This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 714 - 372: Doomsday Judgment – The Azure Dragon… Is the Divine Craftsman!?

Chapter 714: Chapter 372: Doomsday Judgment – The Azure Dragon... Is the Divine Craftsman!?

"You!" Abel finally reacted, a surge of fury and humiliation rising within him, the bitter sting of being toyed with enveloping his heart.

But in the blink of an eye, he tried to regain composure, intending to look up and question the Dominion Holy Image, hoping to mitigate the potentially burgeoning public outcry.

However, the moment he raised his head, it was as if he had been struck by lightning. The towering body of the Dominion Holy Image had frozen in place, the crystal on its head flickering erratically.

It had cracked open, and then, like snow melting under the warmth of the winter sun, its colossal mechanical figure began to dissolve.

It had truly self-destructed.

It was over. A sense of despair inexplicably surged in Abel’s heart.

Choosing self-destruction rather than serving him—there could be no stronger evidence than this.

Inside the Empire Flying Device, Prince Costat’s face turned as cold as Frost. The space around them shimmered with unstable fluctuations, a clear reflection of the prince’s seething anger.

Who could explain to him how things had spiraled to this moment?

"My lord, the communication center is requesting Eternal Brilliance Federation and Star Cluster Republic Alliance’s consent," Jaint reluctantly reported.

Costat shot a cold glance at the other two. Crow remained expressionless. "We still have critical data being transmitted; the connection can’t be severed."

Something so significant—how could they possibly allow the Empire to have its way and let it off easily?

Diwusi’s eyes gleamed peculiarly. For the situation to have developed this far, though it was bizarre, everything seemed to be connecting in this exact moment.

"No wonder there was such an uproar. The mastermind behind this must have anticipated this scene long ago." A sudden clarity dawned in her mind.

"With such ironclad accusations, known throughout the Interstellar realm, the Mechanic Association will find it impossible not to respond."

Though she felt a sense of schadenfreude, vigilance also crept into her heart.

While the current conspirators seemed to target the Star Abyss Empire, there was no guarantee that, one day, the Eternal Brilliance Federation wouldn’t also find itself in their crosshairs.

"Haha, how fascinating..."

Ill-timed laughter echoed through the room. Prince Costat didn’t even turn his head, already aware of who had arrived.

Neither Diwusi nor Crow showed any surprise; they had already anticipated this visitor.

Prince Ryan strode in leisurely, stepping aboard the Flying Device, clicking his tongue in amusement. "I didn’t expect to be greeted with such an interesting scene upon my arrival."

His mood had improved somewhat—after all, the Royal Family had stirred up quite the mess this time. However, when his gaze landed on the restrained Polk, his expression inevitably darkened.

The Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman suddenly stood up, while the Creator Divine Craftsman spat angrily, "This Dominion Holy Image acts without considering the consequences."

With a solemn voice, the Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman let out a long sigh. "Self-destruction... This Dominion Holy Image could be considered loyal to the extreme. It truly was under the Empire’s hand."

"Loyalty? And what about us?" The Creator Divine Craftsman retorted coldly. "This forces us into open conflict with the Empire."

The Mechanical Soul Divine Craftsman remained silent, his gaze fixed on the disintegrating Dominion Holy Image.

Blackbeard stood dumbfounded, watching as the Dominion Holy Image dissolved into particles of light and dissipated in the void.

"The plan was accomplished just like that?"

He found it utterly inconceivable. Initially, he had already resigned himself to reality, but somehow the situation had taken an unexpected course, subtly achieving the outcome they desired.

So the Hammer Divine Craftsman was truly killed by the Star Shining Empire?

This shocking fact crept into his mind as he shifted his thoughts.

Previously, they had only speculated, relying more on framing and false accusations. But now, it was almost irrefutable. With the Dominion Holy Image self-destructing and leaving no evidence behind, the conclusion was as definitive as it could get.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within, but his thoughts soon returned to the terms the Pioneer had agreed to with the Azure Dragon.

"Sigh, had I known this would happen, there’d have been no need..." Mid-thought, Blackbeard’s expression froze again. "No, something still doesn’t add up..."

"Even if the Empire was to be accused, the Dominion Holy Image had no reason to specifically choose Abel. If what it claimed was true, it should have gone to great lengths to avoid selecting Abel."

Blackbeard found it hard to believe that the Dominion Holy Image could be completely free from even the slightest interference.

Others might not know about their dealings with the Azure Dragon, but Blackbeard was well aware. His expression shifted unpredictably. "Could it be that this matter is connected to the Azure Dragon...?"

A flurry of thoughts rushed through his mind, none of which he could confirm. Yet one undeniable fact remained—their plan had succeeded.

Meanwhile, the gathered Mechanics had descended into a frenzy, their faces flushed red as they shouted the name of the Dominion Holy Image at the top of their lungs.

The scorn had vanished, replaced by unmatched praise.

The self-destruction of the Dominion Holy Image had elevated it to a level of reverence. No one questioned the truth of what it had revealed—it was a truth proven through sacrifice.

The collective momentum of the crowd was terrifying. Li Ming even saw some Mechanics pointing at Abel’s nose and cursing.

Abel’s face was ashen, realizing he had been utterly played.

The selection and evaluation process by the Dominion Holy Image had been a ruse all along. Everything that had transpired so far was orchestrated for this moment, to expose the reality.

A chilling realization struck him: even being chosen as the inheritor was likely a calculated move by the Dominion Holy Image.

If the inheritor had been Aistelle or the others, the Empire could have claimed it was slander by the enemy.

But to choose Li Ming—after the actions of the Dominion Holy Image, Li Ming was left with no options but demise.

Only he could leave the Empire without a rebuttal, forcing them to swallow this bitter result whole.

His supposed victory over the others was nothing more than a cruel joke.

He silently clenched his fists, his expression gradually calming. The events had already unfolded—what required his focus now was how to manage the aftermath and recover.

The Hammer Divine Craftsman’s successor had become a laughingstock, and the Dominion Holy Image had even self-destructed.