At that moment, Hong and Thunder also walked over.
Hong remained as steady and imposing as ever, while Thunder wore a wide grin and spoke loudly without restraint. "Fourth Brother, today you'd better treat us well."
"Of course," Luo Feng replied with a laugh. "Big Brother, Second Brother, don't worry."
"Third Brother, you made it too," Hong said warmly. "It's been a long time since the four of us gathered like this. Ever since we came out of the World Within Worlds, it's been over a month."
Rowan glanced at Hong, his gaze sweeping over him once before he smiled.
"Congratulations, Big Brother. You've reached the sixth layer of the Domain."
"You noticed?" Hong looked genuinely shocked.
He had deliberately restrained his aura and had not released his Domain at all, yet Rowan still saw through him.
Rowan laughed. "Big Brother, who do you think I am? I'm Rowan. Your little tricks can't escape my psychic perception."
He was telling the truth.
The moment he saw Hong, Rowan sensed a subtle fluctuation around him. A brief scan with psychic power confirmed it. Hong had just broken through to the sixth layer of the Domain.
That faint pressure was impossible to fully conceal.
Compared to how Hong had been back in the World Within Worlds, the difference was obvious.
"Heh, looks like Big Brother gained quite a lot this time," Thunder said cheerfully, completely carefree.
Rowan then looked at Thunder.
Standing there, Thunder felt like a warblade ready to be drawn at any moment. On the surface he seemed casual and unruly, but the aura surrounding him was razor sharp.
Clearly, his understanding of blade intent had deepened even further.
As for Luo Feng, with the Golden-Horned Beast supporting his cultivation, his progress was practically unstoppable. Once the beast reached the cosmic level, Luo Feng would be able to wield the Domain of Metal.
Everyone was advancing rapidly.
At this point in time, Hong and Thunder were far stronger than they had ever been in the original timeline.
Luo Feng was even more so. After switching to a new psychic weapon, his combat strength had increased dramatically.
As Rowan observed them, planetary-level and war-god-level experts began gathering around, offering their congratulations to Luo Feng.
Many of Earth's famous powerhouses were present, each sending their blessings. The atmosphere was lively and jubilant.
Soon after, Yara and Venina arrived in combat aircraft.
Yara wore a fiery red gown, the tight fabric accentuating her curvaceous figure. She radiated the flawless charm of a universally adored beauty.
Venina wore a sleek black formal dress. Her well-defined figure, fair skin, and golden wavy hair gave her the unmistakable presence of a Western beauty. Now that she had once again taken control of the HR Alliance, her commanding aura as a powerful woman only made her even more captivating.
She gave off the kind of presence that made people want to conquer her outright.
"Rowan!"
Yara and Venina walked up to him, and Rowan naturally wrapped an arm around each of their waists, pulling them into his embrace.
Both women were clearly delighted. It had been far too long since they had seen him in person.
"You've been so busy cultivating lately. It's really hard to see you," Yara said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
Ever since Rowan stepped into the universe, most of his time had been spent training and adventuring with Hong, Thunder, and Luo Feng.
He barely stayed on Earth. Even when he returned, he would only spend a brief moment with them before locking himself away to cultivate like a man possessed.
Venina, however, spoke calmly and thoughtfully.
"Yara, don't say it like that. Rowan, the First Elder, and the Second Elder are all fighting out there to protect Earth. Their relentless cultivation is for humanity's survival. In the vast universe, Earth is still far too fragile. Anyone stronger could set their sights on us at any time. With our current strength, even a single domain lord could spell disaster. Humanity would be enslaved. Is that a future you want?"
Her words surprised even Rowan.
He had been wondering how to placate Yara, but Venina's simple reasoning instantly left Yara feeling ashamed.
"I'm sorry," Yara said softly, at a loss.
Rowan smiled and gently patted her shoulder. "I'll stay with you all night tonight. Tomorrow is Venina's turn."
His voice was not particularly quiet.
Venina's cheeks flushed crimson at once.
As Rowan extended his psychic perception, he noticed someone missing.
