The other two personal maids looked grim, a sense of unspoken dissatisfaction welling up within them. From this moment on, a chasm had opened between them and Xiao Cui; they were no longer on the same level.
Even though Xiao Cui remained the young lady's maid, she was now a maid beyond their reach.
Zhou Hong had no mood to waste energy on these low-class maids at this moment.
In his mind, Zhou Hong's grandfather urgently asked, "Zhou Hong, you've broken through to a first-grade demon now. Quickly check if your sub-world has derived a second layer."
"Alright."
Zhou Hong immediately checked and discovered that his sub-world, which originally had only one layer, now had two. These two layers referred not to a higher level, but to a lower one. That is, beneath the current sub-world, a lower world had derived. Their relationship was akin to that between the immortal realm and the mortal realm.
"Grandfather, it has derived a second layer. However, the second layer is currently only the size of a football field."
"Haha, what does it matter how big it is? It will gradually expand later. If I'm not mistaken, the area of your first-layer sub-world has at least expanded tenfold, or even more."
Zhou Hong sensed it and indeed, the first-layer sub-world had expanded at least tenfold in area compared to before. The expansion meant that the original boundaries had extended outwards tenfold.
"Grandfather, I've passed the review and broken through to a first-grade demon. If, one day, the reviewing authority were to downgrade me?" Zhou Hong asked with some worry.
"Rest assured about that. Once you break through to this level, even a Demon Emperor personally operating on you cannot downgrade you. He can restrict your breakthrough, but he cannot downgrade you after you've broken through. Otherwise, why would the Immortal Emperor who killed me have gone to such trouble? He could have simply reduced me to the lowest level." Su Dan Novel Network
"That puts my mind at ease."
"Now quickly check if you possess world power within your body. If you do, then even though you are currently a first-grade demon, a ninth-grade demon might not be your match, provided they don't have world power."
"Mhmm."
Zhou Hong immediately checked, and the next second, his face lit up with joy. Indeed, he discovered a power hidden within him, a power capable of destroying stars.
"Grandfather, I feel like I possess the power to punch a planet into oblivion with one blow."
"Hahaha, that's right. That's world power. How many planets do you feel you can obliterate with one punch now?"
Zhou Hong said somewhat awkwardly, "One."
"That means your current world power is one star."
"Mhmm."
"Don't underestimate the power of this one star. For ordinary demon cultivators, it's like a cheat. With one punch, even a ninth-grade demon cannot withstand it."
"Wow." Zhou Hong felt excited just thinking about it. When he was cultivating in the mortal realm, he hadn't felt any significant benefits from his sub-world, other than being able to house his loved ones there. It was only now that Zhou Hong truly felt how powerful it was to possess a sub-world. That Hei Xiao Lu, who was currently a third-grade demon, was no match for Zhou Hong. Unless, of course, she also had a sub-world.
Zhou Hong's grandfather seemed to know what he was thinking and said with a smile, "Even if other demon cultivators have sub-worlds, they might not possess world power. To possess world power, they must reach a certain level. For instance, for you now, the size of the first-layer world has reached a certain range, and the second layer has also derived. Only then is it possible to possess world power. Based on this filtering, if there are a hundred thousand immortal, demon, celestial, Buddha, and spirit beings with sub-worlds in the entire immortal realm, perhaps less than one-tenth of them have activated world power."
"Hehe." Zhou Hong was thrilled. This meant that lower-level demon cultivators, even if they had sub-worlds, would most likely not possess world power. Therefore, Zhou Hong would crush those of the same level.
"Grandfather, the most important thing for me now is the quota for demon cultivation. Without a quota, what's the use of having world power? I wouldn't even dare to reveal it." Zhou Hong suddenly sighed.
"Yes, if you reveal it now, and possess world power, anyone with some knowledge would guess that you have a sub-world. Then, they would directly kill you and seize your sub-world. So, this thing is also a life-threatening item."
"If I were killed and someone stole my sub-world, would they instantly gain world power?"
"How is that possible? After someone seizes it, everything in your sub-world reverts to its initial state. All beings living in your sub-world are reset to zero, as if the world had just begun anew, with all beings being gestated again."
Zhou Hong nodded.
Just then, Hei Xiao Lu's voice came from outside the door, "Xiao Cui, you've broken through to a first-grade demon, haven't you?"
Zhou Hong was slightly startled to hear his young lady's voice. He wondered if one of the maids had informed her, or if she had sensed it herself.
Zhou Hong quickly opened the door and went out.
"Thank you, young lady, for granting me the opportunity. Without your first-grade demon quota, I wouldn't have been able to break through to become a demon." Zhou Hong bowed slightly.
"Hehe, you don't need to thank me. Although I gave you the quota, it ultimately depends on your own talent. Without talent, even more quotas are useless."
"In any case, young lady, you are my benefactor. I wonder if you are free tonight."
"What is it?" Hei Xiao Lu asked with confusion.
"I wish to give you a massage to show my gratitude."
"Hehe." Hei Xiao Lu chuckled awkwardly for some reason. Thinking back, the scene of Zhou Hong giving her a massage last time was indeed very sensual and tantalizing. Yet, for some reason, this kind of massage seemed to possess an irresistible magic. In fact, Hei Xiao Lu had long wanted to have Xiao Cui give her another massage.
"Then, thank you."
"You're too kind, young lady."
"Then let's go, to my room to eat. You are now a first-grade demon, after all. You can't eat and sleep with these low-class maids anymore. I'll arrange separate living quarters for you."
"Ah, does this still count as being a maid?" Zhou Hong was deeply touched. This young lady was indeed quite good.
"If you wish, you don't have to be a maid anymore and can be my sister."
"Thank you, young lady." Zhou Hong felt a struggle within him. Should he just come clean with Hei Xiao Lu? Tell her he was a man?
But Zhou Hong immediately dismissed the thought. If Hei Xiao Lu found out, the consequences would be unimaginable. It was better to continue pretending to be the maid Xiao Cui for now.