This is really not mechanical ascension

It was especially emphasized that the current interstellar world is focused on peace and stability, and no one would be allowed to stir up disputes.

This somewhat placated the turbulent interstellar situation and stabilized the situation.

Yet, various rumors continued to spread wildly.

In just the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed.

In the Mechanical Court, at a certain desolate location of the Constant Star Main Base, a massive metallic pedestal unfolded, with a dark golden frame in a folded state tearing open the space.

The armor plates unfolded in a counterclockwise spiral, with energy patterns emerging on the surface of each metal shell, forming the trajectory of a star's movement.

The central column core pierced the Heavenly Vault, and the copper-colored arc at the end shot straight into the sky.

The Information State Enhancement Instrument, this was the special device sent to him by Reynolds, extremely complex in operation, requiring multiple structures to be activated simultaneously.

It is used in certain processes to enhance the existence of one's own information state.

Generally, high-level life forms would restrain their information states.

But at certain critical moments, such as when invoking superpowers or mobilizing energy, the higher the activity level of the information state, the better.

Li Ming stood at the center of the instrument, feeling a bit anxious and somewhat unsure.

However, although Reynolds usually appeared reckless, he had never encountered any errors.

With a single command.

The instrument activated, with energy pouring into it, turning the silvery conduits transparent and revealing the crimson flow of particles inside, resembling a liquid nebula forcibly injected into blood vessels.

Upon contact with the reactor core, it immediately scorched the composite armor with lychee skin-like cracks.

As the final grid completed the energy infusion, the entire device emitted a low-frequency tremor, with the central column core radiating a faint glow.

The light pillar enveloped Li Ming below, as he began attempting to communicate with the Holy Castle according to the usage instructions.

In this current situation, there should be no response, yet this time, he felt his consciousness suddenly shake.

He seemed to transform into a stream of data, entangled, entering an enormous ocean where waves did not exist in the visible spectrum.

There was neither color nor direction around him, only a sense of void—void that was not darkness, just pure... void.

This was the Information State Ocean of the universe, some interstellar philosophers believed this was the actual universe itself.

The universe observed by normal life forms is merely a representation generated by the interaction between their own information state and the universe's information state.

Here, he felt an inexplicable attraction coming from somewhere.

The intangible data stream he had become darted toward that location like an arrow.

A moment ago, it was unknowable, but now it seemed to be right in front of him.

Before him suddenly opened up, and what he first saw was a misty cloud, encircled by chains that crisscrossed eternally.

Was the mist the representation of the Holy Castle's information state?

Li Ming subconsciously thought, while farther away, there appeared to be little dots resembling ants.

These were individual information states, and for the first time, Li Ming was observing the universe from this perspective.

But the next moment, an invisible force pressed him forward, plunging toward the direction of the Holy Castle and colliding head-on with those intertwining eternal chains.

...

In the alliance command ship, the three main and deputy commanders, who usually handled various affairs separately, unusually gathered here.

"The three chosen ones have already arrived... ready to start exploring the Holy Castle at any time," Heckler reported expressionlessly.

Costate nodded, "Well done."

"Prince's efficiency is indeed high," Schmidt praised.

"He truly deserves credit for being able to locate the Holy Castle."

Heins's agreement briefly made Heckler's face turn sour; these two were clearly mocking him.

Costate continued the conversation, "Then let's prepare to begin. The exploratory members have already been selected, this time, we'll temporarily use only ordinary X Level life forms."

"Even if the Azure Dragon is inside, the loss wouldn't be too great."

"I hope he's not inside, if that's the case, it'll be much easier," Schmidt remarked.

This was a matter discussed long ago, and after some small talk, they prepared to go out to observe.

Yet before they even stepped out of the command room door, an ear-piercing alarm sounded throughout the room, with red light flashing intermittently.

"This is a Level One alarm," Costate's expression slightly changed.

The four simultaneously took out their smart terminals, and someone immediately reported—

"…Commander (Your Highness), the super-dimensional information state lock issued an alert, someone is attempting to breach the lock..."

Schmidt's pupils slightly contracted, "Is it the Azure Dragon?"

Heins immediately followed, "If it's the Azure Dragon, doesn't it mean he's truly not inside?"

Only Costate immediately ordered, sternly commanding, "Proceed with the interception record as planned."

Faced with this change, the four returned to the command room.

Before their eyes, the holographic image simulated the lock on the information state layer, visually presenting the entire process.

On the chains that encircled layer upon layer, there was a barely perceptible tiny edge, moving toward it, nearly immersed within it.

"Since he's really not inside, waited for so long before reacting, the reaction is somewhat sluggish," Heins stared at the screen, sneering, "I thought he would charge straight through and storm in."

"He's not an idiot," Schmidt shook his head, "probably thought of a way to deal with it and chose to enter the Holy Castle again."

"Heh..." Heins snorted, "It's merely an information state that carries a consciousness projection, incapable of anything; even if it enters, it can generate a Mimicry body but cannot escape."

"However..." Costate continued, "It's still better than him not moving at all; as long as this record is successful, he'll no longer be able to communicate with the Holy Castle."

"Only, I'm afraid he might have a backup plan." His expression was rather solemn; the Azure Dragon's methods were evident.

But Heins disagreed, coldly saying, "Do you mean our Three Great Civilizations combined can't even win once?"

...…

In the Holy Castle, the Observer emerged from the door, looking beyond the Energy Shield and faintly sensed something.

Leonidas couldn't help but look, he hadn't perished; left here by everyone, no one cared about this small figure.

"Observer, sir..." He hesitated, unsure of what was occurring.

"Silence," the Observer raised his hand, feeling carefully.

Then his expression suddenly shifted, turning to look behind him.

True to expectations, a Mimicry body was gradually taking shape.

"Is that... Lord Azure Dragon?" Leonidas was dumbfounded, quickly guessing.

The Azure Dragon had indeed descended in this manner.

The Observer frowned slightly, this guy shouldn't have come.

The external information blocking equipment, he had briefly understood, had a record function.

The first breakthrough could catch the opponent off guard, but once the information state was recorded.

The second time would be an impregnable fortress, impossible to break through.

Even before the Mimicry body was fully formed, a mechanical body abruptly appeared and tossed out a black box-like object.

The Observer's mouth twitched, "This isn't a Mimicry body; where did these things come from?"

Before the Mimicry body was fully formed, Li Ming's voice intermittently transmitted out: "Watch... this..."

Bam!

Before finishing speaking, the entire body exploded, cutting off communication once again.

...

"Warning, unknown information state has breached..."

A few big words appeared on the holographic image, but none of Costate and the others' expressions changed, remaining solemn and stern.

"Information state record initiated, recording successful..."

"Lock line reassembled, lock line reassembly successful..."

The alarm gradually subsided, with a few big words appearing on the screen: "Super-dimensional communication has been isolated."

Costate's serious expression finally relaxed, seemingly with no surprises; this time everything progressed as planned.

"Ha..." Heins unabashedly laughed, "This Lord Azure Dragon certainly solved a hidden worry for us, wasting the only chance to connect, now he can no longer communicate with the Holy Castle."

Schmidt also breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge rock had fallen, "Next, we can slowly explore the Holy Castle."

How could the Azure Dragon be so careless this time?

Yet, Heckler's expression wasn't too good; he was currently feeling quite conflicted, neither wanting the Azure Dragon to succeed nor wanting the Three Great Civilizations to win.

It would be best if they fought to mutual destruction, but the Azure Dragon recklessly broke through, directly losing the entry ticket to the Holy Castle.