The Geared Immortal

The Great Wu Cultivation Academy: 7

/*unedited*/

A person looking at the two people showing their prowess in front of many accidentally unconsciously put too much strength on the two round walnuts in his hands.

The crack sounded loudly making all the onlookers unconsciously look at the guy who is currently staring at the broken walnuts in hands with a dumbfounded look on his face.

Shin Jiao suddenly felt a little uncomfortable as he realized that he has attracted too much attention already. So he carefully let go of Guang Lobai's hand while giving Ai Ji a signal.

With a nod of her head, she immediately rises up the identification slab on her hand and showed it to the middle-aged man.

Upon seeing the slab with the spiritual Qi running through it, the middle-aged man suddenly looks at the young woman with disbelief clearly written all over his face.

The middle-aged man has been an elder in the crafting association of the city of Wu, and it is his first time seeing a mortal activating an identification slab. It is known that these slabs can only be activated by one's own spiritual root signature.

But unknown to them, Shin Jiao has already made preparation for this due to the prince's advice. What he made is called the DNA rune matrix. The crafting gloves his students are carrying have DNA identification in it. It would only activate through the user's DNA and would just be a regular glove to others. Hence, if anyone dared steal the gloves they would be disappointed. Plus this DNA rune matrix embeds one's DNA with the spiritual Qi in the gloves, hence making it recognize the DNA of the owner with one's spiritual Qi.

After Ai Ji showed her identification slab, the whole area turned silent. Everyone knows what this means. The young woman in front of them is actually able to use Qi even though she is a mere mortal.

"It must be an artifact!"

"That's right, it is impossible for a mortal to have spiritual Qi control. She must be cheating."

"This is unacceptable!"

Those people who are against Ai Ji and Shin Jiao immediately voiced their concerns and dissatisfaction.

But before they could cause huge clamor the middle-aged raised his hands and showed them a cold gaze.

"The young lad is legible to enter." The middle-aged man said.

But before he can let Ai Ji enter, a voice interrupted them.

"Wait! Has the crafting association become so low now that they would let a mere mortal pass? This is too much. If the standard of the crafting association has become so low, then I won't let my daughter be tainted by the standard of this place." Guang Lobai said after he was freed from Shin Jiao's grasp.

Though he is a little taken aback by the strength of the youth in front of him blocking his path, still he could not accept defeat.

"The Lobai family head is truly a spiteful person. But any word from you against my crafting association and I will kick your daughter out. You have no power here. So shut your mouth." the middle-aged man in purple robe said coldly.

"You…" Guang Lobai wanted to say anything but he knows that his daughter would be heartbroken if he causes trouble so he just gives in.

He would write this enmity within his head and swore to take his revenge.

When Shin Jiao and Ai Ji finally enter the large hall, they noticed many tables where many people have already occupied. In that table, he can see many crafting materials under it and a spirit fire furnace in the middle. Unlike regular tools, artifacts are crafted through furnace just like pills, hence the large furnace in the middle.

He knows that the association would test their artifact crafting ability and would rate whether they would pass or not.

At this time, Shin Jiao looks at Ai Ji who looks rather excited instead of being nervous. He has already taught her the basics of artifact crafting. Now, it is her turn to showcase what she has learned and her grasp when it comes to artifacts.

Unlike regular craft that Shin Jiao has taught the people in the underground base, Ai Ji learned more in-depth crafting and artifact making. He taught her how to put elements and more complex runes in crafted items. This is because, unlike her father and other people, Ai Ji is truly a one in a thousand genius when it comes to artifact making.

Whether it is unlucky or a lucky circumstance that she is unable to wield either Qi or natural energy in her body, she was able to grasp the fundamentals of artifacts making, hence she is mere mortal with an immortal ability.

Without Shin Jiao's help, her talent would have been wasted and she would just be someone insignificant in the future.

Ai Ji also knew what she lacks, as Shin Jiao has already told her of circumstance and also her talents, but so what. She loves crafting things; whether she would live long or die young it doesn't matter. Her passion is to make artifacts and with the help of her master, her dreams are already coming to life.

