After giving instructions to the three little ones, the group arrived at the Outer Sect's grand square.
The ground, paved with top-quality White Jade from the Mortal World, was so pure it felt like a sin to tarnish. The densely packed patterns on it signified that this was no fragile jade artifact, but a Magic Artifact.
Nine huge arenas were suspended in the air, their forms indistinct to observers.
Not far away, mist-shrouded mountain peaks soared impressively, truly befitting the Myriad Beasts Sect.
A giant Mirage Dragon coiled in the air, its appearance unclear. The newcomers who had arrived earlier sat on the ground, immersed in the Illusion Realm.
"Candidates, come and collect your Tokens and enter the Array. During this period, you must not disturb others, and Protectors may not step in. Violators will have their assessment qualifications revoked," said a middle-aged man in Steward's attire as he approached Chen Jiuge and the others.
The Steward handed out three Tokens to the three little ones and instructed, "Once inside, find a spot to sit cross-legged and activate the Token with your Mana."
"Go," Chen Wen watched the three little figures with some anticipation.
The Myriad Beasts Sect was the dominant power in this region. Having more family members join the Sect naturally increased their influence. If they were fortunate, a True Immortal Elder might emerge in tens of thousands of years, which would elevate the Chen Family to another level.
"Isn't that Elder Chen? It's been many years since we last met," a burly middle-aged man said, appearing abruptly by Chen Wen's side.
"Zhu Mangfu? The Zhu Family actually let *you* lead the team?" Chen Wen looked at the burly man in surprise.
"What do you mean by that, Old Chen? We need to have a serious talk about this," Zhu Mangfu said, his face darkening.
Chen Wen did not refuse. After greeting Chen Jiuge, he went to catch up with his old friend.
As individuals within the Array began to awaken one after another, Disciples from the Myriad Beasts Sect led them out.
Chen Jiuge faintly saw those Outer Disciples collecting their Tokens without informing them whether they had passed the assessment.
This really doesn't match what I read in the novels of my previous life, where a big scoreboard would show who passed and how great their aptitude was. Although he had seen it many times, Chen Jiuge couldn't help but complain inwardly.
If a peerless genius were to appear, wouldn't such scoreboards just reveal information about one's own genius? It would be an open invitation for hostile forces to target our family's prodigy.
Watching the sage-like Great Cultivators transform into figures resembling the eager old grandfathers and grandmothers from his previous life, all crowding around the young ones whose assessment had just ended, reminded Chen Jiuge of a terrifying scene: aunts relentlessly prodding for results about blind dates.
After roughly two hours, Chen Xiaoyu and the other two finally came out.
Once the three handed over their Tokens, Chen Jiuge asked, "How did it go?"
"I'm not sure myself. After it ended, my experience in the Illusion Realm became all hazy. I vaguely remember something about a really big turtle," Chen Xiaoyu said with an innocent expression.
"It seems Senior Mirage Dragon has caused you to forget your memories," Chen Jiuge frowned, contemplating.
Although the Sect assessments had always followed this pattern, the Mirage Dragon hadn't erased the candidates' memories before. Could there be another meaning behind this assessment?
Just as Chen Jiuge was pondering this, he felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned his head to see it was Huo Lie, his Senior Brother from the Sect.
"Junior Brother Chen, are these young ones from your family?" Huo Lie inquired, looking at the three little ones.
"Ah, Senior Brother Huo, that's right. One is my sister, and the other two are my nephew and niece," Chen Jiuge said, slightly taken aback.
The entire square was the size of a small city, teeming with people who had come for the assessment. Although he knew Senior Brother Huo's family members would likely be here for the assessment as well, Chen Jiuge hadn't expected to run into him.
"Senior Brother Huo, is there something different about this assessment? Why would Senior Mirage Dragon cause the candidates' memories to fade?" Chen Jiuge asked.
Unlike the Chen Family, the Huo Family was one of the core families within the Myriad Beasts Sect. The Chen Family, on the other hand, was merely an affiliated power, and not a particularly loyal one at that.
Furthermore, the Huo Family's ancestor was said to be a Heavenly Immortal, holding a very high status within the Sect. Senior Brother Huo might know some insider information.
"Hmm, this assessment is a bit different, but it's not really a secret. You're aware of the landmass that fell recently, aren't you?" Senior Brother Huo mused for a moment before speaking.
