"Alright, let's get down to business," Zhou Hong no longer beat around the bush, returning to the main topic.
"If I kill the City Lord and become the next one, what will I face?" Zhou Hong asked the Black Orchid Great Demon King, calculating all the risks before taking action.
"First, you will face the skepticism of everyone in Wumeng City, but that can be ignored."
Zhou Hong nodded, the opinions of the people of Wumeng City were not a concern.
"Second, perhaps the City Lord has connections in the Demon Immortal Kingdom. If you kill him, his connections might come after you."
"Who is the City Lord's connection?"
The Black Orchid Great Demon King shook his head, "I don't know. I'm just guessing. It's possible he has no connections, after all, the City Lord is just a minor official of Level Five."
"Okay, we'll discuss that later. Anything else?"
"There's a third point, which might be the most troublesome. After all, there are many who wish to become City Lord. I recall some demonic cultivators from the surrounding areas previously tried to kill the City Lord and take his place, but they failed. If they find out you've replaced the City Lord, then those who previously wanted to kill the City Lord will definitely come after you. There are quite a few of these people. As far as I know, the Dragon Tiger Demon Sect nearby has a Vice Sect Master who once tried to kill the City Lord and take his place, but failed." Su Dan Novel Network
Zhou Hong nodded. It seemed that after killing the City Lord, it wouldn't be easy to secure his position.
"Is there anything else?"
"I can't think of anything else for now. In short, if you want to be City Lord, you need more than just a bit of skill. Back then, the current City Lord only managed to secure his position after a life-or-death struggle."
"Then, after I become City Lord, are there any benefits?" Zhou Hong asked.
"Need you ask? If you become City Lord, the Demon Immortal Kingdom will give you a special ledger. You will possess 1000 cultivation slots within each cycle, making you the root of power in this region."
"Besides the slots I possess, are there any other benefits? For example, my own cultivation slots. The 1000 slots I possess probably aren't suitable for myself, right?"
"Certainly not. The 1000 slots you possess can only reach up to eighth-grade Martial Master at most. Whereas any City Lord in any region is at least a first-grade Demon King himself."
"That's right. So where does the City Lord find his cultivation slots if he wants to cultivate?"
"Naturally, they look to higher-level places. If you become the City Lord here, you will have a way to attend the Demon Immortal Kingdom's court meetings and get to know higher-ranking demon officials. You'll have more opportunities than others."
"I understand," Zhou Hong nodded.
"There's another benefit. After you become City Lord, all the forces within the Wumeng City's jurisdiction, be they demon sects, bandits, or others, will seek your favor, wanting you to grant them slots. Thus, they will surely pay homage to you and give you some cultivation materials or the like."
"Heh heh, in that case, I'm definitely becoming City Lord."
Zhou Hong stood up and said, "Then let's go kill that City Lord now and take his place."
The Black Orchid Great Demon King hesitated for a moment. If Zhou Hong was later killed by someone else, their family would surely be implicated. So, this was not just Zhou Hong's personal matter.
"What are you hesitating for? In this world, there's no such thing as effortless gain. Risks and opportunities go hand in hand. If I become City Lord, I can indirectly help you too. Do you want to just live out your days here in retirement? Don't you have higher aspirations?" Zhou Hong seemed to sense Black Orchid's concern and couldn't help but persuade him.
"Fine, fine, let's go together."
Afterward, Zhou Hong and the Black Orchid Great Demon King arrived in a grand hall. At this moment, the City Lord and Lang Qihua were sitting on chairs, discussing something.
Seeing the Black Orchid Great Demon King return, the City Lord's anger erupted first, "Black Orchid, where the hell have you been? You've been gone so long, what do you mean by this?"
The Black Orchid Great Demon King snorted, no longer bothering to hide anything, and shouted, "It means I'm here to take your life."
The City Lord's expression changed, a hint of panic appearing. He had actually feared such a situation, but he thought it unlikely. After all, Black Orchid was only a first-grade Demon King, and with his strength, he couldn't hold onto the position of City Lord. Even if he became the City Lord of Wumeng City, it would likely be snatched away by countless people very soon.
"Black Orchid, are you crazy? You want to kill me?" the City Lord snorted angrily.
"Yes."
"Hahaha, you are indeed crazy. You, a mere first-grade Demon King, trying to seize my position as City Lord? Aren't you overestimating yourself?"
Lang Qihua, standing nearby, also seemed bewildered. Even he, a second-grade Demon King, wouldn't dare to entertain such an idea, let alone Black Orchid, a mere first-grade Demon King.
At this moment, Zhou Hong walked forward. The City Lord and Lang Qihua had not even glanced at Zhou Hong, as he was a nobody in their eyes.
Zhou Hong then spoke, "Senior Demon Kings, please let me say a few words."
"Shut up, who do you think you are? You're not even a maid here, so keep quiet," the City Lord roared impatiently.
"Heh heh, City Lord, I'm not a maid. Oh well, I might as well tell you my real name. My real name is Zhou Hong."
"What did you say?" The City Lord's brow furrowed, suspecting he had misheard.
"My name is Zhou Hong." After saying this, Zhou Hong immediately revealed his true appearance.
Stunned, the City Lord was completely dumbfounded.
"This is impossible, how can this be possible."
"Heh heh, didn't expect this, did you? You've been looking for me for so long, and I was hidden right here."
"Xiao Cui, you were clearly Xiao Cui. I examined your body before, how could you be him."
"That's right, the one you examined before was the real Xiao Cui. After you finished your examination, the real Xiao Cui hid again."
"Ahhh!" the City Lord roared, his eyes red. "Then, does that mean my son was also castrated by you?"
"Yes, I castrated him. To make you believe me, I'll even tell you the details."
Zhou Hong recounted some of the details of that night. As expected, the City Lord had no choice but to believe him.
"It really is you," the City Lord roared, ignoring the pain from the meridians in his body.
"Yes, it's really me. And your demon spring from before was also stolen by me. The excrement on your bed was also my doing, hahaha." Zhou Hong laughed heartily.
Lang Qihua, sitting beside them, remained motionless. She was on high alert, but looking at Zhou Hong, she found it hard to believe. How had he managed all this?
With red eyes, the City Lord glared at Zhou Hong and gritted his teeth, "Die, I want you dead."
Zhou Hong pouted, "You can't kill me anymore. You should be more concerned about your own life right now."
Zhou Hong immediately gave the Black Orchid Great Demon King a look.
The Black Orchid Great Demon King understood and instantly lunged forward.
The City Lord wanted to resist, but before he could even circulate his demonic energy, his meridians suddenly throbbed with splitting pain, causing him to pause and then cry out.
The next second, the Black Orchid Great Demon King lifted him up with ease.
"No, I'm not reconciled!" the City Lord shrieked in pain.
"What good is being unreconciled? Everyone dies." Zhou Hong chuckled. However, he felt it would be a pity to kill the City Lord outright. After all, he was a third-grade Demon King. If he could subdue him and make him his subordinate, that would be great.
At this moment, Zhou Hong suddenly thought of something and quickly asked in his mind, "Grandpa, is there any way for me to refine the City Lord into my puppet magic artifact?"
"Heh heh, of course, there is. This was what Grandpa was most skilled at during his life. However, it's not a puppet magic artifact, it's a puppet demon artifact," Grandpa's laughter echoed in his mind.
"Whatever you call it, as long as I can refine him, it's fine."