World's Strongest Martial Warrior

However, this peaceful stretch was short-lived.    

Venturing deeper, they eventually crossed paths with the demons of Heavenly Demon Mountain. Initially, these demons were relatively weak, with only a few having been bested by the formidable Great Luo Demon Sovereign.    

For Peter Parker and his companions, such devil sovereigns posed no real threat.    

Peter Parker lingered silently at the rear of the group, his eyes keenly observing every detail around him while his mind buzzed with questions.    

Previously, the Purple Flame Emperor Palace had amassed a formidable coalition of Immortal King forces within the Purple Flame Heaven Domain, yet they had failed to make a dent in the defenses of Heavenly Devil Mountain. This was a testament to the mountain's formidable strength.    

Furthermore, the Heavenly Devil Mountain was shrouded in a mysterious power that could have barred all from the immortal realm from entry. Yet, it did not. Instead, it permitted these immortals to penetrate its domain and hunt the devils that the mountain itself had slain.    

The behavior of Heavenly Devil Mountain was, to say the least, puzzling.    

"This Heavenly Devil Mountain must be derived from an Emperor Treasure. It doesn't completely restrict access to those from the Immortal World; it simply forbids supreme beings beyond the Immortal King Realm from entering," Peter mused.    

"The strategies employed by the devils of Heavenly Devil Mountain are indeed remarkable."    

"If my assumptions are correct, they've allowed those beneath the Immortal King Realm to enter Heavenly Devil Mountain without the mountain's experts intervening. They've let the mountain's demons engage in combat with the immortals. It's quite a cunning scheme."    

At that moment, the voice of the Immortal Monument Spirit echoed in Peter Parker's mind.    

Peter was taken aback. "Senior, do you understand the motives behind Heavenly Devil Mountain's actions?"    

"I may not know precisely what Heavenly Devil Mountain is scheming, but I can hazard a guess at their intentions."    

"It appears to be a method of blood sacrifice. They seem intent on using this slaughter to conduct a blood sacrifice ritual, aiming to fulfill a specific objective."    

"Whatever their ultimate purpose for this blood sacrifice may be, it's undoubtedly ominous for the Immortal World."    

The Immortal Stele Spirit spoke in measured tones. Peter Parker involuntarily gasped at the revelation. The practices of Heavenly Devil Mountain were shockingly brutal, sparing not even their own kin in their quest for a blood sacrifice.    

Peter shook his head, dismissing the thought. The motives of Heavenly Devil Mountain were beyond his influence. His priority was to explore all the palaces within the Northern Chill Immortal King's domain, acquire the essence of the Heavenly Emperor, and amplify his own power.    

"Kill them for me!" A sudden bellow jolted Peter from his thoughts.    

Looking up, he saw a horde of figures exuding a monstrous devilish energy, surging toward them like a tempestuous black tide. Peter's gaze sharpened as he discerned a contingent of over a hundred devil cavalrymen, each astride a colossal black beast reminiscent of a hellhound, radiating an intense ferocity.    

This marked the first encounter with such a vast assembly of devils since their arrival at Heavenly Devil Mountain. The devil cavalry was formidable; their leader, clad in black armor, was a Great Luo Demon Sovereign.    

The ranks behind him, though numbering over a hundred, included none weaker than a Golden Immortal. Among them, five were half-step Great Luo experts.    

"People of the Immortal World have the audacity to trespass on Heavenly Devil Mountain and wreak havoc. To hell with you!" The black-armored devil general spurred his hellish mount forward, brandishing a black devil saber to strike at Peter and his companions.    

The general's physique was formidable, his prowess in close combat surpassing that of a typical Great Luo Immortal Venerable. With a single slash of his blade, he sent Hao Guang and another Great Luo Immortal Venerable reeling.    

Behind the Black Armored Devil General, the devil soldiers formed an imposing battle array and advanced. Lacking the strength of a Great Luo Immortal, they nonetheless held the upper hand on their home turf of Sky Devil Mountain. The sheer force of their formation was extraordinary, catching the Great Luo Immortal Venerables off guard and compelling them to fall back.    

However, the Hao Family's recruited group proved to be resilient. After a momentary shock, they quickly regrouped and collectively defeated the Black-armored Demon General, swiftly overcoming the Demon Lord's hundred-strong army.    

"Young Master Hao, with the Devil Sovereign's forces making an appearance today, we've ventured deep into Devil Mountain. How much further to our destination?" inquired a middle-aged man, an early-stage Great Luo, his complexion ashen.    

The harsh conditions of Devil Mountain were taxing for those from the Immortal World. The journey had drained them, and the recent battle only compounded their exhaustion. For these individuals, still at the early stages of the Golden Immortal Realm, the strain was becoming unbearable.    

"Yeah, if Young Master Hao can't provide a clear answer, please understand if we can no longer accompany you," others chimed in, their intent to withdraw clear.    

Hao Ning offered a reassuring smile. "Everyone, please don't worry. Our destination is less than a thousand miles from here."    

Upon hearing this, the group breathed a collective sigh of relief. Even the few early-stage Zenith Heavens gritted their teeth and quickly consumed medicinal pills to replenish their strength.    

After all, the reward Hao Ning promised was exceptionally generous. With less than a thousand miles to go, there was no reason to abandon their quest now.    

After a brief respite, the group pressed on.    

Before long, they had covered several hundred miles. As they neared their goal, a thunderous horn blast echoed ahead.    

Suddenly, demon soldiers swarmed from all directions, encircling Peter Parker and his companions.    

Peter Parker surveyed the scene, noting at least a thousand devil soldiers split into ten square formations, each commanded by a Great Luo Devil General.    

"Damn, we're trapped by the devil army," cursed Hao Guang, the pathfinder, his anger flaring.    

The others' faces turned grim. The earlier skirmish with a mere hundred Demonic Soldiers had been challenging enough. Now, facing a force more than ten times that size, they were up against a far greater threat.    

Even a Great Luo Immortal Venerable could risk death with a moment's carelessness.    

"The devils of Heavenly Devil Mountain aren't fools," observed Peter Parker, positioned at the rear of the group, as he narrowed his eyes at the encircling devil soldiers.    

The clash with the hundred-strong devil army had caused quite a stir. It was certain that the nearby devils had taken note of it long before.    

Yet, they refrained from attacking hastily. It was evident that they were biding their time, waiting for reinforcements. Once they had amassed enough power, they launched a decisive assault. Their intention was clear: to encircle and annihilate the group right there.