"The one from the Desolate World? Wasn't it said to be an uninhabited continent with no value?" Chen Jiuge recalled with some confusion.
"Not long ago, someone found a young beast there—a Soul-devouring Beast with an eighth-grade Bloodline. According to that person, there are many young Spiritual Beasts with similar Bloodlines on that fallen continent," Senior Brother Huo explained.
Chen Jiuge didn't focus on why that fortunate individual would share such information. Instead, he countered, "An eighth-grade Bloodline? Spiritual Beasts with such Bloodlines must be born at the Foundation Establishment or even Golden Core realm, right? What does that have to do with the Sect's assessment?"
"I'm not sure about that. However, I've heard that no one with a Cultivation above Golden Core can enter there; it can only accommodate Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation level at most. I think the Sect intends to send these new Disciples there," Senior Brother Huo said, shaking his head.
"But there wouldn't be enough time for that, would there? After all, these new Disciples are all Qi Refining Practitioners and don't have sufficient Cultivation," Chen Jiuge continued to ask.
"Junior Brother Chen, you're underestimating our Myriad Beasts Sect. According to our family's Clan Leader, our Myriad Beasts Sect deliberately delayed entry into that land for thirty years, specifically to allow these new Disciples to grow strong enough. Otherwise, no one could enter," Huo Lie said proudly.
"Alright, Junior Brother Chen, that's all I know," Huo Lie said, cutting off Chen Jiuge's further questions.
After discussing this topic, the two began to chat casually.
Some time passed, and eventually, someone from Huo Lie's clan called out to him. Not long after Chen Jiuge bid Senior Brother Huo farewell, the Third Elder returned to the group, reeking faintly of alcohol.
"How did it go?" Chen Wen asked Chen Jiuge, noticing the three young ones had already come out.
"The results are still unknown. They should be announced collectively soon enough," Chen Jiuge explained.
About the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, the nine platforms suspended above the square descended in unison.
The figure on the central platform stood up and announced, "Fellow Daoists, the Myriad Beasts Sect's assessment has officially ended."
Chen Jiuge looked at the figure in astonishment. "The Second Elder? It's actually the Second Elder presiding! This is truly eye-opening."
In the Myriad Beasts Sect, the higher an Elder's rank, the greater their strength. The top nine Elders were all peak Golden Immortals, renowned Great Powers throughout the entire Heavenly Realm.
After the Second Elder finished speaking, he waved his hand. "Those who received Tokens, make your way to the Sect's Hall of All Affairs on your own. Remember, you must go by yourselves. Protectors and those who did not pass the assessment must leave the Outer Sect area within one hour."
Seeing three Tokens appear in front of his young family members, the Third Elder expressed his satisfaction. "I didn't expect all of you to pass! Jiuge, you've made a significant contribution in this matter. I will inform the family, and there will be rewards for you as well."
Since they had to travel on their own, Chen Wen jested, "To think I traveled thousands of miles to bring you all here, only to return alone and forlorn in the end!"
"Old Chen, let's go together!" The previously elusive burly man reappeared as if from nowhere.
"Oh, did all your family's Disciples pass as well? Not bad, not bad at all! How about we two old fellows hit the road together?" the burly man invited.
"Sure, sure," Chen Wen replied with a smile.
After bidding the Third Elder farewell, Chen Jiuge instructed the youngsters, "When you go to the Hall of All Affairs, you'll have to go on your own, and I won't be able to accompany you. Remember to be cautious in your words and actions."
"We know, Uncle Thirteen," the two nephews replied, quite sensibly.
"Big Brother, Mother asked me to bring this," Chen Xiaoyu said, reluctantly pulling out a Storage Bag.
Chen Jiuge thought, What a sly little girl! If it weren't for you needing to go to the Hall of All Affairs alone, I bet you would have kept it to yourself, right? He finally remembered the Plant Elf their mother had told Chen Xiaoyu to bring for the assessment.
"Hmph, it's because you never come back to spend time with me! Anyway, I've given it to you now," Chen Xiaoyu said, sticking out her tongue playfully.
"Alright, don't delay any longer. Others have already started moving. You should go too. Here are my Communication Stones; contact me if anything comes up," Chen Jiuge said, handing out three Communication Stones.
"Goodbye, Uncle Thirteen!"
"Goodbye, Big Brother!"