Wang Ba had no time to think further.
His gaze was drawn to the sight before him.
Outside the Teleportation Array stood a vast stone Terrace bearing the marks of time.
Nearly a hundred cultivators stood on the Terrace. Apart from some who clearly wore the Myriad Phenomena Sect's standard Daoist robes, most differed in appearance and dress, making it obvious at a glance that they had come to take the assessment.
Roughly half were Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the other half were Gold Core True Persons. Only the bald female cultivator Wang Ba had seen earlier had reached the Nascent Soul level.
They had all gathered around a young cultivator in solemn Daoist robes, their expressions respectful, as though listening to his teachings.
Wang Ba could vaguely guess that this might be Luo Yuzhong, the Human Virtue Hall Deputy Hall Master who had spoken earlier.
But none of this was what had caught Wang Ba's attention.
Rather, at the center of the Terrace stood a formation radiating dreamlike light, with an enormous spirit beast floating within it.
"A Spirit Mirage?"
Looking at the spirit beast, which was as large as a house, its shell opening and closing slightly to reveal the slimy body within, Wang Ba's eyes filled with surprise.
Spirit Mirages were marine spirit beasts. Wang Ba had never seen one in either the Chen Kingdom or the Yan Kingdom, but he had read accounts of them in books, so he recognized it immediately.
At the same time, he immediately recalled the characteristics of a Spirit Mirage.
*Spirit Mirages are long-lived, hard outside and soft within. In their youth, they are no different from ordinary sea beasts. After a hundred years, they grow as large as a grain measure and can nurture a mirage pearl, first gaining the