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Bang, bang, bang!

As the transport ship docked at Xuanse Cangqiong's massive landing platform, three sonic booms sounded in the distance.

Then, under everyone's gaze, Xingtian emerged from the temporary hangar and spread its arms toward the sky.

The next second, three black cubes pierced through the clouds and transformed in midair into countless fragments like a swarm of insects, plunging straight toward where Xingtian stood!

Buzz!

Black "insects" covered Xingtian's abdomen, arms, and the body beneath its armor, and three completely different equipment modules quickly took shape!

At the same time, the old equipment they replaced dissolved into black mist and burrowed into Xingtian's reactor.

Although many people had already seen Xingtian absorb a reactor the first time, they still couldn't help being astonished now.

"So these black things are actually something you summoned?" Bai Ying piloted her mech over to Xingtian. "Including the reactor in your chest."

"Yes." Yu Xiao had actually prepared a whole explanation about the Evolution System. After all, this damn thing descended from the sky every time, and he couldn't keep it a secret. It wasn't as though he could hide from everyone whenever he upgraded.

Besides, he had devoured two mechs in front of everyone during the last battle, and used all kinds of combat skills and mech-soul abilities.

He believed these questions should have been brought up at the post-battle meeting, but General Chen's speech had temporarily put many topics concerning Xingtian on hold.

Faced with a massive crisis, most people were willing to accept Xingtian first instead of digging into every detail.

Yet Yu Xiao knew that once the crises were resolved, all the discussions about Xingtian would be brought back to the table. Whether he would be sent to the Omega Research Complex was also anyone's guess.

But by then, Yu Xiao figured he would have evolved enough to bargain with the Alliance.

"What exactly are these things? Why can you summon them?" Bai Ying could hardly contain her curiosity, but fortunately, she remembered to switch the conversation to a private channel.

"Secret." Yu Xiao hesitated for a moment, then decided it was better not to tell her the truth.

Sometimes, knowing too much wasn't a good thing—especially when it came to Yu Xiao.

Even through the thick armor, Yu Xiao could feel the anger in Bai Ying's eyes.

"You still haven't told me anything about your mech." Yu Xiao quickly changed the subject. He really couldn't find any information about Bai Ying's experimental mech in the public database.

Bai Ying didn't answer right away. Instead, she turned around and narrowed her eyes at Xingtian. After a long silence, she tossed out two words.

"Secret."

Did she have to be so stingy?!

Yu Xiao drew a sharp breath in his mental space, his face turning red!

Bai Ying, meanwhile, looked pleased with herself and headed for the hangar ahead of Xingtian.

Half an hour later, General Chen summoned all the base personnel to the central square inside the outer wall.

Standing behind General Chen was the imposing, 85-meter-tall mech, Xingtian.

"Comrades, brothers and sisters in arms, I've gathered you all here today to announce two things.

"First, I believe many of you have already heard the Alliance-wide broadcast. Today, our corps officially welcomes back an old friend: Xingtian!"

Though Yu Xiao felt awkward in a way he couldn't quite describe, he still waved at the people in the square, doing his best to play along with General Chen's speech.

But to Yu Xiao's surprise, he was met with a burst of enthusiastic cheers and applause!

He had assumed that people would be at least a little afraid to see a mech that could move without a pilot, but he hadn't expected them to accept him so readily!

"I believe many of you already know that this friend, who has been with us ever since Xuanse Cangqiong was established, now has a mind of its own.

"Whether it was the outstanding service it rendered ten years ago, or its willingness to stand up and defend Xuanse Cangqiong today, Xingtian has always stood with us!

"So I hereby announce that Xingtian officially joins the Xuanse Cangqiong Mobile Armored Corps as a Tieyu, with all the rights and duties that come with the role!

"From this day forward, it is no longer just a mech, but a comrade, brother-in-arms, and Tieyu who will fight alongside us!"

The crowd cheered for Xingtian, and thunderous applause filled the entire square!

Only then did Yu Xiao finally understand. He smiled in realization.

Why would the people who had spent ten years with Xingtian be afraid of it?

General Chen patiently waited for the crowd to let out their excitement, then raised a hand to quiet them.

"The second thing is that we've lost contact with the Crimson Hurricane."

The smiles gradually vanished from people's faces.

"Not only the Crimson Hurricane, but all the first wave of reinforcements are unreachable. We can't detect the situation in the Fourth Defensive Line islands by any means, and even satellite surveillance has been disrupted.

"But we have evidence that the invading beast tide slowed down in front of Blackstone Gorge. The Alliance believes this is due to resistance from the troops we've lost contact with!

"After discussion, the Alliance has decided to send a second wave of reinforcements to rescue our fellow countrymen. Xuanse Cangqiong will take part in the operation as well.

"In less than twenty-four hours, we'll set out with two mechs, a special weapons regiment, and three engineering units.

"I know everyone has been under tremendous strain these past few days. The relentless attacks have kept threatening our safety.

"But this is why Xuanse Cangqiong stands here! No matter how savage or powerful the enemy is, we must keep fighting!

"Until we've shed our last drop of blood, until these monsters have been driven from this planet, until we've protected the billions of unarmed people behind us!

"For humanity!"

"For humanity!" Everyone in the square echoed him as one!

Ten minutes later, Yu Xiao returned once again to the familiar hangar. Ever since he'd crossed into this world, it had been his only home as Xingtian.

Originally, the hangar had held only three mechs: the Crimson Hurricane, the Raider, and Xingtian.

But now, there was a brand-new mech to Xingtian's right.

Bai Ying was sitting on its shoulder, swinging her long legs as she stared blankly at some component on the maintenance platform.

"What are you thinking about?" Yu Xiao asked Bai Ying over the private channel as he maneuvered Xingtian onto its docking frame.

"...I'm thinking of a name." Hearing Xingtian's voice, Bai Ying didn't turn around. She was still lost in her own world.

"What name?" Yu Xiao didn't understand what she meant at first.

Clap, clap!

Bai Ying patted the white mech beneath her.

"Her name."