The data enhancement skyrocketed, increasing overall by seventy times. The surge in data amplification could even boost the Mechanical Guard.
Additionally, the [Super·Charging Strike] ability was unlocked. Li Ming gazed at it with fiery eyes.
After this upgrade, the total Power Amplification reached nearly two hundred times. However, a significant portion of it came from abilities and could not be stacked.
The stackable portion, including [Talos’ Heart], barely reached one hundred times in total, with the highest Energy Level reaching 30S.
But with [Super·Charging Strike], the burst doubled again, directly reaching 60S, easily surpassing the development progress of S-level life forms by 30%.
After completing the upgrade, while still on the Control Page, Li Ming promptly used the newly acquired S-grade Genetic Essence to upgrade the A-level Evolution Theory to S-level Evolutionary Source.
Simultaneously, the speed enhancement of the development process increased again, reaching an overall multiplier of two hundred ninety, just shy of three hundred times.
"Although being ambushed was quite annoying, the rewards this time were worth the trouble," Li Ming muttered, feeling rather satisfied and even wishing for more such encounters.
After dealing with everything, he clenched the Divine Attribute Crystal in his hand once again.
Previously, he had been continuously absorbing metal energy. Up until now, only one Divine Attribute Crystal had been fully consumed, with four more remaining.
Having tidied up almost everything, he finally set out toward the massive palace embedded in the mountain.
As he approached, Li Ming could better appreciate its magnificence. The entrance alone towered a thousand meters high.
It didn’t seem like something designed for life forms of normal proportions.
A crack had already been pried open, faintly revealing some blurry imagery inside.
Li Ming sent a Mechanical Body forward to scout, while his hand brushed against the palace gate, attempting to absorb the metal energy to no avail.
"It’s like some kind of stone?" Li Ming felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped to leech some more metal energy here, but after touching all around, he indeed discovered nothing that could yield even a trace of metal energy.
"How can this be? Terrax couldn’t possibly have neglected advancements in metallurgy," Li Ming shook his head.
Nearby, Thunder established a link with the Mechanical Body’s signal. Communications were uninterrupted, and the transmitted images were remarkably clear, showing an empty interior.
Based on previously compiled data from Vermilion Bird, this place had already been explored.
There wasn’t much danger, and Li Ming only directed the Mechanical Body forward out of caution.
After confirming no apparent threats, he squeezed through the crack and entered.
The palace interior was silent and vast. A sepia light filtered faintly through the translucent, glass-like materials surrounding the area, forming dreamlike patterns on the ground.
As he walked toward the center of the palace, he could clearly see numerous metallic bases nearby.
But all of them were empty, their contents long since taken by the Holy Silver Civilization when they first discovered this place.
At the heart of the palace lay a deeply recessed pit, rectangular in shape, which seemed to have once housed something.
This was likely where the Terrax Stone had originally been placed.
"So, this is the Terrax Civilization’s ruins?" Li Ming looked around, deploying [Intelligent Assistance] to conduct a meticulous search, cross-referencing Vermilion Bird’s remaining data. In the end, he discovered that there was nothing left here.
"Not even any written records... Its significance truly isn’t something on the level of the Brown Iron Beast," Li Ming shook his head, recalling Robbin’s Skull. "I wonder if that guy managed to find anything."
In the Central World, word of the strict selection criteria for the Dominion Holy Image had spread far and wide. Instead of deterring, it drew even more people.
"Level fifteen? Scram."
"Level twenty? Useless..."
The colossal body of the Dominion Holy Image lay prostrate on the ground, like a massive mountain.
Around it were numerous smaller Mechanical Elephants. They lifted their trunks, forming orderly lines. When someone approached, a trunk would absorb a drop of their blood.
"So this is the Dominion Holy Image, truly majestic and awe-inspiring..." A man stood in the distance, surrounded by Empire soldiers, his eyes blazing with desire and greed.
Standing behind him was a silver-haired, silver-eyed life form—Albert.
In front of him, the man was none other than Duke Bloodthorn—Nicholas.
Albert glanced around, observing the massive queue stretching nearly ten kilometers. He couldn’t help but shake his head:
"The selection criteria for the Dominion Holy Image are crystal clear. Even Li Ming barely qualifies. What’s the point of all these people wasting their time?"
"Li Ming..." At the name, Nicholas immediately thought of Azure Dragon. His expression darkened, but he still explained:
"Those criteria were merely stated by the Dominion Holy Image. Whether they’re hard rules left by the Hammer Divine Craftsman or just whims of this Mechanical Elephant, no one can say for sure."
"Moreover, this old elephant clearly already has an interest in Li Ming, but it’s just avoiding pursuing the matter further. Many believe that rather than meeting those rigid selection requirements, gaining the Dominion Holy Image’s favor is the true key to passing."
At these words, Albert finally understood and felt even more speechless. The Dominion Holy Image, after all, was merely the pet of the Hammer Divine Craftsman. These people hoping to catch its eye? Wishful thinking.
After some hesitation, he lowered his voice and asked: "I heard that the Empire Family’s secretly trained princes and promising candidates from both the Upper and Lower Houses have all come?"
"That’s correct," Nicholas nodded, his gaze turning deep. "This is the legacy of the Hammer Divine Craftsman. Even though no one knows exactly what’s been left behind, it’s something no one can ignore."
Saying this, he let out a self-mocking laugh. "It’s thanks to such a massive commotion that I could even make it here to the area under Royal Family control to take shelter from the storm..."