"Brother Rowan?"
The Ninth Princess's voice carried a hint of urgency, but Rowan merely smiled and shook his head.
His command was absolute.
The Ninth Princess dared not disobey. She obediently sealed her lips.
Hargreave cast a brief glance, saying nothing, and turned his attention toward the three factions. Seven Archlords stood before him, and a chill radiated from him, filling the air with icy authority.
"Seems like the three of you don't intend to stay in the Black Dragon Empire much longer."
Within the empire, Hargreave's status carried immense weight, and the situation before him was tricky.
The Archlords of the three factions quietly exchanged thoughts through mental communication.
"Hargreave's involvement complicates things!"
"The resources on Earth must be extraordinarily powerful. I suspect that the fallen Immortal on Earth was likely of Marquis rank. Otherwise, these natives could not possess such formidable innate talent. It must be the remnants of some powerful artifact that allowed them to retain such strong spiritual abilities."
"This is a massive opportunity. If we can seize the wealth of that Immortal, even something that merely enhances talent, it could increase our chances of breaking into Immortality."
The pursuit of Immortality was the ultimate aspiration for all Archlord-level beings. The temptation was irresistible.
"Patience! We could send spies to Earth, purchase slaves similar to Earthlings, and scout for any remaining treasures…"
The Archlords whispered their plans, momentarily forming a subtle alliance.
But before any action could be taken, an even more terrifying pressure descended upon them. In an instant, their world-shaping powers crumbled.
A colossal force pinned them to the ground.
Once floating imperiously through the cosmos, these Archlords now knelt helplessly, mirroring the behavior of the stellar-level warriors earlier.
"Immortal…"
Jiang Tianchen and Hargreave were struck with sudden shock. That overwhelming Immortal power was not directed at them, yet it sent tremors of fear deep into their bones.
The sheer magnitude of Immortal might could erase an Archlord with a mere thought. The aura radiating was far beyond ordinary Immortal-level power at least of Marquis rank, possibly even higher.
Could it be the Emperor of Black Dragon?
The legendary Black Dragon Emperor, whose appearance was as elusive as a dragon's tail in the clouds.
As their eyes fell upon the figure that suddenly materialized, many of them froze.
They had all encountered this figure before, during their initial forays into the Killing Arena.
"Lord Cangbo!"
Seeing Cangbo outside the Virtual Universe for the first time left these Archlords deeply shaken.
"Greetings, Lord Cangbo!"
Jiang Tianchen and Hargreave bowed hastily.
Cangbo's gaze swept over the crowd, sending invisible waves of mental force outward. Every person present felt as though this Immortal-level being could crush them with a casual thought.
"This Earth squad is an elite team trained by the Virtual Universe Corporation. Anyone who dares harbor ill intentions toward Earth will face consequences beyond explanation," Cangbo declared.
The Archlords of the three factions shuddered.
Damn it! They hadn't realized that this Earth squad was backed by the Virtual Corporation. Had they known, they wouldn't have dared interfere not for anything.
"Greetings, Lord Cangbo…"
Rowan smiled respectfully at Cangbo.
Hong, Thor, and Ro-Feng also bowed, though they were unsure of Cangbo's exact identity. Even so, the sheer force emanating from him confirmed his Immortal-level status.
Immortals… beings as godlike as this were near-divine.
"Rowan, this one is at least on the same level as your teacher, Hu Yanbo, maybe even stronger," Babata remarked, shaking Rowan's shoulder.
Babata was correct. To manage a branch of the Virtual Universe Corporation required an Immortal of at least Marquis rank. Military-rank Immortals wouldn't qualify.
"Very well, excellent," Cangbo said briefly to Rowan before stepping into the void, boarding his ship, and disappearing as abruptly as he had appeared, leaving an aura of unfathomable mystery.
Those few words were enough to assure Rowan Earth's safety was no longer a concern. Cangbo's intervention had effectively placed Earth under protection.
Hargreave and Jiang Tianchen glanced at Rowan's team, their minds swirling with thoughts and awe.
To manage a branch of the Virtual Universe Corporation personally was unprecedented proof of the Earth squad's importance.
The three factions, realizing the futility of their efforts, quietly withdrew, abandoning any hope of claiming Earth.
