This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 703 - 366: Whoever dares to touch Li Ming, I, Azure Dragon, will retaliate at all costs!_2

Chapter 703: Chapter 366: Whoever dares to touch Li Ming, I, Azure Dragon, will retaliate at all costs!_2

Strands of silver radiance lit up, intertwining with a mysterious and graceful form, instantly enveloping Aistelle and the others. Diwusi’s expression remained stoic.

Li Ming’s position was dangerously close to Abel and the others—too close for comfort. Any misstep could likely involve the others.

Diaz moved decisively, completely disregarding consequences. His eyes were cold; he simply wanted to make a huge commotion, one that Prince Costat couldn’t suppress.

After all, Costat wouldn’t dare kill him.

Li Ming wasn’t idly waiting either. His heart was beating faster as he swiftly switched to [Talos’ Heart] upon Diaz’s appearance, converting all its functions into a defense buff.

As soon as the attack launched, thanks to the unique properties of the Control System, Tank Guard emerged, its icy metallic mecha enveloping Li Ming’s entire body.

Boom!

The black-scaled arm descended, its hand morphing into a ferocious beast head with bloodthirsty red eyes glimmering and fiery scarlet flames spewing from its nostrils.

The beast’s sharp fangs exploded into dazzling sparks at the instant they came into contact with the Metal Armor, a grating friction screech piercing loudly as though trying to tear through the human eardrum.

The beast head’s throat let out a deep, guttural roar. Each note it emitted was brimming with endless ferocity and rage. It twisted and writhed madly, pouring every ounce of its power into trying to crush the Metal Armor to bits.

Suddenly, black energy exploded outwards. Diaz’s expression faltered slightly as he felt a peculiar counterforce surge back through his arm.

How did that mecha deploy so quickly?

He was puzzled but not flustered; he was not Reina—he was leagues stronger than Reina.

"Just a mecha!"

His next strike followed immediately, the other arm rapidly releasing its mechanical weapon, striking again in an instant.

But alongside Tank Guard, Sky Shattering King and Heavenly Sovereign had appeared simultaneously.

[Guardian Armament] activated, and the two Guards clung to Tank Guard like bolts of lightning.

The mechanical structure began an intense operation, emitting sharp, reverberating sounds. Each component deformed quickly, intersecting, merging, and locking together layer upon layer, like a perfectly orchestrated and intricate puzzle.

As the locking process progressed, Tank Guard’s figure expanded at an astonishing rate to a towering five meters. Its mechanical frame became increasingly massive and imposing, streaked with blue and gold accents glowing with an icy radiance.

The colossal fist tearing through the void, carrying world-shattering power, descended just as the Guardian transformation was complete.

[Mechanical Weapon Release] simultaneously activated, fueling Tank Guard’s surface with blinding energy brilliance. In Diaz’s incredulous stare, the massive metallic fist radiated with dazzling luminescence, resembling a freshly born star in its resplendence.

On the fist’s surface, intricate energy patterns ripple like waves, creating a strong energy field that distorted the surrounding space into blurriness.

At the moment of collision, a force capable of swiveling stars erupted outward—the light and shock waves unleashed chaos as they spread furiously in all directions.

Yet, the giant mechanical iron fist stood firm, unmoving.

"Your turn!" Li Ming’s voice dropped to a chilling pitch, his mechanical pupils cold and detached.

Boom!

A deafening explosion detonated abruptly. With Prince Costat present, the area had already formed into a sealed zone, and the fierce energy fluctuations collided like raging tides, each surge causing space to tremble.

...

"Who... who’s here?"

On the outer edges, countless life forms couldn’t clearly see what was happening in the central region. They could only hear the whispers and discussion of others.

"Someone from the Empire?"

"That guy seems to be interrogating Li Ming? Not sure what kind of grudge they have."

Amidst the murmuring buzz, the mysterious conflict between powerful figures made everyone curious, unable to resist prying.

But just then, violent booming noises pinned everyone in place, freezing their gazes on the central region as a blood-red barrier swelled like a balloon on the brink of bursting.

"Holy crap, who made a move?" After a brief silence, gasps of astonishment filled the air.

Heads stretched out and turned to those nearby, hands whipped out smart terminals, scrambling to catch a glimpse of what had transpired in the core zone.

"Diaz actually made his move." The Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman was aghast, staring at the blood-hued energy barrier. "Li Ming is merely Azure Dragon’s student after all—capturing him might suffice, but to strike..."

