Chapter 486: The Jade Que Sword Acknowledges Its Master

"Yes!"

President Zheng nodded: "This formation diagram was left by a five-star formation master when the guild was first built. Otherwise, for a four-star guild to obtain a five-level formation diagram, we would need to apply to headquarters in advance, and even then, we might not get it!"

A formation master's diagrams are like an alchemist's recipes: one masters what matches one's level. Without the requisite strength, premature exposure only harms oneself.

Thus, headquarters had clear regulations: a four-star branch like Honghai City could only keep up to fourth-level formations. For higher levels, one had to apply in advance and pay a certain price to obtain them.

Moreover, what they got was only the simplest fifth-level; anything more profound could only be learned at higher-level branches.

Even the formation diagrams were this troublesome, let alone the formation bases and flags.

"Do I have to go to a higher-level formation masters' guild?"

Was this really necessary?

After all this, without diagrams or bases, he couldn't just set up a formation with empty hands!

The higher the formation level, the stronger its power, and the greater the demands on these two items. Whether material or forging method, there were hard requirements... He couldn't very well go learn forging at the artificers' guild just for a spirit-gathering formation!

Not to mention the time wasted; the Honghai City artificers' guild was likely no more than four-star, like this formation guild. Even if he learned, he might not find the right materials, flame, or forging methods to craft suitable items.

Rubbing his brow, Zhang Xuan looked utterly dejected.

He had thought buying a spirit-gathering formation would be simple and quick, over in a moment. Who knew that after several hours, he still hadn't resolved it?

"Actually... it's possible to set up a fifth-level formation without bases or flags!"

Elder Wang Haoxun, standing to the side, suddenly interjected as if recalling something.

"Hm?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

From his studies, he knew that setting up a formation required these two items—a hard rule that couldn't be changed. Was there another way?

"You mean..."

President Zheng seemed to remember something, but stopped mid-sentence and shook his head: "That's impossible. What a joke!"

"What's wrong?" Seeing the two speaking in riddles, Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

"He's talking about... carving a formation plate!"

President Zheng smiled bitterly: "Carving a formation plate is even harder than setting up a formation. Without reaching five-star level, it's absolutely impossible!"

"Formation plate?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

Right, why hadn't he thought of that?

A formation plate involved carving patterns onto a special material, replacing formation flags and bases, so naturally, those two items weren't needed.

"Even setting that aside, I once obtained a blank fifth-level formation plate from the Appraisal Pavilion and tested it myself. It was extremely hard; without a specialized carving knife, I couldn't even scratch a line, let alone carve patterns."

President Zheng kept shaking his head.

The higher the formation level, the higher the demands on the plate's material. Otherwise, it would crack under pressure before use—what use would it be?

Their guild only had carving knives for four-star formation masters. Even with a fifth-level blank plate, they couldn't carve it, couldn't form patterns, let alone create a formation.

"Bring me the fifth-level spirit-gathering formation diagram and the plate to have a look. If there's really no way, I'll have to give up."

Knowing the other was right, but having finally grasped a lifeline, Zhang Xuan still spoke up.

"Alright!"

Seeing his insistence, President Zheng nodded. With a flick of his wrist, a jade slip and a blank formation plate appeared before them.

These two items were the most precious in the entire guild, always carried on his person.

Taking the jade slip, Zhang Xuan immersed his consciousness into it.

Like the fourth-level jade slip earlier, the fifth-level spirit-gathering formation was recorded within—the setup method, requirements for various items, all clear.

He quickly read through it and committed it to memory.

"It really is difficult."

After sorting through the memories, Zhang Xuan sighed.

A fifth-level formation and a fourth-level one, though only one level apart, were vastly different. Without sufficient cultivation, even with flags and bases, it was hard to set up completely.

Like alchemy: a one-star alchemist, even with a recipe, couldn't control the violent forces in the furnace to refine second- or third-grade pills.

If everyone could refine them, there would be no need for such detailed occupational rankings.

"But... if I use the Library of Heaven's Path to find errors and loopholes, I might have a chance to succeed."

With these two items, an ordinary four-star formation master would find it hard, but he had some chance.

Like alchemy: as long as there were no mistakes, he could guide a one-star alchemist to refine peak second-grade medicine.

If he ensured every step of the formation setup was flawless, even at his current Half-Step Mortal Transcendence, he could set up a fifth-level spirit-gathering formation.

But... good ideas aside, one can't make bricks without straw. Without materials, thinking too much was useless.

"Let me see the formation plate."

Pushing aside these thoughts, he reached out and took the blank plate President Zheng had acquired.

The object was pitch-black and very heavy, made of some unknown material. Looking at one side, it resembled a bronze mirror, smooth and neat.

"This is a carving knife. You can try it."

