The Geared Immortal

The three academy contest 4

/*unedited*/

As Shin Jiao took a glance at the alchemy stage, he saw the student busily concocting pills and potions. He can deduce from the ingredients used that they are making something that would assist a cultivator's Qi replenishment. Although they are using low-level ingredients which can be seen almost anywhere, yet the contestants were able to think further and make the medicine more effective.

With this Shin Jiao nods his head in praise for those people who are considered as geniuses of the kingdom, especially those five people who are friends with Ai Ji. He can see that they are too focused and are concentrating on their work.

In truth he really likes these people being friends with his student. Although they belong to the elite families in the kingdom, however, their attitude is not too bad. So he approved of them as her friends.

Then suddenly a bright light coming from the middle of the stadium grabbed his attention. He didn't know what happened but right now, he can see a very strong fluctuation of Qi and natural energies. The process of expelling and suction made him furrowed his brows.

"That thing is creating a vortex… this is like those spatial tool ripple but this is rather too big." Shin Jiao muttered as he continually looks at the array formation stage contest.

"I bet that the space inside that thing is getting bigger..." Shin Jiao muttered as his gaze turns towards the person making the ruckus.

When his sight saw the small figure of a woman he felt a little shocked.

That person was the one who helped him a few days back when he and Tong Lei was in trouble, Fey Ouyang. Although he didn't need her help as he is confident to have dealt with that pompous prince Sai Wu. But he is still grateful for her intervention as it would dispel more trouble for himself.

But what shocked Shin Jiao right now is the condition of Fey Ouyang, she is currently in a really bad situation. It seems that her Qi is in disarray and her hand is stuck in a formation bubble. The rapid expansion of the array seems to be dancing between taking her Qi and rapidly absorbing it back. Shin Jiao knows that if this continues, she would either die of overexerting her Qi or her body would just explode or implode. But in this situation, Shin Jiao can't help but knit his brow as he saw the judges on the stage seem to have a look of helplessness in their eyes.

"Don't tell me they can't break the array formation to save her." Shin Jiao thought.

In this competition, to prevent others from interfering or the array from getting out of hand, each contestant's space are protected by an array. But sometimes, students would put up another array barrier for their own safety as this is just how they are as array masters.

But at this time, it seems that what this practice has done was counterproductive. After the judges discovered that there is something wrong with Fey Ouyang's array, they immediately rushed to stop her. But what they discovered is that there is an array disk on the floor and it seems to be a unique array. Since it is a unique array, they didn't have any method of expelling it. Hence they tried to use force gaining the attention of Shin Jiao with that burst.

Fey Ouyang actually didn't expect this tragedy to happen to her. As she was searching for methods of getting far bigger storage space, she decided to read books on the spatial array. Then she discovers this book from the hidden most corner of the library in the array department which talks about space and gates.

This piqued her interest and began researching. And today was the day that she wanted to try it out and wanted to awe the crowd with her talent. But later did she know that the array would suck her towards it after being activated. Luckily for her, she was able to extend her arms to stop her whole body from getting stuck in that formation bubble. But still, she felt a pang of extreme pain as her dantian was forced to empty itself and then rapidly absorb large amounts of Qi and then empty itself once again. This process was truly excruciating that she wanted to faint.

But her will is strong as she tried to fight back. But still, it was to no avail.

Then suddenly, from within the formation bubble, eerie laughter can be heard and a raspy but clear voice was heard. As Fey Ouyang listens she felt all the hair on her body stood on ends as she felt goosebumps all over her body.

"Keke… Foolish human… you have touched something that you should not have touched. And now we have another way to come to your land and conquer it. I the demon queen, thank you… hihi…" the voice said.

This made Fey Ouyang struggled in despair. She knows that if the formation grew more, then she would die. She now knows what this huge array formation is.

It is a gate to someplace, and it seems that this gate would be used to open a huge portal. She was too naïve to think that it was some storage space array. But then suddenly she remembered the voice which says that 'they now have another way to enter this land.' Then would this mean that they already have a way to enter the land and that gate is currently open?

But before Fey Ouyang could think anymore, she was jolted back by the pain in her dantian and whole body. This time it was far stronger than the last one.

Arrgghh…

"KI… KILL ME! KILL… KILL ME NOW… BE… BEFORE IT'S ALL TOO… Arrrggghhh!!!" shouted Fey Ouyang as she struggles to keep her sanity from the pain.

She knew that she was doomed, but she could not inflict this tragedy to others. If what that voice saying is true then she has doomed the kingdom. She could not accept it, her friend, her family, her loved ones are all in her. She would rather die than to make them face a horrible enemy.

With strong determination in her mind, she began thinking of a way to free herself or even kill herself but to no avail. She is immobile that she could not even do suicide.

Right now, the whole stadium is in a mess as many cultivators are looking at the array formation stage. Many powerful cultivators and array experts have stepped forward to open the shield. And after some time they were able to break it. But what baffled everyone is that there is a gray fog which seems to cover roam around in a sphere-like motion and every time someone would attack it, the fog would turn into a strong shield or a poisonous substance and stop those who tried to break in and save the young woman inside.

"Daughter!" suddenly the shout of a middle-aged man reverberated through the air.

This is teacher Gu Ouyang, one of the well-known artificer and teacher in the Great Wu Academy and is Fey Ouyang's father. Unknown to others, Gu Ouyang is also one of the great heads in the kingdom which supports the royal family. Hence his position is truly high and is just keeping a low profile inside the Academy as a teacher.

Seeing his daughter in this state made Gu Ouyang turn mad. He knows that his daughter is a genius when it comes to array formation and war tactics and is the pride of their family along with niece Loulou Ouyang who is also a teacher in the academy. So right now he is really desperate to save his daughter. But after exerting all his effort in attacking the gray cloud protecting the growing formation bubble, it didn't even budge an inch. He was even poisoned by the mist as his fist collided on its surface.

Everyone look at this situation in despair.

"What should we do?"

"I don't know… it seems that we cannot stop it even when we combine all of our strength."

"Poor girl, I can see that her talent was truly amazing, but due to this error we might lose another talent."

"You didn't even know the true risk. From the look of this array formation, this is a gate… A long-distance gate. And if this thing fully opens, then we might face something more dangerous."

As the judges and the participants of the array formation contest began to discuss, many school leaders have already prepared for the worst.

The array formation experts have already explained to everyone what the array formation is and its purpose. This made the leaders and the higher level cultivator prepare for the worst. Although the life of the young woman is important, they would not gamble with the lives of the rest of the people in the stadium. So the command to evacuate was issued as students began to run or fly out of the stadium.

While everyone was in a panic and escape, a couple of brave young people began walking towards the center stage of the stadium. These people are those who can be considered as the strongest students in every academy in the city. They are the proud and the elite of the academy, so they never even dared escape in the face of trouble.

As these young people approach the rest in the middle where a strong and eerie force is growing, they can now see clearly the situation.

"Teachers, judges, we are here to help." The young man with a dashing look and wearing a silver armor walks forward of the group and greeted.

The leaders nod their heads in confirmation of their actions. As the leaders of the schools and the city, they would not take too lightly the resolve these youngsters are showing. Instead, they would support them and let them experience battle. This way they can become stronger, and if they survive, become the next great leaders of the city serving the Great Kingdom of Wu.

Behind these young people is Shin Jiao who is currently analyzing the formation in front of him.. He didn't think twice as he uses his glasses.