490: Oxen and horses emerge from the pass, preparing for battle against the gods.

"Understood."

Little Four acknowledged, and data streams began sending out messages.

Shang Wan Ning leaned back in her chair, taking another sip of tea.

The subtle guilt she felt about her identity as a "Scrooge Boss" finally dissipated.

She wasn't a scrooge.

She just... hadn't noticed before.

Now that she had, it was only natural to resolve it.

[What a great leader!]

Her self- move lasted less than three seconds before Little Four's electronic voice rang out again, this time with a clear suppressed laugh: "Host, I just sent the message to You Wu. He replied, do you want to see it?"

Shang Wan Ning raised an eyebrow: "What did he say?"

Little Four directly projected the chat log.

You Wu: "Little Four! Did you send the wrong message? Earth God Temple Phase 17, twenty thousand one per square meter? Internal cost price?"

"At this price, you can't even buy a toilet, can you?"

Little Four: "Not wrong, it's a special quota just for you. Hurry up and complete the procedures, it won't wait if it expires."

You Wu: "...Little Four, can I ask how this quota came about? Is it His Majesty..."

Little Four: "Shh! Why ask so many questions? Do you want it or not?"

You Wu: "Yes! Of course, I want it! I'm going now, thank you Little Four, thank you Your Majesty."

"Wait, Little Four, about this... does my wife know?"

Little Four: "You can tell him or not. But I suggest you make it clear that this is an old employee benefit, don't let him overthink it."

You Wu: "Understood, understood! I'll tell him right away."

The projection disappeared.

Shang Wan Ning's lips curved upward.

She could imagine You Wu's honest face was surely filled with surprise and disbelief at this moment.

"Alright, this matter is settled." She stood up and stretched her limbs.

"How are things going with Star and Zhulong?"

"Still chatting." Little Four pulled up the latest chat log, "They've progressed to 'how a woman elegantly holds a fan.' Zhulong even taught the curve of the fingers and the technique for applying wrist force when holding a fan."

"Star's flattery has gotten even more intense; the latest line is, 'Your guidance, Your Majesty, is like a sudden enlightenment, allowing this foolish body of mine to glimpse the Grand Dao of Beauty.'"

Shang Wan Ning glanced at it, almost laughing out loud.

"He sure can flatter."

"But Zhulong seems to quite enjoy it," Little Four added. "The reply speed is much faster than before, and occasionally he'll even explain a few more details."

"Mm." Shang Wan Ning nodded, "Tell Star to keep it up. When the time is right, gradually lead the conversation to the main topic."

"Understood," Little Four responded, "but Host, there's something I'm a little concerned about."

"Speak."

"Zhulong teaches too meticulously." Little Four's light orb floated before her. "So meticulously that it doesn't seem like he's just humoring an 'outsider from another plane.' If it were just to pass the time, a brief mention would be enough; why explain even how high the pinky finger should be raised when holding a fan?"

Shang Wan Ning's eyes flickered slightly.

"You mean..."

"I think Zhulong might actually be interested in 'teaching,'" Little Four analyzed. "Or rather, he enjoys the feeling of 'being asked for advice and being flattered.'"

"Having lived for hundreds of thousands of years, what hasn't he experienced? Then suddenly an 'Arch-Priest from another plane' appears, adopting a complete apprentice's posture, respectfully asking him for advice on cross-dressing techniques."

"This sense of secrecy might be even more fun than the live stream itself."

Shang Wan Ning was thoughtful.

Indeed.

Given Zhulong's status, ordinary flattery would have long grown tiresome. But Star, using the identity of an "Arch-Priest of the Abyss," and under the guise of seeking artistic guidance, flattered him sincerely and specifically... This feeling was probably like a grandmaster in an industry being humbly consulted by a foreign expert, who also praised him precisely on every point.

Anyone would feel comfortable with that.

"Then let Star continue to flatter him," Shang Wan Ning curved her lips. "The higher he's praised, the more natural it will be to 'ask' about other things later."

"Oh, right," she suddenly remembered something, "how are the equipment upgrades coming along at the Wangchuan Internet Cafe?"

"It was just completed yesterday." Little Four pulled up the surveillance footage. "Private Room Three is now equipped with the latest model of the 'Yinhun Link Array,' with signal stability increased by 300% and maximum anti-interference capabilities."

"Even if Zhulong uses his Divine Sense to probe in reverse, it can withstand it for at least a quarter of an hour."

"That's enough."

Shang Wan Ning nodded in satisfaction, "Tell Star to prepare. Starting tomorrow, try to intersperse some 'plane observations' in the chat."

"Not much, just occasionally mention, 'I've seen similar patterns in a certain ruin on the Ativi Continent,' or 'Ancient church texts record that there are demonic beasts on the continent that can swallow and spit out time'..."

"Let's see Zhulong's reaction."

"Alrighty!"

Little Four excitedly spun around, "I'll go arrange it right away."

The data stream disappeared, and the System Space returned to quiet.

Shang Wan Ning walked back to her desk and picked up her vermilion brush again.

Several documents were still waiting to be reviewed on the desk, all routine reports from various departments.

She looked through them one by one, the cinnabar sweeping across the pages, leaving decisive approvals... Two days later, a dull thud echoed from above Evil Dog Ridge.

It wasn't a landslide, but more like something had broken free from within. The sound rolled along the ground, shaking the low-level Yinhun wandering outside the ridge, making them all fall to the ground.

The white frost on the stone chamber door cracked with a "kacha" sound, forming fine lines.

The cracks spread outwards from the center, covering the entire door like a spiderweb. Frost vapor hissed and steamed, turning into white mist that surged upwards, condensing into two swirling grey-black pillars of qi in mid-air.

One qi pillar was thick and solid, glowing with an earthy yellow luster, faintly emitting a deep bovine moo.

The other was slender and sharp, carrying a dark green malevolent aura, its tail whipping with a sharp, air-splitting sound.

The qi pillars lasted for about half an incense stick's time before slowly retracting and pouring back into the stone chamber.

The door opened.

The first thing to step out was a foot.

It was encased in a heavy boot, the surface of which was covered in dried mud. When it stepped down, the ground sank half an inch with a "dong".

Following closely was the entire person.

She was two meters two tall, with shoulders almost as wide as the doorframe.

She wore the standard tight-fitting uniform of the Underworld, the fabric stretched taut by her muscles, and her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing forearms with lines as sturdy as if cast.

Looking up, it was a face.

Round eyes, long eyelashes, a small nose, and lips pursed with a naturally upturned curve.

It was truly the face of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.

Paired with this physique, the contrast was so great it made one dizzy.

Niu Mengmeng stood at the entrance of the stone chamber, stretching her neck. Her joints cracked audibly, exceptionally clear in the silent ridge.

She raised her hand, her five fingers forming a loose grip.

The residual Yin qi in the air swirled over with a "whoosh," condensing into a fist-sized earthy-yellow light orb in her palm.

Spirit runes floated on the surface of the light orb, slowly rotating and emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

Seventh-tier early stage.

It was done.

The door of the adjacent stone chamber also opened.

Ma Sanqiang walked out.

He was half a head shorter than Niu Mengmeng, but his build was more compact and powerful. He wore only a rough cloth draped casually over his upper body, its edges frayed, revealing a chest with clearly defined abdominal muscles beneath.

The key was his head.