"What should we do now? It made it clear that if we don’t give it the Dimension Stone, it won’t help us."

Su Ming, feeling quite troubled, replied.

"Any conditions can be negotiated, except for this matter; the Dimension Stone cannot be given to it."

Long Bai shook his head, his tone resolute, in response.

"I understand, I’ll go back and tell it."

Su Ming said after a few seconds of silence.

"Okay."

Long Bai replied wearily.

Su Ming and Celeste immediately left the office and headed for the landing scale.

At this moment, Celeste puffed up her cheeks angrily and complained to Su Ming.

"This Dragon String is really too much. How can he break his word and go back on what he promised? No wonder others won’t help us!"

"Celeste, that’s not what it’s about. The Dragon String Council President did break his promise, but he has no choice. He is the leader of the Human Clan, not representing just himself! From a racial standpoint, he can’t hand over the Dimension Stone. There’s a saying, ’Different clans have hearts that diverge.’"

Su Ming explained to Celeste.

"Then he shouldn’t promise it in the first place!"

"Come on, if he hadn’t agreed, how could mechanical allies help humans?"

"Exactly, without their help, wouldn’t humans have perished long ago? Is it right to break promises like this?"

Celeste replied angrily.

"That’s why Dragon String apologized to it!"

Su Ming explained with a headache.

"Does an apology help?"

"I know it doesn’t help."

"Then if it were you, what would you do?"

Celeste asked angrily.

"To be honest with you, if I were just an individual, once I promised, I would definitely hand over the Dimension Stone, whether humanity perishes or not doesn’t concern me! But if I were a leader, I couldn’t give it the Dimension Stone either."

Su Ming replied earnestly.

He understood the responsibilities of that position better than anyone.

"Hmph~"

Celeste puffed up her cheeks angrily, but she didn’t continue to say much.

...

Not long after.

Su Ming and Celeste returned to the City Lord Mansion underground secret chamber.

They reentered the Virtual World, arriving at the center of the City of Prophets square, only to see a girl silently standing there.

Su Ming took a deep breath, walked up to the girl, and apologized.

"Senior, I’m terribly sorry! Regarding the agreement, we indeed broke it. The Dragon String Council President said the only person he’s wronged in this life is you."

The girl’s icy expression wavered slightly upon hearing Su Ming’s words, then she coldly spoke.

"Hmph, tell him not to say those insincere words, just give me the Dimension Stone."

"I’m sorry, senior. Dragon String has already said that anything can be negotiated except for the Dimension Stone. It concerns the life and death of the Human Clan. As the leader, he can only break his promise."

Su Ming replied with a serious expression.

"If that’s the case, then there’s nothing to talk about. I won’t help you. Take care of yourselves!"

After saying this, the girl turned and waved her jade hand.

Ka-cha!

A deep rift suddenly appeared between Su Ming and the girl, marking a clear boundary with the Human Clan.

Then the girl turned and walked into the cross-shaped fissure, eventually disappearing.

The sparks on the Mechanical Spire instantly extinguished, and the entire world plunged back into dead silence.

"Alas!"

Watching this scene, Su Ming sighed helplessly, the negotiations ultimately collapsed.

"Hmph, if it were me, I wouldn’t help either."

Celeste murmured angrily.

"Some things aren’t about right or wrong, but about the issue of stance; you’ll understand this later."

Su Ming patiently explained to Celeste.

"Okay, so what do we do now?"

Celeste pouted as she replied.

"There’s nothing we can do, we can only rely on ourselves. Since we’ve chosen this path, we can only walk it to the end."

Su Ming said calmly.

"Mm."

Celeste nodded, half-understanding.

...

Not long after.

Su Ming took Celeste to the courtyard of the City Lord Mansion.

"Boss, is the task done?"

Ankaga greeted Su Ming.

"Kind of, you take Celeste back to the World Eye to fix the Gray Angel."

Su Ming instructed Ankaga.

"Alright!"

Ankaga nodded.

"Su Ming, I’m leaving!"

Celeste then bid farewell to Su Ming.

"Bye."

Su Ming nodded in response.

Celeste then followed Ankaga into the cockpit, and soon Ankaga piloted the Night Demon Mecha and flew straight away.

"Alas~"

Su Ming stood in place for a long time, before finally turning to leave.

...

Xiguang Laboratory·Underground First Floor.

In the cold corridor, Su Ming walked towards the central laboratory, along the way the researchers and guards saw Su Ming and respectfully greeted him.

"Lord Su Ming."

"Mm!"

Su Ming nodded slightly in response.

Su Ming quickly arrived at the central laboratory.

He saw Dr. Blakes standing in front of the console, a battle image of the Void Hunter displayed before him.

Su Ming walked straight to Dr. Blakes, watching the image of the Void Dragon Hunter battling Ferion and others, and asked with surprise.

"What is this mecha, so strong? The Beam is useless against its body, and it can so easily break through the Erosion Shadow Mecha’s group blockade."

"The pilot of this mecha is Mechanical Lord·Cross."

"Cross? Wait a minute, isn’t this mecha the Purgatory Blade? Although they look similar, that Purgatory Blade isn’t that strong."

Su Ming asked with furrowed brows.

"That’s right, this mecha is indeed the Purgatory Blade, but it’s been reforged. If I’m not mistaken, this mecha has been enhanced with a second type of Primordial Stone, and it’s a very rare Dimension Stone."