This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 875 - 452: The Unfathomable Azure Dragon_2

In this Interstellar Era, progress halts at the X Level Life Form, exploring the path to evolve into the Ultimate Life Form.

However, the known Terrax Civilization possesses Ultimate Life Forms.

The Ultimate Life Form is not entirely unknown.

And perhaps the Ultimate Life Form, too, is exploring the path of evolution.

"...a civilization primarily consisting of female life forms..." Li Ming browsed the Interstellar Network and Black Hole Network, searching for keywords related to the Time Zero Race and Trinity.

No surprises, he found nothing, mostly some useless scraps of information.

He scanned through the Holy Mother Church’s information again, which he had already heavily scrutinized. No one knew its exact time of emergence; its first formal activity in the public eye was nearly twenty thousand years ago.

It’s one of the relatively ancient forces in the interstellar domain, with its existence spanning almost comparable only to civilizations, with its rise and fall occurring multiple times.

Li Ming attempted to magnify it using an optical microscope. Its surface structure was unbelievably smooth, and no matter how much he magnified it, he couldn’t see any divisional structures.

Even on the microscopic level, it still appeared only as smooth and unresponsive to any form of energy, with incredible solidity that even the Tank Guard couldn’t withstand.

"I can only put it aside for now." Unable to figure it out, Li Ming simply put it away.

The restrained nature of this thing was remarkably well done. A casual toss would only make it seem like an inconspicuous piece of iron, something that could even be stored in Folded Space without altering the spatial properties in the slightest.

"This universe... who knows how many secrets lie hidden..." Li Ming murmured to himself, finding it quite frightening that such a powerful civilization could vanish without a trace.

Anduin and Barbaro stayed temporarily, but both were highly restrained, mostly remaining in their rooms and rarely stepping out.

A few days later, a high-spec Giant Shield Escort fleet flew out from the Star Gate, immediately contacting the Mechanical Court.

The metal materials transported by Barbaro had arrived.

In Star Port sixteen of the Royal Court, at the handoff site, the area was temporarily cleared, with the Mechanical Guard stationed everywhere.

A special anti-gravity transport box was lowered, with Barbaro standing right beside it watching, expressionless on the surface but internally bleeding.

This time was indeed a complete loss.

Though he had made this preparation, he originally thought, at worst, these materials would just be used for weapon customizations.

At most, he would have to pay some additional manual fees, but now it was indeed a double loss. Having taken Ryan’s weapon, who knows when the Empire might come knocking.

"Lord Barbaro, please sign." The transport leader adhered to principles, bringing over a handoff order. The sender was Barbaro, and the recipient was also him.

The Giant Shield Company shouldn’t be underestimated; it is the largest cross-civilization transport company, and standing behind it is one of the ten members of the High-level Alliance, the Defender--Axel.

Barbaro signed, and the other party nodded respectfully, then pulled back to depart.

"Pleasure doing business." Li Ming, now changed into the Azure Dragon Armor, extended his hand, and Barbaro forced a smile, shaking hands with the metal palm.

"Lord Azure Dragon, then we won’t disturb you, we’ll be leaving first." Anduin, standing by his side, said, as they had nothing to do here and couldn’t even meet the Azure Dragon.

"Next time when the two of you visit, remember to give a heads-up."

An eerie, hollow echo came from within the mecha, with a tone that was indiscernible as either sarcastic or teasing.

Anduin nodded with a smile, "That’s for sure."

The Mechanical Court casually arranged two spaceships for them.

These two guys weren’t going back the same way either. Watching them integrate into the Star Gate orbit, Li Ming took his group and left as well.

On the way, Ulrich had already completed the inventory of the materials and came to report: "Sir, the total estimated value of these materials is no less than eighty billion..."

As he said this, his expression inevitably became peculiar, as Barbaro had given up Ryan’s weapon, marking a clear loss.

The only possibility he could think of was that it was a form of compensation.

