Xiuxian: I use magnetic fields to prove my truth

Chapter 90: Treatment of Formation Masters
Wu Tao hurriedly took the jade token and without even having time to be polite to Zhou Qing, he carefully examined the runes on it.

He carefully identified and calculated the runes. When he finished counting, he was completely stunned and exclaimed, "Forty-seven runes, a ground-grade formation, how is that possible!"

In the world of immortal cultivation, there is basically only one standard for grading formations, and that is the number of different runes required for a formation.

The more different runes a formation requires and the more complex its structure, the higher its level.

The reason is very simple. The more runes there are, the stronger the spiritual energy fluctuations caused by the superposition of their vibrations will be.

This standard is not absolute, and there are often exceptions, but generally speaking, there is no other standard that can replace it, so this standard is still used in the formation field.

According to this standard, a formation with less than ten runes is of yellow grade.

Ten to forty runes are of the Xuan quality.

Forty to eighty are earth-grade.

Of course, the art of formations is extremely profound and difficult to encompass with a single standard.

It doesn't mean that a layman can easily determine the grade of a formation by counting the number of runes in the formation.

This involves the concept of "key rune".

The formations constructed by the older generation of formation masters are often tested by later generations, and it is finally discovered that the functions of the formation can be maintained by simplifying the formation structure and removing a few useless runes.

After such modifications, the original Xuan-grade formation may be changed to Huang-grade.

Therefore, the quality of a formation cannot be judged solely by the number of runes on the surface, but should be determined by the number of "key runes" considered by professional formation masters.

Wu Tao was not a formal formation master, but he had received three years of training and had some understanding of formations. Based on his knowledge, he felt that there was no problem with the structure of Zhou Qing's formation.

Since he counted more than forty runes, doesn't that mean this is a low-grade formation?

Wu Tao was completely stunned.

In the entire Qingyun Sect, only the head of the Qimen Hall has the ability to construct a ground-grade formation.

Wu Tao was at a loss when he suddenly saw Zhou Qing looking at him with pity. He couldn't help but wonder, "What's wrong? Did I count wrong?"

Zhou Qing said, "Brother Wu, you study the structure of formations every day, but how come you can't even recognize the most basic spiritual energy formations?"

Wu Tao looked in the direction Zhou Qing pointed, and after careful observation, he found a spiritual energy formation.

He couldn't help but blush with shame.

A complex formation often consists of two parts: the main structure and the additional structure.

The main structure is to achieve the core purpose of the formation.

Additional structures are used to implement some additional requirements.

For example, this spiritual energy formation is designed to extract the spiritual energy of the spirit stone and activate the main structure.

In other words, this is a nested formation.

I just counted the runes with additional structures, so I counted more than forty runes.

Wu Tao suddenly realized with sadness the unbridgeable gap between mortals and geniuses.

I have been studying formations for three years, while the other party has only been exposed to formations for less than a year.

But now, he couldn't even understand the formation constructed by the other party, so he confused the main structure with the additional structure.

He usually does formation analysis training, but the formations in the classics are all marked, and the exquisiteness of the formations is analyzed in detail.

Once he was freed from the markings and allowed to read an unfamiliar formation on his own, he realized just how complex and sophisticated the systems these geniuses had constructed were. Wu Tao removed the additional structure and counted again, finally coming up with around twenty runes, which was indeed the number of Xuan-grade formations.

He asked, "What is the purpose of the formation?"

Zhou Qing then told him the function of the formation.

Wu Tao said in surprise: "Formations targeting Dao Heart are rare. If it can pass the verification, this one can be regarded as the best among the Xuan-grade formations."

"However, I don't have the ability to assess it. I need to go to the library and ask the formation master on duty to assess it and then record it in the book."

"Let's go to the library now."

Zhou Qing smiled and said, "No rush. Brother Wu, why don't you tell me first, what are the benefits of handing over the formation to the sect?"

"benefit?"

Wu Tao said: "The independently constructed formation is the basis for the formation master to advance in the sect."

"As long as you can independently construct seven yellow-grade formations and submit them to the sect, you will be qualified to be evaluated as a formal formation master."

"The sect provides great support to formal formation masters. Every month, they will receive 20 mid-grade spirit stones. This is just the basic amount. If a formation master has a special research task, he can apply for additional funds from the sect."

"The progress in this area cannot be measured; it depends on the difficulty and value of the research task."

"In addition to spirit stones, there are also formation materials."

"Golden Monkey Skin-grade materials are naturally available at will. Formal formation masters can also apply for ten pieces of the same-grade soft black jade plaque material every month."

"These are the obvious benefits, not to mention the incalculable improvements in status."

Zhou Qing was persuaded by the benefits he listed. If he could get so many benefits every month, it would be much easier for him to practice and study formations.

He asked, "It doesn't seem that difficult to become a formal Formation Master by creating seven yellow-grade formations. Why are there so few formal Formation Masters in the Formation Court?"

Wu Tao smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Zhou, please don't say this anymore. It makes me sad."

The formation masters in the Formation Court may not be able to create a yellow-grade formation in two or three years.

Constructing a formation is a very dangerous activity, and one needs to be extremely cautious when changing each rune, so the formation master's work progresses very slowly.

Who knows what's going on with this guy in front of me? It seems like he can construct a formation easily.

Zhou Qing asked again: "What is the exchange rate between Xuan-grade formations and Huang-grade formations?"

Wu Tao said: "One Xuan-grade formation is equivalent to four Huang-grade formations, but this is only the most insignificant benefit of the Xuan-grade formation. Its greatest benefit is that the Xuan-grade formation is a hard requirement for advancing to the formation master level."

"If you can't stably construct a Xuan-grade formation, no matter how many Huang-grade formations you have, you can't become a formation master."

Zhou Qing nodded, feeling that this rule was reasonable.

He smiled and said, "One last question. I haven't transferred to the Formation Court yet. Can I be evaluated as a Formation Master?"

He already has a Xuan-grade formation, plus the communication paper crane and rejuvenation formation he constructed earlier, the only thing he lacks is a Huang-grade formation.

When he goes back and searches through the byproducts produced during his research on eternal damnation, it won't be difficult to piece together another one.

This means that he will soon be able to meet the qualifications to apply for the position of Formation Master, but it is unclear whether his status as a registered disciple will become an obstacle.

Wu Tao laughed when he heard this and said, "This has never happened before. I'm afraid I'll have to ask a formal formation master to confirm it."

"However, Brother Zhou, why don't you come to the Formation Court immediately? I heard that you only have one spiritual root. Practicing diligently is useless. It would be better for you to devote all your energy to formations as soon as possible."

(End of this chapter)