"Give me the antidote quickly," the Black Lan Great Demon King demanded.
"No rush. I haven't found the ingredients to refine the antidote yet. Within ten days to half a month, I'll give you the first antidote."
"Ah, ah, ah!" The Black Lan Great Demon King chuckled a few times.
"Next, I have an important mission for you," Zhou Hong said.
"You want to boss me around? Dream on," the Black Lan Great Demon King snorted.
"You don't have a choice. By the way, in this Wumeng City, how many are at the Great Demon King level?"
"Why should I tell you?"
"Then I'm sorry, you'll regret this decision."
The Black Lan Great Demon King gritted his teeth with a smile and reluctantly said, "In the entire Wumeng City, the strongest is the City Lord. Below him, there are three Second-Rank Great Demon Kings and six First-Rank Great Demon Kings. I am one of those six First-Rank Great Demon Kings."
Zhou Hong nodded. "So, including the City Lord, there are ten Great Demon Kings in Wumeng City."
"Nonsense."
"Excellent. Here's your mission: I want you to use the same method to subdue the other nine Great Demon Kings in Wumeng City, including the City Lord, with the cultivation technique 'Babu Futu'."
"You...!" The Black Lan Great Demon King was shocked. He couldn't believe that this lowly First-Rank Demon being dared to be so audacious and arrogant, intending to subdue all ten of the strongest Great Demon Kings in Wumeng City using the same method.
"What? Any suggestions?"
"You're too bold. I can't believe you'd even say that out loud," the Black Lan Great Demon King snorted.
"Heh heh, this is nothing. Just do as I say. If you satisfy me, I can make you the second-in-command."
"What do you mean?" The Black Lan Great Demon King was a bit confused.
"I just had an interesting thought. I'm controlling you now, and you need to get an antidote from me every month. Then, I'll have you use the same method to control the other nine Great Demon Kings in Wumeng City. From then on, the other nine will need to get the antidote from you. This way, you'll be second only to me, and above the other nine. Wouldn't that make you second-in-command?"
"You...!" The Black Lan Great Demon King broke out in a cold sweat. This person was too terrifying to come up with such a devious plan.
"What's wrong? Is there something incorrect? Once you control the other nine, you'll be the most powerful person in Wumeng City besides me. Even the City Lord will have to obey you. If you refuse, I'll find someone else to be second-in-command, and you'll have to obey them."
"Hmph!" The Black Lan Great Demon King snorted helplessly. He realized he was completely at Zhou Hong's mercy.
"Fine, I agree, but I have one question."
"Go ahead."
"Will my strength be affected after taking the antidote?"
"Of course not. After taking the antidote, you'll be just like normal. Moreover, you can still use the 'Babu Futu' immortal technique you cultivate, which means you'll be even more powerful."
"That's more like it, you little slut, I...!"
"How dare you! Try calling me a 'little slut' again," Zhou Hong roared.
His roar startled the Black Lan Great Demon King, causing him to tremble.
"Remember this: from now on, I am your superior. When you see me, you will either call me Master or my name, which is Zhou Hong."
With that, Zhou Hong reverted to his true appearance.
"Ah, it's you, the one who killed the City Lord's daughter...!" The Black Lan Great Demon King recognized Zhou Hong instantly.
"That's right, I killed the City Lord's daughter."
"Heavens!" The Black Lan Great Demon King found it unbelievable. All this time, the murderer of the City Lord's daughter had been hiding by his side. If the City Lord found out, he would be annihilated.
"So you have no choice now. Hurry up and subdue the City Lord and the other eight Great Demon Kings," Zhou Hong instructed and then walked out of the underground chamber.
The Black Lan Great Demon King watched Zhou Hong's retreating back, clenching his fist helplessly.
Zhou Hong walked out of the underground chamber, and the Black Lan Great Demon King dared not stop him.
Reaching the surface, Zhou Hong looked up at the sky. He hadn't seen sunlight in eight years.
However, Zhou Hong immediately changed back to Xiao Cui's appearance. After all, the City Lord hadn't been subdued yet, so he couldn't be too reckless. It would take years to subdue the City Lord, unless he was a genius who could reach the third level in a few days.
The Black Lan Great Demon King also followed him out.
"Hurry up and go. When you go, also tell them the hints for cultivating each level, so they can quickly reach the third level," Zhou Hong instructed the Black Lan Great Demon King without looking back.
Although the Great Demon King didn't speak, he could only nod helplessly.
Zhou Hong went directly to Hei Xiaolu's residence.
At this moment, Hei Xiaolu was cultivating in his room. Although eight years seemed like a long time, to people in the immortal realm, it was equivalent to eight months on Earth, or even shorter.
"Xiaolu," Zhou Hong entered Hei Xiaolu's room and chuckled.
"Xiao Cui, no, Zhou Hong, you're out? Didn't my father give you trouble?" Hei Xiaolu, seeing Zhou Hong appear unharmed, ran up to him happily.
"Don't worry, your father's description of me now is just one word: excellent."
Hei Xiaolu giggled. Seeing Zhou Hong safe and sound seemed to lift her spirits.
"I'm glad my father didn't kill you, but you can't let him know you're a man disguised as a woman. So, you should leave quickly. The City Lord hasn't found the culprit in eight years, and he's already lifted the city's lockdown."
"Haha, I'm not leaving. I've already come clean with our father. He knows I'm a man disguised as a woman, and he knows I killed the City Lord's daughter. He said that for his daughter's lifelong happiness, he will always stand by my side. Don't worry." Zhou Hong chuckled.
Hei Xiaolu suspected Zhou Hong was joking. This didn't seem like his father's personality at all. How could he possibly offend the City Lord?
"If you don't believe me, you can ask him when he gets back."
"Where did my father go? Right, have you passed the fifth-grade immortal technique you taught him to my father yet?"
"Of course. Otherwise, why would your father praise me so much?"
Hei Xiaolu looked unconvinced.
Zhou Hong immediately pulled back the window curtain and looked at Hei Xiaolu with a chuckle.
"What are you doing?"
"Heh heh, what do you think? You know how hard it was for me to hold back these eight years?" Zhou Hong licked his lips.
Hei Xiaolu's face flushed.
"Ah!" With a scream, Zhou Hong lifted Hei Xiaolu onto his shoulder and headed straight for the bed.
Zhou Hong was in a very good mood today. As long as things went smoothly, he would be the boss of this Wumeng City.
Although Zhou Hong didn't know what would happen next, he decided to control Wumeng City first. At least until he cultivated to the level of a Great Demon King, he shouldn't have to worry about the issue of quotas.
Speaking of which, Zhou Hong had spent eight years in the underground chamber, and he hadn't been idle. Unfortunately, due to lacking quotas, his realm had remained stuck at First-Rank Demon. If he were given quotas now, Zhou Hong suspected he could break through several levels in succession.