This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 274 - 151 Land of Stars, Thinking of Running Away_2

Chapter 274: Chapter 151 Land of Stars, Thinking of Running Away_2

"Isus!" Feder’s face suddenly darkened, and Li Ming, with his keen senses, took note, his heart stirring slightly.

"Lord Castelon, please go rest for a while. Count Feder and Mr. Li Ming, please follow me."

Isus arranged things calmly, and once the others had left, a smile blossomed on his face as he spoke to Feder, "My dear brother, I’m glad to see that you are not in mortal danger."

Feder’s complexion was pitch black, and he remained silent.

"I heard that you used your wits to kill Caroline, an accomplishment that truly surprised me." Isus didn’t seem to expect a response from Feder and continued on his own, "I never expected that one day, the word ’wisdom’ could be associated with you."

"Isus, isn’t Princess Asmara waiting?" Feder’s voice was icy.

"Yes, yes." Isus smiled and turned to lead the way, "Follow me."

Throughout this process, his gaze never once fell on Li Ming.

Li Ming, of course, didn’t mind this. As a normal person standing beside Feder, he expected at least a glance out of the corner of the other’s eye.

This wasn’t even something within one’s control, yet Isus never showed such a reaction; either this man was truly accustomed to his own arrogance, to the point where no one else existed in his eyes, or it was intentional.

A display of dominance? Li Ming silently smiled to himself.

They made their way through the corridors, taking the internal elevator to the top floor.

"Please wait." Isus did not turn his head until he reached the black door with complex geometric patterns carved into it. These patterns formed a special energy circuit on the surface of the door.

He turned his head with a smile and said, "Oh right, I forgot to tell you, the Torch Organization dispatched six B-level life forms; four have been killed, one captured, and one is on the run."

"You killed a Firework Apostle and were titled an Earl. What do you think I will be?"

Feder’s face soured, his father had gone to great lengths to amplify his own accomplishments.

But then came greater achievements sweeping in from Isus, with a strikingly direct comparison.

With Feder’s case as precedent, Isus’s achievements would also be considerably magnified, essentially meaning that part of the efforts made by his father had become wedding clothes for Isus.

"What’s so special about this guy?" Li Ming asked after the other entered the room.

"Isus, the king’s sixteenth child, joined Princess Asmara’s service two years ago," Feder said with a tinge of hostility.

"So, he’s a prince." Li Ming came to a realization: "No wonder he’s so arrogant."

"Level-fourteen developmental potential, already a C-level life form, and it’s said he can briefly release the Flame Thunder Emperor’s primary form." Feder said this, envy inevitably arising: "Did you notice the ring on his hand?"

"The ring on his hand?" Li Ming’s eyebrow raised: "I didn’t really notice, what about it?"

"Half a year ago, he followed Princess Asmara to the Star Abyss Empire. Apparently, someone there took a special liking to him and personally granted him a Subspace Folding Mechanical Ring."

"Subspace Folding?" Li Ming suddenly looked over, "A Space Ring?"

"You could say that." Feder nodded, wistfully saying: "Even though the space isn’t big, fitting only small trinkets, it’s still symbolic."

His lament went unanswered, and that’s when he noticed the gleam in Li Ming’s eyes, almost taking on a tangible form.

"What’s wrong?" Feder frowned.

"Nothing, nothing." Li Ming shook his head, regaining his composure.

Feder looked at him and then whispered, "Be careful. Isus is not an arrogant person; on the contrary, he’s quite polite."

"He deliberately ignored you just now, probably because you’ve been getting close to me lately, which has displeased Princess Asmara; it’s a warning to you."

"To make you realize you’re not that important."

"I understand." Li Ming glanced at him, "You think there are no surveillance devices here, so you’re deliberately speaking like this."

Feder gave an awkward smile; now that Li Ming knew too much, he rather not have Li Ming fall into Princess Asmara’s arms.

It was better to tie their fates tightly together, lest Li Ming use his leverage against him.

After a wait, the door opened. Both men stepped out, their expressions serious, but the person emerging was not Isus.

"Teacher?" Li Ming was slightly startled.

Wu Yanqing walked briskly towards them, and Feder gave a slight nod, "Professor."

