Chapter One: Punishing an Immortal Lord and Acquiring a Magical Artifact
The night spread like ink, silent and somber like waves in darkness.
Inside the sleeping chamber, where not a single ray of light could pierce through, everything was surprisingly vivid, dazzling, and resplendently magnificent.
A small, chubby figure tiptoed quietly across the empty floor and slipped out of the inner chamber. Peering cautiously with her bright little head, she looked around carefully. Only after confirming no one was in the outer hall did she swiftly move forward.
Outside the grand hall, a group of sinister ghostly maids lowered their heads respectfully upon seeing her.
“Your Highness—”
“Greetings, Your Highness—”
“Paying respects to Your Highness—”
“Save the formalities. Where is my father?” The little bundle blinked her adorable violet-clear eyes with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
“The King of the Underworld is in the front hall meeting an esteemed guest. Would Your Highness like to join?”
Meeting an esteemed guest?
That’s wonderful!
The little bundle’s heart filled with joy, but she waved her hand to refuse, “No need. I’m going out alone. Don’t tell him.”
“Understood, Your Highness,” the ghostly servants replied obediently.
…
Thousands of miles away, within the realm of raging infernos,
Flowers bloomed in profusion, mandrakes swayed enchantingly, and layers upon layers of demonic barriers stretched endlessly to the horizon.
This was the deepest level of Hell—the tenth tier.
The assembled fiends bowed deeply. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
“No need for formalities. Why are you on duty here?” The little bundle reached into her universe pouch; her intuition warned her that a newcomer, not from the ghost realm, had arrived.
Weren’t they out hunting ghosts? How could they be back so quickly? Unless...
“What kind of person did you catch?”
The group trembled and hurriedly shook their heads. “No... no one.”
These weren’t trivial spirits to mess with.
“Oh? Is that so?” The little bundle’s gaze scrutinized them sharply, fixing intently upon their bodies.
…
Her instincts never erred; they were lying.
Trembling, they knew the young princess, though small, was not easily fooled, and they could only reply with forced expressions, “We heard a grievous celestial lord has fallen into darkness and was punished by Lord Jade Balance to descend here.”
So they hadn’t caught anyone after all. Their new task was to guard this fallen divine immortal.
A celestial lord?! A heavenly celestial lord?!
That must be far more interesting than these fiends!
The little bundle's face instantly brightened as she exclaimed happily, “Quick, take me inside to see!”
“Th-this…”
“Hurry! Hurry! Or when Father returns, I’ll tell him you’re bullying me.”
The ghostly maids shuddered and quickly stepped aside from the path. “We would never dare. Please, Your Highness.”
“Hmph, I doubt that,” the little bundle huffed arrogantly as she walked into the dungeon. Her delicate, petite figure looked both fragile and endearingly chubby—utterly adorable.
…
“Who are you?” The little bundle’s first words upon seeing the fallen celestial lord.
Opposite her, a man clad in deep gray robes stood, his long black hair veiling his eyes, showing no reaction whatsoever.
Annoyed, she stomped her foot and intensified her tone, “I’m asking who you are and why you fell into darkness?”
He slowly lifted his gaze, shrouded in an aura of demonic energy, and sneered, “And who are you? How did you come to this state?”
The little bundle snorted coldly, her childish voice tinged with innocence yet firm, “I am unlike you—I am one of the rulers of Hell, the little princess. You will address me with respect!”
“Little?” He scoffed, staring at the plump little bundle like a petty lotus.
“How many thousands of years old are you?”
The little bundle furrowed her tiny brows. Offended by his disrespectful tone, she raised her fair, rosy face with pride, “Today, I am already one hundred and eighty thousand years old.”
“Oh? That’s rather young.”
“And how many thousands of years old are you? In Hell, no one has a cultivation age surpassing my father.”
“The King of the Underworld?”
“Indeed! He is three million years old, strong enough to rival the Jade Balance celestial lord in Heaven.”
He chuckled, “I certainly can’t compare to the King of the Underworld. I, this celestial lord, am only two million years old.”
“Two million years? What is your cultivation for?”
“I cultivate because—” His words faltered as he caught the hopeful look in her eyes and suddenly decided to tease her, “Why should I tell you?”
The little bundle’s expression shifted, displeased, she commanded, “I order you to tell me why you cultivate. Do you have some treasure? Or some elixir? Hand them all over!”
“You sound like a bandit, threatening and coercing when plain words won’t work.”
“So what? My cultivation has stagnated here, unable to break through these one hundred ninety thousand layers. Father always says I’m too young, forbidding me from practicing any dangerous arts. When and where will I break through this boundary, leave Hell, and live freely outside?”
“You want to leave Hell?”
“Who doesn’t? Even Lady Meng Po and the others wish it, let alone me?”
He curled his lips with a sly, charming smile—like the most dazzling red plum blossoming quietly amid countless flowers. “I do have a treasure that can let you out. Do you want it?”
“What is it?”
“An artifact.”
“You’re willing to give it to me?” The little bundle leaned forward, her eyes filled with disbelief.
He found it immensely amusing, looking at the chubby, delicate little bundle. “Now you don’t trust me?”
Wasn’t she the one threatening and coaxing him for his treasure just moments ago?
She hesitated, glanced at him, then steeled herself and suddenly stretched out her snow-white, tender hand. “Give it to me!”
He raised an eyebrow. “Before I give it to you, you have to do me a favor.”
“What favor?” The little bundle immediately retracted her hand, highly wary.
She may be small, but she was no fool.
She didn’t want to stumble over a single treasure and get punished by her father for the day.
He smiled, “Don’t worry, I won’t let you set me free.”
“What is it?”
“It is…”