Following Hong's instructions, Rowan and his team quickly regrouped with the Three Axes Mountain faction.
Upon arriving, they were greeted by Reita, who had mobilized a total of seventy-one ships. Among them were three Domain Lords and even a Realm Master. This made the Three Axes Mountain faction extremely formidable, deterring other powers from making any rash moves.
Rowan and his companions, however, stood out even more. Their exploits within the Inter-Realm had already made them famous, drawing the attention of countless factions. Detailed investigations into Rowan's background revealed the existence of Earth, a place that, until now, had seemed insignificant.
Soon, the reports of their insane battle records in the Killing Grounds reached everyone. The reactions were unanimous.
"What kind of place is this Earth? A primitive planet producing four geniuses, two of whom have even mastered domains at the planetary level. Are they monsters?"
"Unbelievable! Such a humble planet, yet in such a short time, it has birthed so many geniuses. This is extraordinary!"
After thorough investigation, all factions realized Earth was no ordinary place. Their interest peaked.
At this moment, Baihulu realized that Earth's original star coordinates had been erased by a top-tier powerhouse thousands of years ago. The last survivor, a newly ascended Cosmic-level expert whom Rowan had spared, immediately spread false rumors.
According to these rumors, Rowan's Earth team had inherited a legacy from an immortal-level master. This explained how each of them possessed a domain at planetary and star levels. Moreover, each carried the rare Magun Vine, signaling that Earth was home to top-tier treasures.
Once this news combined with Rowan's audacious maneuvers in the Inter-Realm, everyone believed it. Numerous Realm Masters, previously restrained, now felt a surge of greed.
Outside the Three Axes Mountain faction, rival forces began to surround their ships.
"Hand over the Earth team!"
On Canglan Star, the forces of the Prison Division had already gathered. There were 1,681 members in total, with eighty-one Realm Masters among them. Domain Lords and Realm Masters encircled the Three Axes Mountain fleet, extending a blockade over more than a thousand kilometers of star territory, reinforced by Realm Master-level powers.
Canglan Star was bathed in dazzling multicolored light, a terrifying mixture of ice, fire, rays, land, time, space, and various laws converging into a formidable seal. Even ninth-tier Stellar-level warriors felt minuscule, like grains of sand, before such overwhelming might.
Every Stellar-level expert, even Cosmic-level, bowed in fear. Trembling, they felt helpless.
Hong, Reita, Rowan, and Rowen sensed the nearly suffocating power, their brows tightening. Even their souls trembled at the invisible pressure.
Nearby, Aogu and Tienanhe knelt on the ground, shivering uncontrollably. Without soul modifications, they were defenseless against such pressure.
"Old Three, Old Four… this is bad!" Hong muttered. Even he, who had endured countless disasters, felt helpless.
Facing this terrifying pressure, surrounded by Domain Lords and Realm Masters, despair threatened to overwhelm them.
Rowan, however, clasped their shoulders, urging them not to kneel in fear.
"Relax! We've survived the deadliest trials on Earth. Are we going to back down now?"
His calm defiance ignited hope. Hong and Reita's spirits surged.
"Ha! He's right. We survived the Nirvana Trial. This is nothing!" Reita bellowed, unleashing thunder in a burst of energy. His triple-domain activated, and he gripped his war blade, the aura of the blade extending into the heavens.
Hong's eyes sharpened as his fourth domain erupted, shrouding him in darkness, a horrifying crimson aura spreading outward. His experience in the Inter-Realm Killing Grounds had honed him, allowing his assassin instincts to merge with his domain, generating an aura of death that filled the skies.
Rowen's golden-horned beast glimmered, radiating killing intent as he ascended. His Heavenly Blade fractured, forming a blade domain in midair.
Rowan laughed, violet flames bursting from his eyes and body, igniting a six-tiered domain. Flames enveloped the heavens, forming flying fiery blades he had unlocked the foundation of the Fire Law!
The four warriors roared in unison, each radiating relentless, boundless killing intent.
"Come! Realm Masters, if you want Earth, forget it!" Reita roared. His thunderous charge could not truly shake the Realm Masters' might, but his sheer presence commanded respect.