"Your Highness, the princess invites you in," Wu Yanqing said to Feder.

"Myself?" Feder was puzzled.

"Yes, go ahead, don’t keep the princess waiting," Wu Yanqing said, his expression unreadable. Feder hesitated, glanced at Li Ming, took a deep breath, and then headed for the room as if he was walking to his death.

Meanwhile, Wu Yanqing led Li Ming in the opposite direction and turned into another room.

"Sit," Wu Yanqing instructed him to sit down, "There wasn’t any trouble this time, right?"

"A close call, but safe," Li Ming responded solemnly, "Thank you for your concern, teacher."

Wu Yanqing glanced at him, "You thought it was my idea to use you as bait?"

"How could that be, teacher? How could you think so?" Li Ming was shocked and quickly denied, "Eradicating Torch is the duty of every citizen of the Silver Star Cluster."

"Ha..." Wu Yanqing laughed wryly, "To tell you the truth, I indeed went to Princess Asmara, but not because of Torch. It was for the C-grade gene seed."

"C-grade gene seed?" Li Ming’s expression paused slightly.

"That’s right, Asmara is too cunning and cold-hearted." Wu Yanqing had barely started talking when Li Ming interrupted him, "Teacher, Princess Asmara just saved me from a perilous situation, how can you insult her like this?"

The surveillance camera in the corner was just there, and Old Wu was speaking too boldly.

"Don’t worry, they can’t see or hear us," Wu Yanqing shook his head silently and continued, "If you go to the Yitelan Civilization, you will certainly be asked to take sides. Asmara will consume you completely, leaving nothing behind."

"I suspect her Sublimation Particle Fusion Technology has made a breakthrough. The minimum requirement might no longer need level twenty."

Li Ming felt a knot in his stomach, as he was worried about this as well.

"So, I had wanted to get you the C-grade gene seed in advance so you wouldn’t have to go to the Yitelan Civilization. You could just find a place to hide," Wu Yanqing sighed.

As for the B-grade gene seed, the Yitelan Civilization would not grant it easily. It’s not something to consider for now.

Li Ming was even more surprised; he hadn’t expected Old Wu to share his way of thinking. When the going gets tough, lay low.

Knowing it was a treacherous whirlpool yet still choosing to jump in? That would be foolish.

Asmara was already causing trouble before even going to Yitelan. It would only worsen if he went.

"But it was at that time when the news about Caroline’s action reached Jingnan Star," Wu Yanqing continued.

"Asmara quickly realized that Torch was up to something big, and she brought out the Wing Shadow Fleet. Along the way, she found out about Caroline’s death and Torch’s plan to use you to tear Jingnan Star apart."

"She guessed that after such a huge initial investment by Torch, you would certainly have follow-up moves," Li Ming added.

"Yes," Wu Yanqing shook his head.

"So, what about the gene seed?" Li Ming asked expectantly.

"It’s in the hands of Princess Asmara," Wu Yanqing said helplessly.

Li Ming’s face fell. So, you didn’t do anything at all?

Perceiving the implication in Li Ming’s gaze, Wu Yanqing said irascibly, "It’s all because you and Feder were so buddy-buddy that you even followed his order to kill Sun Jing’an. Do you think Princess Asmara would be pleased after knowing this?"

"It was an unexpected situation," Li Ming chuckled sheepishly, then said, "Why didn’t you send me a message to inform me in advance, then?"

Wu Yanqing glared at him. How could he have known that Li Ming would cause such a big commotion?

"Asmara still wants to recruit you, but she wants to discipline you. She gave the gene seed to Isus, whom you’ve met," Wu Yanqing continued.

"I have met him; he didn’t even look at me the whole time, nor did he speak a single word to me," Li Ming nodded.

"Hmph," Wu Yanqing sneered, "The same old tactics. She wants to blunt your edge and pride, making you go and flatter Isus."

"Still so confident. With such methods, she’s not afraid that you’ll bite back."

Li Ming did not say a word. He wasn’t angry, so why was Old Wu so upset?

"Let’s not talk about that for now, how far have you gotten with your development?" Old Wu changed the subject.

"60%," Li Ming pondered for a moment and reported about 10% less.

"That fast?" Old Wu’s hand trembled as his eyes fixed intently on Li Ming.