The Creator Divine Craftsman furrowed his brow slightly. "What a pity."

The Mechanical Soul Craftsman exhaled heavily.

Soon, the blood-red energy barrier within the scene dissipated, its encompassed area reduced to sheer void, even below ground.

"Huh?" The Creator Divine Craftsman’s previously indifferent demeanor froze abruptly. He shot to his feet, face filled with astonishment: "This... this is...?"

The Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman reacted no differently, his mechanical pupils spinning at high-speed, magnifying frantically to capture every detail.

In plain view stood a towering Mechanical Body, half-kneeling. Its mechanical frame was composed of multiple colors, with each panel gleaming sharply. In front of it loomed a massive mechanical shield, sturdy and unwavering.

The shield’s surface was covered in dense metallic scales, each glinting with frigid light. Thick energy pipelines crisscrossed the structure, vibrant blue energy flowing within—a clear sign of overwhelming power surging through.

And at this moment, the central portion of the giant mechanical shield was deeply indented, as if subjected to a tremendous impact. The Mechanical Body bore visible wounds across its exterior—a testament to a harsh battle just endured.

More gravely injured, however, was Diaz, pinned fiercely in the void by a colossal mechanical hand, drenched in blood yet oblivious to it, staring with utter disbelief at the Mechanical Body looming before him.

"This... impossible!" His mind struggled to grasp reality—how could he have been the one to fail?

Even after seeing the mecha emerge around his opponent, along with the strange assembled Mechanical Body, he had been certain Li Ming wouldn’t withstand him.

But the reality was starkly contrary—the assembled components had unleashed a force far beyond his own.

"This is..." Standing up close, Prince Costat also felt waves of shock ripple through him, glancing at the towering Mechanical Body with a complicated look.

"Azure Dragon... intriguing..." Diwusi’s stunning eyes flickered with a trace of curiosity.

Behind her, Abel and the others watched in stunned silence. They naturally didn’t believe Li Ming alone was capable of defeating Diaz—it was the Mechanical Body.

And those peculiar mechanical constructs came from Azure Dragon...

The bystanders fell into quiet. Two or three seconds later, reporters and content creators frantically sprang to action, their faces flushing as they worked their imaging equipment feverishly.

"What’s happening? What’s happening?" Others were still asking.

"Li Ming... Li Ming defeated the Dragon Slayer General..." someone spoke haltingly.

After a brief, stunned silence, a huge uproar erupted. Everyone was brimming with excitement, sensing they might be witnessing the unfolding of an era-defining event.

The Dominion Holy Image was watching closely, observing the Mechanical Body. The combat strategy of the assembled mechanical construct bore striking similarity to the "Mechanical Holy Spirit" of Hammer Divine Craftsman but seemed even more advanced.

It could discern that the mechanics of these constructs were assembled in a special manner, enhancing each other’s performance—a feat not easily achieved.

The information rushing through its processor felt almost overwhelming—how could anyone outshine Hammer Divine Craftsman’s technology?

"...Diaz..." The hulking Mechanical Body vocalized, retracting its mechanical shield as it slowly rose to its feet.

"Azure Dragon?" Prince Costat detected a subtle discrepancy in its tone, his suspicion stirring.

"You may call me that." The surroundings fell still; Prince Costat’s gaze deepened.

All eyes carried hints of scrutiny as the hulking Mechanical Body’s magnetized voice resonated: "To act against my student—isn’t that terribly low-grade?"

Diaz glared, unyielding. "Hiding in the shadows, you must have known the enormous risks he faced."

"That, I don’t understand," Azure Dragon responded coldly. "If you break the boundaries, don’t blame me."

"I have only one student—how many descendants do you... or your kind have?"

Prince Costat’s brows furrowed, displeased by the way this confrontation was being magnified.

Who exactly is this figure?

Uncertainty clouded Prince Costat’s mind. A being of such magnitude couldn’t randomly emerge. He even suspected he already knew this person.

But the technical methods employed by this entity were completely alien—there was no one Prince Costat could link them to.

"You threaten the Empire?" Diaz, gripped tightly, maintained his icy gaze on Li Ming.

"Not a threat to the Empire—a stance against everyone," Azure Dragon clarified, avoiding the provocation. "I need to ensure my student remains safe. Whoever touches him, I kill. All of them. Everyone. Until I die... or the enemies fall."

A serene tone in his voice carried unyielding vengeance—a resolve that sent shivers down spines everywhere.