Seeing him still fixated, President Zheng flicked his wrist and handed over a carving knife.

Taking it, Zhang Xuan channeled his true energy and carved at the smooth side of the plate.

Squeak, squeak!

A grating sound rang out. Though the knife was tough, it left not a single mark on the blank plate.

Zhang Xuan smiled bitterly.

It seemed the other was right—he had been overthinking. If he couldn't even carve, having a simpler method was useless.

"Flaws!"

Helpless, he gripped the blank plate and called out in his mind.

Whoosh!

A book appeared, and he gently opened it.

"Fifth-level blank formation plate, made from silver-cold iron mixed with nine-inch gold, forged by five-star artificer Yang Shu. Extremely hard; can only be marked by a spirit-grade upper-tier carving knife or a spirit-grade mid-tier weapon combined with weapon intent. Flaws: ..."

The page was densely covered with flaws.

Scanning them, he knew that even the flaws were beyond his current strength to exploit. Just as he was about to put it down, he suddenly froze.

"A spirit-grade mid-tier weapon combined with weapon intent... can also leave marks?"

A spirit-grade upper-tier carving knife was exclusive to five-star formation masters and unobtainable, but... a spirit-grade mid-tier weapon—some Mortal Transcendence Fourth Layer experts had those, and they weren't hard to find in Honghai City. Even Pavilion Master Sai here had collected quite a few such treasures.

As for weapon intent, since he had already comprehended sword heart, that was even less of a problem!

Weapon intent was sharp and unmatched; even if a level lower, it could definitely compensate.

The more he thought, the more sense it made. His eyes lit up, and he looked up: "I know how to carve. Does anyone have a spirit-grade mid-tier longsword? Lend it to me?"

"Spirit-grade mid-tier longsword?"

President Zheng was taken aback: "I have one. What do you need it for?"

"Lend it to me!"

Zhang Xuan said.

"Alright!"

Knowing the other wouldn't steal his belongings, President Zheng flicked his wrist and handed over a longsword.

Taking it, Zhang Xuan gently drew it.

A cold gleam shot straight to his brow. Even without channeling true energy, he felt an imposing spiritual aura.

Truly a spirit-grade mid-tier weapon, far more powerful than any he had seen or used before.

Hum!

As the sword left its sheath, a strong spiritual fluctuation surged, as if it wanted to break free from his grip and fly away.

Weapons of this grade had their own spirit and could acknowledge a master. If not its master, one couldn't control it and might even be injured.

"Sorry, this sword has been with me a long time and is a bit wary of strangers. Let me persuade it, and it should be better..."

Seeing the sword jump, ready to flee, President Zheng awkwardly approached, gently stroking the blade with his finger as if caressing a lover: "Alright, this Master Zhang wants to borrow you. Be good and don't resist."

Hum!

Hearing his coaxing, the sword seemed aggrieved and trembled even more violently.

"Cough, don't rush. I'll calm it down soon..."

President Zheng's face reddened as he continued stroking and coaxing.

But the sword seemed unappreciative; the more he coaxed, the more violently it jumped.

"Old Zheng, this Jade Que Sword—you've had it for so long. Hasn't it fully acknowledged you yet?" Pavilion Master Sai couldn't help asking from the side.

This sword had been bought from him by his old friend about five years ago. He hadn't expected it still hadn't fully acknowledged its master.

When a weapon fully acknowledged its master, it would obediently follow its owner's commands, not resist like this.

"Cough, you know that getting such a weapon to acknowledge its master is very complicated. I've spent years with it day and night, even sleeping and eating together. It's much better now; it listens to my words. Give me half an hour to soothe it, and it should be fine."

With an embarrassed laugh, President Zheng said.

To get a spiritual weapon to acknowledge its master, aside from eating, sleeping, constant companionship, and tempering with true energy, there was no good method.

The Jade Que Sword had been with him for five full years. Its spirit had mostly accepted him, though far from full acknowledgment, it was quite close. With gradual soothing, it would listen to his words.

"Half an hour is too troublesome. Give me the sword."

Hearing it would take that long just to get a spirit-grade mid-tier weapon to obey, Zhang Xuan was speechless and shook his head.

"Give it to you?" President Zheng was startled. "You have a way?"

Too lazy to waste words, Zhang Xuan took the longsword, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and tapped the tip, body, and hilt three times each.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

At his touch, the sword trembled violently, as if encountering something terrifying.

"Stay still. If you jump again, I'll destroy you in an instant."

His face darkening, Zhang Xuan barked.

"Hum!"

Hearing this, the sword immediately stopped jumping. Then a sound rang from within the blade, like a bell, echoing in everyone's hearts.

"Spiritual resonance..."

His body stiffening, President Zheng's eyes nearly popped out: "The Jade Que Sword acknowledged him as master? This, this... what just happened?"