This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 664 - 347: Stringent Requirements - Does Li Ming Barely Qualify?

Chapter 664: Chapter 347: Stringent Requirements - Does Li Ming Barely Qualify?

Pairs of eyes of various colors flickered, all fixed on the giant elephant.

During this period, everyone was so anxious that they were scratching their heads.

Most people understood that an extraordinary opportunity like this would almost certainly not land on them.

But who doesn’t have that tiny thought of "what if" in their hearts?

Everyone wanted to know the selection criteria, but those who could actually speak with the Dominion Holy Elephant were few and far between, and they remained hidden.

The Dominion Holy Elephant was silent for a moment. Just as everyone thought the selection criteria were an untouchable secret, he lazily spoke: "According to Interstellar standards, the age must be under one hundred."

The crowd quietly listened. There was nothing much to say about this; surely the inheritor had to be young.

"The development potential would need to be at least Fifth Rank..."

"Fifth Rank?" The crowd was momentarily dazed. An older Life Form murmured an explanation: "Fifth Rank means Level Fifty. It’s another classification method, one that’s been used for years..."

Level Fifty!

After a brief murmur of hushed voices, the room sank into a suffocating silence, leaving mouths dry.

The requirement was outrageously high.

Hearing this number made everyone’s hearts tremble.

Some even wondered if such a Life Form with this development potential existed in the Interstellar world.

"Fifth Rank? That’s asking a bit much..." The mechanical body carrying Alex’s consciousness furrowed its brows. Its features were exquisitely elegant, and even the smallest facial change could be clearly observed.

"If they can’t become an Ultimate Evolution Body, with no hope of achieving that, why would I need them?" The giant elephant spoke casually.

Alex shook his head helplessly. "What I mean is, Life Forms with that kind of development potential won’t show up here. They’re all heavily protected by major forces, treated as future cornerstones, and wouldn’t possibly risk coming to you."

Alex’s comment sparked a wave of discussion and astonishment. "There truly are Life Forms with this level of development potential?"

Someone confidently added, sharing some hidden knowledge: "Of course there are. These are typically cultivated in highly controlled environments. The Genetic Seed donors—both sperm and egg—must have exceptionally high development potential, and even during the embryonic stage, they undergo meticulous adjustments to guarantee their potential."

"But even for an Empire Level Civilization, creating such development potential is immensely challenging."

In the crowd, Alex continued speaking: "As for naturally born Life Forms in the Interstellar realm, it’s nearly impossible for them to reach such a potential level. Over the years, the Records..."

At this point, the Divine Craftsman paused, as if recalling something, but eventually shook his head: "You’re dreaming if you think you can find such an inheritor here."

The Dominion Holy Elephant remained nonchalant and continued: "You’re mistaken. Reaching this development potential doesn’t automatically make someone an inheritor. They also need to possess the mechanical talent necessary to become a Casting Star Mechanic."

Everyone exchanged bewildered looks, finding this unbelievable.

"Such talent isn’t exactly easy to inherit, is it?"

"Fifty-level development potential, plus at least the aptitude to become a Casting Star Mechanic..."

To put it bluntly, in an extremely unflattering way, mechanical studies—this so-called ’fringe path’—was usually pursued by those with insufficient development potential.

"Isn’t this a waste? Fifty-level development potential, yet requiring some mechanical aptitude? Who with that potential would even choose to become a Mechanic?" A partially augmented Mechanic grumbled, his mechanical eyes spinning incessantly.

Time was limited, after all. Devoting energy to learning left no room for developing one’s Genetic Seed, wasting their potential.

"Maybe it’s for planning ahead? Once someone becomes a High-level Life Form, they’d have more time to study mechanics..." offered an outsider.

The moment these words left his mouth, he was met with laughter from a group of Mechanics.

"Learn mechanics after becoming a High-level Life Form? At that level of power, why wouldn’t I continue evolving instead of going backward and wasting my progress?"

Alex, hearing this, fell into a long silence before commenting: "Even the Forging Hammer’s development potential wasn’t high; why insist on finding an Evolved Body with such extraordinary potential?"

"That’s none of your business. Do you have any recommendations?" The Dominion Holy Elephant cut him off directly.

Alex shook his head. "Are these requirements left behind by the Forging Hammer, or is this your own idea to find someone for the inheritance?"

"Who said such individuals could inherit anything just because they meet the criteria?" The Dominion Holy Elephant shook his head again, creating a whirlwind. "This is simply the eligibility; they still need to pass my test."

The crowd was left speechless. If not for the lofty status of the Hammer Divine Craftsman and the considerable power of the Dominion Giant Elephant, some Mechanics might have erupted in curses.

If you don’t want anyone to inherit it, just say so. What’s the point of all these hoops?

"What sort of test do you have?" Alex frowned, also finding the whole ordeal absurd. "What exactly did the Forging Hammer instruct you to do?"

"I’ve already told you—it’s none of your concern." The Dominion Holy Elephant rudely dismissed him. Under everyone’s gaze, Alex didn’t get angry. He merely shook his head slightly.

"There does seem to be someone who barely qualifies..." Suddenly, a voice emerged from a corner.

"Oh?" The Dominion Holy Elephant’s single half-blind eye suddenly brightened, firing a beam of light that struck the speaker, lifting him helplessly into the air while he trembled uncontrollably.

He was a Mechanic, and his nearby teammates were startled, shouting repeatedly: "Joseph... Joseph..."

Joseph, too, was paralyzed with fear, his entire body numb. By the time he came to his senses, he was already standing at the feet of the Dominion Holy Elephant.

Its colossal figure loomed like a mountain, emanating a terrifying aura of oppression that nearly robbed Joseph of his ability to speak.

"Such demanding criteria, and yet someone qualifies?" The Dominion Holy Elephant’s voice boomed like thunder exploding by his ears, almost rupturing his eardrums, but it also brought him back to reality.