Meanwhile, elsewhere…
The Emperor of the Black Dragon Empire felt a mixture of anxiety and excitement. He had never expected that the ruler of the entire Qianwu Universe would summon him personally at this moment.
Inside the Divine Realm transfer, he quickly came face-to-face with an immortal of the Qianwu Universe.
"King of the Heavenly Eagle!"
The Emperor immediately knelt respectfully before the immortal. This was a King-tier immortal, vastly more powerful than him. Although he ruled over his own star domain, in front of such a sovereign-level immortal, he was utterly powerless. One careless glance from this being could annihilate everything he had built.
Typically, a Marquis-tier ruler shows the utmost respect to a King-tier immortal. There was no room for pride the disparity in strength spoke for itself.
"Black Dragon, don't linger. The Universe Ruler wants to see you. Let's move quickly."
The Emperor nodded, careful not to delay. After traversing through the Divine Realm for a couple of hours, he finally arrived in the heart of the Qianwu Universe.
Before him lay an immense sea of stars, and amidst the void, the ruler of Qianwu Universe stood tall. The scenery around him was breathtaking, a vision of otherworldly beauty.
As the space around them rippled with energy from the Divine Realm transfer, the Emperor of the Black Dragon Empire knelt in awe.
"Black Dragon pays homage to the Universe Ruler!"
"Rise, Black Dragon. Your Black Dragon star domain has performed exceptionally. To produce so many extraordinary talents at once deserves commendation!"
The Qianwu Universe ruler's laughter echoed across the void.
Hearing praise from such a high-level immortal, the Emperor's eyes lit up. The Universe Ruler's status was beyond measure, and any reward from him would be immensely valuable.
"What reward do you desire?" the ruler asked.
The Emperor, understanding proper etiquette, humbly declined at first. "There is no need," he said. "As a citizen of the Qianwu Universe, bringing honor to my empire is simply my duty. Moreover, Rowan is my daughter's husband. As a member of the royal family, it is his duty to bring glory to our empire as well."
By emphasizing his connection to Rowan, the Emperor subtly revealed his hopes for further gifts.
The Qianwu Universe ruler had already been informed of these ties and knew of the Emperor's desire for treasures. He smiled, taking the initiative.
"I hear you gifted Rowan your weapon, the Stellar Rift Blade. In return, I will present you with a Stellar Rift Blade of your own, transfer three hundred billion Pure Essence Units, and grant you a Virtual Battle Armor. This armor will grant immense defense; even against attacks from King-tier immortals, it will ensure your survival long enough to escape."
When a Universe ruler bestows rewards, they do so without reservation.
The Emperor of the Black Dragon Empire felt as if his mind was spinning. The overwhelming generosity nearly made him faint from happiness.
"T-This… this is…"
He struggled to find words, though he had expected significant rewards from the Universe Ruler, he had not imagined such immense value. The total worth easily surpassed billions of Pure Essence Units.
And the armor simply wearing it would provide near-invincibility against King-tier attacks, a true safeguard against the impossible. His joy knew no bounds.
The Universe Ruler added that additional rewards would be granted later to anyone who advanced into the top one hundred during the semifinals.
Back in the Black Dragon Empire, the populace remained immersed in the celebrations over Rowan, Rowan Jr., and others' stellar achievements in the Talent Battle.
The Emperor returned to his empire, heart brimming with joy from the Universe Ruler's summons and lavish gifts.
Only a few days remained before the semifinals of the Talent Battle. Rowan, having defeated Chonglou, now meditated in place, restoring his depleted energy and focus. He knew that the upcoming semifinals would demand his peak performance.
Meanwhile, in the Black Dragon Empire's Virtual Universe division, the Immortal Tianxu and Cang Bo closely monitored the ongoing Talent Battle.
"Cang Bo, how do you think Rowan and the other prodigies will perform in the semifinals?" Tianxu asked, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Cang Bo stroked his beard, a knowing smile on his face. "Rowan's strength is unfathomable. He has hidden his power in earlier rounds, only to explode at critical moments. I expect no disappointment from him in the semifinals. As for Raven and Thunder God, their power has been steadily growing, and Rowan Jr.'s sudden rise could allow the Black Dragon Empire to achieve a true miracle this time."
Meanwhile, in the Qianwu Universe, after rewarding the Emperor, the Universe Ruler also turned his attention to the upcoming semifinals.
