Cultivation is just so scientific!

Entering the Spirit Mechanism Pavilion, he saw two Foundation Establishment Masters, including Junior Master Zhuge whom he recognized, as well as five late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

Those who could be in the Spirit Mechanism Pavilion were naturally Array Masters.

"Greetings to the two Masters and fellow Senior Brothers!" Li Shiming stepped forward and bowed deeply in respect.

"You've finally come to certify?" Junior Master Zhuge asked with a smile.

His words had an underlying meaning which made Li Shiming think that perhaps Yin Shilan had told Junior Master Zhuge something.

Moreover, certification was different from an assessment; an assessment required answering the questions set by the sect to a satisfactory level to pass.

Certification, on the other hand, was merely a formality that did not require an examination.

In fact, the presence of two Foundation Establishment cultivators who were also high-level Array Masters was because they had learned from Yin Shilan that Li Shiming had condensed the Array Formation Starlight Sea.

This was indeed the seedling of a true high-level Array Master; as long as Li Shiming was given enough time to grow, becoming a high-level Array Master was inevitable.

The qualification of an Intermediate Array Master obtained through assessment was for those without the Array Formation Starlight Sea. For an Array Master who possessed the Starlight Sea, an assessment was utterly meaningless.

"Junior Master Zhuge, I am here for the assessment!" Li Shiming explained gently.

"Show us the Starlight Sea. Master Chang is very busy, yet he took the time to come!" Without giving Li Shiming an opportunity to explain further, Junior Master Zhuge waved his hand and instructed.

Great, Li Shiming knew that Yin Shilan had spoken of his achievement in condensing the Array Formation Starlight Sea. He did not blame Yin Shilan.

Yin Shilan had more than once urged him to apply for the Intermediate Array Master title, hoping that he could undertake missions with her.

Moreover, telling a few Masters at Dui Peak about the Starlight Sea had only benefits and no drawbacks; Dui Peak would increase their protection for Li Shiming.

Li Shiming's mind merged with the Starlight Sea within his brain, and above his head, a brilliant galaxy of stars appeared.

The two Masters and five Senior Brothers present did not speak; they quietly admired the radiant starlight of the formation.

Each Array Master's Starlight Sea was unique, related to the system of formation knowledge they learned and their own understanding of formations.

The five Senior Brothers had less experience; they were all Intermediate Array Masters certified by the sect, the kind who had not condensed their own Starlight Sea.

Their greatest dream was to one day condense their Starlight Sea and have the opportunity to become a high-level Array Master.

Condensing the Array Formation Starlight Sea was extremely difficult; it was not enough to just have a vast amount of formation knowledge—it also required a profound level of insight.

Almost every Array Master with a Starlight Sea had experienced an epiphany, which deepened their understanding of formation knowledge and transformed it into a Starlight Sea.

The five Senior Brothers had been brought by the two Masters specifically for the opportunity to witness the Starlight Sea, to gain more experience and increase their chances of condensing their own Starlight Sea.

However, the two Masters flashed looks of admiration. The starlight within Li Shiming's Starlight Sea was incredibly radiant, indicating a deep understanding of formation knowledge.

For a Starlight Sea that had just been formed, such a performance was an exceptionally rare talent.

"Li Shiming, Master Chang and I hereby certify you as an Intermediate Array Master!" Junior Master Zhuge stood up solemnly, approached Li Shiming, and made the announcement.

Li Shiming took out his Identity Jade Disc, and Junior Master Zhuge updated the information on it.

"Li Shiming, your knowledge system of formations contains very few of the sect's formations. Henceforth, you must increase your learning of the sect's formation knowledge. The Intermediate formations knowledge of the sect will be open to you without the need for good deeds in exchange!" Master Chang too stood up, nodded, and said.

Li Shiming felt a surge of joy in his heart; this would save him many good deeds.

Spirit Stones he had aplenty, but good deeds were really hard to come by. Completing a single task earned him only dozens or at most a hundred good deeds, and the tasks he took on were too many, and not always available.

