Entering the Beast Control Ring once more, Rowan felt deeply satisfied with the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon's performance.
It truly lived up to the modifications left behind by the Sitting Mountain Guest. In terms of perception, comprehension, and insight, the Azure Dragon far surpassed ordinary humans. When it came to mental state and soul strength, its foundation was unquestionably formidable.
Just as Rowan was immersed in his satisfaction, Babata suddenly appeared perched on his shoulder.
"Rowan, be careful. That group of cosmic star pirates is still lingering nearby. Ever since you checked into the hotel, they have been secretly monitoring you. Judging by their behavior, they will not give up until they get what you are carrying."
Rowan's lips curved upward slightly, a playful glint appearing in his eyes as a plan quickly formed in his mind.
The Eastern Sea Azure Dragon had just advanced to the Universe level and clearly lacked real combat experience. These star pirates had arrived at the perfect time.
They would serve as an ideal test.
Rowan wanted to see how far the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon still was from the peak Gold-Horned Behemoth lineage.
Without hesitation, he moved.
"You are planning to turn the tables and hunt them instead, aren't you?"
Babata immediately guessed his intention when she saw Rowan rise and head toward the rooftop hangar.
Rowan simply smiled, offering no explanation.
Babata had followed Rowan long enough to understand him well. She did not worry in the slightest. With the Mo Yun Vine at their disposal, even if two more Universe-level enemies appeared, the outcome would not change.
Rowan settled into the pilot's seat, his hands moving smoothly across the control panel as he activated the ship's engines.
Brilliant plasma jets erupted from beneath the hull. With a deep hum, the spacecraft lifted steadily from the platform and ascended toward the vast, endless cosmos.
As the ship climbed higher, Rowan monitored the surroundings through high-precision detection screens.
Just as expected, the star pirates' ship maintained a cautious distance, following stealthily and carefully, afraid of being discovered.
The distance between them hovered at roughly one hundred light-years.
The enemy was also piloting a C-class ship, but it had been modified to extend its detection range to one hundred light-years. Ordinarily, a standard C-class ship could only scan up to fifty.
But Rowan was different.
With Babata as his intelligent lifeform companion, his detection range far exceeded theirs. No matter how carefully the pirates concealed themselves, they could not escape Babata's perception.
Rowan sneered inwardly.
He deliberately refrained from accelerating to maximum speed, instead maintaining a steady cruising pace that allowed the pirates to keep up with ease.
While piloting, he silently calculated the distance from the Dragon Star System, patiently waiting for the right moment.
When the ship reached a remote region over ten thousand light-years away from the Dragon Star System, Rowan decisively brought it to a halt.
The spacecraft hovered silently in the depths of space.
Around them was only boundless darkness, punctuated by distant stars emitting faint light. The stillness was absolute, like standing at the edge of a cosmic abyss.
Seeing Rowan stop, the star pirates no longer bothered to hide.
Their ship surged forward with violent acceleration, charging like a pack of starving wolves and forcefully blocking Rowan's path.
A massive, grotesque pirate vessel loomed before him, its exterior covered in advanced weaponry and bizarre energy amplification devices. Compared to standard ships, it looked gaudy and aggressively modified.
The pirate ship's hatch opened with a heavy rumble.
A towering figure stepped out onto the deck.
Hawk.
He stood there like an iron mountain, gazing down at Rowan's ship with arrogant disdain.
"Kid, hand over everything you own if you know what's good for you," Hawk roared through the communication channel. "Otherwise, this is where you die. Neither you nor your ship will leave this place."
Rowan remained calm, his confident smile unchanged.
He raised his wrist and gently tapped the Beast Control Ring glowing faintly with mysterious light.
In the next instant, a blinding flash erupted.
The Eastern Sea Azure Dragon's vast and majestic body appeared in open space.
The moment it emerged, it let out a thunderous roar. Shockwaves rippled through the void, scattering cosmic dust in all directions.
Its ten-kilometer-long body was awe-inspiring. Ink-gold scales gleamed with metallic brilliance, each one like master-forged armor radiating overwhelming power.
Golden lightning crackled across its body, intertwining into a massive lightning domain spanning over ten kilometers, enveloping the Azure Dragon and lending it an almost divine, terrifying presence.
Hawk and his men were briefly stunned by the sight.
Then they burst into unrestrained laughter.
"Hahaha! Just a Universe-level first-tier beast and you dare show off in front of us?" Hawk laughed mockingly. "You are naïve beyond belief!"
As a Universe-level second-tier expert, Hawk had his own trump cards.
With a cold snort, murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he tapped his own Beast Control Ring.
