This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 359 - 193: Explosive Development Speed [Extreme Transformation]_2

Chapter 359: Chapter 193: Explosive Development Speed [Extreme Transformation]_2

"Ya Ro, why are you contacting me only now? What happened, and where the hell are you guys?" Wu Yanqing pressed for answers.

"Teacher, it’s not that I didn’t want to contact you earlier, but it wasn’t easy to do so," Ya Ro explained helplessly, "This is me contacting you as soon as I could to let you know I’m safe."

"Letting me know you’re safe?" Wu Yanqing said icily, "It has been over three months since you left. You’re telling me you’re safe now?"

Ya Ro gave a sheepish smile.

"Exactly where are you, and is Li Ming still with you?" Wu Yanqing asked again, "Why hasn’t he contacted me either?"

You disappear for months without a word, not caring about anyone, and now you’re anxious because you can’t reach them? Ya Ro inwardly griped, then carefully explained, "Uh, we’ve split up."

"Split up?" Wu Yanqing’s voice brimmed with suppressed rage, "What did I tell you when you left?"

"Teacher, it was an accident, there was nothing I could do," Ya Ro said vaguely.

"An accident?" Wu Yanqing’s voice turned even colder, "And you had no choice but to join the Interstellar Alliance’s anti-plundering department?"

"This..." Ya Ro was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Tell me, what exactly happened? And that Great Mechanician Azure Dragon, is he really Li Ming’s teacher?" Wu Yanqing demanded sternly.

Ya Ro’s face twisted oddly, he hesitated, touching the Mimic Mask on his face, then remembered what Li Ming had said before he left, "Telling the teacher the truth isn’t a big deal, but it’s probably better not to. Anyway, it’s up to you."

Teacher, it’s not that I don’t value our bond as mentor and student, it’s just that the junior brother has given too much. You’re living day to day with Asimara, and if one day your memory is searched, wouldn’t that be the end of it?

"I don’t know," Ya Ro said through clenched teeth.

"You... don’t know?" Wu Yanqing fell silent for a moment, his voice growing deeper.

Ya Ro flinched instinctively, knowing that if this were face-to-face, he would definitely be kicked out.

"Ah, teacher, my signal isn’t very good, I’ll contact you later, I’ll contact you later~" He hurriedly hung up, wiping away the nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead.

...

Late in the evening, Huo Tan arrived, the personal butler of the Collector, coming to invite him to a banquet.

Li Ming had long been ready, taking the repaired items with him as he followed Huo Tan to go.

"Where’s Cassis? I thought she would be the one to pick me up," Li Ming asked curiously.

"Miss Cassis has been shaken up, and probably won’t show up for a while," Huo Tan replied with a smile.

"I really should apologize properly to her," Li Ming said helplessly.

Huo Tan just smiled and said nothing.

Upon arriving at Ulrich’s castle, the banquet hall was almost fully decorated, with rows of long tables set with a variety of fine foods and wines, most of which he had never seen before, and he spotted many familiar faces.

"Hey, aren’t you the guy who tried to attack me last time?" Li Ming’s eyes brightened slightly as he spotted the one-eyed fish man not far away.

Frosal stiffened, quietly turning away, but still felt a tremor on his back.

"Is that... octopus you’re eating?" Li Ming’s expression turned curious as he looked at the shark teeth chewing on octopus tentacles, "Doesn’t that count as cannibalism?"

"Of course not, it’s just a common creature, I am a sentient member of the fish people," Frosal explained awkwardly, then quickly added, "Lord Azure Dragon, last time was a misunderstanding, please don’t take it to heart."

"It’s all in the past," Li Ming said, smiling and casually picking up a wine glass.

Frosal breathed a sigh of relief, clinking glasses with him. They had just returned to the Land of Stars not long ago and had learned quite a bit of information.

This Azure Dragon, of mysterious origins, reportedly had a lot of trouble. Ulrich was troubled every day—keeping him was problematic, but so was letting him go.

Anyone who dared get close to him might end up chopped the next day by some power or another.

