The Geared Immortal

School break

The academy began to bustle about the new artifact which was created by the crafting department. Many have seen the thing that is on Shin Jiao's hand and many wanted that kind of thing for themselves. But the crafting department promised that they would be willing to devote themselves to making such an advance artifact.

What puzzled them the most is the cause of the failure of the device and they began to investigate the matter. Then they have found out that someone purposely sent out the students who are guarding the table at that time, and discovered that those people belong to the royal family.

Because of this incident, the academy didn't push the issue as it was resolved by a student and that they discovered that the student has created a more advanced 'technology' than the primitive prototype that they have made.

But since they have already found the right array and the patterns then it would be a cinch to make another one and more advanced than what they previously created.

Meanwhile, Shin Jiao has involved himself in more advanced research, which is virtual technology. Because of Ai Ji's suggestions and plans, he began to also imagine how he can advance communication technology and introduce the internet in this world. Though it would be a far cry from the internet on Earth yet at least he can try to establish first a WAN or wide area network within the academy or the city itself.

As they began to work, many departments in the academy began to be involved especially the crafting and formation array departments. Shin Jiao began giving them his own idea which the academy accepted. Since the academy is filled with people who are maniacs when it comes to researching, then the progress began to form slowly but steadily.

…

It was time for the academy for its students to take a break. So each student was given a 5 days holiday from school. This is also for the preparation of the 3 academy competition.

While studying in the academy, Shin Jiao has learned that in the next month after the school break, the three largest academies in the city of Wu are going to have a friendly competition for 5 days. The three schools are The Great Wu Academy, Helu Academy, and Ice palace. Although there are many schools and academies in the great city of Wu, these three schools are the most well-known.

The competition that school would be having would be about: formation array, alchemy, artifact crafting, war tactics, and martial arts.

But Shin Jiao didn't bother with any of these, as his mind is only focused on completing the communication lines so that he can contact the underground base as soon as possible. He is nearing his goal and he plans to not get distracted.

But that was only his plan because he didn't expect that others would also be planning something for him.

"When is Shin Jiao coming home?" Aye Muyan excitedly asked Jiyi who is currently sitting beside her.

Jiyi became close to Aye Muyan ever since she became her protector. Other than the two maidservants, Tin-tin and Shao-Shao, Jiyi has become very important and close to her heart.

So right now, if she would choose who she wanted to be her daughter-in-law she would choose the beautiful young woman.

"Master didn't say anything about that aunty, he just said that he would go as home as soon as he finished doing planning the project he had along with younger sister Ai Ji," Jiyi replied politely.

She has treated Aye Muyan as her own mother nowadays as she didn't expect the beautiful mother of her master to be so kind towards her. She has experienced having kin before but was hurt by them in the end. But ever since she absorbed the power of the soul essence, her sensitivity towards other's emotions towards her became sensitive. She could tell whether they are true to her or not.

So she dearly likes her master's mother as the way she treats her is real without any falsehood or hypocrisy.

As the two conversed they suddenly heard the voice of Tin-tin from outside the small courtyard.

"Madam Jiao! Madam Jiao! The young master is back! The young master is back!"

When the two heard this they felt elated and immediately ran out of the house. They also saw, Jie Ye and the two children running out of the house.

"Greetings, madam Jiao!"

"Greetings, grandma!"

Jie Ye and the two children greeted Aye Muyan who nods her head in response.

Then as they walk out into the gate, they saw two silhouettes walking in the distance. The young man is handsome with a well-featured face and a fit body, while the woman is small and cute, but her robe could not hide her womanly charms and curves.

From afar, Aye Muyan can already tell that it was his son Shin Jiao who has been in the academy for a couple of weeks now and alongside him is Ai Ji.

After the group, other groups of people also began rushing out of the small courtyard.

These are Ai Ji and her family members who are now staying within the compound along with Aye Muyan. Unknown to the outside world, this small courtyard is actually large underground. Before leaving, Shin Jiao instructed Ai Ji and the others to construct an underground base and gave them a blueprint on how they would do it. With the help of Ai Ji's crafting technique, they are able to make a three-story underground base where many of Ai Ji's research and crafting has been happening. This is also a place where Jie Ye and Jiyi can practice their skills away from the prying eyes of the world.

When Shin Jiao and Ai Ji saw the people welcoming them with happy smiles, they were elated and felt happy too.

The reunion was a pleasant one and Shin Jiao felt that having a family is truly awesome. At this time, he felt that having Aye Muyan as his mother is truly the blessing of his life and he cherished her too much.

After a large dinner, the two, mother and child walked through the garden which Aye Muyan has been taking care of behind her house.

"Son, how was the academy? Are you doing well in there?" Aye Muyan asked as she slowly walks beside Shin Jiao while holding his arms.

"Umm… I had a nice there mother. I've met a lot of friends and also contributed a lot in the academy." Shin Jiao replied like a child.

Though he hadn't thought about anything, however, right now he felt that he is like a child walking with his mother. This moment for him is simply something that he had never experienced before, so he is very happy.

The two spend the night talking about their days and felt the bond between mother and child became closer.

Shin Jiao spends his days in leisure while sometimes being bothered by Ai Ji with some trifling matters, but in total, he was very happy with the vacation.

Then on the fourth day, Shin Jiao suddenly felt something different from his body.

"Hmm… This is… power? Something is changing with my cultivation…" Shin Jiao muttered while staying inside his room.

"Oh, I'm breaking through to the middle-stages of the gold core realm. And the sphere in my mind dantian is already forming its 47th sphere. Hehe… this is great! Though I haven't cultivated these few days, yet I guess my body didn't forget to cultivate naturally." Shin Jiao thought.

Shin Jiao puts his concentration in absorbing the core in his dantian, the more energy he absorbs the stronger the force he can muster to breakthrough. Then suddenly his body began to ache all over again.

This is his technique in advancing his physique to the level of the mid-stage gold core realm. So he gritted his teeth as his physique cultivation slowly advances through. The pain is clearly too much this time as Shin Jiao began to breathe heavily, and painful moaning sound would escape his mouth every now and then. Shin Jiao has already experienced pain and thought this is a common occurrence but he could not get used to this pain as it is too much.

For the whole night, Shin Jiao suffered through the tribulation of advancing his physique. Luckily he has put up a barrier or else, the whole compound would hear his painful wails.

…

It was already morning, and the sun has already shone high up in the sky when Shin Jiao felt the golden bright glow of the sun hurting his eyes.

Shin Jiao slowly blinked his eyes as his body was covered in a black gooey substance.

"Damn… I still have this many impurities inside my body?" Shin Jiao muttered upon discovering himself covered with the smelly goo.

He knows that those substances came from the beast core that he used to absorb Qi and natural energy from. Beast cores are not pure sources of Qi and natural energies, but still, they are an abundant source of such energies, so not many cultivators would absorb from beast cores directly. Instead, they would use their external body Qi to filter the absorbed Qi from the cores.

Shin Jiao jumped out of the now dirtied bed and immediately ran towards his personal bathroom and washed himself up.

As he went out of his room, he saw Jie Ye who is looking at her two children with disbelief clearly written all over her face.

Shin Jiao wanted to say something but he was suddenly dumbfounded upon looking at the two little kids in the living room.