"Where's Brolin? Why didn't she come?"
"She was taken away by her grandfather," Venina explained. "Something happened within the royal family. She had to return immediately to stabilize things. Otherwise, inheriting the throne won't be so easy."
Rowan frowned briefly, then relaxed.
According to the original storyline, Hagreve should have already entered the World Within Worlds and discovered the so-called complete spatial inheritance, only to realize it was fake. Even the universe account only contained a mocking recording.
He must be furious by now.
Hagreve had poured nearly all his resources into the operation and even borrowed massive forces to enter the World Within Worlds. His Royal Martial Corps had suffered catastrophic losses, including tens of thousands killed by Rowan himself.
The internal damage was devastating.
With such losses, the other princes would not let Hagreve off easily. The struggle for the throne was bound to intensify.
"It's fine. We'll see her later," Rowan said calmly.
He was not worried about Brolin's safety. She would still be alive when the Universe Genius Tournament began, which meant the crisis would pass.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, look. Xu Xin is here," Rowan said with a teasing smile.
Everyone followed his gaze.
Xu Xin appeared in a pristine white wedding gown, walking slowly forward with her bridesmaids. Her smile was radiant, like a fairy stepping down into the mortal world.
"She's beautiful today," Thunder exclaimed.
"Fourth Brother, you're truly blessed," Hong said with a smile.
Luo Feng hurried forward, taking Xu Xin's hand, his eyes filled with affection.
Amid the blessings of the crowd, they walked toward the wedding stage.
Flowers filled the venue, ribbons fluttering in the air.
A well-dressed host stepped onto the stage and spoke warmly. "Dear guests, today we gather to witness the sacred union of Mr. Luo Feng and Ms. Xu Xin. Let us give them a round of applause."
Thunderous applause erupted.
Hand in hand, Luo Feng and Xu Xin gazed at each other as if the rest of the world had faded away.
"Mr. Luo Feng, do you take Ms. Xu Xin as your wife, in poverty or wealth, in sickness or health, never leaving her side?"
"I do," Luo Feng answered firmly.
"Ms. Xu Xin, do you take Mr. Luo Feng as your husband, supporting him and walking through life together?"
"I do," Xu Xin replied softly.
They exchanged rings and shared a deep kiss.
For a moment, time itself seemed to stand still.
As the ceremony reached its climax, everyone raised their glasses in heartfelt celebration.
Rowan watched from below, emotion stirring quietly in his chest.
After the ceremony came the banquet.
Yara and Venina smiled with happiness, though a hint of envy flickered in their eyes as they glanced at Rowan.
He felt their unspoken expectations, yet said nothing.
They did not press him.
When Luo Feng and Xu Xin came over to toast, Rowan smiled and presented his gift.
"This is a wedding present for the two of you."
He handed Xu Xin two beast-control rings.
"Third Brother, thank you. But what are these?" Luo Feng asked, puzzled.
"These are valuable," Rowan said calmly. "And I'm also giving you three Liquid Silver Guards to protect Xu Xin."
He explained how the rings worked. When Xu Xin placed her psychic imprint on them, she screamed.
Inside were two massive beasts.
Rowan laughed. "One is a ninth-rank stellar beast, the other an eighth-rank. Each is stronger than most stellar-level humans. One alone can match three human stellar warriors."
"They've been implanted with biochips. From now on, they will only obey Xu Xin."
The table fell into stunned silence.
Two stellar-level monsters.
This gift was overwhelming.
At Thunder's urging, Xu Xin released them outside the complex.
Two colossal beasts appeared in the sky, one a black lion-dance beast, the other a gigantic centipede that blotted out the sun.
The entire Jiangnan Base was shaken.
People panicked at first, until officials reassured them.
After the Azure Dragon of the Eastern Sea, humanity's fear of beasts was no longer what it once had been.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared up in awe.
"They're enormous."
"Just their presence is overwhelming."
Even planetary-level experts felt the pressure.
And Rowan stood there calmly, watching it all unfold.