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“Gentleman, didn’t you say there would be a threshold?”

Mr. Zhuang smiled casually, “There is a threshold indeed, perhaps you have crossed it unwittingly.”

“So, do I qualify as a First-grade Formation Master now?”

“It’s not that simple.”

Mr. Zhuang found a more comfortable position in his bamboo chair and lay in it as he explained to Mo Hua:

“Being able to draw nine Formation Patterns only shows that you have stepped into the threshold of the first grade. You must learn more, draw more, master more first-grade Formation Methods, and take full control of the spell point to instantly create nine Formation Patterns before you can be considered to possess the strength of a First-grade Formation Master.”

Mo Hua heard the underlying meaning in Mr. Zhuang’s words, “Having the strength of a First-grade Formation Master, but not the title?”

Mr. Zhuang nodded, “The title is conferred by the Taoist Court.”

“The Taoist Court? Isn’t it the Taoist Court Officer?”

“Taoist Court Officers are governed by the Taoist Court, and they themselves are without formation masters, so what capability do they have to determine the grade of a formation master?”

Mr. Zhuang’s gaze turned profound, “The Taoist Court resides in the Taoist State at the center of the Nine State, it names seven pavilions after the Seven Stars, among which the Heaven Shu Pavilion is responsible for deciding the ranks of all formation masters of the first-grade and above throughout the Nine State. Every few years, the Heaven Shu Pavilion dispatches cultivators to the state boundaries of the Nine State to conduct the grading of formation masters.”

“The Heaven Shu Pavilion…”

Mo Hua felt a tremor in her heart.

The Taoist Court, lofty and unreachable, this was the first time she heard the name of the Heaven Shu Pavilion.

“Is the assessment very difficult?” Mo Hua couldn’t help asking.

Mr. Zhuang nodded affirmatively, “It is considered difficult, first in the examination and second in the allocation of slots.”

Mo Hua did not quite understand.

Mr. Zhuang said, “The examination relies on the formation methods, while the allocation of slots depends on connections.”

Mo Hua frowned, “The grading of a formation master doesn’t solely depend on the formation methods, but also on connections?”

Mr. Zhuang sneered lightly, “The grading of a formation master is indeed based on the level of formation methods, but those who perform the grading are people, and as long as it involves people, it naturally requires connections.”

“Then what kind of connections are needed…”

“Either you come from a distinguished family, your parents are extraordinary, or you have plenty of Spirit Stones to smooth things over, and naturally your connections will widen.”

Mo Hua was stunned, thinking that someone like her, without power or influence and only a few Spirit Stones as a Loose Cultivator, would surely not be able to get graded?

Mo Hua timidly asked, “Will Loose Cultivators have any slots available?”

“It’s not that there wouldn’t be any; certainly, a few would be allocated. As to whether you can be chosen, it depends on your fate.”

To say it depends on fate was actually to say it depends on destiny.

Mo Hua frowned, “Then by that logic, wouldn’t all formation masters be among the Family Sects and Clans, and the cultivators from the lower strata would be utterly deprived of formation masters…”

Mr. Zhuang’s look became loaded with meaning as he watched Mo Hua and said softly:

“That’s precisely the point.”

Mo Hua was taken aback, a chill forming in the depths of her heart.

Mr. Zhuang gently ruffled Mo Hua’s hair, “These matters are all external concerns, not to be given too much thought.”

Mo Hua couldn’t help but care, she paused and couldn’t resist asking:

“But Gentleman, what if I am unfortunate and never get graded?”

Mr. Zhuang slowly sat up straight, the languor in his eyes gone, a hint of sharpness peeking through his insouciant demeanor:

“A Formation Master seeks the Heavenly Dao, comprehends myriad principles, and is not defined by any mundane matters, nor judged by any cultivator.”

“The Taoist Court can assign grades, but what they grade is their own, the ranks of power and benefit.”

“What a formation master truly pursues is not the rank of power, but rather, the integrity of the Dao of Heaven and Earth!”

Mo Hua was deeply moved, her Divine Sense suddenly clear, feeling as though her perspective had broadened.

“Thank you for your instruction, Gentleman.”

