Upon hearing this, Rowan immediately thought of the divine realms nurtured by immortal beings.
These divine realms could house humans, yet even there, the highest attainment for a human cultivator was only at the Realm Lord level. After all, no life nurtured by an immortal could surpass the power of its progenitor.
Rowan also fully understood the capabilities of the Beast Control Ring and had already made his decision.
He returned to the Mingyue Residential District, instructing the Azure Dragon to remain outside for the time being, maintaining its Sovereign Domain. Sustaining the Sovereign Domain for extended periods consumed enormous energy, but this also served as a form of training. Once its energy reserves were replenished, the dragon could maintain it for even longer durations.
It was a method similar to how humans train their endurance: exhausting one's potential to force growth and improvement.
Rowan stood alone in his apartment in Mingyue District, facing the ethereal projection of the virtual marketplace. His surroundings shimmered with prismatic, dancing lights, projections of advanced technology and rare treasures from across the universe, each radiating a unique allure that captured attention effortlessly.
The marketplace buzzed with information alerts as countless items hovered in front of him. Rowan's gaze fixed unwaveringly on a small but distinctive object at the center of the projections a Beast Control Ring, gleaming with silver light.
"Beast Control Ring, five billion Black Dragon Coins," he murmured under his breath.
Even with his astronomical fortune roughly nineteen trillion Universal Coins this modest sum was negligible. Without hesitation, he confirmed the purchase with a simple tap on the virtual interface.
Three days later, a delivery spacecraft from the Virtual Universe Corporation arrived on Earth, piloted by a Stellar Rank Nine operative. Rowan retrieved the package and returned to his apartment, opening a box crafted from special alloys. Inside lay a wrist-worn ring, sleek and metallic, silver-black in color.
The ring felt cool to the touch, its surface etched with intricate runes that seemed almost alive, faintly glowing with a silver light. Rowan ran his fingers along the runes, absorbing their subtle energy before sliding the ring onto his wrist. It fit snugly, with no discomfort perfectly designed for use.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky ignited with a brilliant orange-red, painting the world in a magnificent display. Rowan, now equipped with the Beast Control Ring, hurried toward the outskirts of Jiangnan Base.
There, the Azure Dragon lay across the land like a colossal green mountain. Its enormous scales shimmered in the sunset, casting mesmerizing reflections of countless colors. At that moment, the dragon truly resembled the legendary guardian beasts, standing vigilant over the city.
The soldiers nearby chatted leisurely, at ease under the dragon's protection. Since the Azure Dragon had arrived, Jiangnan Base had been virtually impervious to threat. Even within a five-hundred-kilometer radius, not a single wild monster dared appear. The dragon's sheer presence radiated a terrifying aura, sending all potential threats fleeing.
"Azure, are you ready to embark on a new adventure with me?" Rowan called softly, hovering over the dragon's massive head.
The Azure Dragon, as if hearing the call to arms, lifted its colossal head and let out a deafening roar.
"Master, we can finally go?" the dragon asked eagerly, anticipation shining in its eyes. It had longed to explore the vast universe beyond Earth.
"Yes, but first, you need to enter this Beast Control Ring. Inside, there's a ten-kilometer world where you can stay for a while," Rowan instructed, holding the ring as he approached the dragon.
In an instant, the runes on the ring flared brilliantly. A powerful, mysterious gravitational force surged outward, as though attempting to pull everything nearby into its core.
The Azure Dragon trembled slightly, sensing the strange energy. Yet it fully trusted Rowan and allowed the force to envelop it without resistance.
As the light blazed, a remarkable transformation occurred. The dragon's five-kilometer-long body gradually shrank before the eyes of onlookers. Its form twisted and contracted as if pulled into a temporal vortex, with light around it warping like an invisible hand tugging at reality itself.
Finally, to the astonishment of all, the Azure Dragon was absorbed entirely into the ring. Rowan carefully fastened it onto his wrist, feeling the dragon's emotions radiate outward excitement, anticipation, and a trace of nervousness.
Within the ring, a ten-kilometer expanse of chaotic void awaited. Since the dragon had reached Stellar Rank, it could survive simply by absorbing universal energy. The immortal-level crafting of the ring ensured a rich supply of cosmic energy, making the dragon comfortable in its temporary home.
A subtle smile crossed Rowan's face. He then turned toward the nearby Black Dragon spacecraft. Boarding the vessel, the hatch closed behind him with a solid thud.
A gentle but forceful vibration coursed through the ship as the Black Dragon slowly lifted off, its rear engines unleashing brilliant blue plasma flames that sliced through the sky like a sharpened blade, propelling them toward Dragon Star at incredible speed.
In the vast expanse of space, the Black Dragon resembled a tiny meteor streaking across the cosmos. Rowan sat in the cockpit, gazing through the enormous viewport at the endless stars. This was his first journey beyond the known storyline, into uncharted realms.
The Dragon Star system was home to a small population of Beastmen, ruled by a powerful Realm Lord who maintained a companion monster of equal power. Together, they wielded a combined strength equivalent to five or six Realm Lords.
After twelve days of long, exhilarating travel, the Black Dragon arrived at Dragon Star. Through the viewport, Rowan saw a colossal planet cloaked in a multicolored energy shield, shimmering like a mystical cloak that radiated immense power.
Countless spacecraft and flying beasts swarmed around it, forming a scene of organized chaos. Some ships spanned ten kilometers, bristling with weapons and defenses, their metallic surfaces gleaming in the sunlight. Gigantic mechanical arms ferried cargo from vessel to vessel, accompanied by deep, resonant clanging.
Beasts of all forms labored alongside the machines. Some were majestic, winged creatures glimmering like molten metal, their wings stirring the air with subtle tremors. Others were massive, mountain-like creatures, shaking the air as they moved. Among them, a beast named the Sky Ripper stood out over a kilometer long, streamlined, armored in sharp, blue scales that glittered menacingly in sunlight. Its fiery red eyes burned with predatory intent, wings studded with mystical gemstones spanning over two thousand meters.
Rowan piloted the Black Dragon to a massive interstellar port. High-tech facilities surrounded them, robotic workers buzzing like a hive, while beasts transported cargo under the watchful eyes of their Beastmen companions. The city itself was immense, with streets wide enough for colossal monsters and vehicles. Towering structures, some crystalline, others living and organic, stretched kilometers into the sky.
Among these streets, planetary-rank and apprentice-rank beasts moved alongside their trainers. Some were calm and loyal, others aggressive, forcing civilians to keep a wary distance.
"Don't just stand there gawking!" Babbata teased, noticing the rare astonishment on Rowan's face. On Earth, Rowan had been unimpressed by advanced technology or cosmic knowledge, but the sight of the Beastmen and their colossal city left him genuinely awestruck.
Babbata began explaining the Beastmen. "Humans evolved in countless ways to increase their strength. Some became cybernetic, enhancing their bodies to compete with Realm Lords and Immortals. Others, like the Beastmen you see here, fused with monster DNA, inheriting monstrous physical traits and abilities. Their greatest strength comes when they train a monster companion to equal their own power, fighting together to multiply their effectiveness by one to three times."
Rowan listened, already familiar with human branches, but seeing the scale of the city and its inhabitants firsthand was a revelation. Massive, intelligent beasts roamed freely, a breathtaking spectacle.
"Babbata, what should we do next?" Rowan asked.
"Register as a Beastmaster first. Only as a Beastmaster can you participate in the activities here. If your goal is to train the Azure Dragon, becoming a Beastmaster is the logical first step," Babbata's voice echoed in Rowan's mind.
"Beastmaster?" Rowan repeated, intrigued. This was the first time he had heard of such a profession.