This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 718 - 374: The Empire is Old, Can It Still Command Awe? (Sorry, I’m late.)

Chapter 718: Chapter 374: The Empire is Old, Can It Still Command Awe? (Sorry, I’m late.)

Polk instantly felt a sharp pain, as though struck by a crashing star. A spurt of fresh blood escaped his lips, tracing a shocking arc through the air.

Yet, because he was still shackled by Prince Costat, he did not fly backward.

Polk had no strength left to resist; his cells were long drained, incapable of producing even a trace of energy. The terrifying Power of the Mind he wielded was the culmination of everything he had sacrificed.

He had already prepared himself for martyrdom, gritting his teeth as the Power of the Mind surged forth, emerging from the rolling sea of Blood Energy, and transforming into a resounding voice.

"The Empire declines, the fires of war will rise, and free will... will prevail forever!"

Layers of luminous barriers appeared at the edges, blocking the destructive Blood Energy under the terrified gazes of the onlookers below.

The crowd let out a breath of relief, but their hearts were thrown into tumultuous waves of shock.

This event was truly beyond imagination—intense and dramatic.

In the end, it culminated in such an unexpected climax, far surpassing the allegations of the Dominion Holy Image.

Diwusi was filled with doubt and uncertainty. Polk’s final act was indeed shocking. As she connected it to the recent mysterious rumors about the Terrax Civilization circulating across interstellar domains,

everything began to fall into place—it had all been preparation leading up to this moment.

She now felt a vague regret for agreeing to Prince Costat’s request to shut down external communication signals.

She turned to interrogate her subordinates, only to receive an unexpected report.

"The external communication wasn’t actually interrupted; the command seems to have been intercepted." Her subordinate stammered, sweating profusely.

Diwusi’s brow furrowed tightly. Whoever orchestrated this elaborate setup had thought it through meticulously.

Was it the Holy Revolution Army?

She speculated inwardly but soon shifted her focus to the inevitable fallout. After today, the Mechanic Association would surely issue inquiries regarding the death of the Hammer Divine Craftsman.

’Surely’ wasn’t the right word—it’s inevitable. This already loosely bound organization would lose even more cohesion and was doomed to fragment sooner or later.

On Polk’s end, his ultimate sacrifice struck a deep crack in the ideological foundation of the so-called "mighty Empire" and left an enduring question.

Is the Empire truly flourishing?

Once Polk’s identity spreads and gains traction, those behind the scenes will undoubtedly fan the flames. The minor forces oppressed by the Empire’s pressures will come forward to lash out.

Some low-level Raiders might even venture into the Empire’s territory, seeking out treasures of some sort.

And the Empire would struggle to prove itself. Who would they wage war against? The Holy Revolution Army?

The Holy Revolution Army exists across various civilizations and even operates actively within the Federation. Could the Empire seriously send troops into the Federation to make arrests?

They could only rely on time and repeated wars to assert themselves, but now was hardly a time for conflict. Trouble loomed large for the Empire.

Crisis from all sides—and so, should we...

Diwusi was pondering whether to kick the Empire while it’s down when she noticed Crow’s contemplative expression, realizing he might be entertaining the same thought. Yet, an icy chill arose inside her.

Even their reactions were accounted for.

This overt scheme placed the Empire’s plight into a framework where any of the three powers could be swapped, and the remaining two would seize the opportunity to carve off a piece.

Especially the Star Cluster Republic Alliance—how many Star Cluster Level Civilizations suffered under the oppression of the Empire and the Federation? Now given the chance, they’d certainly rush to settle accounts.

Though the situation was clear, a strike was inevitable.

But the mastermind behind this must be investigated thoroughly, Diwusi thought to herself.

...

"Hah..." Blackbeard exhaled deeply. It was finally complete. Gazing at the Heavenly Vault where the Blood Energy was gradually dissipating, his expression was tinged with complexity.

Their original plan wasn’t nearly this radical. They initially estimated it would take another two to three centuries before they could attempt a similar project to overthrow ideological imprints.

What caused the plan to shift so dramatically? His gaze became unfocused—it all changed when the true Dominion Holy Image emerged.

They realized that the isolation strategy was nearing failure, and after a ten-day emergency discussion, they decided to take a reckless but aggressive leap instead, unwilling to waste the resources and manpower already mobilized.

But the irony was that Li Ming unexpectedly had the potential to become the Hammer Divine Craftsman’s Inheritor, reviving the isolation strategy for consideration once again.

Even then, the prior plan had already been finalized. Their operatives were reluctant to abandon it, so both strategies were pursued simultaneously, as they could complement one another.

After all, Li Ming’s situation remained uncertain.

Until now, both plans had flawlessly fallen into place—this was the most optimal outcome.

"Azure Dragon..."

The greatest variable in all of this, aside from the sudden appearance of the Dominion Holy Image, was Azure Dragon.

Blackbeard looked towards the scene. Their scheme had reached completion; whether Azure Dragon could ensure his student’s survival now was unknown.

After this, the Empire would surely become even more enraged.

"So this was their follow-up plan," Li Ming thought uneasily, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.

"Could this lead to some massive Star Thief era?"

The Terrax Civilization, due to its association with the Hammer Divine Craftsman, had in the past forty days begun gaining awareness among the interstellar domains.

And now, with this incident, it had been fully ignited.

"The Empire is old—can it still wield power?"

Li Ming understood that the Pioneers must have more moves lined up. Reflecting on the sequence, he couldn’t help but feel a quiet astonishment.

"Holy Revolution Army..." Prince Costat’s expression was grim and cold, boiling with anger. He realized he had been duped by Polk, who used him as a platform to stage this spectacle.

From the beginning, Polk had been captured intentionally.

So he could use this stage to exert the maximum impact as a dying man, striking a devastating blow to the Empire.