Stellar-level warriors with triple domains and mastery over blade intent were human geniuses. Others had fourth domains and psychic amplification exceeding their peers. Rowan even possessed a six-tier domain, with Fire Law already initiated. Each of them was a prodigy.
The Realm Masters quickly realized Earth must hold great treasures. A primitive planet could not have produced so many top-tier geniuses otherwise. Greed flashed in their eyes.
Among the Three Axes Mountain ranks, another Realm Master named Carney wielded dual blades and controlled the Wind Domain, bordering the Law Clan threshold. Suddenly, the power of worlds clashed countless world forces colliding, creating a cataclysmic shock.
"You vermin! Earth is under our protection. Rowan is the Lord of Earth. Anyone daring to covet it is our enemy!" Carney bellowed. Ranked fifteenth among the Black Dragon Empire Realm Masters, he was stronger than many others present.
Yet, as a lone Realm Master, he was limited. His intentions were not purely altruistic; he desired the treasures on Earth as well. Alliances were always guided by self-interest.
Rowan assessed Carney at a glance, reading his intentions clearly, but said nothing.
"Ha! Carney, shameless. You want to monopolize Earth's treasures. We Three Axes Mountain only respect the Time Realm Master. You cannot protect these people," Baihulu retorted. His terrifying Rabbit World power compressed Carney's energy, causing him to sweat in fear and grind his teeth.
At this moment, a Realm Master from Northern Dragon City jumped in, unleashing his own world power, further overwhelming Carney.
General Jiang Tianchen appeared beside Rowan and Carney, slamming down the force of the Thunder Law. Ranked second among Black Dragon Mountain Realm Masters, he effortlessly pushed back the two other Realm Masters' forces.
"General Jiang!" Carney was pleased, but Jiang Tianchen remained solemn. Even he, powerful as he was, felt helpless against the vast army surrounding them.
"You Three Axes Mountain dare to monopolize Earth? We are all Black Dragon Empire factions. There's no need to fight over a minor planet. Hand over the treasures, and we will divide them fairly," a ninth-tier Realm Master from Northern Dragon City commanded. His body exuded bone-chilling ice energy, and others nodded in agreement.
Jiang Tianchen did not respond.
Another figure intervened. "Earth belongs to the Imperial Martial Corps and Three Axes Mountain. Anyone attempting to claim it is our enemy."
Hargrove appeared, radiating a cold aura, standing beside Jiang Tianchen and issuing a clear order.
"You?" Jiang Tianchen frowned, surprised by Hargrove's intervention.
Hargrove, ranked third among Black Dragon Mountain Realm Masters, was slightly weaker than Jiang Tianchen, but their true combat strength in unrestricted battle was uncertain.
"Do not worry. My granddaughter, Brolin, is already bound by fate to that Earth boy," Hargrove said, glaring at Rowan with firm but non-hostile eyes.
Rowan smiled back, and Brolin leapt from a nearby ship, throwing herself into Rowan's arms.
"Why are you here? It's so chaotic!" she exclaimed. Rowan smiled wryly, knowing Brolin would have brought her grandfather along. He had not expected Hargrove to remain calm, aware that Brolin had been mentally subjugated. Any other royal family would have sought Rowan's execution, but he had prepared for such contingencies.
Baihulu, Northern Dragon City, and the Black Cloud Society were stunned. Within the Inter-Realm, Rowan and Brolin had been enemies-turned-lovers, yet now, publicly, they embraced. How could this be?
"Everyone, leave immediately! Any harm to Earth, even a blade of grass, and the Black Dragon Empire Royal Family will declare war!" Brolin shouted.
Though not yet emperor, she held the right to contend for the throne and commanded significant military forces. The Black Dragon Empire's Realm Masters could not oppose her.
Some Domain Lords realized this matter did not concern them and retreated quietly. The other factions, however, hesitated. Brolin was not yet immortal; reaching the throne would require ascending to Immortal-level. The competition among the ten princes of the Black Dragon Empire was fierce, leaving the outcome uncertain.
"Act quickly! Do you want war?" Brolin demanded, sensing her authority was being challenged. She drew her blade, but Rowan pressed his hand against hers, stopping her from acting rashly.