Left on the scene were only Jiang Tianchen, Canny, Hargreave, and their entourage.
"It seems my assistance isn't needed. You're an interesting team I'll be keeping an eye on you," Jiang Tianchen said, smiling at Rowan before departing.
"I want to speak with you alone," Hargreave declared, arms crossed, eyes fixed on Rowan.
Rowan nodded slightly. The Ninth Princess looked worried; her grandfather now knew about Rowan's subjugation of her, and she had risked everything to bring him here.
"Don't worry. If he wanted to harm me, he would have done so already," Rowan reassured her, gently patting her head before following Hargreave to his ship.
Hargreave took the captain's seat while Rowan sat directly opposite him, completely at ease.
"Do you know why I didn't delete your use of my granddaughter's soul subjugation?"
"Naturally, it's because of my talent. You want to place a bet on me to ensure I rank in the top thousand, or even top one hundred, in the upcoming Virtual Universe Corporation's Genius Tournament, helping Brolin ascend to the throne," Rowan said, perceiving Hargreave's intentions.
Hargreave, a member of the Black Dragon Empire's royal family, was second only to the Emperor. Despite his age, his mastery of Ice Law had only been partially recognized, leaving him far from true Immortality.
With less than fifty thousand years of life remaining, he would never reach Immortal status, placing his hopes entirely on Brolin, his granddaughter.
Brolin's talent was exceptional and obedient, making her the ideal candidate for succession. Hargreave's ambition was to guide her to become Emperor, solidifying the family's influence.
Yet Rowan's insight pierced Hargreave's intentions.
"You're too clever. Seems I made the right choice," Hargreave said with admiration.
"I have no interest in the throne of the Black Dragon Empire. But ensuring your granddaughter becomes Emperor that's my responsibility. I'll erase her soul marks. Whether she chooses to remain mine is her decision."
Rowan's words stunned Hargreave.
"You have no desire to be Emperor of the Black Dragon Empire?" Hargreave asked in disbelief. To hold the throne of the Black Dragon Empire was a coveted prize, envied by many.
Rowan laughed heartily. "The Black Dragon Empire is insignificant to me. Even if the ruler of the Qianwu Universe offered me the throne, I would refuse. My only goal is to grow stronger… to become the supreme existence!"
Rowan's ambition shone like a blazing sun, and Hargreave, peering at him, could only shake his head.
"You're arrogant. Your talent is undeniable, but with 1,081 universes, countless top geniuses will compete in the tournament. Ranking in the top thousand alone is nearly impossible, and recognition in the laws will be rare," Hargreave warned.
Rowan laughed and waved off the caution. "On Earth, we say: where there's a will, there's a way. The future isn't yours to dictate just watch!"
With that, he laughed thrice before leaving the ship, leaving Hargreave awestruck by the young man's indomitable ambition.
"To him, the Black Dragon Empire is worthless. Bold, but I like it," Hargreave mused with a faint smile.
…
Rowan returned to his team.
Ro-Feng and the others were exasperated as the Ninth Princess, normally defiant, obeyed Rowan absolutely. Yet with them, she showed no patience for casual conversation.
"You natives, daring to reach for my man! You'd better improve yourselves and not hold him back. The Magun Vines you carry, the precious Life Fruits given to two of you, all of it came from my man. Such treasures, second only to an Archlord's life, wasted on the likes of you. Shame on your weakness!"
Ro-Feng and the others were left speechless, unable to argue. After all, this was Rowan's woman, their sister-in-law, and her fiery temperament was unmatched.
"Quiet!"
Rowan stepped forward and roared. The Ninth Princess instantly fell silent, lowering her head like a scolded child.
"He's my elder brother and second brother. This is my fourth brother. We're family. Stop posturing. My woman must treat my family with respect. One more act of defiance, and I'll deal with you."
Rowan's voice brooked no argument. He reached out gently, dissolving the soul imprint deep within her mind.
"Mm?"
The Ninth Princess blinked as the soul mark vanished, her emotions clearing. She did not shout or protest. Instead, she looked at Rowan, bewildered.
"You… why did you remove my soul mark?"
Rowan cupped her chin, leaving no room for protest, and kissed her, pulling her tightly into his embrace.
The familiar, bone-deep intimacy from their previous day and night returned, flooding her senses.