218: Exorbitant prices

Who would have the leisure to stay on the Netherworld beach!

"There is indeed one more matter; Your Excellency is truly prescient."

Shang Wan Ning wore a fawning expression, while inwardly crying out in distress.

【Such sharp insight.】

She was relying entirely on her thick skin to hold on. After all, Shang the Skin Flayer had long since figured out Olexia's little schemes.

Since she had already flayed her once, Shang Wan Ning thought to herself, Olexia probably wouldn't mind giving up just a little bit more divine blood!

The unlucky Goddess of Desire, Olexia, was feeling incredibly depressed at this moment.

It was as if she had gulped down a bottle of boiling water in the dog days of summer; her divine residence felt like it was about to jump out of her throat.

She slapped her body fiercely, as if trying to swat away the non-existent bad luck.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, she asked: "Meng Jiang, Chen Yu, and Ling Qi must all know that Your Majesty is like a Pixiu."

"Only taking in, never giving out!"

*Ahem...*

Shang Wan Ning was choked by Olexia's words and coughed several times, but her expression didn't change in the slightest; she remained as cold and indifferent as ever.

"Your Excellency has been living so happily in the Netherworld that you've forgotten your home, so naturally, you must pay some rent," Shang Wan Ning said unhurriedly.

"It's not much, just four bottles of divine blood. That way, you can stay for a hundred years, or even a thousand, without any issues." Shang Wan Ning's lips curled slightly, confident that she had grasped the deity's weakness.

After hearing this, Olexia felt it was simply too outrageous. Just a moment ago, the Empress had used both enticements and the threat of eighty percent of her divine power.

Yet now, hearing these words from the cold "Shang the Skin Flayer," it somehow felt inexplicably justified.

"A prisoner has to pay rent?" Olexia's eyes widened like copper bells, her face full of disbelief.

Shang Wan Ning's cold, light-colored eyes remained calm: "Of course. In ancient times, the families of criminals sentenced to beheading even had to pay for the executioner's blade."

"A dull blade or a sharp one; which would Your Excellency like to choose?"

Olexia was instantly infuriated by this twisted logic. She hadn't expected the Empress to be so glib, making this unreasonable demand sound so plausible.

"Four bottles of divine blood, isn't this making things difficult for a 'deity'?"

She was so angry her eyes were practically popping out.

( ╬ ￣ dish ￣ )

Shang Wan Ning crossed her arms over her chest and unhurriedly delivered a harsh ultimatum.

"If Your Excellency feels this is inappropriate, you are free to leave the Netherworld beach you've worked so hard to maintain. However, it won't be so easy to set it up again next time."

Olexia gritted her pearly teeth and began to calculate in her mind.

She could indeed earn quite a bit of incense offerings here; leaving just like that was truly a pity.

Furthermore, the "three-seven split" they had just negotiated was still "real money," no matter how small.

She didn't believe Shang Wan Ning would bleed her dry; after all, she was a deity and still had some use to the Empress.

After a long silence, Olexia finally softened and obediently bowed her head to Shang Wan Ning's "tyranny."

"Four bottles is too many. In my current state, it will damage my foundation."

"I~I can only give two and a half bottles at most."

Shang Wan Ning narrowed her eyes, feeling incredibly excited inside.

She hadn't expected that her casual extortion would cause Olexia to struggle only slightly. Not only had she reached her goal, but she had also earned an extra "one and a half bottles" of divine blood.

"Fine, two and a half bottles it is. But Your Excellency, the quality of this divine blood must not be flawed. If I discover any issues, then this cooperation on the Netherworld beach is off the table."

Olexia's expression shifted, and she gritted her teeth, saying: "I am a deity, how could I do such a thing!"

Yet inwardly, she muttered that this Shang the Skin Flayer was truly shrewd to have thought of even that.

"Divine life" is long, and deities always possess many good things.

Shang Wan Ning wanted to hold them all in her own hands. Before meeting Olexia, she had always felt that "good things"—like fish and bear's paw—could not be had at the same time.

But now, the benefits were jumping into her bowl automatically.

There was no reason for Shang the Skin Flayer not to accept them!

Shang Wan Ning suppressed her excitement and cleared her throat.

"Your Excellency, besides the divine blood, I have heard that you possess some ten-thousand-year divine herbs, such as Toad Fungus, Golden Forest Grass, Wrath Eggplant... I wonder if you could gift some to me as well?"

"Consider it an extra gift for our first friendly cooperation."

Olexia seemed somewhat surprised, as if she were judging whether Shang Wan Ning was speaking "human" words.

Having just demanded two and a half bottles of divine blood, this~this Shang the Skin Flayer was now eyeing her treasury again.

"Her Majesty the Empress, these divine herbs were collected by me with great difficulty; they are rare, and I truly find it hard to part with them."

Olexia attempted to refuse.

Shang Wan Ning curled her lips into a faint smile, unhurried.

"Your Excellency, if you are willing to bring out the divine herbs, I will certainly be more attentive to your treatment in the Netherworld in the future."

"Conversely..."

The pitiful Olexia struggled for a moment, weighed the pros and cons, and then bit her tongue.

"Fine, fine, I will take out seven divine herbs. Her Majesty must not make any other demands."

Shang Wan Ning was secretly delighted, but remained calm on the surface. "Your Excellency is straightforward; naturally, I will not go back on my word."

With a flip of her wrist, she handed the dagger and the jade bottle to the Goddess of Desire.

Olexia smiled and pushed the dagger and jade bottle back. Then, she snapped her fingers, tossing the bottles containing divine blood and the divine herbs onto the beach.

"There is no need for those items; I have my own stock." As soon as she finished speaking, she greased her feet and instantly tore through the space of the Netherworld beach.

—Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, where was there even half a shadow of Olexia left on the beach?

Only a few wisps of sea breeze gently brushed over the surface of the sea, as if mocking Shang Wan Ning for her negligence.

Xiao Si was hopping around in the Sea of Consciousness. Watching this scene, it couldn't help but raise its eyebrows, marveling repeatedly.

"Wow, Olexia actually had such a trick up her sleeve; she was definitely still guarding against the great host."

"Oh my, it was the Host who was negligent."

"As a woman, you have to be ruthless when 'making demands'; only by asking for the sky can you accomplish great things!"

Listening to Xiao Si's complaints, Shang Wan Ning revealed a faint, teasing smile and muttered to herself.

"Heh! I still haven't flayed her enough; I'll have to put in more effort next time."

"But as long as the goal is achieved, that's fine. You have to wait for the wool to grow back before you can shear it again."

"An inexhaustible supply!" She turned her head to look at the space Olexia had torn open, not at all annoyed.

She stepped forward and put the bottles containing divine blood and the divine herbs into her Storage Ring.

*Ying~*

A faint yet familiar murmur came from nearby.

Shang Wan Ning turned to look and discovered a tiny, three-inch figure behind a reef on the beach.

It was actually a wisp of Olexia's divine consciousness avatar, looking pitifully at someone.

"Little Olexia, what is the meaning of this?" Shang Wan Ning raised an eyebrow and used her fingertip to pet her head.