It had to be understood that most cosmic beasts possessed rather average combat capability.
Let alone comprehending domains, even mastering human combat techniques was extraordinarily difficult for them.
Under normal circumstances, a cosmic beast capable of learning battle techniques was already considered an elite among its kind. Such creatures invariably possessed high-tier bloodlines and exceptional intelligence. Only beings like Starry Sky Behemoths or certain top-grade cosmic species could truly achieve this level.
More than eighty percent of cosmic beasts never learned combat techniques at all. Only upon reaching the World Lord level, when their life form underwent a qualitative transformation and their soul fundamentally evolved, would they naturally awaken a domain.
Even then, comprehending a domain required grasping laws, an arduous and time-consuming process.
That was why a cosmic beast capable of wielding a domain at the Universe level was extraordinarily rare, ranking among the most precious species even across the entirety of humanity's known records.
More importantly, such a beast clearly possessed the potential to one day advance into an Immortal-level existence.
Most cosmic beasts would struggle their entire lives without ever reaching the World Lord realm.
Immortality was nearly unheard of.
Such creatures were priceless.
At this moment, Hawk's gaze burned with undisguised greed.
A domain-wielding cosmic beast, once sold on the interstellar market, would fetch no less than ten Hunyuan Units.
"Everyone, focus on capturing this beast. Do not kill it!"
Hawk barked the command sharply.
His subordinates immediately understood his intent. One of his lieutenants leaned in and whispered, "Boss, capture the leader first. If we kill the man inside the ship, the beast's control chip will fail. We can then extract it, install a new chip, and the beast will belong to us."
That was precisely Hawk's plan.
"You lot, surround and kill him. Move fast. Do not let him escape!"
As soon as Hawk finished speaking, he pulled out a bizarre spear-like weapon. The spearhead twisted outward like a burst of coiled steel needles, its shape grotesque and menacing.
With a roar, Hawk lunged straight toward the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon.
His intention was clear. Cripple the beast, strip it of resistance, and capture it alive.
Behind him, the massive Devourer beast gathered energy at the particle cannon mounted atop its head.
In an instant, a blazing beam of destructive energy fired directly toward the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon.
Sensing the terrifying power within the incoming beam, the Azure Dragon immediately responded. With a surge of telekinetic force, it commanded its colossal battle axe.
In a flash, the axe split into one thousand and eighty identical blades.
They arranged themselves in perfect formation, assembling into a massive shield nearly five kilometers wide.
Under the reinforcement of psychic power, the shield absorbed the beam head-on. The searing light slammed against it, causing the entire construct to tremble violently, yet it held.
"Psychic power! Hahaha, I love you even more now!"
Hawk's eyes gleamed with delight. The stronger the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon proved itself to be, the more excited he became.
He thrust his spear forward.
The twisted spearhead burst apart instantly, releasing tens of millions of microscopic steel needles.
Each needle spun violently like a drill, carrying terrifying penetrating force as they shot toward the Azure Dragon's scales.
The Eastern Sea Azure Dragon beat its wings and vanished in a burst of speed, narrowly evading the devastating barrage.
Man and beast clashed violently.
The Azure Dragon roared again and again, surging forward with unrestrained battle intent, meeting Hawk head-on.
Meanwhile, inside the ship.
Rowan watched the incoming attackers with complete indifference.
"Babata, how did they even manage to mount so many advanced weapons onto a single beast?"
"Those are C1-grade laser cannons. Sixteen of them. And a particle cannon as well. That weapon alone is designed to threaten Universe-level third-tier opponents."
Rowan felt no interest in the Stellar-level enemies, but the weaponized beast itself intrigued him deeply.
That creature had been transformed into a mobile cosmic fortress, bristling with energy-based weaponry. Such a configuration was exceedingly rare.
Babata explained calmly, "Cosmic beasts do not rely solely on their natural strengths. The technological development of the universe far exceeds anything Earth can imagine. Simply put, Earth is a primitive world."
