The Geared Immortal

Chapter 53 - Black Fog Swamp

Chapter 53

Shin Jiao's heart almost fell out of his chest upon hearing Lemy's question. He could not deny being excited when he heard Lemy being able to recognize those martial arts techniques that he taught to the two ladies. The thought of being able to return to earth is actually in his mind. But all of it was drowned when he discovered that he is unable to form a dimensional gate just like Gubu as it was not included in the jade crystal Shin Jiao got.

But now that he heard Lemy talking about being able to recognize those techniques which mean one thing, this former god beast has been on earth before.

…

Looking at the two magnificent figures darting to and fro in the area like shadows, Shin Jiao felt amazed at the speed of their comprehension. He remembers when he was on earth he learned these fighting techniques for 3 years before mastering them, and at that time he was already considered as a genius. Now this two only learned this for 3 months and they are already proficient in fighting again this many opponents. This made Shin Jiao a little upset and happy at the same time.

"Hey, Shin Jiao, we're almost done here. Pick up the cores and the carcasses will you." Susu Ling suddenly said in her princess syndrome mode as she is a little pissed as she didn't expect to fight off more than 20 of these damnable beasts.

But she received no reply as Shin Jiao actually wasn't paying attention to them as this time he is concentrating on making a fireball. When they were in the small world Qin Lou gave Shin Jiao a book, the basic of cultivation arts, as she noticed that Shin Jiao is not using any cultivation arts. From there Shin Jiao was able to learn the method on how to use your spiritual Qi to control the elements.

Controlling a small amount of energy Shin Jiao is trying to picture in his mind fire to appear above his palm. This is the first step before he can use the chants to form the proper technique. But then it is for naught as no matter how hard he tries he could not seem to form even a spark. This is due to his previous knowledge being in conflict with the cultivation arts.

"This is hard; I guess my scientific mind is blocking my imagination." Shin Jiao thought.

Shin Jiao didn't know that he already spend a lot of time but still is unable to manifest any sign of being able to wield fire in his hand. And now Susu Ling and Qin Lou are looking at his posture and concentration incredulously along with Lemy.

"Is he going to be okay?" Susu Ling asked as she looks at Shin Jiao who is almost unable to blink and is in full concentration in what he is doing.

"Leave him be, we'll just camp out here." Qin Lou said not wanting to disturb Shin Jiao.

Seeing the huge half eaten Land Devouring worm, Lemy felt a little agitated. The Land Devouring worm is the pupae stage materialization of Mok Dong and is directly soul connected to its main body in the tiny world, so Mok Dong can control it. Since Mok Dong died, the Land Devouring worm also died having its soul connection and imposing aura cut off.

Then with a thought, Lemy sends the Land Devouring worm and the rest of their spoils inside the tiny world. He then helped with the girls while they are pitching the tent by being a lookout. Lemy right now only has the cultivation of a core-forming realm or a level 3 beast. But since he was a former god beast his fighting sense is terrifying and can even tackle or be in par with those level 4 beasts.

…

Meanwhile in a grand state lies a majestic mansion, inside that mansion is a simple study room. In that study-room sits a middle-aged sturdy man in his 40s with a depressed look in his eyes. In his hand, he held a portrait of a young and vibrant girl with a gentle smile on her face. As the man looks at the portrait a trace of tear slowly came out of his wrinkled eye and slowly slid down his cheek. The man looks at the picture with longing and deep regret.

"I have been a bad father to you, my child. I should never have neglected you if I have another chance I will give up this position of mine in the clan and be with you and support you." He muttered with a sad tone.

At that time, when he received the news that his daughter was missing while on her travels, he immediately coughs a mouthful of blood. He didn't expect this to happen as he posted a lot of hidden guard around her. But what he didn't expect is that she would always play tricks on those guards and put them to sleep. He knows that his daughter is a very wily and spoiled girl as he would always give in to her demands. But he had taught her the ways of a merchant which is to now show indifference to others.

So he feels confident that his daughter would not be in trouble no matter what. Still, he didn't think that because of an accident with some royal spoiled brat she would suffer this incident.

While the man is reminiscing, a series of footsteps woke him up which causes him to feel anger.

"Who dares disturbed me?" he suddenly shouted.

"Excuse me master…" a melodious woman's voice suddenly came from behind the door.

"This should be important or else... Say it now! What is it?" the man said clearly not in the mood to entertain anything.

"Master, we have news of finding traces of the Land Devouring worm. It seems that it was seen on the eastern side of the forest near the town of Dis." The woman immediately said in a calm voice while standing outside the door.

After hearing this, the man immediately stood up. Then conflicting emotions can be seen in his eyes as different images and situations began to enter his mind. But he suddenly grips his fist tight and decided to not overthink. He needs to see it first before he could decide what to do next.

He needs to find his daughter who had been missing for 3 months now. There is a reason why he thinks she is still alive, and so he looks at the door and suddenly shouted with a resolute voice.

"Prepare the carriages! We will go to the town of Dis immediately!"

"Yes, master…" the woman immediately replied and took her to leave.

Hearing the fading footsteps outside, he heaves a heavy sigh. The man then took the brown leather coat on the bronze coat rack and immediately put it on, then with his imposing aura he turns to look at the window outside.

"Susu my child hang in there, daddy is coming!"

…

At the same time, in the Floating Lotus alchemy school in the city of Er, Elder Ao and Elder Duang are sitting in a porch outside a large villa. It's been months now that they haven't received any news and now they are showing a gloomy face. But then a student suddenly rushed forward and inform them of the news about a sighting of a Land Devouring worm. This made the two alchemists immediately stood up and without another word departs from the school.

