If the princess had spoken differently, perhaps he would have waited, continuing to cultivate until he could finally defeat her without relying on his godlike powers.

Xia Tian's arrogance was ever-present, but it was seldom challenged by those around him, for they were usually not powerful enough to provoke his ego.

With a sly smirk, Xia Tian rubbed the princess's bottom teasingly before standing up.

The princess's eyes widened, and she swiftly wrapped her legs and arms around his body to steady herself.

"Dare to underestimate your master? It's time for your punishment, woman," Xia Tian chuckled, lifting her in his arms and making his way towards the stairs leading to the second floor.

Aware that she had narrowly escaped a catastrophe, the princess reverted to her former submissive persona, protesting, "But master! You ordered me to be honest. How can it be my fault?"

Xia Tian swiftly delivered a slap to her bottom. "A servant should never disrespect her master," he declared.

"B-but it was your order!" the princess protested once again.

Xia Tian laughed as he climbed the last stair. "Then you shouldn't have followed it," he retorted.

The princess was taken aback. "So, you would punish me for not following your order," she chuckled, finding his logic ridiculous.

"Indeed!" Xia Tian affirmed. "If you don't follow orders, how can I not punish you?"

The princess's lips parted, speechless, as she stared at him. It seemed she was losing on both fronts.

Little did she know that Evelynn, Xia Tian's former maid, faced this very dilemma every day. Whenever Xia Tian wanted to administer punishment, he found ways to trap even his most loyal servants with carefully chosen words.

Pressing her lips together, the princess fell silent, no longer willing to argue with this unreasonable man. However, she occasionally stole glances in his direction, her heart pounding loudly in her chest. She skillfully concealed her emotions, ensuring they did not show on her face.

Yet her composed expression crumbled, and panic briefly flickered in her eyes when he entered the bedroom, still holding her in his hands.

+++++++

After forcefully throwing the princess onto the plush mattress, Xia Tian's lips curled into a wicked grin. "If you serve me well, I might just promote you to the esteemed position of my personal maid," he taunted, his voice laced with dark amusement.

The princess heard his words and was left momentarily speechless, her mind reeling with disbelief.

Promotion to a maid?

How could such absurdity exist?

Then, what was her status now?

What had she been reduced to in his eyes?

However, Xia Tian wasted no time dwelling on her confusion.

With an air of dominance, he climbed onto the bed, fixating his gaze upon her with a predatory smirk.

"Now, it's time for your punishment, my little demon," he whispered, his words dripping with anticipation.

His hands moved with deft precision, swiftly stripping away her garments, leaving her completely exposed.

The princess clenched her teeth in reluctant resignation, a mixture of anger and resignation swirling within her.

The room seemed to glow with an ethereal radiance as her milky white skin caught the light.

Her breasts, round and firm, were of moderate size, possessing an alluring charm.

The two delicate pink cherries atop them served as tantalizing adornments, yet their sensitivity betrayed her intimate knowledge of Xia Tian's desires.

Caught between arousal and trepidation, the princess couldn't help but feel a knot of nervousness tighten in her stomach as she beheld Xia Tian's teasing expression.

"What are you so ashamed of, you thousand-year-old ghost?" Xia Tian jeered, his gaze piercing through her as if unraveling the deepest secrets she held.

Her heart wrenched at the realization that he had discovered her timeless existence, surpassing his own age.

Feeling exposed, she turned her head away in a futile attempt to hide her shame.

The princess seethed with anger at his audacity, but she knew better than to challenge his authority.

He was her master, and she, bound by duty, could only endure his insults.

Frustration welled within her, causing her chest to rise and fall with each labored breath.

Somehow, Xia Tian possessed an uncanny ability to provoke and unsettle even the strongest-willed women.

His words effortlessly pierced through her defenses, pricking at her primordial ego.

Unable to contain herself any longer, the princess spat out defiantly, "Master! This woman stands before you as a complete being! I implore you to show mercy and restrain your venomous tongue, or grant me the freedom to assume a different form." Her eyes glimmered with pride, believing she had emerged victorious in their battle of wills.

