340: Bathing and changing clothes

"This array is pretty good, isn't it?"

The jailer approached the execution platform. "When my brothers' arms were chopped off by your kin back then, I looked forward to this day. Let the spiritual power of your Dragon Clan add some oil to the lamps of the Underworld."

Red Candle gritted his teeth and remained silent, but his trembling arms and increasingly transparent figure betrayed him.

This clone had already suppressed its cultivation to conceal its aura, but now it was precisely restrained by the chains, and the rate of spiritual power loss far exceeded expectations.

The Warden didn't let his subordinates use brute force, only directing the jailers to constantly adjust the torture instruments.

Sometimes they used Yin Qi to stimulate the spiritual veins, making the spiritual power more active for extraction; other times they used Ice Talismans to freeze his limbs, forcing Red Candle to mobilize spiritual power to ward off the cold, only for it to be sucked away by the chains as soon as it condensed.

Five shichen—neither long nor short.

When the last trace of spiritual power in Red Candle's body was drained by the chains, his figure was already as faint as a layer of mist. The silhouette of his female form began to distort, and his features gradually blurred.

"It's about to dissipate."

The Warden watched the dial return to its original position.

Red Candle's figure turned into dots of fluorescence and was completely sucked away by the chains, leaving not a single trace behind.

The execution platform was empty, with only the chains still vibrating slightly, as if savoring the "fuel" from moments ago.

The jailers looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

"After all that trouble, that's it?"

"As expected of a clone, it's like it's made of paper."

"Heh, we finally vented our anger. The current Majesty is truly impressive!"

The Warden put away the bronze bell and turned to leave: "Record it: Torch Dragon's clone, spiritual power fully converted into Iron Prison energy, lasted for five shichen."

"Yes, Boss."

Walking to the cell door, he glanced back at the empty execution platform and snorted coldly: "A Supreme of the Demon race? In the territory of the Underworld, one must follow the Underworld's rules."

The cell door closed again, and Black Horn Iron Prison returned to silence, with only the fluctuations of spiritual power flowing in the grooves being a bit faster than usual.

The hot spring pool in the side hall of Jiaotai Palace had just been filled, and the rising steam, wrapped in the scent of sulfur, drifted out, blurring the window lattices into a hazy mist.

Shang Wan Ning took off her phoenix robe, leaving only a moon-white inner garment, and stepped barefoot onto the green jade tiles.

The maidservants lowered their eyes and first untied Her Majesty's hair ribbon. Her jet-black hair fell to her waist, the ends still damp with mist.

"Your Majesty, the water temperature is just right," the leading maidservant reported softly, reaching out to test the temperature at the edge of the pool.

As her hand brushed across the water's surface, it stirred up a circle of fine ripples.

Shang Wan Ning gave a hum of affirmation.

She allowed the maidservants to undress her. The moment her inner garment slipped off, her skin glowed translucent white in the steam, like chalcedony soaked in moonlight.

She stepped into the pool. As the warm water rose past her waist, she squinted her eyes in comfort. The strands of hair on her shoulders were dampened by the steam, clinging to the side of her neck.

Holding a silk handkerchief, a maidservant knelt by the pool to wipe the Empress's arms, her movements as light as a feather brushing past.

Someone brought flower petals soaked in fragrance and scattered them into the water one by one. The pink petals swirled around Wanling, making her skin appear even whiter.

The bit of laziness between her brows, mixed with the steam, turned into a soul-hooking charm.

"Mmm... a bit more pressure."

Shang Wan Ning leaned against the jade pillow on the pool wall, her voice trailing off with a hint of lazy hoarseness.

The maidservant adjusted her hand position, her palms pressing against the shoulders and neck, slowly massaging along the meridians, kneading the pent-up heat of the past few days into the warm water.

She slightly turned her face, droplets of water sliding down her jawline and splashing into the water.

The red mole at the corner of her eye flickered in the steam. All her usual sharpness was withdrawn, leaving only a natural, effortless charm.

Even the way she raised her hand to gather her hair possessed an indescribable allure.

In the system space, Xiao Si watched with bated breath, his light screen almost pressed against his "eyes."

This hot spring pool was designed according to Shang Wan Ning's preferences. The pool walls were embedded with night-luminescent pearls, and under the light, the red dots submerged in the water could be clearly seen.

Even the curve of the water droplets rolling down was perfectly clear.

"Mmm..."

Xiao Si was so engrossed that he couldn't help but let out a groan, his tone carrying an unconscious hint of perversion.

Shang Wan Ning's massaging movements paused. Her phoenix eyes opened a crack, a flash of playfulness in her gaze.

"Xiao Si, enjoying the view?"

Xiao Si froze, and the light screen snapped shut with a "pah." "N-No! Host, I was checking the system logs."

"Is that so?"

Wanling flicked the petals on the water's surface and said slowly: "I remember that the little black room hasn't been cleaned for a long time. Its meditation effect is quite good. Do you want to go in and 'wash' for a few days? Wash away all that filth in your head."

The little black room!

That place was nothing but pitch black except for system code; it was more torturous for a system than a monk's chanting.

Xiao Si quickly screamed: "Wait, great host! I have serious business. Torch Dragon's clone has dissipated. If the original body finds out, will he attack the Underworld?"

Shang Wan Ning finally withdrew her gaze and raised her hand.

The maidservant understood and brought an exquisite silver box. Inside were newly made nail enhancements, with a pink-to-white gradient base inlaid with tiny pearls.

She extended her slender fingers, and the maidservant carefully put them on for Her Majesty. Her fingertips curled slightly, her orchid fingers arching up, looking both charming and noble.

"Attack us?" She sneered, admiring the pearly luster on her nails.

"Torch Dragon—He wouldn't dare."

"Huh?" Xiao Si didn't react in time.

"We're all prominent Supremes; who doesn't want to save some face?" Shang Wan Ning said leisurely. "If He really dares to make a scene, I'll take the bills from the meals He didn't pay for at Meise, and the footage of Him dressed as a woman, edit them all into a video, and upload it to the underworld app's homepage. If He makes an even bigger fuss..."

She paused, a hint of cunning curling at the corner of her eye.

"It's not impossible to broadcast it simultaneously to the Demon and Ativi Continent. Let the Demon race and the Outer Gods see how this Supreme of the Demon race was 'romantic' on Yin Street."

Xiao Si gave a thumbs up. "Host, this move is ruthless! A total undercutting of the opponent!"

Shang Wan Ning glanced sideways at Xiao Si, her tone full of disdain: "Tsk, do you even know how to talk?"

Xiao Si understood instantly, connecting to the Language Master database and switching to flattery mode.

His speech speed was like a machine gun. "Your Majesty is strategizing and planning ahead. By seizing the opponent's weakness first, you both preserve the Underworld's face and demonstrate your deterrence."

"Brilliant, truly brilliant."

"Furthermore, only you could think of such a thorough method of manipulation, keeping your hands clean while making the opponent hesitate to act."

"This vision, this strategy—you won't find another like it in the Mercury Plane."

"And those nails just now are a match made in heaven for the Host's hands. The pink-white gradient makes your skin look like snow, and the pearly luster shows your nobility. One look and anyone can see the bearing of a Supreme ruler; even the details exude the style of an Empress."

As Shang Wan Ning listened, her slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a faint smile she couldn't hide curled at the corners of her lips.

She waved her hand: "Enough, stop being so glib. When I first met you, you were so fierce towards me."

"Your attitude now is a complete 180-degree turn."