Immediately, Zhou Hong cut to the chase and revealed the first three layers of the Eight-Part Pagoda technique.
Concurrently, Zhou Hong also shared his cultivation experience for these initial three layers.
"Esteemed Demon Lords, the above are the first three layers of this immortal method. I have also shared my cultivation experience to help you reach the third layer faster. However, I have one condition."
"Please speak, City Lord."
"Before you cultivate to the third layer, I hope you will all remain within the City Lord's Mansion. This is a matter of confidentiality, and I will arrange rooms for you. With your intelligence, I believe you will undoubtedly reach the third layer within three years. At that time, we can discuss further cultivation together. What do you all think?"
"Of course, no problem. Three years will pass in the blink of an eye."
The dozen or so Demon Lords nodded. For them, three years was equivalent to a mere three months, or even less, for ordinary people.
"Very well, then please begin now."
Zhou Hong immediately instructed his subordinates to arrange rooms for them.
Thus, Zhou Hong effortlessly got the more than ten Demon Lords to cultivate the Eight-Part Pagoda technique. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Heh heh." After everyone had entered their private rooms, Zhou Hong couldn't help but chuckle.
"Zhou Hong, isn't this playing a bit too big?" Hei Lan appeared somewhat worried.
"Too big? What's too big? Once they cultivate to the third layer, they won't be under our control. During these three years, I will make another trip to the Immortal Demon Mountain Range to gather more Soul Locking Grass. If I have three sets of the Eight Immortal Sword Array, hmph." Zhou Hong grinned smugly.
Hei Lan said nothing more. He had long since noticed that Zhou Hong was an exceptionally bold individual, daring to do anything.
At this moment, his grandfather's voice echoed in Zhou Hong's mind: "Zhou Hong, actually, besides forming three sets of the Eight Immortal Sword Array, you can also form a more powerful 24 Immortal Sword Array. The 24 Immortal Sword Array is stronger than three sets of the Eight Immortal Sword Array."
"Ah? Why didn't you mention this before?" Zhou Hong was slightly surprised to hear about a 24 Immortal Sword Array.
"You didn't have this many puppets before. Three sets of the Eight Immortal Sword Array are, at best, equivalent to three individuals with the strength of fifth-grade Demon Lords. However, the 24 Immortal Sword Array is like 8x8x8, significantly stronger than 8+8+8. To be honest, three sets of the Eight Immortal Sword Array would not even be a match for a sixth-grade Demon Lord. A single sixth-grade Demon Lord can easily kill thirty to fifty fifth-grade Demon Lords. But the 24 Immortal Sword Array is different; its combat power is absolutely comparable to a sixth-grade Demon Lord."
"Mmm, mmm!" Zhou Hong became excited. He hadn't expected to be able to form a 24 Immortal Sword Array directly.
"By the way, Grandfather, if that's the case, then there must also be a 36 Immortal Sword Array."
"Of course. Later, there is the 72 Immortal Sword Array, then the 144 Immortal Sword Array, and even higher, the 288 Sword Array."
"Wow! Can it just keep going up?"
"Yes, theoretically, it can go up infinitely. But that's just theory. Not to mention anything else, Soul Locking Grass is not that easy to find. Furthermore, with your current strength, it's not easy to refine so many people into puppets simultaneously. In short, let's take it one step at a time."
"Okay, thank you, Grandfather. By the way, Grandfather, have you ever refined puppet sword arrays before?"
"No, so you can use it with confidence now. No one will suspect me."
"Mmm, mmm. Otherwise, if your former enemies in the Immortal Realm found out, they might come looking for you."
"That's for sure. If that dog Emperor Immortal knew I was still alive, he would come even if I were in the Demon Realm," Zhou Hong's grandfather said with a hint of anger.
"Zhou Hong, do you know that this puppet sword array of mine was something I painstakingly conceived to counter Immortal Emperors or Demon Emperors?"
"How so?" Zhou Hong was somewhat confused.
"Back then, I cultivated to the ninth-grade Immortal King. However, my sub-world was too strong, so that dog Emperor Immortal discovered me and annihilated me. Afterward, I kept thinking about how I could avoid such a fate. You know, cultivation in the Immortal Realm requires permission from an Emperor Immortal or Demon Emperor. If they don't grant permission or provide quotas, no matter how talented you are, they won't give you a chance to rise."
"So, I kept thinking and thinking. Later, I came up with a method. The method is: if my cultivation realm is not that high, but my strength is very formidable, wouldn't that make the Emperor Immortal or Demon Emperor lower their guard? For example, if you only have the realm of a Demon Lord, yet you possess the means to defeat a Demon Emperor, wouldn't you be able to easily break through the restrictions imposed by the Demon Emperor on cultivation?"
"That's certainly true, but how can such a low realm possess such powerful combat strength?"
"After countless years of deep thought, I finally created the puppet sword array. According to my estimations, when your realm reaches around ninth-grade Demon Lord, you will be able to control over a hundred thousand Demon Lord puppets at least. At that time, forming a hundred-thousand-person sword array, your strength would truly be able to contend with a Demon Emperor. By then, when you also become a Demon Emperor, you will be on equal footing with them, and you can avenge me."
"A hundred-thousand-person sword array!" Zhou Hong shuddered at the thought. The power of a sword array formed by a hundred thousand Demon Lords was unimaginable; it could pierce through the heavens. These were Demon Lords, not ordinary demon cultivators. However, refining a hundred thousand Demon Lords into puppets was no small undertaking.
"Zhou Hong, don't think too much about it now. Let's take it one step at a time. After all, this is just my hypothesis. Let's focus on forming the 24 Immortal Sword Array first and see its power."
"Okay!"
Zhou Hong stayed at home for a month. The Demon Lords who were cultivating the Eight-Part Pagoda technique indeed remained obedient, not daring to step outside.
"Let's go to the Immortal Demon Mountain Range. This time, I must gather more Soul Locking Grass," Zhou Hong thought to himself.
"Father-in-law, I am preparing to go to the Immortal Demon Mountain Range. I expect to return within a year. During this year, I doubt those Demon Lords will cultivate to the third layer. All major and minor affairs of Wumeng City will be managed by you," Zhou Hong said to Great Demon Lord Hei Lan.
"Going to the Immortal Demon Mountain Range again!" Hei Lan appeared somewhat resigned.
"There's no other way. I must go there to collect Soul Locking Grass. This matter must not be known by anyone."
"Alright. Then, if any Demon Lord wishes to leave during this year, what should we do?"
"Let them leave. They can return after they've finished their business. Although I said they cannot leave the City Lord's Mansion within three years, we cannot stop them if they insist on leaving. However, within a year, no one will cultivate to the third layer, so no one will notice anything unusual."
"Understood. Then, travel safely and return soon."
"Mmm!" Zhou Hong nodded and immediately leaped into the sky.