But little did she know, Xia Tian found amusement in her defiance, hearing a hidden plea for even greater control, all he heard was, 'The servant need to be tamed property, master!' 

The woman's rebellious nature only served to ignite his desire for a more thorough and rigorous training.

He firmly grasped the tender skin of her small waist, and pinched it lightly. 

"Ah!" The princess gasped, caught off guard by the sudden sensation.

Her eyes met Xia Tian's gaze, unsure whether to laugh or cry in response to the intricate dance of pleasure and pain.

"Remember, no use of powers during your punishment," Xia Tian reminded her, his voice bearing an authoritative tone that brooked no resistance.

It was more of a command than a request.

The princess forced a wry smile, her fate sealed in that moment.

With a resigned nod, she acknowledged her submission.

Yet, a foreboding sense of dread gripped her heart, an instinctual knowing that her journey into the depths of his desires would be far from gentle.

...

A few minutes had passed, and the atmosphere was filled with tension.

"Master, please, no! Stop..." she pleaded, her voice quivering.

The chilling sensation enveloped her, and she couldn't help but shiver. "It's so cold, too cold! Perhaps we can find a way to negotiate?"

"Master, I implore you..." Her voice trailed off in a mixture of fear and desperation.

As the icy touch continued, she couldn't suppress the moans that escaped her lips. Her body reacted involuntarily, betraying her will.

"I... I would offer you anything, even the gift of children, if only you would spare me," she pleaded, her words a last resort.

Xia Tian looked at her in suprise.

How could she assume he would even desire her child?

Overwhelmed with emotion, the princess clutched her head, tears streaming down her face, a mixture of distress and remorse.

Her gaze shifted to her own body, where delicate ice cubes were meticulously placed, tracing her contours with precision.

In spite of the agony, she couldn't help but admire Xia Tian's dedication.

'Why does Master take pleasure in tormenting others?' she questioned silently, her eyes reflecting a blend of confusion and sorrow.

As if in response, an ice cube glided down from her collarbone, sending an unexpected surge of heat through her body, a contrasting sensation to the icy touch.

For the first time in her privileged life, the princess was introduced to a form of suffering she had never experienced before.

It wasn't mere physical pain but a profound unease that crept through her being.

In an attempt to conceal her discomfort, she let out an awkward chuckle as Xia Tian skillfully encased her nipple with a circle of ice, causing an unexpected reaction.

Her body responded, her nipples betraying her composure.

She couldn't help but marvel at Xia Tian's intimate knowledge of her body, a revelation that left her both astonished and intrigued.

It became evident that he had studied women's forms with meticulous care.

With calculated precision, he placed a few cubes on her flat abdomen, their icy touch eliciting a shudder, before sliding them down the length of her thigh.

The sight of her delicate petals awaiting deflowering brought a satisfied smile to Xia Tian's face.

The quality of his work was unparalleled, even by his own standards.

Lost in a mixture of discomfort and curiosity, the princess couldn't contain her moans as unfamiliar sensations danced within her pubic region.

Did her master possess no mercy?

In her own eyes, she had always been shielded from suffering due to her position and power.

But now, forced to suppress her abilities, her own body felt like a foreign entity, estranged from her very essence.

Xia Tian, with an air of detachment, positioned himself beside her, laying in the soft mattress with his head resting on her hand, their proximity mirroring that of lovers.

Suddenly, the realization hit her.

Not only was he inflicting physical torment, but he also sought to restrict her movements.

"Master, how long must I endure this?" she managed to ask, her smile forced but filled with desperation.

Xia Tian appeared contemplative, his expression betraying no emotion. "Until the ice has completely melted," he replied with a hint of ambiguity.

Closing his eyes, he assumed an innocent facade, while the princess grappled with the consequences of her actions.

"Master, I acknowledge my wrongdoing," she pleaded, her words flowing forth like a confession. "I am willing to apologize to Xu Qing and Nyx, to all those I may have wronged. Please, forgive me."

Her sense of self-worth diminished, she recollected every event that may have upset him, offering apologies for each transgression, from stealing Xu Qing to intimidating Nyx on their first encounter.