World's Strongest Martial Warrior

"Ding! You have absorbed the energy of a first-grade Heaven Immortal Crystal. You've gained 500,000 Immortal Essence!"    

The power within a Heaven Immortal Crystal was incomparable to that of a True Immortal Crystal. Even a Grade One Heavenly Immortal Crystal infused Peter with five times more immortal essence than a Grade Nine True Immortal Crystal.    

As a result, the accumulation of immortal essence in Peter's body during this cultivation session was nothing short of astounding. In just one month, he had progressed from the early Sixth Stage True Immortal realm to the mid Sixth Stage. Five months later, having absorbed the energy of a First Stage Immortal Crystal, he found himself at the peak of the Sixth Stage True Immortal realm, on the cusp of the Seventh Stage. Meanwhile, only half a month had elapsed in the outside world.    

While Peter was deeply engrossed in his cultivation, Lu He lurked discreetly a thousand feet from Peter's cave. Beside him stood a disciple of the Lu Family, an Eighth Stage True Immortal named Lu Fang—the last prodigy of the Lu Family, Lu Hongyu.    

"Lu He, you've tasked me with killing Peter Parker, yet now we're just waiting. How much longer?" Lu Fang asked, his impatience evident.    

"We're waiting for Lu Hongyu," Lu He replied calmly. "The two of us alone can't take down Peter Parker."    

"Don't try to rally others at the expense of our family's honor," Lu Fang retorted with a cold snort. "He's merely a Sixth Stage True Immortal. What does it matter if he can defeat a Ninth Stage? I've slain a ninth-grade True Immortal before!"    

"A mere Sixth Stage True Immortal?" Lu He scoffed coldly. "That guy can take down a ninth-grade True Immortal Earthen Giant with ease. If you're looking to meet your maker, go ahead. Don't expect me to stop you!"    

Lu Fang's face paled upon hearing this. He was acutely aware of the formidable nature of a ninth-grade True Immortal Earth Giant. Even with his own cultivation at the eighth-grade True Immortal level, advancing to the ninth-grade wouldn't guarantee victory against an Earthen Giant, famed for their invincibility among peers.    

Yet, Peter Parker, a mere sixth-grade True Immortal, had effortlessly slain one. How could that be? Lu Fang was utterly dumbfounded and dared not act hastily.    

Despite the implausibility, Lu Fang trusted that Lu He wouldn't deceive him about such a serious matter.    

As they waited, five days flew by. Then, an overwhelming presence burst forth from the horizon, descending before Lu He and his companion.    

"Brother Hong Yu, you've made it," Lu He greeted the newcomer with a relieved smile.    

"Where's Peter Parker?" Lu Hongyu inquired, his tone detached.    

"In the cave ahead, deep in meditation," Lu He replied gravely, gesturing towards the cavern. "Brother Hongyu, should we notify Young Master Wan for assistance?"    

Lu He had reservations about Lu Hongyu's ability to confront Peter Parker after witnessing the latter's defeat of the Earth Giant. They would be safer enlisting Young Master Wan's aid. With him, Peter Parker's end seemed inevitable.    

Lu Hongyu's pride bristled at the suggestion. "He's just a sixth-grade True Immortal from a lower realm. If the Lu Family needs outside help to handle him, how can we ever hold our heads high in Heavenly Water Immortal City?" He snorted dismissively. "Stay here. I'll take care of that upstart myself."    

Before he could finish his sentence, Lu Hongyu's silhouette flashed, materializing outside the cave where Peter Parker was in deep meditation.    

With a sudden clench of his fist, boundless Immortal Yuan transformed into a shadowy fist that shook the heavens and hurtled toward the cave.    

Bang!    

His punch collided with a water-blue barrier encircling the cave, only to be completely repelled.    

"Huh? A simple barrier thinks it can stop me? Shatter!" Lu Hongyu bellowed, his body's Immortal Yuan surging tumultuously.    

Clang!    

The air vibrated, resonating with the sound of swords.    

With his fingers shaped like a blade, Lu Hongyu summoned a sharp, silver radiance between them. It streaked through the air like a sword in flight, slashing at the cave's protective barrier.    

Xuantian Sword Finger!    

This renowned immortal technique of the Lu Family could conjure a sword from a single finger, powerful enough to slice through the cosmos.    

Armed with this technique, Lu Hongyu was a force to be reckoned with, unmatched by most in the Heavenly Water Immortal City.    

Boom!    

The Xuantian Sword Finger struck the barrier, unleashing a terrifying wave of energy.    

Despite Luo Qing'er's potent magic treasure, her cultivation was only at the Fourth Stage True Immortal level. While her barrier could withstand the assaults of ordinary Ninth Stage True Immortals, Lu Hongyu was far from ordinary. A prodigy, he could battle adversaries three levels above his own.    

Thus, under the onslaught of Lu Hongyu's Xuantian Sword Finger, the barrier stood no chance.    

In an instant, it shattered.    

Inside the cave, Luo Qing'er, who had been manipulating the magic treasure, shuddered violently, a mouthful of blood escaping her lips.    

"Peter Parker, Lu Hongyu of the Lu Family has come to slay you. Emerge and meet your fate!" Lu Hongyu's voice, cold and detached, echoed from outside the cave.    

"Lu Hongyu of the Lu Family? How did he find this place?" Luo Qing'er's face paled. Gazing at the enigmatic pagoda hovering nearby, she gritted her teeth and crushed the jade token Peter Parker had entrusted to her.    

...    

In the Tower of Time.    

The very moment Luo Qing'er shattered the jade token, Peter Parker's eyes snapped open, his body still pulsing with the energy of the Heaven Immortal Crystals he had been absorbing.    

Over a month had elapsed within the Tower of Time, while only five days passed in the outside world. Peter Parker's cultivation base had seamlessly progressed from the peak of the Sixth Stage True Immortal to the Seventh Stage True Immortal.    

Initially, Peter Parker intended to harness the residual energy from the second Heaven Immortal crystal before concluding his retreat. However, shortly after his breakthrough to the Seventh Stage True Immortal realm, Luo Qing'er unexpectedly shattered the jade token.    

Luo Qing'er, though not particularly formidable, was equipped with an exceptionally potent defensive immortal treasure, capable of withstanding assaults from average Ninth Stage True Immortals. She was virtually invulnerable to common threats.    

The fact that Luo Qing'er had resorted to crushing the jade token indicated that she must have faced a threat beyond the prowess of typical Ninth Stage True Immortals.    

With this realization, Peter Parker vanished from the Tower of Time in a blink and materialized before Luo Qing'er, ready to confront whatever peril she faced.