"Sigh..." Li Ming glanced out of the corner of his eye and exclaimed in surprise, "The Bloodstained Spear, isn’t that weapon one that I made?"

Blood Wolf Sislang intended to pretend he heard nothing, turning his head away, only for Li Ming and Frosal to approach him.

Li Ming eyed him, "I remember a centaur came to me to have it commissioned, how did it end up with you?"

"I killed him and took it," Sislang said indifferently.

"The centaur is his subordinate. He was too embarrassed to approach you directly, so he sent his underling instead," Froza said in a low voice.

"You..." Sislang glared at Froza, baring his ghastly teeth.

"Enough, stop making a fool of yourself here." A cold voice came as the burly Sandro walked down the hallway from behind, accompanied by another figure. Froza and Sislang became solemn and lowered their heads.

Li Ming was familiar with Sandro, but his gaze fell on the figure who was barely half Sandro’s height. The figure appeared human, with withered skin and most notably, a pair of grey pupils.

Li Ming felt as if his entire being was seen through—Grey Eyes, Theo, the owner of the Night Eye Mercenary Group, who used to be the prime hitter under the Star King.

Even the seemingly imposing Sandro was merely his assistant in the past.

In the Land of Stars, only these three A-level life forms were the Star King’s subordinates. According to what Saber had said, despite the many grudges, they would come to each other’s aid during a crisis.

The banquet was clearly held to entertain these two individuals; everyone else here was their subordinate.

"Lord Azure Dragon." Theo nodded his head, his tone cold and unrippled.

"Lord Theo." Li Ming smiled and raised his glass in acknowledgement.

Usually, the status of a Major Mechanic was slightly less than that of an A-level life form.

But he was different—the numerous enigmas surrounding him were common knowledge.

There was no conversation among the three until Ulrich approached, and Huo Tan tapped his metal cup to gather the attention of everyone at the banquet.

Li Ming didn’t care much for Ulrich’s speech. Glancing around, he saw that nearly everyone present was a B-level life form, a dozen or so in total.

"Lord Azure Dragon, the host invites you over there," Huo Tan walked over slowly and gestured with his hand.

It was natural for the three A-level life forms not to mingle too much with these B-level life forms.

Li Ming was somewhat surprised and left the area, under the gaze of the other B-level life forms, towards a private room.

"The Great Mechanician..." Froza said with envy, and others felt the same.

...

"...Not long ago, an A-level life form of the Rosalros civilization, Immortal Flame Kuterill, suffered heavy damage from the United Fleet..."

As Li Ming entered, Sandro was in the middle of a conversation. His towering figure seemed to occupy half of the room. His eyes swept over Li Ming, paused momentarily, and then he continued, "After seven days of fleeing, he still could not avoid his demise."

Li Ming, who was about to take a seat, paused—an A-level life form died?

"An A-level life form..." Ulrich said solemnly, "Half a year ago, I had contact with him. It’s a pity."

"There’s nothing to pity..." Sandro shook his head and scoffed: "He was too confident. He didn’t escape immediately and chose to resist instead. By the time he realized his mistake and wanted to leave, it was too late."

"The United Fleet was essentially Yitelan’s show of force. He walked right into their line of fire, looking for his own death."

"An A-level life form can’t withstand such large-scale interstellar warships."

Theo added, "The main factor was still the A-level life forms of the United Fleet."

"No, they didn’t take action," Sandro interjected.

"Are you sure?" Theo frowned.

"Sure."

He said no more, sitting down on the couch, while Ulrich’s fingers caressed his tail, saying, "An A-level life form can hardly sway such a massive interstellar conflict."

As he spoke, Sandro subtly glanced at Theo.

Li Ming, watching keenly, caught this and pondering over the Casablanca Flower, speculated whether Theo had already developed to 100% A-level and was preparing to evolve into an S-level life form?

It wasn’t an impossibility. According to Saber, Theo had already been an A-level life form while following the Star King.

Li Ming’s mind tensed—the Casablanca Flower was a key ingredient. Given that it was missing, this person’s mood must be quite foul.

His own invitation here, could it be because of this matter?