They know that Qin Lou and Susu Ling was not actually devoured by the Land Devouring worm as Master Ju said that he saw them clearly just disappear in thin air before the worm could eat them. They did not care about anyone else as long as Qin Lou can be saved then the two elders would feel relieved.

She is very valuable for the whole alchemy school because of the medicine she made. They already learned about the failure of the chief alchemist when they tried recreating the rapid hemostatic pill and then severely punished Xing Meng for his treacherous acts.

Upon checking the result and reason for the failure, both discovered that they are also unable to determine it. They checked and compare the other pills they've tried to concoct and discovered that the color is not the same. So they conclude that there should be another form of energy added inside the pill to make it work. But no matter how hard they try and think about it, they could still not figure it out.

That's why these days their moods are gloomy and down. But now that they heard the news some hope suddenly blooms in their hearts.

…

Meanwhile, it's been already two days and Shin Jiao is still not moving from his spot. Even eating is a burden for him, as he thinks that he is getting closer in comprehending this skill.

"I should stop this, it's not like he is having enlightenment or cultivating. He's just stupidly standing there looking at his palm… Hey! Maybe… did he just turn stupid?" Susu Ling said as she can't take it anymore staying in this place.

Although Lemy would let them go in his tiny world and be able to have a nice rest inside the research facility that Shin Jiao built inside Lemy's world, Susu Ling truly missed being with other people and making money.

"This is such a waste I already concocted 10 bottles of high-grade Qi boosting pills. How can I sell them now with him like that?" Susu Ling murmured under her breath.

"I think you have a point we need to return to town now and send a message that we are okay. The school and the elders should be worried about us especially your family junior sister Susu." Qin Lou said as she looks at Susu Ling.

When Susu Ling heard that Qin Lou agrees with her, she immediately acted.

"SHIN JIAO! WE'RE LEAVING!"

This loud shout from a middle-stage gold core realm was like a cold bucket of water being poured on Shin Jiao's concentration which suddenly woke him from his deep thinking.

"Huh! Wha… What?" Shin Jiao suddenly shook his head upon regaining his consciousness.

"F… Fire! Fire!"

Before Shin Jiao could react, Susu Ling suddenly shouted as she saw and pointed at a very large ball of fire suddenly appearing above Shin Jiao's palm and when he was jolted fell on the ground and started to burn the weeds near Shin Jiao's foot.

Seeing the rapidly burning ground Shin Jiao jumped back, even though he would not be hurt from the fire but his robe is not fireproof, and he didn't want to appear naked in front of these two young women. But deep in his heart, he became happy, he saw that when Susu Ling disturbed his concentration a sudden spark was accidentally created and suddenly engulfed the energy in his sphere. With just a tiny drop of energy from his sphere he was able to create that huge size fireball, he can't imagine how powerful would the fireball would be if he uses the whole sphere for just a fireball. Suddenly his attention was attracted toward Qin Lou.

Qin Lou suddenly made a hand gesture dousing the fire by controlling the water droplets in the air. These series of gestures from Qin Lou caught Shin Jiao's attention and he fixedly stares at her movements. Seeing his reaction Susu Ling suddenly had a bad premonition and interrupted his thoughts.

"Wait! We need to leave first. I know that you really wanted to learn cultivation arts but let's do that when we are in town, okay?" Susu Ling said.

"Aw… Sorry… I was too selfish." Shin Jiao said as he knows his own mistakes for being too absorbed in his own thoughts.

When he read the book that Qin Lou gave him, it's like a fire deep inside his heart started to burn with passion. All he wanted to do now is to learn cultivation arts and cultivation methods. But upon hearing Susu Ling's words he realized that he still has his companions.

"I guess you're right, let's go then." Shin Jiao said as he can't wait to enter a town and go into seclusion.

The three people seeing his enthusiasm to go to the nearest town just shook their head in his sudden change of attitude. Qin Lou and Lemy suddenly turn to Susu Ling with a suspicious look in their eyes. Judging from the way these two people changes their attitude just like a flip of a switch, it's no wonder they always bicker with each other.

The group of four people and a beast traverse the forest towards a certain direction. They are following Qin Lou as she held a compass-like object as they travel through the forest. Not long after they arrive in a swampy area full of rotten dead trees and tall dark-colored phragmites. The swamp looks endless as they almost can't see any other way.

"Wait a minute… this is the Black Fog Swamp if we are in this swamp then… the nearest town is the town of Dis." Qin Lou showed a shocked expression.

"You mean we went from near the town of Haven to the town of Dis in those 3 months?" Susu Ling said surprise is also on her face.

"We have no choice but to cross this swamp to get to the town of Dis, or we can go around it but it will take us around 10 more days." Qin Lou informed the group so that they could choose which path to take.

But before the group could decide they suddenly realized that a dark gray mist suddenly rose up covering them. The dark gray mist just randomly pops up like a cloud of smoke from underground and began to cover the whole swamp.

"This is bad… this fog blocks spiritual sense." Susu Ling said as she noticed that she can't use her spiritual sense.

Everyone knows that if they move separately in this for they would lose each other. So, immediately Susu Ling moves closer to Qin Lou and held her hand tightly. Shin Jiao didn't move and just observe his surroundings, upon hearing Susu Ling's words he quickly tried to use his spiritual sense but Susu Ling is right it could not penetrate the fog. But he noticed that if he exerted more effort he can actually extend his spiritual sense up to 5 feet, but it would give him a more mental burden.

Without a second thought, Shin Jiao quickly put on his goggles and then a smile crept on his face as the goggles functions without a hitch. He can see the area albeit not that clear but it's manageable.

But then when he tried to look at his companions, his face turned ashen. He didn't think that the two girls would suddenly disappear even Lemy could not be seen anywhere.. He tried to look around but he noticed that everyone is gone but himself.