Chapter 678: Chapter 354 [Energy Lord] Clash in the Shadows
"Thereâs absolutely no news about this spreading online?" Robbin asked in suspicion after returning to the flying device.
"Probably hasnât been enforced for long. You canât log into the Black Hole Network here, and the Star Network can block information. A few factions must have joined forces." Li Ming stood by the porthole.
"But wouldnât anyone who left here complain?" Robbin muttered.
Li Ming gazed upward through the porthole, spotting a figure with silver hair and silver pupils hovering at the highest pointâAlbert.
Albert has arrived, Li Mingâs heart thumped slightly. What about Nicholas?
The Dimension World is considered the private garden of the Empire Family. Albert coming here must have a reason.
"Could it be because of... you?" Robbin asked cautiously, his throat rolling.
"I donât know." Li Ming shook his head, then added, "Maybe."
Robbin froze for a second, then asked incredulously, "The Star Abyss Empire, Eternal Brilliance Federation, and the Star Cluster Republic Alliance have teamed up to catch you?"
Just saying these names out loud made Robbin feel an oppressive difficulty in breathing.
Li Ming shot him a glance and replied wryly, "What are you thinking? Theyâre joining forces to find me, not to catch me."
"Uh, is there even a difference?" Robbinâs mind raced with unease; the implications of this situation were far too overwhelming to stay calm.
"They might not necessarily harbor hostility. Perhaps they simply donât want me getting near the Dominion Holy Image. Or maybe theyâre hoping Iâll complete certain objectives for them." Li Ming explained, analyzing the situation with clarity. "They wouldnât want someone quietly walking away with key relics."
For now, only the Dominion Holy Image had appeared; the Infinite Hammer had yet to surface.
The so-called legacy sounded tempting, but to those Empire Level factions, it shouldnât be something they desperately craved.
Given Li Mingâs status, obtaining those items wouldnât be considered excessive.
After all, he had a teacher capable of forging S-Class mechanical bodies and was part of the Mechanic Association â definitely not someone insignificant.
The issue lay in the secrets entangled with the Hammer Divine Craftsman, which had led to such an impasse.
"Makes sense..." Robbin contemplated the notion. "Even if thereâs competition, the Divine Craftsmen within the Mechanic Association would be more motivated. Why such a large-scale mobilization from these Empire Level civilizations?"
"There are secrets..."
Li Mingâs gaze flickered, confident in his analysis that the spectacle was big but didnât pose much of a direct threat to him.
However, Albertâs sudden appearance had heightened his vigilance. Someone might leverage this situation.
The flying device distanced itself as a mechanical pupil on the broadcasting system cycled through repeated reports and synced with the management system.
"Flying device marked, identity ID tagged, originating from Bolivar civilization..."
......
Iron sand swept across, scarred trails etched on the ground. A woman veiled in black stood atop the mountain peak, her skin adorned with purple symbols, seemingly fused seamlessly with her flesh.
Before her, the six-armed Holy Mother gazed expressionlessly at the earth below.
"Holy Mother..." A figure behind her, also draped in black veils, reported, "Weâve combed through the entire Dimension World but havenât found Lord Adas or any other members. The remnants of their base have been completely wiped clean."
"Nor have we found any related traces."
"Handled very thoroughly." The Holy Mother spoke calmly. "Prophet, who do you think did it?"
"The Star Abyss Empire seems the more likely." The Prophet replied in an even tone, "Theyâve always sought to extinguish us Holy Mother Church without mercy."
"Not the Azure Dragon?" The Holy Mother countered.
"Unlikely. Adas was well-prepared. Besides, Austinâs teleportation channel collapsed, making it impossible for Li Ming to reach here." The Prophet shook her head.
"Perhaps it was precisely in attempting such traversal that something went wrong." The Holy Mother raised a differing perspective.
The Prophet did not argue further but said, "Iâll make an attempt to see what I can find..."
The Holy Mother nodded, retreating slowly towards the back, her skin edge blurred noticeably, revealing hers wasnât a true descent but merely an apparition.
The Prophet raised both hands, faint incantations emitting from her throat. Shimmers of energy scattered within the void.
Her skin edges turned crimson, her expression appearing pained, as if the symbols scorched her flesh.
Yet the chant grew increasingly grand, eventually reverberating throughout the Dimension World, conjuring illusory scenes near her.
Large fleets oddly erupted from the ground in reverse, reminiscent of their arrival. Space-time seemed to rewind, flowing continuously backward.
Soon, however, a golden brilliance blanketed the scene, surging like a tide. At the same time, the illusion destabilized, fractures manifesting throughout.
"Whatâs happening!" The Prophetâs face turned pale as her entire body trembled, struggling to keep the scene intact. The golden waves gradually took form as a near-perfect humanoid figure, kneeling mid-air, holding a blood-red crystal in one hand while gripping something else in the other.
Murmuring unknown words under his breath.
Then, he reversed upright, returning to a desolate ruin, slowly condensing until it became apparent â it was the ruins of Terrax.
From there, he shot back out of the ruins, dust spiraling upward.
"Slotha!"
A sudden roar echoed, freezing the unrolling scene in place.
"Slotha!" The voice reverberated across the entire Dimension World. The figure seemed to be searching for something, unleashing unbridled energy from within in the reversed time display, tearing the Dimension World apart.
"Who is he?" The Holy Mother frowned in confusion.
"I donât know..." The Prophet shook her head, streams of sweat running down her face, clearly at her limits.
"Who is Talos then?" The Holy Mother asked again.
No answers came. The surrounding vision completely collapsed, and the Prophet was sent hurtling backward.