"The prodigies of the Black Dragon Empire have performed extraordinarily, a true pride of our Qianwu Universe. But the semifinals and finals are the real tests," the Universe Ruler thought, his excitement growing.
For countless millennia, he had dreamed of seeing others falter. If these prodigies could truly break into the top one hundred, the Qianwu Universe would finally bask in unchallenged glory.
In the Nine-Star Lake Palace, Bloelyn, Yao Rao, and Vinnea were still immersed in joy at the thought of their upcoming grand wedding with Rowan. They eagerly anticipated his victorious return from the Talent Battle and began preparations for the ceremony.
"I hope Rowan comes back soon. I want to marry him quickly," Yao Rao said, her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with happiness.
Vinnea nodded with a gentle smile. "Yes. Once Rowan wins, our wedding will be the grandest event the entire universe has ever seen."
Bloelyn grinned mischievously. "By then, everyone will envy Rowan. Imagine marrying three such incredible women at once!"
The three chattered happily, their eyes bright with dreams of the future.
Meanwhile, Rowan, having restored his energy, began exploring deeper secrets of the Stellar Rift Blade. He understood that this powerful psionic weapon still held untapped potential.
Within the Virtual Universe, he experimented relentlessly, fusing the Law of Fire with the blade's energy.
After several days of intense study, Rowan finally mastered the second form of the Shadow Nine Blades technique: Flaming Dragon Pierces the Firmament.
This move combined terrifying Fire Law energy with overwhelming psionic force, far surpassing the power of the first form. Rowan's confidence for the semifinals surged.
In Sector Seventy-One, Rowan Jr. continued his frenzied battles. Each fight strengthened his mastery over the Blade Domain, and after defeating four top-ranked opponents, he drew even more attention.
Strong competitors began to see him as a threat, forming teams to challenge him. But Rowan Jr. remained unafraid, wielding the Celestial Blade atop the Dark Cloud Shuttle, cutting down attackers with precision and psionic force.
Two days before the semifinals, Rowan Jr. had broken into the top fifty.
"Excellent work, Rowan Jr.!" Babata's voice rang in his mind. "Push a little further."
Rowan Jr. smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Babata. I'll prove my strength in this competition."
Other strong contenders across the universes prepared for the semifinals. Among them, the most feared was Berlan, the so-called Death God. He remained undefeated, crushing opponents with absolute power, earning universal respect.
"Berlan's power is terrifying. This championship is surely his," a spectator remarked.
"Yes. His strength surpasses all. I wonder who can stand against him in the semifinals," another agreed.
With the preliminary countdown ended, the first thousand and one participants from a hundred universes were confirmed. A lengthy break would follow before the semifinals.
Rowan, Rowan Jr., Raven, and Thunder God gathered in the Virtual Universe.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, Fourth Brother!" Rowan greeted them joyfully.
The four exchanged fist bumps, smiles broadening with camaraderie.
"This round was fruitful. I didn't expect to face so many interesting opponents. My blade intent is stronger than ever. In my region, I could hardly find a worthy challenger," Thunder God said, raising a cup of wine.
They sat together, reflecting on their achievements.
"Second Brother, your rank is sixteenth!" Rowan said, glancing at Thunder God's record. He had surpassed expectations, even compared to previous benchmarks.
Raven, the eldest, had broken into the top eight. "Not bad," he said, sipping his wine. He had faced two formidable opponents who forced a draw on the final day.
Rowan Jr. ranked thirty-fifth, while Rowan himself sat at ninety-eighth. His brothers consoled him, assuring him that rankings varied by world region and luck played a part.
Babata, unable to resist, flew over and tapped their heads. "Stop kidding yourselves. This guy is a hidden tiger. He had the power to kill the first-ranked contender, but the opponent had incredible escape abilities. That's why he slipped away."
Rowan shrugged. "I didn't bother chasing him. His survival skills far outmatched mine."
Babata then informed them of their rising fame. "You are now hot names in the Talent Battle. Rowan and Rowan Jr. alone have received over ten thousand messages and calls from other superpowers."
The four were stunned.
"What? Ten thousand?!"
Thunder God and Raven were immediately alert, receiving thousands of invitations and communications from immortals and influential forces across the universes. They now realized they had truly become celebrities.
A quick review revealed that these messages came mainly from King-tier immortals and other major factions, all vying for their attention.