Chuchu's tone revealed an unquestionable confidence and calmness, as if everything was under her control.
She gently brushed off the non-existent dust on her sleeves, her eyes piercing through the veil of night, as if she had foreseen another confrontation with Bai Ling in the future.
"Tianyi, we have to go back to the underworld quietly." Chuchu said.
She knows that even though Bai Ling has escaped, the affairs of the demon world are far from over. The whereabouts of the demon king, the intentions of the demon lord, and the delicate balance between the six realms are all challenges she must face.
But when she thought of what the soul Millie said, that there was a woman named Youlan hidden in the palace of Hades' father, Chuchu felt a little uncomfortable.
It was now nighttime in the human world, and since she had finished filming her scenes, everyone would just think she was resting in the RV, so now was a good time to return to the underworld.
Tian Yi responded, "Princess Emperor, is this about Youlan?"
Chuchu nodded, "Let's go. Take Millie with you. Since she knows, she must have a clue. At this time, my father will be practicing, so he shouldn't be in the Pluto Palace."
The night is as dark as ink, deep and quiet, and the hustle and bustle of the human world has gradually sunk into the abyss of dreams.
When Chuchu returned to the underworld, she resumed her appearance as a princess. Her long hair was tied up with a simple hairpin, and her eyes flashed with determination and resolve.
She whispered to Tianyi and Millie, "We need to move quickly and try not to alert anyone."
Tian Yi, wearing a silver armor that glowed coldly in the night, nodded, and a faint dark energy gathered in his hands, ready to deal with any possible emergencies at any time.
Millie, existing in the form of a soul, floated lightly beside Chuchu.
The three of them used the unique teleportation array of the underworld to instantly cross the boundaries of time and space and arrived at the edge of the underworld.
They crossed the dark River Styx silently. Spots of phosphorescent light floated on the river, like stars falling into the mortal world, but with a bit of ominous omen.
Chuchu silently chanted a spell in her heart, and a gentle force surrounded them, causing the ghosts who tried to approach to retreat.
As we entered the Palace of Pluto, the atmosphere became more solemn.
The Palace of Hades, as the center of the underworld, not only guards the order of the underworld, but also hides countless secrets. Chuchu and Tianyi looked at each other, and each saw determination and caution in the other's eyes.
Millie followed closely behind Chuchu. Her soul form allowed her to easily move through the shadows and provide the necessary guidance for the two.
"Youlan... where could she be hiding?" Chuchu pondered, her mind racing through all sorts of possibilities. The Pluto Palace was vast, its palaces teeming with activity, each a potential hiding place for Youlan. But they didn't have much time; they had to find her quickly while avoiding alerting her father, the Pluto, who was currently cultivating.
They first arrived at the side hall of Pluto's Palace, where successive Plutos conducted government affairs. It contained numerous libraries and secret chambers. Chuchu, with familiarity, dodged the patrolling Pluto soldiers and, with Tianyi and Mili, infiltrated a seemingly ordinary study. Inside, the shelves were filled with ancient scrolls and tomes, and the air was thick with the faint scent of ink.
Millie's spirit form allowed her to easily penetrate the gaps between the bookshelves, searching for any anomalies. Suddenly, she stopped in front of a bookshelf that looked ordinary, a glint in her eyes. "There's an unusual aura here," she whispered.
Chuchu and Tianyi immediately gathered around and took a closer look. The books on the shelf seemed disorganized, but Chuchu soon noticed that several had clearly been moved, leaving tiny gaps. With a gentle push, the shelf slowly slid aside, revealing a hidden passage leading to a secret room.
The three of them exchanged a smile and quickly entered the secret chamber. The room was dimly lit, only a few ghost lamps emitting a faint glow. In the center stood a stone table, upon which sat an exquisite jade box, its lid half-open, shedding a strange light. Millie floated forward and gently lifted the lid, revealing a jade pendant emitting a faint glow within, the very symbol of Youlan's identity.
"It seems that someone is indeed here." Chu Chu frowned, with a complicated emotion surging in her heart.
She took a deep breath, a look of determination flashed in her eyes, then she slowly raised her hands, slightly spread her fingers, and a faint green light condensed at her fingertips. That was the spiritual power of the underworld that was unique to her as the Princess of Qingming.
"Youlan, come out, this princess has something to ask you!" Chuchu's voice echoed in the mountain room with unquestionable majesty.
However, no soul responded.
Seeing this, Chu Chu frowned slightly, then calmed down and began to perform her soul-seeking method. She formed seals with her hands and silently chanted an ancient and complex spell. Every syllable was precise and accurate, as if it could penetrate the barriers of time and space and reach the depths of the underworld.
As the spell was chanted, the red light around Chu Chu became more and more dazzling, gradually forming a rotating vortex, which slightly distorted the surrounding air.
This vortex seemed to contain endless power from the underworld, capable of detecting the traces of all souls in the world.
"In the name of the Qingming Emperor, I summon the power of the underworld to search for the souls of the world—the soul-seeking method begins!"
Chuchu's voice suddenly rose, and as the last syllable fell, she pushed her hands forward violently. The green vortex instantly expanded and turned into a beam of light, penetrating the darkness and spreading in all directions.
Wherever this beam of light passes, no matter if it is an ancient ruin buried deep underground or a weak soul hidden in the shadows, nothing can escape its detection.
Just when Chu Chu thought she was about to discover something, the beam of light suddenly paused, then slowly dissipated, as if blocked by some force.
Chu Chu's face changed slightly. She didn't expect that there would be a soul that could avoid her soul-hunting method so cleverly.
But the trip had been worthwhile. She realized that Millie hadn't lied; there was indeed a spirit hidden here, and it was most likely the mysterious Youlan. At this thought, her tone tinged with anger and questioning, "What is your conspiracy behind hiding here? Was it you who orchestrated my mother becoming the core of the Qiankun Liuhe Formation? Now, you'd better come out and explain yourself to this princess!"
Just as the words fell, the sound of light footsteps broke the silence. Chu Chu turned abruptly and saw a figure slowly stepping out of the shadows. The woman had a beautiful face, with a hint of sadness and determination between her brows. She must be the Youlan that Millie had mentioned.
Youlan did not answer Chuchu's question immediately, but walked quietly to her with a deep and complex look.
She spoke slowly, her voice gentle yet carrying a force that could not be ignored: "Princess Di, please don't misunderstand me. I'm hiding here not for any conspiracy, but to protect you and our entire underworld."
Chu Chu sneered upon hearing this, her tone full of disdain: "Protect me? My mother was imprisoned because of this, and became a sacrifice of the six realms in my place. Is this what you call protection?"
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