A colossal creature appeared beside him.
It resembled a monstrous octopus, its sheer size dwarfing much of Hawk's ship.
This beast, named Devourer, stretched nearly fifteen kilometers in length.
Its dark crimson body resembled burning embers, covered in rough, hardened scales. Each scale was the size of a small vehicle and etched with strange runes and energy conduits.
More astonishing were its eight massive tentacles, each bristling with advanced weaponry.
Laser cannons lined their sides, glowing with icy blue light. Plasma cannons sat atop the tentacles, their muzzles radiating terrifying energy fluctuations.
Its eyes glowed like massive crimson gems, cold and vicious, as if capable of dissecting prey at a glance.
Behind Hawk, more than a dozen Stellar-level pirates released their own beasts.
These creatures varied wildly in form, ranging from several kilometers to mere thousands of meters in size.
One resembled a gigantic crab, its shell gleaming with dark metallic luster. Its two massive pincers were like execution blades, capable of crushing anything in their grip.
Another looked like an enormous centipede, eight kilometers long, covered in venomous spines and moving through space like a streak of black lightning.
There was also a massive eagle-like beast with wings spanning six kilometers. Golden feathers shimmered as its razor-sharp talons flexed, and its eyes could fire lethal laser beams.
The pirates' combat strength had doubled instantly.
Rowan chuckled softly.
Twelve Stellar-level beasts ranging from fifth to ninth tier, plus one peak Universe-level first-tier beast.
Combined with their operators, Hawk's pirate squad was indeed formidable within this star sector.
Yet Rowan remained seated in the cockpit, showing no intention of stepping outside.
"Ao Long," he said calmly. "Enjoy yourself."
There was no mercy in his voice as he issued the command.
The Eastern Sea Azure Dragon roared skyward. Terrifying energy surged from its maw, shockwaves rippling outward.
"Hmph. Courting death!"
Seeing that Rowan had no intention of coming out personally, Hawk's killing intent finally solidified.
Originally, Hawk had planned only to rob Rowan. The Black Dragon ship and Rowan's generous spending suggested a background tied to a notable family.
As long as Rowan lived, most families would not pursue the matter aggressively.
That was how star pirates survived.
But now, Hawk had changed his mind.
Rowan's equipment was merely third-tier, suggesting an unremarkable background.
That was why Hawk had dared target him in the first place.
"Boss, there is no data on that beast," one subordinate reported hurriedly. "It appears to be a new species. We cannot determine its abilities."
Hawk scoffed.
In the vast universe, most powerful beasts were recorded. Unrecorded ones were usually weak and insignificant.
Combined with Rowan's earlier purchase of bloodline evolution serums, Hawk concluded the beast's lineage must have been low.
Otherwise, why bother with evolution serums at all?
His contempt deepened.
"Since you want to die, I will grant your wish. Kill him!"
To Hawk, killing a Stellar-level cultivator from a minor family was inconsequential.
"If you are not moving, then I will!"
The Eastern Sea Azure Dragon could no longer restrain itself. It lunged forward, wings unfurling and blotting out the stars.
The pirates responded instantly.
Battle erupted.
The Azure Dragon struck first.
Its mental power wrapped around the massive battle axe, unleashing a roaring wave of psychic force.
The axe became a streak of blinding light, moving faster than light itself as it cleaved toward the giant crab-like beast.
The crab beast sensed mortal danger and raised its massive pincers to block.
It was useless.
The axe severed both pincers effortlessly and continued onward, splitting the beast cleanly in half.
The Stellar-level pirate controlling it was obliterated alongside it.
Two lifeless bodies drifted silently through space.
For a Universe-level existence, killing Stellar-level opponents was effortless.
"Surround and kill it!"
Hawk showed no emotion at the loss, barking orders coldly.
The remaining beasts roared and charged, ferocity fully unleashed.
The Eastern Sea Azure Dragon moved freely among them, wielding the axe with terrifying precision. Energy storms followed every swing.
One by one, the Stellar-level beasts fell like insects.
Blood of every color floated through the void.
Hawk's rage boiled over.
With bloodshot eyes, he personally commanded Devourer to charge forward.
"Die!"
All eight tentacles unleashed a storm of lasers and plasma blasts, turning space into a dazzling inferno.
The Azure Dragon roared.
Golden lightning surged across its body as the lightning domain expanded once more.
Countless beams struck the domain and were instantly dispersed by roaring thunder.
"What? A domain?"
Hawk's eyes widened in shock.
Although most Universe-level beings with sufficient talent could eventually comprehend a domain, seeing one manifested by a cosmic beast still sent a chill through his spine.