With great respect, Mo Hua stood up and gave Mr. Zhuang a deep bow.

Mr. Zhuang nodded, then added casually, “But, that assessment at the Taoist Court, if it can be done, should be done.”

“Huh?” Mo Hua was stunned.

“Once the Taoist Court has assessed you, your status becomes different. You’ll speak with more authority later on, and handling matters will be more convenient. No stray cats or dogs will jump around in front of you, plus there are Spirit Stones given for free. If you don’t take them, it’s a wasted opportunity…”

Mo Hua was shocked once again, thinking to herself that Mr. Zhuang was indeed quite… pragmatic.

“But what if I can’t pass the assessment?” Mo Hua timidly asked.

Mr. Zhuang glanced at her indifferently, “No rush.”

“Not in a hurry for the assessment?”

“Not in a hurry even if you can’t pass.”

“Uh…”

Mr. Zhuang said, “How old are you anyway? The ones taking the assessment with you are either middle-aged cultivators or old men with white hair. They are more anxious than you; what’s your hurry?”

“Oh.” With that thought, Mo Hua indeed felt much more relaxed.

“But what if I never pass?”

Mo Hua pressed the point.

Mr. Zhuang couldn’t help but ruffle Mo Hua’s hair again, “If you never pass, then you should just go straight for the Second Grade.”

Mo Hua was taken aback, “Second Grade?”

“First Grade might hold you back, but not Second Grade. The Heaven Shu Pavilion isn’t full of fools; they turn a blind eye to the blockage at First Grade. But Second Grade is different. If your Formation skills reach Second Grade, even without a distinguished background, you are no ordinary person, and the Heaven Shu Pavilion wouldn’t dare to provoke you lightly.”

Mr. Zhuang said with a half-smile, “If you really have the standards of a Second Rank Formation Master and the Heaven Shu Pavilion still refuses to assess you, then you can stand at their doorstep, point at their plaque, and accuse their Pavilion Elders of being blind.”

Mo Hua quietly asked, “What’s the Cultivation of the Pavilion Elders of the Heaven Shu Pavilion…?”

“It’s hard to say. At the very least, they should be at the Heaven Void level…”

Mo Hua’s mouth hung open. Heaven Void? She hadn’t even heard of it.

Mo Hua looked at Mr. Zhuang and quietly asked, “Gentleman, you haven’t cursed at a Pavilion Elder before, have you?”

Standing at someone else’s doorstep, cursing their Pavilion Elders.

If Mr. Zhuang hadn’t done it before, how could he speak of it so familiarly?

“I always avoid cursing at people,” said Mr. Zhuang.

Mo Hua eyed him again.

He had an air of immortality about him, a demeanor both elegant and casual—effortlessly composed even while lying down.

Mo Hua thought to herself: Mr. Zhuang doesn’t seem like the type to berate others, but what he actually does is another matter.

Then Mr. Zhuang lightly tapped Mo Hua on the head.

“Are you imagining things about me?” he asked.

Mo Hua giggled softly, then added,

“But Gentleman, it would take ages for me to become a Second Rank Formation Master.”

Mr. Zhuang said, “Becoming a First-grade Formation Master is difficult, as there is only one level. Second-grade Formation Masters are different; they are divided into three stages: initial, middle, and high. There is a significant disparity in formation skills with each step.”

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua, “Given your abilities, as long as you can achieve Foundation Establishment, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to become an Initial Stage Second Grade Formation Master with some hard work.”

Mo Hua perked up, feeling a newfound sense of purpose.

But she still had one doubt, “Why does Second Grade have three stages, Initial, Middle, and High, while First Grade does not?”

According to Mr. Zhuang, First Grade could also have three stages.

Apprentices and Formation Masters who have not been ranked, and those ranked as First-grade Formation Masters.

Current First-grade Formation Masters could be considered High Stage First Grade Formation Masters.

“What do you think?” asked Mr. Zhuang.

Mo Hua frowned and thought for a moment, “Is it a threshold?”

Mr. Zhuang nodded and spoke lightly, “If the threshold is raised, the cultivators below won’t be able to cross it.”