It appears that not only was he at a disadvantage in the confrontation with Lord Azure Dragon, but the gap wasn’t even small.

"Understood, just send them directly to the base’s internal warehouse." Li Ming nodded.

...

At the same time, curled up in the spaceship, Barbaro’s face was grim as he glared at the Gun of Annihilation in his hands, gritting his teeth, then sighed.

After hesitating for a moment, he pulled out a metal disk from his ring and casually tossed it onto the control panel. Metal lines spread from the diagonal and delved into the panel through the gaps.

Moments later, the entire spaceship flickered with lights, and a mechanical echo exclaimed—"Highest Clearance Acquired."

Hearing this, he opened the intelligent terminal, found a contact without a remark, and dialed out.

The call was connected without much waiting; the raspy voice on the other end said, "What’s going on? Weren’t you already at the Mechanical Court? Why are you just leaving now?"

Encounters with unexpected situations." Barbaro grumbled.

"You lost to Azure Dragon?" The other party keenly noticed Barbaro’s somber mood but wasn’t particularly surprised, "It seems Azure Dragon indeed cannot be underestimated. Describe to me the entire battle process."

"..."

"Barbaro?" The other party called out, and Barbaro, his voice dry, hesitatingly said, "No fight..."

"No fight?" The other’s voice suddenly rose, surprised and unsure, "Then why have you been staying at the Mechanical Court for so long, what have you been doing?"

"I..." Barbaro hesitated before responding, "It’s difficult to describe."

"Then take your time telling me, I have plenty of time." The other party, realizing something was off, became much more solemn.

"It’s like this..." Barbaro sighed and began narrating what he witnessed that day.

"...Space-time Isolation Matrix?" The other party abruptly interrupted, voice urgent, "You’re certain it’s a Space-time Isolation Matrix?"

"That’s what Anduin said, I couldn’t tell." Barbaro shook his head.

The other’s voice was somber: "A space-time matrix lockdown, could he really achieve such a degree?"

Barbaro had already heard Anduin marvel at it once before, so he continued, "Then, I extended my arm... "

"...When your arm was annihilated, you didn’t feel anything at all?" The other party, hearing halfway, grew increasingly surprised, "With your life level, shouldn’t your body’s cells have automatically reacted, didn’t they give any warnings?"

"Didn’t I make myself clear enough?" Barbaro remarked with some displeasure.

Recounting it once again was like reopening a wound for him, and if he hadn’t promised the other party, he wouldn’t have retold it.

After a brief silence, the other replied, "...continue..."

Barbaro’s voice turned cold, "...Later, Anduin used some method to pry open a gap, in which we saw Azure Dragon..."

Upon saying this, a murmuring voice emanated from the virtual screen, "Azure Dragon, to withstand that level of energy without any harm..."

Barbaro replied helplessly, "I was also quite shocked at the time, so we didn’t fight."

"...You ended up seeing a fireworks show instead? You didn’t manage to understand any of Azure Dragon’s methods, did you?"

Barbaro fell silent, realizing the truth in what was just said.

With a somber tone, the other voice on the call asked, "Then do you know anything about what Azure Dragon is up to? Actually, didn’t you try anything at all?"

Barbaro’s face hardened, and after signing to end the call, he lifted the virtual screen and took a moment to pause before uttering, "...the one behind, may not even be as powerful as Azure Dragon..."

With a dry tone, filled with hesitation and discomfort, Barbaro said, "I didn’t fight..."

The screen echoed coldly, "Don’t forget, I’ve already paid you. Yet you could only give me this?"

Ending the communication, they waited a moment before the interlocutor spoke, "What is it?"

Majesty Ulrich’s figure appeared on the screen, looking alert.

A weary sigh escaped Barbaro as he stared at his hand holding the [Gun of Annihilation], "The person behind this, perhaps not as formidable as Lord Azure Dragon..."

"""