443: Chapter 443 Armed Puppets

Nie Ning clicked his tongue. That worked too?

As expected of the place ordinary people yearned for the most; even someone like him, who had tested positive for severe Corruption, could slip through.

But if that was the case, wouldn't it be rather unfriendly to the people outside?

After all, if someone like him was allowed to roam free, the disaster they would cause once their Corruption was complete would be unimaginable.

Even if he were to encounter such a person, if their sanity was flawed, he would simply put them down humanely.

It was likely that the screening process here was primarily based on sanity.

High-level Transcendents possessed powerful Spiritual Power and were not so easily transformed into Corruptors. This was likely the reason Liuguang City took them into consideration.

"So what would happen if I didn't see this warning when entering the city?"

Nie Ning suddenly asked.

Amivika didn't speak, only turning her head to gesture for Nie Ning to look to the other side.

The Mechanical Puppets nearest to Nie Ning and the others were flashing with red lights in their eyes, seemingly entering some sort of alert state.

Nie Ning's lips twitched slightly. Surely they wouldn't just start shooting right off the bat?

"Hurry up ahead! What's taking so long?!"

Just then, someone shouted loudly from behind Nie Ning and the others.

Nie Ning didn't have a habit of blocking the way, so he led Amivika and the others to step aside.

But at that moment, a Mechanical Puppet walked up to the man. "Shouting is prohibited here. Please cooperate, thank you."

Hearing this, the man shrunk back his neck.

Fortunately, Nie Ning had already stepped aside, though the man still couldn't help but glare at Nie Ning as he walked past.

Nie Ning responded with a smile, not getting angry over it.

After all, it wasn't a big deal, and it was Liuguang City's job that fell short. They should have at least sent someone to block the path, right?

It was probably because there were too few severely polluted individuals, making their response strategies in this area somewhat lacking.

Just then, Nie Ning suddenly looked up into the sky as a Mechanical Puppet about two meters tall descended from above.

The Mechanical Puppet wore armor that looked fully mechanical in style. On its back was a greatsword that gleamed with a cold light, and a firearm of some kind was strapped to its waist.

Judging by its appearance, Nie Ning couldn't help but give it a thumbs up. It really was quite cool!

To Nie Ning's surprise, the Mechanical Puppet actually raised its thumb and gave Nie Ning a thumbs up in return.

"Hello, I am armed puppet No. 88xxxx... I need to take you for a sanity check now."

A stiff mechanical voice sounded from inside the Mechanical Puppet.

"Are you an Artificial Spirit or something?"

Curiously, Nie Ning tapped the armed puppet's breastplate.

It seemed to be made of some kind of alloy, emitting a metallic clanking sound when tapped.

The armed puppet's eyes emitted a faint red light. "To prevent accidental injury, please refrain from such actions."

Nie Ning withdrew his hand sheepishly.

He had to admit, it was indeed pretty cool.

If he had transmigrated to this world earlier, he might have joined the research institute here to develop robots.

"I am an Artificial Psionic Lifeform, developed by the great Wizard Heraken. For specific details, please purchase the book 'The Great Heraken' to learn more."

The armed puppet continued, answering Nie Ning's previous question.

Nie Ning wanted to complain. He felt that the armed puppet really should have been a salesman.

Nie Ning, however, had heard a bit about Heraken. Heraken was one of the founders of Liuguang City and a powerful wizard skilled in soul-based spells.

As for how strong he actually was, Nie Ning didn't know, but he certainly wouldn't be weaker than the Soul Bone King.

"Are they your companions? Will they be accompanying you?"

The armed puppet turned to look at Amivika and the others as it asked.

"Yes, they are."

Nie Ning nodded in response.

As it spoke, the armed puppet took out a small disc and threw it onto the ground. Immediately after, a blue, circular barrier enveloped Nie Ning and the others.

Then, as if unaffected by gravity, the armed puppet slowly floated up from the ground, carrying Nie Ning and the others along into the air.

Nie Ning looked around curiously. For technology to develop to this extent was truly impressive.

The entire city was like a world out of a science fiction movie, filled everywhere with all kinds of technological products.

There were very few flying items used by conventional Transcendents; most people used 'Mana-Mechanical' aircraft that gleamed with a metallic luster.

And the most common sight was Androids, which Nie Ning always found a bit strange.

Although it was a city of technology, was it really a good idea to have so many Androids?

...

In just a few minutes, Nie Ning and the others were brought before a hundred-story building.

"Is this an office area?"

Looking at the uniformed ordinary people bustling to and fro, Nie Ning couldn't help but feel a dazed illusion of having returned to his pre-transmigration world.

"Please follow me."

The armed puppet's voice sounded in Nie Ning's ear.

Led by the armed puppet, they then stepped into the hundred-story building.

Everything inside was automated. Service puppets would greet them and help the staff here with whatever tasks they could manage.

If someone wanted something, it was basically just a matter of saying a word, and a service puppet would help them get it done.

Of course, if you wanted money, there certainly wasn't any...

It was only for routine services, like asking for snacks or entertainment, and wouldn't involve high-value items.

Soon, the group arrived in front of an elevator.

But looking at the elevator before him, Nie Ning couldn't help but feel something was off.

By the way, why didn't they just fly straight up earlier?

*Ring, ring, ring...*

Just as everyone was preparing to take the elevator upstairs, a piercing alarm suddenly rang out, and the entire corridor began flashing with red light.

"Warning: Subject, Second-Class High-Tier Organism, has escaped from the laboratory. All staff members please enter the nearest safe room. Armed personnel will arrive shortly."

Listening to the piercing alarm and watching the people around him quickly leave, Nie Ning was actually quite curious about what kind of subject it was.

After all, in a wizard's life, biological experimentation was a topic that was very difficult to avoid.

Even for those wizards who specialized in runes, it would be extremely rare if they had never dabbled in biological research.

"Please follow me to a safe area."

The armed puppet beside Nie Ning spoke.

Nie Ning raised his eyebrows slightly, his gaze returning to the elevator in front of him. "Too late."

*Boom!*

Suddenly, the staircase exploded, and a massive creature dropped down.

Amidst the dust, the armed puppet extended its left hand, and an energy barrier blocked off the scattering debris and smoke.

"Please..."

Just as the armed puppet was about to speak, a thick tail shattered the barrier and sent the armed puppet flying.

Amivika gently waved her right hand, and a light breeze blew by, dispersing the dust in front of them.

What met everyone's eyes was a bizarre ape-like creature about three meters tall, with golden fur, a thick hairless tail, and snake-like scales on its chest.

Nie Ning sized up the bizarre ape.

Its aura was extremely powerful, having reached at least the late stage of the fifth rank.

...