This is really not mechanical ascension
Chapter 941 - 485: In-Depth (2)

Chapter 941: Chapter 485: In-Depth (2)

Young people always have some flaws in their words. Since Reynolds has already gotten involved, Azure Dragon might as well join in, too.

"Mechanical Seed..." Reynolds was still studying the small gadget in his hand, sighing repeatedly, "I wonder how the Holy Spirit Civilization created it..."

At this point, his expression darkened, "It’s a pity, we discovered it too late."

"If the Forging Hammer was still around, or if we had found it a few hundred or thousand years earlier, we could have understood it. Mechanics would truly become an evolution path, and our overall strength would be several times stronger at least, avoiding the fate of being divided."

Mikhail’s expression became reserved, and he said indifferently: "Fate is such that no one can change it, just like these ruins of the Holy Spirit Civilization—we’ve explored them countless times, and as soon as Li Ming arrives, he manages to glean everything."

Li Ming heard this and merely gave a gentle smile, playing his role.

Reynolds glanced over, pleased, saying: "It seems you listened to what I just said. Good, good..."

Mikhail’s face was pitch-black.

"Oh, right..." Reynolds grinned at the sight, moving closer to Li Ming and whispering, "What exactly is the secret guarded by the Star Spirit?"

"This..." Li Ming showed a difficult expression.

Mikhail secretly sneered, truly a fool; there’s no way the other side would tell you.

Truly thinks he’s one of Azure Dragon’s own?

He has always believed that the reason Li Ming is so successful in the ruins is due to information from Reynolds, which enabled Azure Dragon to fully prepare.

This fool has a bizarre affection for Azure Dragon, always feeling the other side is much like the Forging Hammer, probably already being toyed with.

Mikhail coldly interjected: "Looking at the current situation, the association being divided should be a foregone conclusion."

"We had hoped to gain enough from the ruins to sustain the Mechanic Association, but alas, while the mechanical seed prototype can be considered a variable, there’s not enough time."

By the time they research it thoroughly and manage to replicate it, then find ways to promote this evolution path to form a moat around the Mechanic Association, it would require too much time.

"Just because it’s not possible now doesn’t mean it won’t be possible later," Li Ming also spoke up, "You two go ahead and research it. Someday, we may successfully replicate this evolution path."

He also felt regret; given the current circumstances, it’s inevitable that the Mechanic Association will face the fate of division.

Afterward, if the Mechanical Court wants to expand further from the Chaotic Star Gap, it’s likely to be difficult.

However, Li Ming was still greatly interested in the research conducted by these two.

Though he had the Race Creator, it could only function on mechanical bodies he created and constructed himself, completely unable to be widely applicable.

If successfully replicated, there’s still potential to pull the Mechanic Association back out.

Mikhail nodded, his heart involuntarily stirred. With this prototype, the division of the Mechanic Association would only be temporary.

Successfully replicating a highly promising evolution path would bring significant benefits, even for him, causing excitement.

Perhaps the reborn Mechanic Association could someday reach a level comparable to the Three Civilizations.

The three chatted for a while longer and finally decided to let Reynolds guard the prototype. Although Mikhail considered Reynolds to be a fool, he trusted his integrity.

More than ten days later, when the fleet returned to the main route of the Red River Star Stream and began advancing deeper, Mikhail noticed something unusual.

"This energy characteristic has never been observed before inside the Red River Star Stream."

He captured a bit of black energy fluid and studied it carefully in the warship’s laboratory, quite astonished: "This energy seems capable of devouring other energies and materials, expanding continuously, and has extremely strong corrosiveness..."

Li Ming and Reynolds were present, watching as the energy stream resembling a black snake; in just a moment, the glass jar containing the energy fluid displayed cracks.

Mikhail frowned slightly, on the console, four metal probes spewed out intense energy streams, taking quite some time to barely erase this black substance.

"The consumed energy is hundreds of times greater than its original level," Mikhail couldn’t help but say solemnly, "Now, the deeper regions of the Red River Star Stream are almost entirely filled with this energy substance."

"It should be due to the influence of the Red River Catastrophe..." Reynolds pondered, quite curious, "I wonder what it is..."

"It probably isn’t normal ruins or remnants..." Mikhail looked at the cracked glass jar, speculated.

...

Meanwhile, in the core area, where the giant corpse lay, various types of ships hovered over the ocean-like black substance, collecting all sorts of information.

Numerous warship wrecks floated around, seemingly having experienced a battle.

Yet, near the most central part of the giant corpse, it was empty, as if no ship could approach this point.

"Truly extraordinary..." Spiritual fluctuations echoed here; a bulky figure floated above the giant’s head, eyes solemn, wearing purple metallic armor, gazing downward at the corpse, eyes filled with disbelief.

"Tan Ding, you’ve expressed your awe many times..." Someone responded beside him, dressed in a platinum robe, holding a slim golden scepter, appearing youthful with white hair and golden eyes.

"No amount of awe is too much." Tan Ding shook his head, "A Dominator Level Terraxian’s corpse, so intact, so perfect, do you know what this represents, Alves?"

"I certainly do, that’s why we’re here," Alves smiled, Tan Ding lifted his gaze, the two exchanged glances only to diverge.

"Indeed, the last time we met should have been more than two thousand years ago, right?" Tan Ding said lightly.

"Two thousand one hundred thirty-two years..." Alves nodded, "It was to exterminate... an old friend."

"Your memory serves you well." Tan Ding crossed his fists, his gaze growing fervent, "And this time, it’s to witness yet another peak in the genetic evolution path."

"The emergence of this corpse will solve many of our questions."

The Genetic Evolution Path has stalled for too long, as if it had reached its limit, but everyone knows that’s impossible.

Yet, they’ve always been unable to find the correct evolution path.

"Indeed..." Alves also looked down, while Tan Ding spoke meaningfully, "It’s a pity, you aren’t quite on the Genetic Evolution Path."

Alves’ expression became slightly reserved, responding calmly, "What of it? As I recall, you seemed to harbor seven X Level Gene Seeds within your body."

"But, according to some conjectures, the Genetic Evolution Path doesn’t seem to proceed that way."

Tan Ding’s expression flickered; an unspoken tension hung between them, but then he responded casually, "It’s no matter, just paving the way for others."

"Who isn’t?" Alves replied with a smile, willingly shifting the topic, "However, the appearance of this corpse is indeed peculiar."

"The duration of this Red River Catastrophe is relatively short, and I originally thought it was merely some trivial civilization ruins."

"Moreover, someone arrived here faster and earlier than us."

Their gazes converged on the giant’s missing left arm, with visible cracks at the wound.

Tan Ding’s expression turned grim; the damage had compromised the integrity of the corpse.

He had previously thought the corpse carried the injury itself.

But after examination, it was known the marks occurred no longer than a month ago, possibly even shorter.

He said solemnly, "Even recently, due to matters of the Holy Spirit Civilization Ruins, many advanced life forms have been active in the depths of the Red River Star Stream, but it’s unlikely they could arrive here easily."

"And having the ability to remove an arm but lacking the capability to take the body away is rather odd."

This is a Dominator Level Terraxian corpse; its skin alone is astonishingly tough, even for them, causing damage wouldn’t be so easy.

Not to mention the deeper level of bones, far more robust than skin and muscle.