The detectors used at this level were incredibly small, crafted from Ebony Gold, a metal so resilient that even a World Lord would struggle to damage it.
With equipment like this, surveying the World of Thunder was almost too easy.
Cang Bo had already reported Rowan's group to the Immortal present.
"They're in… those youngsters have already entered the World of Thunder."
The Immortal of Tianxu worked quickly. Before long, he had tracked Rowan's team and projected four live images of their current situation.
At ten thousand meters above, the scout robots quietly hovered. Rowan and the others had no idea that everything they were doing was being broadcast live to an audience they couldn't see.
At this moment, in the Moon-Half Mountains of the World of Thunder, Rowan was leading the group toward a massive lake not far ahead.
Beside that lake stood a herd of beasts, each more than ten meters tall, their bodies pale ink-white, each crowned with a single heavy horn. Their aura was immense, oppressive even from afar.
Rowan and the others hid on the ridge opposite, watching silently.
"Thirty-five in total," Lei Shen whispered. "Twelve are Star Level Eight, the rest are Star Level Nine."
A rare seriousness flashed in his eyes.
He could tell clearly that these beasts were far stronger than the Golden-Horned Beast they had faced before. Not just a little stronger. Much stronger.
"With this many, once a fight begins, the advantage won't be ours," Hong murmured. He hadn't expected these horned rhinos to travel in groups.
Every one of them, Lei Shen and Hong both felt, would require their full domain power to kill.
If more than three attacked together, they would be overwhelmed.
"You aren't the only ones planning to take advantage of others," Babata said suddenly. "There are five teams nearby. One of them is strong. A Star Level Two leading twenty Star Level Nine members. Looks like they're from a major force."
Rowan remained calm.
"For a first adventure, why fear death? With our current abilities, we may not kill every beast, but with our domains active, we'll be fine. These creatures are strong, but their intelligence is low. They're little more than wild animals."
Everyone turned to stare at Rowan, shocked by his suggestion.
He wanted to attack the herd first.
It sounded reckless to the point of madness.
"No, absolutely not!" Babata shouted. "You'll just let others pick up the spoils. Thirty-five high-tier Star Level beasts, and you only have six people! Luo Feng especially is far too weak. He'll be crushed instantly!"
But Rowan only smiled.
"Real breakthroughs come when dancing on the edge of life and death. That pressure sharpens the soul and the flesh. The inheritance I gained said the same: true strength grows by walking the knife's edge. Caution leads nowhere."
It was a lie, but Rowan's goal was clear.
He wanted Hong and Lei Shen to grow through danger, to break past their limits.
And indeed, both Hong and Lei Shen were already much stronger than in the original story. With full power and burning their soul and body, even a Universe Level fighter might fall to them.
If they shrank back now, how would they push forward in the upcoming Genius Battle?
"Third Brother is right," Hong said suddenly. "Back during the Great Nirvana, we slaughtered beasts day and night, and our strength soared. After making peace with the Beast Kings, we calmed down and trained safely, and improvement slowed. Only when fighting the Golden-Horned Beast did we break through again. This opportunity is rare. We can't waste it."
Lei Shen laughed loudly.
"I almost forgot the thrill of risking everything. Thanks for the reminder, Third Brother."
Luo Feng stepped forward. "Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, I'm going too. Don't worry about me. I'm not that fragile."
His true form, the Golden-Horned Beast, slumbered safely on Jupiter. Even if this body died, he could revive.
The only risk was revealing his identity.
"Boss, we'll protect you!" Tie Nanhe and Aogu declared firmly.
Rowan placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
"You're not here to sacrifice yourselves. Your lives matter too. Don't make meaningless deaths."
Both men were stunned, moved by the sincerity in his voice. Rowan truly regarded them as companions, not slaves.
"Remember, you're not slaves. You're our partners. Babata, remove their biochips."
"What!"
Everyone stared in shock, including Tie Nanhe and Aogu.
Babata panicked. "You're insane. If they betray you or run away, everything will be ruined. Throughout history, countless so-called loyal servants turned on their masters once freed!"
Rowan only gave him a quiet look.
Babata froze, sighed heavily, and reluctantly removed their chips.
Tie Nanhe and Aogu immediately sensed their freedom.
"Aren't you afraid we'll betray you?" they asked.
"Will you?"
Rowan grinned.
They dropped to one knee.
"Boss, we will protect you and protect Earth with our lives!"
"No more talk of dying. You are partners. Earth is your home too. Live. That's an order."
Rowan helped them up.
In the original story, Tie Nanhe died protecting Luo Feng.
Not this time. Rowan intended to change that fate.
Meanwhile, the observers in the Virtual Universe had watched everything.
"This boy…" Tianxu Immortal murmured. "Such heart. To treat slaves with compassion. No wonder they're loyal to death."
Cang Bo nodded. This confirmed Rowan's group were not spies from other races.
Spies did not show kindness to slaves.
Back within the World of Thunder, Rowan led the charge toward the herd.
He at the front, Lei Shen and Hong on either side. Luo Feng followed with his new weapon, the Skyblade, a top-tier treasure formed from 472 blades.
Tie Nanhe and Aogu guarded Luo Feng. Rowan didn't need protection.
"Kill!"
Rowan roared. His body blurred. The Dun Tian Shuttle transformed into a drilling spear and punched through the skull of the nearest rhino before it even realized what happened.
The herd erupted, their roars sending shockwaves across the land.
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
"Haha! A small team is attacking the herd! They'll weaken each other and we'll pick up the spoils!"
"They're insane. Only three Star Level Nine among them? They'll die before they know it."
"Your Highness, allow us to strike once they're exhausted."
The Ninth Princess of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire smiled.
A perfect chance to take everything.
But the next moment, her smile vanished.
Inside the herd, Rowan and the others unleashed their full power.
"Triple Lightning Domain!"
"Triple Light Domain!"
"Triple Flame Domain!"
"Blade Domain!"
"Open!"
Their domains fused into a swirling tri-colored storm, covering more than six hundred meters.
Heat above fifty thousand degrees seared the beasts.
Lightning ripped through them.
Light beams sliced their hides.
Luo Feng's blades targeted every weakness.
The beasts panicked under the crushing pressure.
"Kill!"
Six fighters unleashed their ultimate moves. Sword-light, blade-force, and explosive power tore through the herd.
In seconds, the thirty-five massive beasts collapsed, their bodies shaking the earth. Their huge horns were collected and stored.
"What… three triple domains?"
The Ninth Princess stared in disbelief.
Thirty-five beasts.
Dead in moments.
A six-man team had shown power equal to an elite squad of dozens.
Hidden teams across the region were terrified.
"Monsters… they're monsters!"
"We run! If they see us, we die!"
All their earlier plans of robbery vanished.
Survival was the only goal now.
"Looks like the flies are gone," Rowan said with a slight smile.
He had released their power on purpose.
Let everyone know: anyone who tried to hunt them would only meet death.
But the Ninth Princess had not left.
Her eyes glittered coldly.
"Find out which force they belong to," she ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Rowan didn't wait. He led the group toward their next target, searching for Wind Horn Stones.