This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 678 - 354 [Energy Lord] Clash in the Shadows

Chapter 678: Chapter 354 [Energy Lord] Clash in the Shadows

"There’s absolutely no news about this spreading online?" Robbin asked in suspicion after returning to the flying device.

"Probably hasn’t been enforced for long. You can’t log into the Black Hole Network here, and the Star Network can block information. A few factions must have joined forces." Li Ming stood by the porthole.

"But wouldn’t anyone who left here complain?" Robbin muttered.

Li Ming gazed upward through the porthole, spotting a figure with silver hair and silver pupils hovering at the highest point—Albert.

Albert has arrived, Li Ming’s heart thumped slightly. What about Nicholas?

The Dimension World is considered the private garden of the Empire Family. Albert coming here must have a reason.

"Could it be because of... you?" Robbin asked cautiously, his throat rolling.

"I don’t know." Li Ming shook his head, then added, "Maybe."

Robbin froze for a second, then asked incredulously, "The Star Abyss Empire, Eternal Brilliance Federation, and the Star Cluster Republic Alliance have teamed up to catch you?"

Just saying these names out loud made Robbin feel an oppressive difficulty in breathing.

Li Ming shot him a glance and replied wryly, "What are you thinking? They’re joining forces to find me, not to catch me."

"Uh, is there even a difference?" Robbin’s mind raced with unease; the implications of this situation were far too overwhelming to stay calm.

"They might not necessarily harbor hostility. Perhaps they simply don’t want me getting near the Dominion Holy Image. Or maybe they’re hoping I’ll complete certain objectives for them." Li Ming explained, analyzing the situation with clarity. "They wouldn’t want someone quietly walking away with key relics."

For now, only the Dominion Holy Image had appeared; the Infinite Hammer had yet to surface.

The so-called legacy sounded tempting, but to those Empire Level factions, it shouldn’t be something they desperately craved.

Given Li Ming’s status, obtaining those items wouldn’t be considered excessive.

After all, he had a teacher capable of forging S-Class mechanical bodies and was part of the Mechanic Association — definitely not someone insignificant.

The issue lay in the secrets entangled with the Hammer Divine Craftsman, which had led to such an impasse.

"Makes sense..." Robbin contemplated the notion. "Even if there’s competition, the Divine Craftsmen within the Mechanic Association would be more motivated. Why such a large-scale mobilization from these Empire Level civilizations?"

"There are secrets..."

Li Ming’s gaze flickered, confident in his analysis that the spectacle was big but didn’t pose much of a direct threat to him.

However, Albert’s sudden appearance had heightened his vigilance. Someone might leverage this situation.

The flying device distanced itself as a mechanical pupil on the broadcasting system cycled through repeated reports and synced with the management system.

"Flying device marked, identity ID tagged, originating from Bolivar civilization..."

......

Iron sand swept across, scarred trails etched on the ground. A woman veiled in black stood atop the mountain peak, her skin adorned with purple symbols, seemingly fused seamlessly with her flesh.

Before her, the six-armed Holy Mother gazed expressionlessly at the earth below.

"Holy Mother..." A figure behind her, also draped in black veils, reported, "We’ve combed through the entire Dimension World but haven’t found Lord Adas or any other members. The remnants of their base have been completely wiped clean."

"Nor have we found any related traces."

"Handled very thoroughly." The Holy Mother spoke calmly. "Prophet, who do you think did it?"

"The Star Abyss Empire seems the more likely." The Prophet replied in an even tone, "They’ve always sought to extinguish us Holy Mother Church without mercy."

"Not the Azure Dragon?" The Holy Mother countered.

"Unlikely. Adas was well-prepared. Besides, Austin’s teleportation channel collapsed, making it impossible for Li Ming to reach here." The Prophet shook her head.

"Perhaps it was precisely in attempting such traversal that something went wrong." The Holy Mother raised a differing perspective.

The Prophet did not argue further but said, "I’ll make an attempt to see what I can find..."

The Holy Mother nodded, retreating slowly towards the back, her skin edge blurred noticeably, revealing hers wasn’t a true descent but merely an apparition.

The Prophet raised both hands, faint incantations emitting from her throat. Shimmers of energy scattered within the void.

Her skin edges turned crimson, her expression appearing pained, as if the symbols scorched her flesh.

Yet the chant grew increasingly grand, eventually reverberating throughout the Dimension World, conjuring illusory scenes near her.

Large fleets oddly erupted from the ground in reverse, reminiscent of their arrival. Space-time seemed to rewind, flowing continuously backward.

Soon, however, a golden brilliance blanketed the scene, surging like a tide. At the same time, the illusion destabilized, fractures manifesting throughout.

"What’s happening!" The Prophet’s face turned pale as her entire body trembled, struggling to keep the scene intact. The golden waves gradually took form as a near-perfect humanoid figure, kneeling mid-air, holding a blood-red crystal in one hand while gripping something else in the other.

Murmuring unknown words under his breath.

Then, he reversed upright, returning to a desolate ruin, slowly condensing until it became apparent — it was the ruins of Terrax.

From there, he shot back out of the ruins, dust spiraling upward.

"Slotha!"

A sudden roar echoed, freezing the unrolling scene in place.

"Slotha!" The voice reverberated across the entire Dimension World. The figure seemed to be searching for something, unleashing unbridled energy from within in the reversed time display, tearing the Dimension World apart.

"Who is he?" The Holy Mother frowned in confusion.

"I don’t know..." The Prophet shook her head, streams of sweat running down her face, clearly at her limits.

"Who is Talos then?" The Holy Mother asked again.

No answers came. The surrounding vision completely collapsed, and the Prophet was sent hurtling backward.