497: Candle Dragon-shaped "Face Base"

Xiao Si scurried over, "Host! Host! Zhulong is actually requesting a video call!!!"

Shang Wan Ning was a bit dumbfounded.

The relationship between star and Zhulong had progressed by leaps and bounds over the past half-month!

From makeup techniques to planar ruins, from fan-handling methods to divine power patterns, back and forth, the daily encrypted private messages had almost never stopped.

She had originally intended to lay the groundwork for a few more days and proceed gradually.

She hadn't expected that Zhulong would even suggest "meeting in person."

Shang Wan Ning placed the lotus leaf pancake in her hand onto the plate, her jade fingers tapping nonchalantly on the table twice.

The previously relaxed atmosphere in the warm pavilion froze instantly. The chewing jaws of Qing Dai and the others stopped abruptly; they all held their breath, their gazes turning in unison toward her.

"When did the video request come in?"

"Just now, three minutes ago." Xiao Si's light orb spun rapidly in the System Space, "star didn't dare to accept, using the excuse of 'currently presiding over the church's evening prayer' to stall, waiting for the Host's instructions. The deadline Zhulong gave is... one hour."

[One hour.]

Shang Wan Ning's gaze deepened.

Zhulong was so urgent; it probably wasn't just because they hit it off. Perhaps it was deeper curiosity about the identity of the "Abyssal High Priest," or perhaps it was a desire to verify certain suspicions through the light and shadow.

"Reply to star and tell him to agree." The Empress said decisively, "Set the time for one hour later. I will find a way to ensure the video call doesn't reveal a single flaw."

"Got it, Host!" Xiao Si agreed, and the data stream surged toward the Wangchuan Internet Cafe.

Shang Wan Ning looked up at Qing Dai, who was standing by, "Go, immediately invite star and the Secretary-General to Chenfeng Palace. Be quick."

"Yes!"

Qing Dai's expression tightened. She put down her half-eaten duck roll, and with a flicker of her figure, she vanished like green smoke.

Su Bi and Shen Yan also stood up immediately, efficiently clearing the cups and plates from the table. Lin Zhu was a bit flustered, holding a half-cup of milk tea, not knowing whether to put it down or hold onto it.

"You all should head out as well." Shang Wan Ning waved her hand at them, "Do not spread word of today's events."

"This servant understands." Su Bi replied in a low voice, pulling Lin Zhu, and bowing out together with Shen Yan.

Soon, only Shang Wan Ning was left in the warm pavilion, along with the lingering scent of roast duck and cold plum blossoms in the air.

She walked to the window and gazed at the misty underworld fog and the lotus pond bathed in purple light outside.

A video call...

star currently had the appearance of an Easterner, and his physique and bone structure were also different from a Westerner's.

The "High Priest Alvaro" he was impersonating came from the Ativi Continent. Based on her own experience, the people of that continent were mostly Western-like in appearance, with deep-set eyes, high noses, fair skin, and relatively tall builds.

Strength could perhaps be faked, and language might not be an issue, but how could this real, tangible appearance be changed without a single flaw within an hour?

And while doing so, deceive a Ninth-Rank Great Demon.

And there was the background.

If Zhulong asked to see the surrounding environment, they couldn't expose the decor of Room 3 in the Wangchuan Internet Cafe, or any traces bearing the marks of the Underworld.

While she was pondering, footsteps sounded outside the hall.

The bead curtain was lifted, and Ling Qi walked in.

She was wearing a dark green cheongsam embroidered with silver bamboo, covered by a thin velvet shawl of the same color. Her long hair was pinned up with a jade hairpin, and a gold-rimmed glasses chain hung by her neck. Her brows and eyes carried the hurried air of someone who had traveled in haste.

"Your Majesty." She bowed.

"AQi."

Shang Wan Ning walked back to the main seat and sat down, "Where is star?"

"He is waiting outside the hall." Ling Qi replied, turning around to lift the bead curtain again.

star followed behind her and stepped into the warm pavilion.

The usual lively expression on his face had been wiped clean; his brows were tightly locked, his lips slightly pursed, and he wore a nervous look.

[༼ ´ ◉ ◞ ౪ ◟ ◉ ༽]

"Your Majesty."

"Sit."

Shang Wan Ning signaled for the two of them to sit as well, "Xiao Si has roughly synced the situation. One hour to prepare for the video call. star, you tell me first, how exactly did Zhulong put it when he requested the video call?"

star took a breath, trying to calm his emotions: "He first praised his Subordinate... no, he praised High Priest 'Alvaro' for having unique insights into ancient rituals."

"He said some details were unclear in text descriptions. Then he asked directly, 'Would it be convenient for you, Priest, to have a conversation via the Water Mirror Technique? I have some questions regarding the ancient divine scripts of the Ativi Continent, perhaps I could ask for your guidance in person.'"

"I was a bit panicked at the time and made the excuse that I was presiding over evening prayers and would only be free in an hour. He then said, 'Very well. In one hour, I will initiate a spiritual transmission link from the 'Candle Shadow Shaking Red' account. I hope the High Priest will be punctual.'"

star subconsciously clenched the hem of his hoodie with both hands.

Ling Qi pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses and analyzed calmly: "One hour is too rushed. Appearance, strength, environmental background... everything must perfectly adapt to the 'Alvaro' persona; there cannot be the slightest flaw."

"Zhulong has lived for hundreds of thousands of years; his discernment is extraordinary. Once he spots a flaw, all previous groundwork will go down the drain, and it may even cause him to become wary of the Underworld."

"I know." Shang Wan Ning looked at Xiao Si, "System Mall, what suitable items are there?"

"It needs to be able to completely change appearance, simulate the energy fluctuations of a peak Sixth-Rank, and temporarily construct an other-planar background that fits the identity of an 'Abyssal High Priest'."

Xiao Si's light orb flashed rapidly as massive amounts of data flowed through.

"Host, I have filtered out three sets of item combinations that meet the requirements."

Option 1: 'Thousand-Face Illusion Pill' (one-time use) + 'Energy Simulation Brooch' (lasts six hours) + 'Background Projection Curtain' (one-time use).

Total price: 300 million incense points.

Pros: The price is relatively low, and the components can be used separately.

Cons: The Illusion Pill does not change appearance at the level of flesh and blood; if the other party probes too carefully with their divine sense, there might be a subtle sense of disharmony.

The Energy Simulation Brooch might produce fixed-frequency fluctuations; high-ranking deities could discern that it is 'simulated' rather than gained through 'cultivation.'

Option 2: 'Flesh Reshaping Scroll' (limited duration version) + 'Source Fluctuation Resonance Instrument' + 'Planar Fragment Mirror Generator'.

Total price: 1.03 billion incense points.

Pros: The reshaping is a real, temporary change in flesh and blood, identical to the original body; the resonance instrument can trigger the user's own energy to simulate the 'cultivation feel' of the corresponding rank, with no artificial traces whatsoever.

The mirror generator can cut a small piece of real space and project it as the designated background, making it extremely difficult to detect.

Cons: A bit expensive; the flesh reshaping process is somewhat painful; the mirror generator requires capturing a trace of the target plane's aura in advance as a primer.

Option 3: 'Perfect Disguise Package (God-Level Trial Version)'. Total price: 1.8 billion incense points.

Pros: One-click solution, including super-specification services like 'Consciousness Synchronization Roleplay Assistance,' 'Causal Line Temporary Disguise,' and 'Cross-Planar Communication Encryption Enhancement,' guaranteeing that even a Ninth-Rank deity would find it difficult to see through.