The night was as dark as ink, a deep and silent expanse.
Yet within the pitch-black bedchamber, not a single ray of light could penetrate, though it was exceptionally bright, dazzling, and resplendent.
A small, plump figure tiptoed quietly across the empty floor and slipped out of the inner chamber. She poked out her shiny little head, cautiously peering outside. After confirming that the outer hall was empty, she quickly made her way out.
Outside the grand hall, numerous ghostly maidservants bowed respectfully upon seeing her: “Little Highness—”
“Greetings, Little Highness—”
“Salutations, Little Highness—”
“No need for formalities. Where is my father?” The little dumpling blinked her adorable amethyst eyes, filled with curiosity and anticipation.
“Lord Yama is receiving an esteemed guest in the front hall. Would Little Highness like to go there?”
Receiving an esteemed guest?
Perfect!
The little dumpling felt a surge of joy in her heart but waved her hand dismissively. “No need. I’m going out on my own. Don’t tell him.”
“Yes, we understand.”
…
A thousand miles away, within the realm of endless flames.
Flowers bloomed in abundance, with mandrakes swaying enchantingly. Layers of black mist obscured the view, making the horizon impossible to see.
This was the deepest, darkest layer of hell—the Tenth Heaven.
The ghostly attendants bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Little Highness.”
“No need for formalities. Why are you all stationed here?” The little dumpling reached for her Qiankun Bag, her intuition telling her that someone new—not of the ghostly or hellish clans—had arrived.
Weren’t they supposed to be out capturing ghosts? How could they have returned so quickly? Unless…
The little dumpling looked at them excitedly. “Who did you capture?”
The attendants trembled and quickly shook their heads. “N-no one.”
This was no ordinary ghost to trifle with.
“Oh? Is that so?” The little dumpling’s eyes seemed to scrutinize them, fixed intently on their figures.
Her intuition was never wrong. They must be lying.
The attendants shuddered, knowing that despite her young age, the Little Highness was not easily fooled. They could only reply with pained expressions, “We heard… we heard it’s an immortal lord who committed grave sins, fell into demonic ways, and was punished by the Jade Balance Prince of the immortal clan.”
So they hadn’t captured anyone. They had recently been assigned a new task: to guard this newly arrived fallen immortal.
An immortal lord?! An immortal lord from the heavens?!
That must be far more interesting than those ordinary ghosts!
The little dumpling’s expression instantly brightened, and she exclaimed happily, “Quick, take me inside to see!”
“This… this…”
“Hurry up! Hurry up! Otherwise, when my father returns, I’ll tell him you all bullied me.”
The ghostly attendants trembled and hastily cleared a path in the middle. “We wouldn’t dare, Little Highness. This way, please.”
“Hmph, I knew you wouldn’t dare.” The little dumpling strutted proudly into the dungeon, her petite and delicate figure appearing both fragile and adorably clumsy—utterly charming.
A group of attendants followed closely behind her as they made their way deeper into the dungeon. They dared not neglect this little dumpling, for she was the most precious and revered Little Highness of the ghostly hell.
“Who are you?”
This was the first thing the little dumpling said upon entering the dungeon and seeing the fallen immortal lord.
However, the man opposite her, clad in deep gray robes with long, dark hair obscuring his eyes, showed not the slightest reaction.
She was furious, stomping her foot and raising her voice, “I ask you, who are you? And how did you fall into demonhood?”
He slowly lifted his gaze, his entire body shrouded in demonic energy, and let out a mocking laugh, “And who are you? How did you end up in such a state?”
The little puffball snorted, her voice thick with a childish nasal tone, “I’m nothing like you. I am one of the rulers of this hell—the little princess of the ghost clan. You must address me with respect!”
“Little?” He sneered, staring at the soft, plump puffball before him, who was as short as a chubby lotus. “How old are you?”
The little puffball frowned indignantly at his disrespectful tone. She lifted her fair, rosy-cheeked face and declared haughtily, “As of today, I am one hundred and eighty thousand years old.”
“Oh? That’s still quite young.”
“And how many hundreds of thousands of years are you? In this hell, no one’s cultivation or spiritual power surpasses my father’s.”
“Lord Yama?”
“Exactly! He has over three million years of cultivation and spiritual power, enough to rival the Jade Balance Immortal Lord in the heavens.”
He chuckled softly, “Then I certainly cannot compare to Lord Yama. This immortal lord is merely two million years old.”
“Two million years? How did you cultivate?” The little puffball stepped forward.
“I cultivated because—” He paused, seeing the hopeful look in the little one’s eyes, and suddenly felt the urge to tease her. “Why should I tell you?”
The little puffball’s expression changed, and she commanded with displeasure, “I order you to tell me now! Why did you cultivate? Is it because of some treasure or immortal elixir? Hand them all over to me!”
“You sound like a robber, resorting to threats when persuasion fails?”
“What does it matter? My cultivation has been stagnant, unable to break through the one hundred and ninety thousandth layer. Father always says I’m too young and won’t let me practice any dangerous techniques. When will I ever break through the limits, leave hell, and live freely in the outside world?”
“You want to leave hell?”
“Who doesn’t? Even Lady Meng Po and Sister Bai Chang want to, let alone me?”
He curled his lips into a smile, both wicked and enchanting, like the most vibrant red plum blossom blooming quietly among a sea of flowers. “I happen to have a treasure that can help you leave. Do you want it?”
“What is it?”
“A magical artifact.”
“You’re willing to give it to me?” The little puffball leaned closer, her gaze filled with doubt.
He found it utterly amusing, looking at the plump, rosy-cheeked puffball before him, and chuckled, “Now you don’t trust me?”
Who was it just now who was threatening and tempting him for his treasure?
The little puffball hesitated, glanced at him, steeled herself, and suddenly stretched out her small, snow-white hand. “Give it to me!”
He raised an eyebrow. “Before I give it to you, you must first help me with something.”
“With what?” The little puffball immediately withdrew her hand, full of suspicion.
She might be young, but she wasn’t foolish.
She didn’t want to stumble again for the sake of a treasure. If her father found out, she would surely be punished today.
He smiled. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to set me free.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s…”