The Geared Immortal

The crude phone part 1

/*unedited*/

Another week has passed and the first prototype of the phone was already ready for testing. Everyone in the laboratory is really excited to know the fruit of their labors. Even the leaders of each department were invited to see the presentation that the students prepared for the thing called 'phone'.

At this time, Shin Jiao has already learned about Ai Ji's presence in the school but didn't bother with her as she seems to be very busy in the alchemy department. On the other hand, Sai Wu is too worried and flustered upon discovering that Ai Ji sneaked out and was discovered by some students. Luckily for him, she was not in danger or else he would face the wrath of Mingsha Wu. His plan to seduce the beautiful young woman was foiled as she seemed to be more interested in the alchemy department more.

Mingsha Wu also received this news and would sometimes go to the academy to ask Ai Ji to craft some artifacts for some special customers of theirs. But most of the time, Shin Jiao would be the one who would take the task as he seems to be curious about what his student is trying to do in the alchemy department.

Inside a large stadium, many students have already entered and the place is pack to the brim. Even those students that belonged to other departments are also in this place. When Shin Jiao enters, he was taken aback at the number of people inside.

"This is like a concert of some famous celebrity." Shin Jiao thought as he turns his gaze around the place.

Suddenly he noticed a small woman sitting at the front of the stadium near the stage. At first, he didn't know who she was as she and her group are too eye-catching. But when he looks at her clearly his jaw almost hit the ground.

"That… that little… that's Ai Ji, right?" Shin Jiao muttered to himself.

He could not believe it because her figure was truly transformed. She truly looks like a small elf except for her ears. Her beauty and temperament were also changed, she is like a noble young woman who blended with the five people beside her.

Suddenly, Shin Jiao's eyes widen as he perceives the aura around her. So without a second thought, he immediately put on his glasses and saw the combination of thing aura surrounding her body.

"This… don't tell me that she is a… no… no, she is not." Shin Jiao thought but then something dawn into his mind.

"Judging from her aura, she is also a dual cultivator like me. She can use both Qi and natural energy. But… don't tell me… she is using spheres in her dantian just like me before? I need to ask her about this… hehe… I can't believe that she is just like me. Hahaha…" Shin Jiao thought but can't help but snicker a little while a smile appears on his face.

Tong Lei saw this and he followed where his master/friend is looking at. When his gaze turns towards the group of Ai Ji, he felt a little stumped as he actually knew those people. Those five people are famous in the academy for being the top students in the alchemy department. Besides being geniuses in their class, they also belong to the top great families in the city of Wu.

"Sigh… master has some bad luck when it comes to women I guess. He should not have fallen in love with one of those little masters right?" Tong Lei thought as he shook his head in resignation.

Then suddenly the principal of the academy with his long white hair stood straight and walks towards the middle of the stage.

With a smile, he made an introduction about the project that the crafting department had. And the introduction of the product called the 'phone' which was introduced in the Yi Kingdom. The principal showed his happiness that at last in his own city they too can have the same artifact that many people can use for the betterment of the lives of the people in the Wu Kingdom.

When the students heard this everyone showed an excited expression. One of the guests of the academy suddenly showed a happy expression in his face. This person is the mayor of the town of Light which is the border town of the kingdom of Wu. The town is the first layer of protection against the beast coming from the Daemon forest in the west.

Many of the adventurers, mercenaries, and students would go to the Daemon forest and do some missions or hunt for beast or herbs. And this is a dangerous task, many would be lost in that place and it is hard for them to find those people. But if they can have this communication device that the academy is talking about then, before anything could happen, the people in the forest can ask for help as soon as possible.

Not only the mayor of the border town is feeling excited, as many of the other people already have their minds on the usage of the artifact in their minds. Although cultivators can have the ability to communicate telepathically once they became powerful enough but that would be in the future.

With this announcement, everyone felt excited and can't wait to see the unveiling of the product called the phone.

All the people in this place are happy except for one person, and that is Sai Wu. He knows that Shin Jiao is the one behind the array of the phone and he could not swallow this 'humiliation' and hit in his pride. He could not accept that a lowly cultivator like Shin Jiao has the ability to understand the array and making it.

Since he was not in that place when Shin Jiao wrote the array, he thought that Shin Jiao just analyzed the arrays on the phone and rewritten it.

"He just knows how to read arrays, what so special about that? Anyone can do that… Hmph!" Sai Wu muttered as he threw glares of daggers towards Shin Jiao.

Then Sai Wu's attention was caught by a large thing covered in silver cloth on the table with small roller wheels under it as it was dragged towards the middle of the stage.

With the principal's words, the thing on the table was unveiled and voices of awe and amazement can be heard.

No one has ever seen such a big artifact before, so everyone is already showing a confused expression on their faces.

Then a female staff of the crafting department walks to the front and began explaining the parts that the people are seeing. Right now, what the people can understand is that the thing called the phone is divided into three parts, the phone, the base antenna, and the central exchange.

After the long explanation, the people began to have an idea of how it works. So everyone is excited about the first trial.

And so the first official trial began as the teachers and student assistants excitedly prepare everything.

As the central exchange began to light up, Shin Jiao and Ai Ji suddenly feel the elements in their surrounding became a little disturbed.

"This is a very crude prototype, so it has an effect on the natural energies in its surroundings. But once they learned how to refine it, then even those beasts in the forest won't be able to detect its presence… But at least it's the first step." Shin Jiao thought.

As the faculty began preparing everything, they showed excitement in their faces. They have already tried and tested the operation of this thing and they are confident that it would amaze everyone in this room. They can't wait to see the dumbfounded look on each of the faces of the people.

Then two volunteers from the guest were given two identical phones. Each of them was given instructions on how to operate the phone.

Then the two men separate, one flew to the farthest corner of the large stadium and the other one stayed on the stage.

"Now we would see how the two of them can communicate with each other easily, without the use of any Qi or arts, only with this simple artifact." The teacher said as she signaled the man on the stage to dial the number of the other phone.

The phone on the stage is connected to a rune that can amplify voices. So everyone can hear the sound of the phone ringing.

Ring! Ring!

Everyone was silent and only the ringing of the phone can be heard.

Then suddenly they heard the ringing stopped and some clicking sound can be heard which seem to come from the other line.

Then everyone suddenly heard an uncertain voice.

"Umm… What… what should… Oh, I can hear my voice!"

The man from the other line suddenly said with a surprise.

Everyone immediately erupted with glee.

But suddenly, the phone on the stay burst out in smoke just like those communication artifacts that can only transmit and receive for one time.

When this happened, everyone was silent as their eyes are focused on the phone which the man dropped as it was bursting with black smoke. It was as if it has used all its energy just to receive the data. Also, the other man on the other end of the stadium flew back to the stage with the phone in his hand also smoking.

Everyone was stunned at this as suspicion and doubt can be seen on their faces. Then a hush discussion erupted from the students and all those who watched this 'failed' presentation.

"What happened?" Shin Jiao thought while knitting his brow.