As soon as they arrived at the high platform of the Martial Arts Plaza, the gaze of the three clan leaders swept over the entire plaza.
The originally noisy Martial Arts Plaza became completely quiet in an instant.
At this moment, among the three clan leaders, the elder of the Bai Family stood up and said loudly, "I suppose all our clansmen are aware that today is a great day for our three clans, as we specifically hold the grand competition ahead of schedule to select those who will enter the Ancestral Land!"
Upon hearing the elder mention the "Ancestral Land," all clansmen from the three clans on the Martial Arts Plaza grew excited.
Even the usually quiet Bai Xiaodie got an excited and eager look in her beautiful eyes.
"Win the first place in the grand competition of the three clans, enter the Ancestral Land!"
Qian Ming of the Qian Family clenched his fists tighter, with a gleam flashing in his eyes.
The other youths were also gritting their teeth, thinking, "The Ancestral Land, enter the Ancestral Land!"
At that time, the elder of the Bai Family continued, "This grand competition of the three clans is to select those eligible for the Ancestral Land, and only those under the age of twenty can enter. Therefore, only those under the age of twenty are eligible to participate in the grand competition. All others should step back and watch."
The requirement mentioned by the elder was already well-known by the members of all three clans. By then, they had already separated into two circles, with those standing near the platform being the youths under twenty who were going to participate in the grand competition—there were as many as seven or eight hundred of them. Other members of the three clans stood in the spectator circle behind.
After the elder finished speaking, the spectators stepped back another ten meters or so, clearly highlighting the youths participating in the competition.
Seeing the distinctly separate circles, the elder nodded and said, "Good, since those who are participating in the competition are ready, I shall now announce the rules of the competition."
"This competition will consist of three rounds."
"After these three rounds, the thirty individuals entering the Ancestral Land will be definitively chosen, with each person receiving a Pass Token to enter the Ancestral Land."
"During these three rounds, you must bring out your strongest abilities. You must not only strive to be among the top thirty but also fight for the top ten or even the first place!"
"Because the top ten of this competition will be granted a special reward that has been passed down through our three clans for hundreds of years, designed specifically for those entering the Ancestral Land."
"The higher the rank, the greater the reward. When you enter the Ancestral Land, the help provided by this special reward will be even more significant! The first place winner in this clan competition will receive the highest reward!"
Special rewards that have been passed down for hundreds of years specifically for those entering the Ancestral Land, and even the highest reward!
The elder's words roused all the youths participating in the grand competition of the three clans.
In the past grand competitions of the three clans, honor was most important, and rewards were only some martial techniques and pills. This time, the grand competition involved the opening of the Ancestral Land, and unexpectedly, there were special rewards for those entering the Ancestral Land.
This made many who simply wanted to be in the top thirty, to obtain a spot in the Ancestral Land, change their minds. Under these circumstances, they couldn't possibly hold back their strength. They had to fight for a higher ranking and obtain more precious special rewards!
"The highest reward!"
Ye Chen's thoughts stirred. He originally didn't want to stand out too much in the clan competition. Being in the top thirty and acquiring a pass token was sufficient for him; the exact ranking didn't matter.
Now, the words of the elder made him discard his initial thoughts. The first place of the clan competition would grant the highest reward. For Ye Chen, who aimed to seize a great opportunity in the Ancestral Land Secret Realm, it was, of course, something he had to vie for!
Not just Ye Chen, but all those who had a chance at first place took the competition seriously, with no trace of underestimation.
Someone even spoke up, asking, "Elder, what exactly are the special rewards and the highest reward?"
The elder of the Bai Family didn't hesitate and directly revealed the special rewards for the top ten in the grand competition of the three clans. He knew that the young folks in the audience would only put in more effort to compete for ranking if they knew about the rewards first.
"The top ten in this grand competition of the three clans will each receive a copy of the 'Ancestral Ground Secret Map.' This 'Ancestral Ground Secret Map' shows the important treasure areas of the Ancestral Land.
According to the rules set by the great one who established the Ancestral Land, only the top ten of the clan competition are qualified to receive the secret map and explore those important treasure areas."
"Others can only search for treasure based on the ordinary Ancestral Land map, relying on luck alone!"
"Moreover, these 'Ancestral Ground Secret Maps' are specially crafted, and the top ten are each unique, with the higher ranks receiving increasingly precious maps! Only those who obtain the secret maps can enter the corresponding important treasure zones.
Therefore, don't expect to be able to use the secret maps together—you'll have to rely on your own strength to secure a top ten ranking and claim your map!"
Ancestral Ground Secret Map!
Important treasure zones!
Each secret map is unique; the higher the rank, the more precious the map!
These pieces of information clearly indicate that there's a high possibility of obtaining Secret Treasures from the important treasure zones depicted in the secret maps for those who place in the top ten of the clan competition—at the very least, it would be easier for them than for others!
And the higher the ranking within the top ten, the more precious the Secret Treasures that can be obtained!
Naturally, this made all the young participants in the competition strive even harder for a top ten ranking, fighting for the best positions within it!
"This is the special reward for the top ten, and the ultimate reward for the first place in this competition is—'Ancestral Blood'!"
At the mention of these two words, everyone was momentarily stunned.
They had no idea what Ancestral Blood was, but just the term "Ancestral Blood" and the patriarch's mention of the ultimate reward made everyone understand that Ancestral Blood must be related to one of the most crucial elements of the Ancestral Land!
"Ancestral Blood is the Lifeblood left by the great person who established the Ancestral Land. Rumor has it that those who possess Ancestral Blood may even have the chance to obtain the ultimate reward preserved by that great person within the Ancestral Land—the most precious reward of the entire Ancestral Land!"
As he spoke these words, the voice of the Bai Family's old patriarch even began to tremble.
"Our three families have inherited the Ancestral Land for over twelve hundred years, and it has been opened five times. However, during the previous five openings, none who held the Ancestral Blood found the ultimate reward mentioned by that great person.
This time, during the sixth opening of the Ancestral Land, it remains to be seen who among you will obtain the Ancestral Blood, and who will be lucky enough to find that ultimate reward!"
The Lifeblood left by the great person who established the Ancestral Land!
It's even related to the most precious reward of the entire Ancestral Land, the ultimate reward that hasn't been discovered in the previous five openings!
The words of the old patriarch drove everyone into a frenzy.
Those who had entered the Ancestral Land in the past, who did not find the ultimate reward, still obtained countless precious Secret Treasures and great opportunities to advance to the Spirit Sea Realm. If they were to find the ultimate reward, then how precious could this most precious ultimate reward be?
Perhaps, compared to the ultimate reward, the countless Secret Treasures of the past would seem as common as a speck of dust!
Although it could be deduced from the old patriarch's words that obtaining Ancestral Blood did not guarantee finding the ultimate reward, no one would give up even the slightest hope, nor the chance to search for that ultimate prize!
Because where there's opportunity, there's possibility!
The top thirty in the inter-family competition would earn the right to enter the Ancestral Land.
The top ten would get the "Ancestral Ground Secret Map"!
The first place winner of the competition would receive the most precious and special ultimate reward—Ancestral Blood!
The rewards for the competition announced by the Bai Family's old patriarch had fully mobilized the fighting spirit of all the young participants.
Even Bai Xiaodong and Qian Yun, who had come with Ye Chen and had not held much hope for making it into the top thirty of the family competition, were now inspired by the atmosphere and willing to give it their all!