Mo Hua clicked his tongue and said, "That’s really... not very fair."
Mr. Zhuang replied, "The Heavenly Dao is fair, and the Formation stands as it is; knowing is knowing, not knowing is not knowing. What’s unfair is actually people; some know but still can’t become First-grade Formation Masters, while some don’t know yet still wear the title of a First-grade Formation Master..."
Reflectively, Mo Hua quietly asked:
"Then who should I ask for a recommendation?"
"The Taoist Court, local Clans, Sects, or other powerful entities recognized by the Taoist Court can all qualify to recommend," Mr. Zhuang said.
"As for you... better go through the Taoist Court Officials. After all, don’t you have a Bronze Waist Token from them? Your Court Leader would surely be very happy to recommend you."
Mr. Zhuang advised.
Mo Hua was surprised, "Gentleman, you knew about the waist token too?"
Mr. Zhuang looked composed, "Such trifles, if I want to know, I naturally do."
Mo Hua marveled internally at Mr. Zhuang’s mysterious prowess.
"Also," Mr. Zhuang’s slender fingers ruffled Mo Hua’s hair, "you should call me ’Master’ now, not ’Gentleman.’
"Oh..."
Mo Hua realized and gave an embarrassed laugh.
He had become accustomed to calling ’Gentleman’ and hadn’t managed to switch immediately.
"Master!"
Mo Hua’s voice was crisp and clear.
Mr. Zhuang half-closed his eyes, his expression relaxed, and he nodded lightly.
After that, Mo Hua went to find Court Leader Zhou.
When the Court Leader heard that Mo Hua wanted to participate in the First-grade Formation Master assessment, he agreed without a second thought.
If Mo Hua could get a recommendation from the Taoist Court and pass the assessment, becoming a First-grade Formation Master would also reflect well on him.
Even if Mo Hua failed the assessment, Court Leader Zhou was more than willing to help with this favor.
Although in his heart, Court Leader Zhou knew it was impossible for Mo Hua not to pass the assessment with his Formation expertise.
But he also understood that the ins and outs of the assessment process were very complex.
The Taoist Court’s assessment determined not the grade of the Formation but that of the Formation Master, and it was not decided by the Heavenly Dao but by people with complicated interests.
Unless one had an extraordinary network of connections, the outcome was uncertain to anyone.
Zhou, the Court Leader, was only an official of a small Immortal City; he had some connections but couldn’t influence the major decisions of the Heaven Shu Pavilion in the central Taoist Court, so all he could do was provide a recommendation. For the rest, Mo Hua had to rely on himself.
Zhou, the Court Leader, checked the relevant documents, handwrote a letter of recommendation, and then said to Mo Hua:
"On the twenty-sixth of October, there will be an assessment for Second-grade Black Mountain State Boundary, held at the Azure Cloud Sect in Azure Mountain City. I will send someone to take you there."
Mo Hua nodded.
The twenty-sixth of October, which was only seven days away, was very soon.
"It seems Mr. Zhuang… Master has calculated even the timing of the assessment..."
Mo Hua inwardly mused.