And the knowledge required for a low-level formation needed more than a hundred good deeds. Given the vast amount of knowledge required by an Array Master, no amount of good deeds would suffice.

"Thank you, Junior Master Zhuge!" Li Shiming bowed deeply in gratitude.

"The sect provides the best treatment for Intermediate Array Masters, including two thousand Spirit Stones every month, as well as formation materials worth the same amount, but you are also expected to serve the sect. You can't do as you please anymore, like you used to!" Junior Master Zhuge warned, reminding him of his obligations.

Li Shiming's expression fell; his cultivation practice was extensive, consuming much of his time.

Plus, with additional research, even with the utmost streamlining, his daily schedule was very tight.

"It's not like you're being tied down to this work. The Sect Formation requires maintenance, and the nodes within the sea territory need to be checked. Such tasks can't possibly fall to me, can they? All Intermediate Array Masters within the sect must take on this work!" Junior Master Zhuge expressed dissatisfaction with Li Shiming's attitude, admonishing him with a competitive edge.

"I will follow your instructions, Junior Master. Assign me any task, and I shall fulfill it!" Li Shiming said, acknowledging he could not refuse as he nodded in agreement.

He was exceedingly interested in the maintenance of the Sect Formation.

While he had studied the Sect Formation before, those studies barely scratched the surface, and he had never had the privilege to encounter its core.

Now that he was allowed to engage with the main body of the Sect Formation, it would provide him with an abundance of new knowledge.

Unlike an average Intermediate Array Master at the Qi Refinement Stage, with his Spiritual Thought and an IBMz15, he could almost perfectly replicate the design of any formation he sensed with his Spiritual Thought.
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Junior Master Zhuge shook his head; were it not for the scarcity of high-level Array Master prospects within the sect, Li Shiming's attitude might have led to him being discarded outright.

Li Shiming took for granted that such cultivation was to be expected. But in reality, someone had vouched for him, and indeed, he was a bona fide disciple of the Heavenly Sea Sect.

He was from Great Xia, which fell within the control of the Heavenly Sea Sect and joined the sect formally through the Ascension Conference.

Although he started cultivating before joining the sect, all of this had been investigated; he had never even come into contact with a Loose Cultivator and it was purely personal fortune.

This sort of personal fortune was of utmost importance to a cultivator, as every Foundation Establishment Cultivator had their own serendipity, without which it would be difficult to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Also, you now have the authority to use some functions of the Sect Formation. Don't misuse this privilege!" Junior Master Zhuge gave a final admonition before waving his hand, signaling that Li Shiming could leave.

Li Shiming bowed and exited the Spirit Mechanism Pavilion. As soon as he left, he eagerly took out his Identity Jade Disc to check the functions of the Sect Formation he could now access.

In the Sect Formation inside the Nine Peaks, his permissions had not changed much. The addition was a temporary formation permission that allowed him access to the interior of a formation after accepting maintenance tasks.

But outside the Sect Formation, within a range of thousands of miles, his permissions were very useful.

The Sect Formation extended over hundreds of nodes outside. These nodes, which underlay the Sect Formation's control over thousands of miles, were fundamental.

When necessary, he could manipulate these nodes for his protection. They stored massive amounts of energy and in the event of an enemy invasion, each node could become a formidable bulwark, resisting and slowing down the enemy's advance.

In normal times, the energy-powered formations of the nodes could shield Li Shiming from the attacks of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator for a short time, affording the sect time to mount a rescue.

From this, one could see how highly the sect regarded Li Shiming after he became an Intermediate Array Master.

Not to mention the monthly allowance of two thousand Spirit Stones and equivalent value in formation resources, as well as free access to formation knowledge; all these were in the hopes that he could grow and prosper.

The sect's philosophy in cultivating Array Masters differed from that of cultivating ordinary cultivators; the sect would not place great importance on a cultivator until they reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Even if Li Shiming's power never exceeded the Qi Refinement Realm, as long as he became a High-level Array Master, he could serve the sect for over a hundred years, affording the sect time to wait for new high-level Array Masters to emerge.