"Then I'll trouble the Ghost Hand King!"

Chu Ming clasped his hands in a salute, his expression indifferent as he spoke. How could he not see through the Ghost Hand King's intentions? Currently, the North Sea was in turmoil, with demons rampaging. If the demons were to invade the Celestial Martial Continent from the North Sea, the first to bear the brunt would be Yuanjiu City. In Yuanjiu City, there was only the Ghost Hand King, a high-tier king. How could he possibly withstand the endless hordes of demons?

There were two reasons why Chu Ming was willing to stay. First, he had just broken through to the Life and Death Realm and had not yet had the chance to properly retreat and consolidate his foundation. Second, he was also a member of the human race. At this moment, when the human race was facing a life and death crisis, he naturally had to contribute his strength.

"Not a bother, not a bother!"

Upon hearing Chu Ming's response, the Ghost Hand King's face lit up with joy, immediately arranging for the best room in the City Lord's Mansion for Chu Ming to reside in.

After the Ghost Hand King left, Chu Ming sat cross-legged on the bed, quietly contemplating his gains this time in his mind.

Although his combat power could rival that of a top-tier king, he also had his weaknesses. His Secrets Martial Arts were considerably weaker. Typically, high-tier kings would cultivate several high-tier Secrets Martial Arts, while top-tier kings would at least master one top-tier Secrets Martial Art.

At present, the highest-grade martial arts Chu Ming possessed were the Heaven-Burying Sword and the Celestial Flying Blade, both of which were high-tier Secrets Martial Arts. He did not have a single top-tier Secrets Martial Art.

If he had mastered a top-tier Secrets Martial Art, the Demon King Su Qi would not have left so easily back then.

Top-tier Secrets Martial Arts were considered the pinnacle of martial arts on the Celestial Martial Continent. Generally, they were closely guarded secrets of the major sects and powers.

Of course, this would not daunt Chu Ming. After all, he had once fused with the soul of the Evil Celestial Emperor. The Evil Celestial Emperor, who once transformed into seventy-two forms, was a dominating presence of an era. Even the Demon Emperor was helpless against him. One can imagine just how powerful he was.

Within the soul of the Evil Celestial Emperor existed several types of top-tier Secrets Martial Arts, but only two were suitable for Chu Ming. They were the Blood Gang Explosion Flame Needle and the Hidden Dragon Blood Formation Technique.

The Blood Gang Explosion Flame Needle was a Sword Technique. As a top-tier Secrets Martial Art, its power was naturally seven to eight times stronger than the Heaven-Burying Sword. If mastered to the Transformation Realm, it could suppress top-tier kings in the late stage, though not necessarily kill them instantly.

As for the Hidden Dragon Blood Formation Technique, it was a Body Refining Technique consisting of five layers. Each layer cultivated would double the strength within the body. If cultivated to the utmost, it would be enough to move mountains and fill seas, cut down mountains and sink rivers.

After noting down the cultivation methods of these two Secrets Martial Arts, Chu Ming entered a state of closed-door training.

...

The sky above the Celestial Martial Continent, classified by height and density, was divided into four layers: from low to high, they were Tai Ji Heaven, Tai Yang Heaven, Chaos Heaven, and Extreme Thunder Heaven.

Tai Ji Heaven was relatively mild, with only a few winds of the void, posing a deadly threat to those in the Guiyuan Realm but virtually no danger to those in the Realm of Transcendence. However, Tai Yang Heaven was littered with Destruction Demon Thunder everywhere. Ordinary cultivators in the Realm of Transcendence had no chance of survival, almost instantly being struck to ashes by the Destruction Demon Thunder.

As for Chaos Heaven and Extreme Thunder Heaven, the danger was even more severe. Ordinary kings in the Life and Death Realm turned pale at the mere mention of them. Chaos Heaven was filled with much Chaos Earth Fire, and middle-tier kings would likely perish if they stayed there for even half a day.

In Extreme Thunder Heaven, there existed many Ice Extreme Feathers. Even top-tier kings could barely protect themselves. If they stayed for too long, it would still be torturous. Only those who had sealed emperors and proclaimed kings could move through it without fear. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

At this moment, in Extreme Thunder Heaven above Yuanjiu City, a red robed figure sat cross-legged, surrounded by floating blue star-like sparkles. Upon closer inspection, one would find these blue sparkles were actually fine blue feathers, only about the length of a thumb, yet they seemed to contain the power to annihilate everything.

These blue feathers were the Ice Extreme Feathers. They were a potent supplement for body refining experts, helping to replenish qi and blood, and activate the body's potential. However, it was rare for any king in the Life and Death Realm to dare come to Extreme Thunder Heaven to capture Ice Extreme Feathers.

Chu Ming's purpose in coming to Extreme Thunder Heaven to capture Ice Extreme Feathers was precisely due to the need for cultivating the Hidden Dragon Blood Formation Technique. To master this technique, one needed to refine large quantities of body refining substances to fully activate the flesh and blood particles in the body, and Ice Extreme Feathers perfectly met this requirement.

Time slowly passed. In the blink of an eye, Chu Ming had been in Extreme Thunder Heaven for half a month. During this period, he had captured twenty-three Ice Extreme Feathers. The flesh and blood particles in his body had been activated by sixty percent. Just as Chu Ming was about to continue capturing more Ice Extreme Feathers, his communication device suddenly sounded.

"Huh? It's the Ghost Hand King. Could it be that something has happened in Yuanjiu City?"

Chu Ming's heart skipped a beat. If it wasn't a matter of life and death for Yuanjiu City, the Ghost Hand King would never disturb him.

"Ghost Hand King, what's the matter?"

Connecting the communication device, Chu Ming asked indifferently.

"Blood Sword King, something terrible has happened. Four high-tier Demon Kings are attacking Yuanjiu City, and I'm barely holding them off!"

The Ghost Hand King's words were urgent, with the background filled with the sounds of intense fighting, indicating he was in the midst of a fierce battle.

Hanging up the communication device, Chu Ming flew towards Yuanjiu City. Over this period, his cultivation realm had stabilized considerably, and he had also cultivated the top-tier Secrets Martial Art Blood Gang Explosion Flame Needle to the Minor Success Realm. His flesh and blood particles were activated by sixty percent, doubling his combat power compared to half a month ago.

...

"Ghost Hand King, your reliance is this array. Watch us destroy it and massacre everyone in Yuanjiu City!"

A sinister-looking red-haired Demon King sneered. This red-haired Demon King was not tall and held a blood-colored war axe in his right hand. Along the axe blade, there were two grooves of varying depths on both sides. As the axe swung down, terrifying red beams erupted from the axe blade, tearing apart the void. The entire Yuanjiu City trembled under the red beams.

If not for the high-tier sixth-level array on the outskirts of Yuanjiu City, the city would have been breached long ago. Even so, in less than half an hour, Yuanjiu City would fall. At that time, aside from the Ghost Hand King, no human martial artist in Yuanjiu City would survive under the assault of the four high-tier Demon Kings.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The other three Demon Kings were equally formidable. One, similar in appearance to the red-haired Demon King, wielded a war axe, but his long hair was a deep blue color.

The remaining two Demon Kings were more mysterious. One was shrouded in a layer of hazy black mist, obscuring its appearance. However, when it attacked, it could melt gold and incinerate seas, with the void itself dissolving in the black mist.