Chapter 9: Spirit Foundation Technique.

After leaving the City Guards headquarters, Lingtian returned to his house with a clear goal in mind – obtaining a one-star Formation Master certificate, specifically for the Spirit Foundation Technique.

Unlike the Essence Path, the Spirit Path featured a universal technique that almost all Spirit Masters used to perfect their foundations.

The Foundation Establishment Realm marked the first step where the differences between Essence cultivators and Spirit Masters began to shine.

Spirit Masters didn't use essence energy to refine their meridians but instead used spirit powers. In the Core Formation Realm, they formed a spirit core rather than an essence core.

However, they still utilized the essence energy of heaven and earth to nourish their bodies, as the basic growth and function of the body remained reliant on essence energy.

Passing the Formation Master test held by the Formation Association branch in the royal city and achieving the status of a one-star Formation Master would reward Ivar with the coveted Spirit Foundation Technique.

Researching in the library, Lingtian learned that the Formation Association was a colossal organization with branches worldwide, headquartered in the central region. Their influence was unfathomable, and being recognized as a Formation Master by them granted unquestionable identity. They even extended invitations to confident Formation Masters to take tests and offered rewards as tokens of goodwill.

Joining them differed from joining a sect or a family, as being a member didn't entail any restrictions. Members could retain their identity in their original powers, and the Association primarily cared about the profits generated through business dealings with them.

And just like that, Lingtian spent the next month studying formations and nothing else. He didn't have any techniques for the Foundation Establishment Realm, so he didn't really have an option in the first place.

One day, early in the morning, Lingtian left his house heading to the Formation Association branch. He had mastered everything he could get his hands on and was confident that he could pass the test.

"Hello, sir. Can I ask if you are here to post a request or take a test?" a beautiful attendant inquired as Lingtian entered.

She knew all the Formation Masters in the city and didn't recognize him as one. Thus, she inferred that he was either here to ask for assistance from a Formation Master or to take the test to become one.

"To take the test," Lingtian replied calmly.

'What a handsome man,' the attendant thought as she examined him up close.

"May I ask for your name?" she asked with a warm smile while gesturing for him to follow her.

"Gu Lingtian."

"Pleasure to meet you, sir Gu. My name is Lin Rui, and I will be your attendant today."

"Pleasure all mine," Lingtian responded politely.

He already knew the kind of power this organization held. In any place in this world, strength demanded respect, and no one would be bold enough to disrespect even a simple servant here.

"You need to fill out this application form first, Sir Gu," Lin Rui handed Lingtian a form containing basic information about the applicant like the name, age, which test he is trying to take, and so forth.

After some time, he completed filling out the form and handed it back. Lin Rui examined it for a moment before heading upstairs and returning.

"Your application is accepted. The test will be held tomorrow morning, comprising a knowledge test and the creation of a one-star formation," she informed Ivar about the test content and timing.

Formations were divided into three stages, corresponding to the power and usefulness of each stage—mirroring the three-star classification for Formation Masters.

A star-less formation corresponded to Qi Gathering Realm cultivators, one star for the Foundation Establishment Realm, two stars for the Core Formation Realm, and three stars for the Nascent Soul Realm.

There was a mention of the existence of higher stages like Grandmasters in the library, but nothing specific. Ivar didn't know what came after a three-star Formation Master.

However, this knowledge was so far ahead that there was no need to learn these things for the time being. The strongest cultivators in the Broken Moon Domain were at the Nascent Soul Realm, making it nearly impossible to find a Formation Master that surpassed three stars.

Interestingly, this system of classification wasn't unique to Formation Masters. Alchemy Masters, Forging Masters, and even Runic Masters followed the same pattern.

"Thank you, Attendant Lin. I will be back tomorrow morning then."

"We have rooms here, and you can rest until the test is prepared if you are not busy with other things. I will be happy to show you the way," Lin Rui suggested.

"No need, I live in the city not far from here."

Hearing Lingtian's response, a flash of disappointment crossed Lin Rui's eyes. She wanted to get to know this handsome man and spend some time with him.

Lingtian picked up on this, but he wasn't interested. It wasn't that he was uninterested in the opposite sex; he simply wasn't interested in her because of her old age, even though she was quite beautiful.

He headed back and started to do some reading. He was sure that he had memorized everything, but he had some free time until tomorrow, so there was no harm in doing it again as he grow to enjoy the prosses of learning.

'I was so immersed that I didn't even notice that it's already the middle of the night. I should get some sleep,' Lingtian thought as he put the book in his hand aside. Sleeping was the best way to relax his mind.