World's Strongest Martial Warrior

He Yu's gaze was dark and intense as he locked eyes with Xu Bao. "There will be plenty of chances to settle our scores during the second stage of the Immortal Gathering. Starting a fight now isn't going to benefit either of us."    

"Haha... He Yu, enough talk. If you hadn't taken advantage of my ambush back then, you never would have beaten me. Today, I'm going to make you pay back tenfold for the humiliation I endured!"    

Bang!    

As Xu Bao spoke, he stomped on the ground, and a blood-red long blade, emanating a murderous aura, materialized in his right hand.    

He channeled the Celestial Immortal energy coursing through his veins into the saber, and a blood-red astral blade emerged. With a terrifying intent, the blade sliced through the air, aiming straight for He Yu.    

He Yu's face tensed, and he swiftly produced a jade flute. It glowed with a vibrant azure light as he deftly maneuvered it through the air.    

Buzz, buzz, buzz...    

A sonic boom reverberated around them. The sound waves solidified into a green cascade that sprang forth, clashing with Xu Bao's blade light.    

Bang!    

A thunderous explosion echoed as He Yu grunted, his body reeling back seven or eight steps.    

He fought to control the rampant energy within him and looked up at Xu Bao, who had barely taken half a step back before regaining his composure. He Yu's expression turned grave.    

Xu Bao truly deserved his reputation as the most formidable prodigy of the seventeenth branch hall. His strength was evidently superior.    

Taking a deep breath, He Yu's eyes sharpened.    

Both he and Xu Bao were first-grade Heaven Immortals, but Xu Bao had reached the pinnacle of that realm, while He Yu was still in the later stages.    

In terms of talent and foundation, Xu Bao, hailing from the seventeenth palace, was just as formidable.    

He Yu realized his only option was to engage Xu Bao with everything he had. At worst, he'd have to exit the secret realm prematurely.    

After all, their 18th branch palace had discovered an unparalleled talent like Peter Parker this time. Even if he were to be eliminated early, it wouldn't be too great a loss.    

With Peter Parker's presence, the eighteenth branch was poised to avoid last place this time. He Yu, emboldened by this thought, didn't hesitate. The Heaven Immortal power within him erupted in full force.    

A furious roar escaped him, and violent gales whipped up around his form. He Yu clutched the jade flute firmly in both hands and brought it to his lips. A piercing note rang out, sending violent sound waves rippling through the air.    

Sizzle sizzle...    

The air twisted and cracked wherever the sound waves touched. This was the Great Luo Immortal Art, known as Chaotic Devil Sound!    

Younger prodigies with lesser cultivation levels were visibly shaken by the flute's sound, feeling as if their heads might burst. They retreated in a panic.    

He Yu spared no effort against his formidable opponent, Xu Bao, unleashing his most powerful Immortal Art without reservation.    

"Wuwuwu..."    

The flute's wail grew louder, the sound waves rapidly coalescing into a vast net that blanketed the sky and bore down on Xu Bao.    

"Well done!" Xu Bao exclaimed, undaunted by He Yu's fierce assault. A shocking battle intent surged through his body.    

He shuddered, a potent saber intent radiating from him, meeting He Yu's chaotic demonic tones with an unyielding spirit. The saber intent was so intense it seemed on the verge of slicing through the Chaotic Demonic Sound.    

He Yu's face betrayed his concern; he reacted swiftly, intensifying the flute's melody.    

Boom!    

The space within a ten-thousand-foot radius trembled violently. The hurricane spawned by the sound waves converged on Xu Bao from all sides.    

Xu Bao's surroundings began to warp and collapse, forming a veritable storm cage that threatened to crush him slowly.    

Yet, Xu Bao remained stoic, his eyes gleaming with an unending sharpness as the temperature around him plummeted. Demonic, blood-red snowflakes began to fall around him, ghostly in their descent.    

Greater Luo Immortal Art, Blood Weeping Immortal Saber!    

Xu Bao unleashed his mightiest saber technique without holding back.    

Boom! Boom! Boom!    

His saber carved through the air, painting the sky blood-red with its light. It was as if the world itself had been cleaved in two, the sound waves and hurricanes extinguished in its wake. A fearsome, blood-colored astral blade bore down on He Yu, relentlessly collapsing the space around him.    

Crack!    

Out of nowhere, a saber qi sliced through the air, striking the jade flute in He Yu's grasp. A sharp sound echoed as a fracture swiftly spread across the instrument.    

Retreating, He Yu wielded the flute to fend off the crimson saber energy.    

Boom! Boom! Boom!    

He staggered back dozens of feet before he successfully countered the blood-hued blade qi.    

Looking up, he saw Xu Bao standing before him, his face draining of color.    

The elite prodigies from the eighteen branch palaces of the Nameless Immortal Palace were formidable opponents. Xu Bao, from the seventeenth branch, was no exception.    

Without Peter Parker's intervention, they would likely have been at the bottom of the rankings among the many sub-palaces of the Nameless Immortal Palace.    

"He Yu, you ambushed me that day, thwarting my plans. Today, I'll be the one to eject you from this secret realm," Xu Bao declared, not allowing He Yu a moment to recover. He brandished his blood-red blade and struck at He Yu again.    

He Yu's eyes narrowed at the sight of the incoming attack.    

In his weakened state, a direct hit from Xu Bao's saber could be devastating—if not fatal, it would certainly leave him severely injured.    

Moreover...    

Even if he managed to withstand Xu Bao's assault, his adversary was relentless. His only option seemed to be to activate the jade talisman and escape the secret realm.    

Taking a deep breath, He Yu was about to use the talisman when a sudden burst of sword light cleaved through the sky, effortlessly neutralizing Xu Bao's strike.    

The unexpected turn of events left He Yu momentarily stunned.    

Then, realization dawned on him, and a look of elation broke across his face.    

"Who dares?" Xu Bao, taken aback by the interruption of his attack, looked skyward and issued a chilling challenge.    

Just then, two silhouettes emerged, advancing across the sky from the distant horizon.    

"Brother Jiang Chen!" He Yu exclaimed, recognizing the figure aloft with a mix of relief and surprise.    

Clearly, Peter Parker's arrival at such a pivotal moment had taken him by surprise. Xu Bao glared at Peter with a lethal glare. "Kid, are you with the eighteenth palace too?"    

"Indeed, I am."    

Peter Parker stood confidently, hands clasped behind his back, and met Xu Bao's gaze with a serene expression. "If you're not looking to get kicked out of the secret realm right this instant, I suggest you step aside. Don't think you can push us around just because my eighteenth palace seems unguarded!"