"The training of beasts has spanned countless eras. At first, they fought using only their bodies. Later, technology allowed weapons to be mounted directly onto them, becoming the dominant combat style."
"Of course, this approach burns enormous resources. While it increases short-term combat power, it stunts the beast's long-term growth. Overreliance on weapons weakens the creature's innate combat ability."
"Most beasts lack memory inheritance, making it extremely difficult for them to cultivate combat techniques. So instead, they fight with instinct, physical strength, and technology."
Rowan nodded slightly. He finally understood.
Most cosmic beasts possessed intelligence barely comparable to that of ordinary humans.
Their souls were weak, making cultivation of techniques extremely difficult.
Weapons were simply faster.
"You could also equip the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon with weapons," Babata added. "With your current wealth, you could mount two D-grade orbital cannons. That would be enough to threaten World Lord-level sixth-tier opponents."
She still did not hold the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon in high regard.
In her view, the beast's sudden advancement to the Universe level was likely the result of exhausting its life potential.
That meant its future growth would be extremely limited.
Rowan rejected the suggestion without hesitation.
"Not a chance. Just watch. The Eastern Sea Azure Dragon will surpass even Starry Sky Behemoths."
He ignored Babata entirely.
At that moment, eleven Stellar-level enemies closed in on the ship.
Rowan activated the Swordfish Array instantly.
The formation surged out of the cockpit, accelerating with terrifying speed as it tore straight into the enemy ranks.
The attackers laughed mockingly, convinced Rowan was courting death.
Then their expressions froze.
The Swordfish Array spun violently, slicing through space like a school of high-speed predatory fish.
One Stellar-level enemy ordered his lion-like armored beast forward. The creature's body was encased in extremely dense armor.
It charged head-on.
The next second, under Rowan's terrifying psychic control, the Swordfish Array exploded with overwhelming power and pierced straight through the armor.
In a blink, the five-kilometer-long beast's head detonated.
The formation continued onward, skewering the Stellar-level eighth-tier warrior standing atop it.
Two kills in an instant.
The battlefield fell silent in shock.
"That armor is B-grade Loris Alloy! Even Universe-level attacks cannot easily breach it!"
They did not know that the Swordfish Array was wrapped in Crimson Pattern Copper Mother fragments, an F-grade metal.
C-grade alloys were nothing more than paper before it.
The Swordfish Array continued its slaughter.
The remaining enemies fled in terror, but none could outrun it.
Once the blades entered a body, they shredded everything inside.
Screams echoed across space before abruptly ending.
Rowan felt nothing.
Against ordinary Stellar-level opponents, he felt no excitement at all.
With the Swordfish Array alone, he could wipe them out effortlessly.
"Enough. I will move too."
Rowan decided it was time to test something new.
The Shadow Clone had been unused for far too long.
He drew a third-tier battle blade and stepped out of the ship.
In the next instant, his consciousness shifted.
The Shadow Clan clone descended.
Though the Shadow Clan was slower than the Demonic Slayer race, its raw strength far surpassed them. Combined with ninety-ninefold force amplification, it possessed terrifying power beyond ordinary laws.
This was achieved without even cultivating a force amplification technique.
"The kid is out! Kill him first!"
A Stellar-level ninth-tier enemy shouted excitedly.
They believed Rowan had exhausted his psychic power.
Only six enemies and five beasts remained.
They charged together like starving wolves.
Leading them was a golden-feathered eagle-like beast. Its talons were fitted with massive metallic blades crackling with charged energy.
Rowan bent slightly, hand resting on his blade.
The claws descended.
Rowan drew his sword.
Monster Force Slash.
Ninety-ninefold amplification erupted.
In a single thought, power stacked layer upon layer.
Dark light surged along the blade.
The strike landed.
Thunder roared.
The beast screamed as its leg was severed in a single blow.
The shockwave tore through its body, launching the massive creature thousands of kilometers away before it slammed into a distant asteroid wall.
Rowan exhaled slowly.
Killing intent burned in his eyes.