Nine Nether Dragon Emperor

"Damn, you’re not stupid!" Ning Xuan blurted out, glancing at Qin Ruonan.

Following his gaze, Qin Ruonan immediately understood what he meant. "Hmph! I’m much smarter than you—"

Qin Ruonan trailed off, realizing how ridiculous she sounded. She wisely changed the subject, holding out her hand to Ning Xuan for the armor. "Give me the Battle Armor!"

Without hesitation, Ning Xuan handed over the Destiny Battle Armor.

But Qin Ruonan refused it. "I want the Divine Martial Battle Armor."

Ning Xuan was taken aback. "The Destiny Battle Armor was your father’s..."

"Not anymore. It belongs to you now. Besides, I prefer the style of your Divine Martial Battle Armor." Qin Ruonan didn’t wait for him to finish, already taking the armor he had made into her hands and swiftly putting it on.

Ning Xuan’s mouth twitched. The Battle Armor he’d made was just an experimental piece, thrown together as he pleased. Style? What damn style was there to speak of?! Now, worn by Qin Ruonan, it was a complete eyesore, even with her stunning beauty and tall, perfect figure. Of course, that was just Ning Xuan’s opinion.

"Wow, Sister Ruonan, you look so good in that!" Cheng Dabao popped up from nowhere, her big eyes sparkling as she praised her.

Seeing that her expression was completely sincere, Ning Xuan couldn’t help but scratch his head. Are the aesthetic tastes of girls in this otherworld all this strange? Whatever. I’ll just forget about it. Since they like it, I’ll let them be.

Just as Cheng Dabao turned her head, Ning Xuan’s voice rang out. "Don’t worry, Sister Dabao, I’ll make one for you right away."

"I don’t want to wear it!" Cheng Dabao immediately refused, her ears flushing crimson. Yet her beautiful eyes couldn’t help but steal another glance at Qin Ruonan.

Ning Xuan saw this and simply smiled without a word.

Just then, a piercing alarm suddenly blared.

"I’ll go see what’s happening. You carry on." Cheng Dabao’s voice hadn’t even faded before she disappeared.

"I’m going too!" Qin Ruonan, clad in the avant-garde Divine Martial Battle Armor, hurried to follow.

Ning Xuan shrugged and got to work. If he was going to make Divine Martial Battle Armor, he couldn’t make one just for Cheng Dabao. Moreover, for his own people, he had to put more care into the designs. But this was no challenge for Ning Xuan. Taking their personalities and preferences into account, the designs came to him effortlessly. He even thoughtfully prepared a set for Luo Tianyi.

RUMBLE—

He had just finished the sketches when another violent tremor shook the room.

"For crying out loud, does this ever stop?!" Frowning, Ning Xuan strode over and pulled open the door.

Then, before he could even get a clear look at who was there, the person knelt with a THUD.

Behind the kneeling figure, several mecha warriors with their faceplates open stared, their eyes widening to the size of a bull’s. The ruthless, iron-fisted methods of their newly promoted commander had left them trembling in fear. What was happening now? Why would he suddenly drop to his knees?

"Master, please don’t be angry! I didn’t mean to disturb you, it’s just that..."

Hearing this, the soldiers were floored. Holy crap! Why is he apologizing?

And when Ning Xuan spoke, they were utterly dumbfounded.

"Hang on, who are you?"

Yu Lu was wearing his Mecha, so his voice came out in a muffled rumble. Ning Xuan didn’t recognize it at first.

Holy crap, he doesn’t even recognize our commander?! What’s wrong with the commander? Why is he kneeling to a stranger?!

The men behind Yu Lu were his personal guard, urgently recalled after he took command, so they knew nothing about Ning Xuan. Hearing Ning Xuan’s words now, their heads were buzzing.

"Master, it’s me, Yu Lu," he said, hastily removing his faceplate.

Only then did it click for Ning Xuan. He pulled him up, just as baffled. "What are you doing?"

"Master, I really didn’t mean to disturb you, but I’ve lost control of the current situation. I beg you to step in and quell the turmoil," Yu Lu pleaded again, extremely anxious.

Ning Xuan instantly knew Yu Lu had misunderstood. He had no idea when this guy had even arrived, so his earlier complaint certainly wasn’t about him. But there was no need to explain.

"Quell the turmoil? What’s going on?" Ning Xuan asked with a frown.

"There have been rebel factions constantly at odds with the Alliance Army."

Ning Xuan nodded, understanding immediately. He was puzzled, however. "If they’re rebels, shouldn’t their equipment be pretty terrible?"

"The Bi Luo Palace! It emerged out of nowhere about a year ago. We were busy rebuilding headquarters at the time and didn’t pay it any mind. But now, this organization is providing the rebels with sophisticated equipment."

A strange light flashed in Ning Xuan’s eyes. He immediately said, "Oh, I know about the Bi Luo Palace. It exists in the Yao Guang Realm too. They seem to only do business and never take sides."

"What do you mean? This is Tianji, not Yao Guang!" someone from behind Yu Lu couldn’t help but shout.

The words had barely left his mouth.

BANG!

The man and his Mecha exploded. It was Yu Lu who had struck.

"All of you, stand down!" he barked, before turning back to Ning Xuan with a humble, apologetic expression.

"It’s fine. You should go, too. I still have some things to finish," Ning Xuan said, shutting the door.

The "rebels" Yu Lu spoke of weren’t necessarily rebels. He had no interest in getting involved.

However, it wasn’t long before Cheng Dabao barged in excitedly.

"Ning Xuan, Ning Xuan, great news!" Her boisterous voice echoed the moment she entered.

"What’s the great news that has you so happy?"

"Ye Qingqing sent me a letter! And there’s one for you, too." As she spoke, Cheng Dabao handed something to Ning Xuan. It was a memory stone.

He activated it, and a virtual image of Luo Tianyi appeared.

"Ning Xuan, if you’re in Tianji and they attack the Alliance Army, remember to lend a hand."

After that single sentence, the memory stone went dark.

"That’s it?"

Cheng Dabao was also bewildered. "Ah, I didn’t know."

"What about Ye Qingqing’s letter to you?"

"They didn’t have it with them."

Hearing this, Ning Xuan was speechless. This girl had been duped.

"Did you tell them where you’re from?"

Hearing Ning Xuan’s question, Cheng Dabao looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Isn’t that obvious?"

Ning Xuan was utterly exasperated. This girl is a lost cause! Still, the memory stone they gave him was real.

"What’s the situation outside now?" Ning Xuan asked immediately.

"It’s incredible out there! They’re all transforming!" Talking about this, Cheng Dabao grew even more excited. Then she urged him, "Well? Don’t just stand there! Hurry up and make the Battle Armor! I want to join the fight, too!"

Just moments ago, watching Qin Ruonan weave through the monstrous Mechas like a cat, she had been consumed with envy.

"Come on, let’s go out and take a look first."

Luo Tianyi was a walking disaster, but since she’d already asked, he supposed he had to get involved. Otherwise, the next time he saw her, what would he use to extort... no, that’s not right... to *do business* with her? The very sincere kind, of course.