Right now her eyes are glowing like wildfire as she slowly approaches her table.

"This is it. This is the place where I will prove to my master my worth." Ai Ji thought with determination glowing within her eyes.

When her sight turn towards the young man standing calmly next to the table a few distances from her, her expression suddenly turned gentle.

She didn't know when it started but whenever she could see his gentle and handsome face; her heart would immediately beat faster.

No one has ever shown her such care and affection as a little sister. Plus her master also taught her such profound knowledge. Though she knows that his status is higher, however, she could not help but admire him silently.

She also knows that there are two excellent women by his side. One is a very beautiful and strong young cultivator. And the other one is a mature and charming young mother. Whenever she thought about those two, her confidence in herself would always drop.

"Sigh… now is not the time to think about those things. I will prove my worth. I will do what I can with what I know and with all my strength." Ai Ji said with her confidence slowly returning.

Many people started to pour inside the huge hall and the hundreds of tables began to be filled with the participating candidate for the craftsman examination.

It didn't take long when an elder wearing a light gray cultivator's robe slowly walks in front of the stage.

With an amiable smile on his face, he slowly scrutinized all the participants below the stage. But his expression suddenly turned stiff when his gaze falls on Ai Ji. This is because he can clearly see no spiritual undulation within her body.

But this is just for a moment as he has already heard of this. But only now did he believe the news that a mortal really got into the testing area.

The old man didn't make a fuss as he wanted to see the ability of the young woman. So, he regains his composure and smiled.

After saying a few pleasantries, he then said.

"Being an artifact craftsman is an honorable profession. If you are able to pass this test, you will become a level 1 artificer. As a level 1 artificer, you are expected to be able to create simple artifacts that can be of use to cultivators below the gold core realm… As you progress in creating artifacts you can slowly gain experience and improve. Hence, this examination would be your first step in becoming a master artificer someday. So, good luck to each and every one of you." the old man said as he carefully takes out a scroll.

"The theme for this test is the creation of an artifact that can be used for both offense and defense. If you are able to create something that can surpass normal tools, then you will pass the level 1 artifact exam and become a level 1 artificer. The time limit for the artifact creation is 12 hours… as newbies this is enough time for each of you to think and test out your abilities." The old man said with a smile.

Everyone in the stage began to clamor and turn to look at each other. They know that the exam would be a test of their skills and wits. But none wants to give up though the difficulty is a bit higher. This test would be a chance for them to gain honor for themselves.

Many have given almost half of their lives trying to craft artifacts, and they never plan to give up now. This difficult task has already made their blood boil in excitement.

"Defensive and offensive artifacts would be a great challenge, but I know I can make it."

"Damn it, why would it be this hard?"

"If it's only a defensive tool that was required then it would be easy for me. But this is way too much."

"Hmmm… interesting. This is a challenge indeed."

The various thoughts and murmurs of the craftsmen made everyone's face turned solemn. They already know that it's hard to be an artificer, but they never really thought it would be this hard.

In just a mere twelve hours, everyone is expected to make an artifact with both defensive and offensive capability.

And so with that, the test began.

Meanwhile, Shin Jiao calmly looks at the materials under the table and frowns. The materials on the table are all inferior materials. So this made him a little confused. Then suddenly a crafty glint appears in his eyes. He suddenly had an idea of the purpose of the exam.

Ai Ji also showed the same confused expression as she also didn't start immediately. She understood about materials to be used in crafting and their inferiority. So, she felt a little baffled. Just like Shin Jiao her standard when it comes to crafting is also a little bit high.

"Sigh, I guess I just have to make something out of these materials. Hopefully, I can satisfy my Master's standards." Ai Ji muttered as she took out a piece of paper in her spatial tool.

When she did this a couple of eyes suddenly turn wide in disbelief. The old man and the elders on the stage which have their attention already in her showed an expression of amazement and disbelief.

"How can this be? That's… that's impossible!"