turned his attention towards the outer disciples on the platform below him, before he said in a calm voice
''There is no need for that. Let's start the fights between the top 100 right away.''
The disciples on the platform were all stunned when they heard this.
Skip the battles between the top 1000 and go directly to the top 100?
Forget about those disciples standing on the platform who were about to fight, even those disciples in the crowd were unwilling to see this.
After all, the fights between the top 1000 were the most exciting ones. Although the battles between the top 100 were even more exciting instead, those disciples still wanted to see who would move up and down in the rankings.
However, a single word from the Grand Elder was enough to change all of this.
''Grand Elder, are you sure?'' The white-robed Sun Wen asked somewhat hesitantly as he stared at the Grand Elder, but the powerful peak Dao Emperor nodded his head calmly, and as he stared at the disciples on the platform below him, the Grand Elder said in a serious voice
''I am sure that many of you have already guessed that this Martial Roll of Honor tournament is different from the previous ones. Sun Wen was going to be the one who would explain this to you when the tournament ended, but things have changed, so listen carefully to what I have to say.
In a little more than a year from now, a mysterious city will open its entrance, attracting the attention of virtually every strong power throughout the entire central region.
This city is named the City of Immortals.
Countless treasures and legacies can be found within that place, but along with treasures, that city also holds countless dangers inside it as well.
It's not just our Holy sect that's planning to enter the City of Immortals, but virtually every single strong power throughout the central region that will have its eyes set on the city's opening!
However, not just anyone can enter this place either. If you want to enter inside, you will need to have reached the Dao King realm at the very least.
Since there are less than 2 years left until the city's opening, our Holy sect decided to increase the rewards for this Martial Roll of Honor tournament, to help those of you who will enter the 'City of Immortals' become even stronger.''
The Grand Elder paused for a moment, allowing the disciples in the audience seats and those standing on the platform below him to digest this information.
''City of Immortals?'' Shun Long mumbled to himself in confusion before he sent a mental message to Little Black asking him if he knew anything about this City of Immortals.
However, Little Black simply shook his head and answered uncertainly
''City of Immortals? Any city within the Immortal Dimension can be considered as a city of Immortals, but outside of the Immortal DImension or the other powerful dimensions, it's impossible for a city of Immortals to exist.''
Understanding that Shun Long was surprised, Little Black then continued
''Master, let me explain. Once someone breaks through in their cultivation to become a true immortal, the laws of the Immortal Dimension will naturally pull that person away from this mortal world and to the Immortal Dimension. This is why it's impossible for a city of Immortals to appear in this mortal world.''
Shun Long had a look of realization on his face after hearing Little Black's explanation.
However, this explanation made Shun Long even more curious about this City of Immortals that the Grand Elder had just mentioned.
At the same time, it wasn't just Shun Long and his group who were confused and surprised by the Grand Elder's words.
Even geniuses who were ranked in the top 100 in the Martial Roll of Honor seemed to have been confused and surprised when they heard the Grand Elder's words.
At the same time, a few hidden glints that no one seemed to have noticed flashed inside the eyes of several disciples who were ranked in the top 10 in the Martial Roll of Honor.
Whether it was the person who was ranked 1st, the genius of the Yang family, Yang Hui, the tall young man who was standing by his side and was ranked 3rd in the Martial Roll of Honor, Zhang Jing, or the young woman who was ranked 2nd, Qiao Min, they all seemed to have excited looks in their eyes when they heard the Grand Elder's words.
The Grand Elder looked at the disciples below him, before he turned his attention towards Bai Liuxian and the purple-robed 'uncle Mo' who were standing in the sky a few meters away from him and continued a moment later
''Since we have 2 esteemed guests here today who happened to visit us from the Bai clan of Starmist city, we will start directly with the fights between the top 100.''
Many of the disciples were confused when they heard the Grand Elder's explanation, not understanding what these people's visit had to do with the Martial Roll of Honor rankings.
Of course, those disciples didn't know what significance the name 'Bai clan of Starmist city' held in the central region.
It was only the disciples from the most powerful clans and families, like the Yang clan's, Yang Hui, and the other disciples of the powerful families, who stared at the purple-robed old man and the beautiful young woman by his side with gazes filled with shock.
The Bai clan? Who among them didn't know that this was one of the most ancient and powerful clans throughout the entire central region?
Those disciples who belonged to the powerful families and clans around the Holy sect's territory all knew, that even a strong sect like the Holy sect was nothing in front of an enormous entity like the Bai clan.
Many disciples however, especially those who were aiming to enter the top 500 and knew nothing about the Bai clan were indignant when they heard this sudden change.
If only the top 100 fought amongst themselves, then wouldn't that mean that those disciples in the top 1000 would lose their chance to challenge those in the top 500?
After all, the rewards between the top 500 and the top 1000 were completely different.
A young man couldn't help but grit his teeth and raise his head to look at the Grand Elder when he thought of this, before he asked after a moment of hesitation
''Grand Elder... then what about those who are ranked in the top 1000? Will they lose their chances to challenge those in the top 500?''
The Grand Elder snorted as he looked at the young man who had asked this question, before he shook his head and answered coldly a moment later
''Since I have changed the rules, the rewards for the top 1000 and the top 500 will change as well.
Everyone among the top 1000 will also obtain 1000 high-grade spirit stones.''
How could the Grand Elder not understand that many of those disciples in the top 1000 would drool over the 1000 high-grade spirit stones that the top 500 would obtain?
The young man lowered his head when he heard this, but he was still satisfied in his heart.
OF course, the only thing that mattered were the rewards.
As for the ranking?
He could challenge someone at the top 500 anytime he wanted as long as he came to the arena.
Bai Liuxian who was standing next to the Grand Elder wasn't surprised when she heard that the fights between the top 1000 would be skipped and the top 100 would start directly.
She understood that the Grand Elder was most likely giving her face so she wouldn't have to watch more of those boring fights between those weaklings.
It was only natural that the most talented ones were those who were ranked the highest.
No one had managed to notice the hidden glance that the Grand Elder had shot towards a certain person in the arena below him before he came to this decision.