"I'll ask the Ninth-Rank Immortal King behind me when we get back."
"Alright." Hei Lan nodded. He knew Zhou Hong had a Ninth-Rank Immortal King behind him, but he guessed this Immortal King was just a soul, no longer possessing any strength.
Three days later, the City Lord finally prepared a speaking platform for Zhou Hong in the largest square of Wumeng City.
"Everyone, from today onwards, I am the City Lord of Wumeng City!" Zhou Hong stood on the platform and shouted to the massive crowd.
The audience buzzed with discussion, but they seemed to have heard rumors of this already and were not overly surprised.
Zhou Hong then delivered a speech, which concluded around noon.
Thus, Zhou Hong successfully ascended to the position of City Lord of Wumeng City.
However, securing the position here was not the end. He still had to travel to the Immortal Court of the Demon Immortal Kingdom and formally register with the relevant department to be truly recognized as the City Lord.
"Luobotogan, you will accompany me to the Demon Immortal Kingdom's Immortal Court tomorrow," Zhou Hong commanded Luobotogan after his speech.
"Yes!" Luobotogan dared not refuse.
Zhou Hong returned home. Since ascending, apart from a trip to the Immortal-Demon Mountain Range, he had stayed in Wumeng City the entire time. Zhou Hong wondered what awaited him at the Demon Immortal Kingdom's Immortal Court tomorrow, and if there would be any unexpected events.
"Zhou Hong, why don't you let my father accompany you? Just in case Luobotogan plays any tricks," Hei Xiaolu suggested, seeing Zhou Hong's preoccupied expression.
Zhou Hong nodded. Having a reliable person accompany him was indeed a good idea. If Luobotogan led him into a trap, it would be suicidal.
The night passed without incident.
Early the next morning, Zhou Hong, accompanied by Hei Lan and Luobotogan, departed from Wumeng City.
Zhou Hong had expected them to fly in a particular direction. However, Luobotogan led them directly upwards into the sky.
"We're flying up?" Zhou Hong asked, filled with confusion.
"Of course. Since we're going to the Demon Immortal Kingdom's Immortal Court, we naturally fly upwards. They are located above us."
"Oh, oh!" Zhou Hong recalled that in the mortal realm, there was another continent above their own, inhabited by giants.
It seemed the structure here was similar to the mortal realm below, with another continent existing above.
Indeed, after flying for nearly a day, Zhou Hong and the others finally saw landmasses floating above them, resembling small islands. These lands had mountains and water, shrouded in clouds and mist, an exceptionally magnificent sight.
"Is this the Demon Immortal Kingdom's Immortal Court?"
"Yes. There's a gate above, called the Heavenly Gate. We enter through there; no other place is accessible."
Led by Luobotogan, Zhou Hong and his two companions arrived at the entrance of the Heavenly Gate.
Hei Lan was also visiting for the first time. Although he had been a demon official before, it was only on the ground. Those who could come here were at least City Lord level, and even City Lords could only approach the vicinity of the Heavenly Gate, not go further up.
"Halt! Who are you? Non-essential personnel, please leave immediately." The two generals guarding the Heavenly Gate immediately stopped Zhou Hong and his group.
Zhou Hong stepped forward and said, "Esteemed sirs, I have just been appointed City Lord and have come to report."
The two gate-keeping generals possessed extraordinary power, which Zhou Hong couldn't see through at all. However, Zhou Hong's grandfather could. He informed Zhou Hong that these guards were approximately Fifth-Rank Demon Kings in terms of power. Yet, their combat prowess surpassed Fifth-Rank Demon Artifacts, as they wielded artifacts that appeared to be at least Sixth-Rank, seemingly issued uniformly by the Demon Immortal Kingdom.
"You, a mere Second-Rank Demon Master, can also be a City Lord?" the two generals asked, filled with doubt.
"Yes."
"How can you prove it?"
Zhou Hong pointed at Luobotogan and told the two generals, "This gentleman is the former City Lord, whom I have now subdued."
"You are the former City Lord? What is your name?" one of the guarding generals asked Luobotogan.
"Reporting, General, my name is Luobugan."
"Check this. Place your hand here." The other guarding general produced a shield-like object with a fingerprint impression. Luobotogan placed his hand on it.
The next second, the shield projected a human figure, which was Luobotogan.
"You are indeed the City Lord. You, a dignified Third-Rank Demon King, were overthrown by a Second-Rank Demon Master. How did you manage that?" The two guarding generals looked at Luobotogan with undisguised mockery.
"Because he possesses a Fourth-Rank Demon Artifact, and it is the renowned Demon Subduing Pestle from before."
"The Demon Subduing Pestle?" The faces of the two guarding generals changed slightly.
Zhou Hong suddenly had a bad premonition, feeling that he had been tricked by Luobotogan. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination.
"Yes, it is precisely the Demon Artifact that the Demon Immortal Kingdom has placed on its wanted list," said Luobugan.
When Zhou Hong heard Luobotogan say those words, he knew it was bad. He had never imagined that his Demon Subduing Pestle was a wanted artifact by the Demon Immortal Kingdom's Immortal Court.
"Hahaha, we searched far and wide, but found nothing, and yet it appeared right at our doorstep. You, hand over the Demon Subduing Pestle immediately!" The two guarding generals surrounded Zhou Hong. If he refused to surrender it, it was unlikely Zhou Hong would leave alive.
"I didn't know it was a wanted artifact," Zhou Hong hastily explained. At this point, he had no other options.
"It's alright. As long as you surrender it voluntarily, your death sentence can be pardoned."
"Fine." Zhou Hong cursed inwardly a thousand times, but under the Demon Emperor's authority, he could only nod. Zhou Hong deeply regretted not having simply refined Luobotogan into a puppet earlier. Then none of this would have happened. Instead, he had been set up by him.
Regret washed over him, immense regret, but what use was it? Here at the Heavenly Gate of the Demon Immortal Kingdom, he couldn't escape, had no options. If he didn't hand it over, he would die. Even if these two guarding generals let him go, the Demon Emperor could simply send someone to capture him at any moment.
"Hurry up, don't dawdle. Hand it over quickly."
Zhou Hong took out the Demon Subduing Pestle, his heart filled with reluctance. Without the Demon Subduing Pestle, his strength... was more than just a significant drop.
One of the guarding generals snatched the Demon Subduing Pestle and, in the next moment, instantly erased Zhou Hong's consciousness from it. Zhou Hong felt a sharp pain, as if something had been ripped from his body.
"As expected of a wanted artifact, it is indeed powerful," the two guarding generals remarked with admiration after confiscating the Demon Subduing Pestle.
The reason it was wanted was naturally because of its immense power.
In the Demon Immortal Kingdom, any cultivator who forged a powerful demon artifact would have it listed as a wanted artifact by the Demon Emperor and subsequently confiscated. The purpose was to claim it for themselves, and also to weaken the strength of others, which was immensely beneficial for his reign.