96: Unconscious

Shang Wan Ning reached out to wipe away the non-existent sweat on her forehead, then leaned against the headboard, panting slightly.

When she raised her eyes, she happened to meet Ling Qi's smiling dark pupils.

She suddenly felt her ears burning and quickly spoke up to defend herself: "I'm not weak!!! It's probably just that I've been too worried about the Bridge of Helplessness lately, and my mind is a bit exhausted."

The smile in Ling Qi's eyes did not fade, but her tone took on a hint of grievance: "It's all this Subordinate's fault for always pestering you for this and that lately, BOSS..."

"Hmph! What kind of girlfriend comes home still smelling like that?" Shang Wan Ning complained to Ling Qi with a coquettish pout afterward; though it didn't sound like much of a reproach, it felt more like she was acting spoiled.

"This Subordinate can only consider herself unlucky. Who told me to accidentally run into Ming Xuan and Ling Yao while they were..." As Ling Qi spoke, a faint red light flickered at her fingertips, projecting the dramatic scene from earlier.

"Pfft... Hahaha..." Shang Wan Ning couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

"I really didn't expect that Ming Xuan, who usually seems like a caring older sister, would be so... so bold in private!" Shang Wan Ning laughed so hard she couldn't close her mouth.

Thinking about how cute Wanling looked when she was jealous, Ling Qi couldn't resist gently pinching her cheek and saying softly, "Alright, Wanling, don't be jealous of them anymore."

Recalling the scene she had just seen, Shang Wan Ning still felt a bit sour. She pouted, "But... you stared at Ming Xuan for an extra two seconds just now!"

The corners of Ling Qi's mouth curled up as she teased, "Two seconds? Does the BOSS want to punish this Subordinate by making her pay it back a thousandfold?" As she spoke, her gaze slowly shifted from Shang Wan Ning to the bed.

Shang Wan Ning's face turned slightly red, and she quickly changed the subject: "I'm tired, good afternoon!" Having said that, she pulled the quilt over her head.

Seeing this, Ling Qi smiled helplessly, knowing she wouldn't be able to enjoy a feast tonight.

The bedroom lighting wasn't as dim as the lounge. After Shang Wan Ning closed her eyes, she soon drifted into a dreamland... Inside the system space, Xiao Si put down the ROG Ally X in her hand, her brow furrowing as she muttered to herself, "Strange, why does the Host's condition feel a bit off today?"

While thinking, she carefully observed the data fluctuations on the screen, trying to find where the problem lay.

Meanwhile, in her dream, Shang Wan Ning was stepping into the 'Yinjing Heavenly Palace' step by step.

As soon as she entered, a dense surge of ghostly energy rushed toward her, making her shudder involuntarily.

The Heavenly Palace was located atop the main peak of Mount Fengdu, the highest point in the Netherworld.

The palace's exterior was majestic yet eerie, dominated by black and dark gray tones, surrounded by thick dark clouds, ghost fires, and a labyrinth of corridors and underground caves.

As Shang Wan Ning walked into the main hall, eerie green flames suddenly flickered to life in small recessed slots along the surrounding walls.

Combined with the dense Yin energy, the entire hall was illuminated in a deep emerald green.

Coupled with the various demons and ghosts carved onto the pillars and walls of the hall, the entire scene appeared exceptionally bizarre.

Shang Wan Ning's eyes widened as she looked at everything before her, her heart filled with shock.

"Yinjing Heavenly Palace? How did I end up here?"

[Although she had a superficial understanding of the Netherworld from myths and legends in her past life, experiencing such a scene firsthand still left her incredibly shaken.]

Shang Wan Ning stood frozen in place, motionless, as if captivated by the sight before her.

After a long while, she finally snapped out of it, took a deep breath, and tried her best to steady her consciousness.

Step by step... she walked toward the throne in the center of the hall.

With every step she took, she could clearly feel that intense Yin energy eroding her divine form.

Shang Wan Ning slowly approached the throne, and only as she drew closer did she realize there was a figure standing directly below it.

Because the light was too dim, Shang Wan Ning couldn't see the person's face clearly, but she could feel them watching her.

Shang Wan Ning hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Who are you? Why have I come here?"

The figure slowly turned around, revealing a pale face. Their eyes were hollow, radiating a hint of chilliness.

"My Lord, you have finally come," the figure said.

Shang Wan Ning felt a sudden chill. She frowned and asked again, "You know me? Just who are you?"

Yanjun gave a slight smile, his tone carrying a hint of sincerity. "My Lord, This humble king has been waiting here for a long time." After saying this, the figure vanished in the blink of an eye.

Shang Wan Ning was slightly stunned and looked up at the throne. For some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with it.

She walked over slowly and sat upon the throne—the seat that only the 'Supreme' could occupy.

The moment she sat down, she looked out through the towering hall, gazing down from her high vantage point.

It was as if everything in the world—power, beauty, and so on—were like toys in her hands, completely under her control.

An aura of disdain for all under heaven surged from the depths of her heart.

"This feeling is truly beyond words."

"No wonder everyone in the world is so keen on chasing power; only by reaching this realm can one truly understand its essence."

"As the Empress, I can dominate the lifespans of all living beings in the world. Those I loathe, I shall order to perish, and none shall dare let them live."

"Hahahaha..."

"Hehehe..."

"My Underworld Ghost God cards are finally all collected, hahahahaha..."

Shang Wan Ning was immersed in her dream, her laughter echoing in the bedroom.

However, at this moment, Shang Wan Ning was actually lying on a large, soft bed, her head resting on a fluffy pillow.

Her eyes were tightly shut as she continuously muttered strange words. "Consort Ling, Noble Consort Meng, Talented Lady Lin... flip the name tags... I want to flip the tags..."

Sleeping beside her, Ling Qi kept shaking her, trying to wake her up: "BOSS, wake up! You're trapped in a dream."

But Shang Wan Ning remained intoxicated by her own dream, showing no sign of waking up.

Ling Qi steeled her heart and used all her ghostly power to pinch the BOSS's waist.

"BOSS, BOSS! Wake up!"

"One, two, three..."

"Mmm, the soft flesh on the BOSS's waist is so soft!!!" Ling Qi couldn't help but give it a stroke.

"Tsk tsk tsk, that hurts!" Xiao Si suddenly interjected, floating in the bedroom.

"Xiao Si, why won't the BOSS wake up?" Ling Qi returned to her efficient Secretary-General persona, looking hesitantly at the virtual Xiao Si.

Xiao Si let out a breath.

"Ling Qi, don't look at me like that, it's quite hurtful."

"Rest assured! Even if the entire Underworld betrays her, I will never betray her."

"There's a problem within the system; I'll go fix it right away."

"Good." Ling Qi relaxed her guarded expression.