This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 666 - 348: What Makes You Think My Teacher Wouldn’t Dare to Kill?

Chapter 666: Chapter 348: What Makes You Think My Teacher Wouldn’t Dare to Kill?

"A Level 50 Development Potential, coupled with the talent to at least become a Casting Star Mechanic—this is way too harsh." Li Ming pondered to himself, but upon closer thought, he figured he might just be able to bluff his way through.

Development Potential went without saying. As for talent, with the knowledge and accumulated expertise brought by his current [Mechanical Sovereign] status, tricking that old elephant should be no problem.

"...The location is just a bit awkward, and the commotion way too big. If I recklessly head there, who knows how many problems I’ll encounter."

"And there’s still the assessment—has that old elephant’s Intelligent Core malfunctioned? These ridiculously high demands—without cheats, could anyone even meet them?"

Contemplating this, Li Ming’s gaze flickered as he followed the group led by the Earth Mother, unconsciously arriving at the site of a large facility.

Before them stood a towering, 100-meter-tall crystal-metal hybrid structure emitting a faint blue glow. It was divided into separate cylindrical components, slowly rotating in midair and giving off a low, resonant "wooo" as the wind passed through. Appearing to already be operational, it shimmered with a gentle, luminous glow.

"What is this thing?" Li Ming’s thoughts churned. Given the strength he’d displayed so far, even excluding the Azure Dragon,

to ambush him would require at least one S-Class Life Form—possibly two—or ancillary equipment of some kind.

"Who activated the Space Confinement Device?!" The Earth Mother suddenly erupted into fury, shouting harshly.

The members on guard exchanged uncertain glances, hurriedly answering, "It was under Lord Adas’s orders."

The Earth Mother’s tone paused with a trace of incredulity: "Adas?"

Once activated, the Space Confinement Device consumed an enormous amount of energy.

No one responded to her question.

The Earth Mother then looked up in shock, as a purple bright spot suddenly manifested overhead.

In just moments, it expanded to a size discernible to the naked eye, the rate of its growth escalating geometrically, spreading like a drop of purple ink falling into a pool of water.

And it wasn’t the only spot; above her head, there were at least a dozen visible purple patches, all expanding outward simultaneously. They arced downward to form a dome, sealing off the area completely.

Afterward, a web of crisscrossing purple lightning materialized within the enclosed space. Oddly, it appeared to lack any destructive force; even when it passed through the Earth Mother’s body, it neither disappeared nor caused harm, densely blanketing the entire region.

"A Superdimensional Charge Penetration Interferer?" The Earth Mother uttered the name haltingly, her expression frozen in astonishment. "How could it suddenly activate?"

At that moment, a figure abruptly appeared not far away.

"Lord Adas." The Earth Mother immediately knelt to the ground, her voice filled with urgency as the twisting arcs of purple lightning passed through her eye sockets.

Adas wasn’t dressed in the usual black veil, standing three meters tall, with black horns curving down to frame both sides of her face. Clad in a specially designed combat suit, her chest heaved heavily—absurdly exaggerated and terrifying. Large swathes of exposed skin shimmered in indigo tones.

A tail swished behind her, its tip hair combed into a heart shape—signifying a rare Indigo Sub-Dragon species of Life Form.

Adas ignored the Earth Mother entirely, her crimson pupils fixated on a shadow not far behind her. "Come out," she commanded coolly.

The Earth Mother’s heart pounded as she turned to stare at the shadows in disbelief, where a figure slowly emerged into clarity.

"Li Ming!" she cried out in utter shock, her voice betraying her disbelief.

Li Ming sighed. From the moment the Earth Mother had seemed bewildered by the sudden activation of various instruments, he had a premonition that he’d been discovered.

[Shadow Sting] did not make him entirely invisible, and there were many means to detect him.

"Interesting..." Adas’s towering figure radiated an oppressive presence. She fixated on Li Ming, her demeanor unruffled. "Why didn’t you emerge from the teleportation passage?"

"How did you know I would come here?" Li Ming countered, seemingly unfazed by the air of certainty that Adas exuded. He didn’t mind seeking clarification for the doubts in his heart.

To his surprise, Adas didn’t bother hiding it, uttering two words: "Robbin."

Li Ming’s pupils contracted slightly. An informant?

No... the Skull was real, verified by the system. Such a treasure wouldn’t be dispatched lightly.

His gaze shifted subtly, a glimmer of astonishment flashing through his eyes as he remarked, "You’ve pieced together so many threads. Remarkable."

Adas was momentarily taken aback by his insight. This kid was sharp—he hadn’t jumped to the conclusion that Robbin was a traitor.

"If we lacked such capabilities, we would’ve been annihilated long ago," Adas said, her voice low and heavy, tinged with the composure of a victor. "When Robbin went to find you, we began observing him. Upon retracing his prior actions, we discovered that he took on a bounty at the Black Hole Hall—undoubtedly issued by you."

"We reconstructed his prior activity and scrutinized everyone on that trajectory, uncovering that he had sabotaged the Twisted Blazing Sun, ultimately leading us here."

"Later, you sought out Austin, asking him to prepare items specifically used in the Dimension World."

She spoke slowly, "We even extended an invitation to Robbin as a test and noted that he showed no intention of leaving—likely because you forced him to stay."

"Linking all these pieces together, your destination naturally became clear."

"Of course, all of this was speculation. We couldn’t be certain you’d come, but waiting here costs us little."

Li Ming listened quietly. It more or less aligned with his previous guesses. While her explanation sounded simple, the Holy Mother Church must have expended considerable manpower and resources.

"Your desire to capture me is truly relentless," he remarked, once again impressed.

"Indeed." Adas’s tone now carried a trace of disappointment. The tail behind her swayed around to curl in front of her. "I had expected this hunt to be more entertaining. I never thought you’d come alone—how thoroughly disappointing."