Quite a few participants' eyes lit up. Original formations. No Formation Master didn't want to create their own. With so many runes and materials, the possibilities were immeasurable. Of course, just using any combination wouldn't give you a formation. You need to know what you were doing and what you were trying to achieve.
"By original, I don't mean that you need to have a completely new effect that no one has ever seen. The Formations Guild just doesn't want you to use any of the known methods. Even if your formation has a similar effect to other known ones, it is still valid as long as the rune arrangement and structure is original. Of course, if you can think of something completely new, that will give you a huge advantage."
Still, someone couldn't help but ask.
"But how are you going to judge who is better? After all, there are just way too many different types of formations. There might be similar results, but the way to achieve them can also be countless times different."
Turin wasn't surprised by the question.
"What else could we use to decide who will end in the top 10? Obviously, we will see just how practical it is. It doesn't matter what type of formation you make. As long as it is helpful to the world, it is valid. For example, many powers like to use protection formations. However, how many people out there really have a use for a protection formation? Think about it."
"Of course, you can introduce a new type of Protection Formation if you want. It will still be considered an original work if you haven't copied others' schematics. Anyway, I think you understand the idea here."
Rean smiled as he heard that. Qia, who was still holding his hand, noticed that.
"It seems like you have an idea already."
Rean nodded.
"The trick behind it is to be useful. If you look deep into it, it doesn't need to be anything complicated. I came from a small tribe and a poor family, so I know very well what my people would benefit from. Sure, they have a need for Spirit Stones so that the tribe can train its warriors. But in the end, the majority of the tribe rarely receives Spirit Stones for their own cultivation."
Well, at least that was the case before Rean introduced the Steelworks. Now, even the less favored families in the Varen Tribe still get a few stones per month. Jury was the type of person who thought of the overall strength, so he wouldn't leave anyone out.
However, Rean had another hidden reason to say that out loud to Qia.
'Perhaps now that she knows I came from a poor background, she will rethink her stance on me. Maybe she will feel that I'm not worthy of the Imperial Bloodline. Yep, that should work.'
However, Rean's plan didn't work very well. When he looked at her face, all he could see was admiration.
"You came from such a place, but you still made it here. Indeed, my future husband is an aggregation of talent! Our kids are bound to be amazing!"
Rean felt like crying but had no tears.
'Where is the pride of the Imperial Family? Where did the noble blood's disdain towards normal people go? Are you really a princess? Look at me with contempt! Think of me as a toad trying to swallow a swan. Think that you need to step on this country bumpkin ant. All that bullshit from novels is welcome now, you know? Come on!'
[I didn't know you were such a masochist...]
Rean's mouth twitched in response to Sister Orb's comment.
'You are a masochist! Your entire family is masochist!'
Qia looked at Rean's expression and couldn't help but ask.
"Why do I feel like you want to cry?"
Rean sighed as he shook his head.
"It's... nothing. Let's focus on the test, shall we?"
Turin then arranged for the assistants to come forward once again.
"Alright, that's all you need to know. As for those who had never thought about creating their own formations, I just have one thing to tell you. Our Formations Guild Main Branch doesn't need simple copycats. We can find them in any other guild branch of the empire."
Qia finally let Rean's hand go before going to talk with the assistant designated to her. With that, he could finally concentrate on his task.
'A practical formation. No rules state that it had to be useful for cultivators. That's probably what Elder Turin meant when he said that. The majority of the people would never reach the Energy Gathering Realm in their lives. That's going to be the target this time. If they reject my formation because cultivators have no use for it, then I will gladly fail this test.'
Rean didn't even need to think much about it. Not long after, he called his assistant and asked for many simple materials that most wouldn't even use. Still, he knew what he would exactly make. Thanks to the last month that he spent in the Formations Repository, he could bring such an idea to life.
Before everyone had even finished listing their formations, Rean went to an empty table and began to construct his own.
Droman was by the side, looking at Rean with his Spiritual Sense.
'Hum? What would he do with such simple materials? A lot of water-related materials as well. Still, their quality is really lacking. Couldn't you have asked for something better?'
Droman wasn't the only one thinking about it. Rean's performance so far had really attracted most of the attention to him, so everyone watching had the same question in their minds, including Saya.
Havek also knew very well what he was going to do. However, the items he asked for were quite rare ones, so his formation was bound to be quite a sight to behold. However, when he saw Rean and his workstation, as well as the items he used, he felt a chill on his back.
'No! That's not right. He wouldn't select such common items to make a fool of himself.'
The materials were simple, but Rean worked with a smile on his face. It wasn't confidence. It was more like satisfaction and eagerness. It was as if Rean simply didn't care about the results anymore, only about what his formations could do.
Havek then looked at the items he asked himself and felt like he had been enlightened.
'I see... Practical, isn't that right? I really didn't choose the wrong rival.'
Havek then looked at his assistant and said.
"Send all these things back."
"This..."
The assistant was speechless. He had just started bringing things over, and the rest was still on the way. Why did this guy change his mind all of a sudden?
"Th-then... what materials should I bring?"
Unfortunately for the assistant, he had to comply with the orders.
Havek then sat down on a chair and crossed his arms before closing his eyes.
"Let me think."
Havek completely gave up his previous idea. He decided that it wouldn't work. With the word 'practical' in his mind, Havek began to create a completely new formation inside his head.
