Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 260 Let them taste my thunderous wrath!
"Great job today," Thor said, stuffing food into his mouth. "Especially you, Hong. That 'true form of the sun' was absolutely awesome!"

Hong sat on the sofa by the window, a pale blue drink in his hand, calmly gazing at the starry sky outside: "That state is too taxing; I won't use it lightly unless absolutely necessary."

Luo Feng lingered at the entrance of the meditation room, seemingly considering whether to go in and cultivate for a while: "Today's competition made me realize that there is still a lot of room for improvement in my understanding of domains and laws."

Just then, the suite's communicator rang. Rowan went over and answered it, and an image of a servant dressed in splendid attire immediately appeared on the communicator.

“Your Excellency Mr. Rowan, and all the contestants from the Black Dragon Mountain Empire,” the attendant said respectfully, “I have come on His Majesty’s orders to inform you that His Majesty wishes to receive you all tonight. Would that be convenient for you?”

Rowan immediately straightened his back: "Of course it's convenient! Please convey to His Majesty that we are extremely honored and can have an audience at any time."

The attendant nodded: "Very well, His Majesty is awaiting you all at the Royal Palace. A special carriage will arrive in an hour to take you there."

After the communication ended, Rowan turned to the other three: "His Majesty the King wants to see us!" His voice was filled with undisguised excitement.

Thor put down his food, wiped his mouth, and said, "Well, it seems we did quite well today; even His Majesty noticed."

Luo Feng frowned slightly: "I wonder what business His Majesty has with us?"

Hong put down his drink and stood up: "It's probably about Earth."

Rowan was startled: "Earth? You mean..."

Hong nodded: "Recently, there have been reports that certain forces in the universe have become interested in Earth. As some of the most powerful martial artists on Earth, His Majesty may want us to pay attention to this matter."

Luo Feng's expression turned serious: "If it concerns the safety of Earth, then I must take it seriously."

An hour later, a luxurious anti-gravity flying car pulled up on the suite's terrace. The four quickly tidied their clothes and boarded the flying car.

The flying vehicle traversed the bustling city, finally arriving at a magnificent palace located in the city center. While not as grand as the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's imperial palace, this palace was still luxurious enough to be befit the status of a cosmic-level emperor.

Led by attendants, the four walked through a long corridor and finally arrived at a spacious reception room. The room was decorated in a way that was both magnificent and dignified, with precious works of art hanging on the walls, some of which came from extinct civilizations and were priceless.

In the center of the reception hall, a middle-aged man in a long golden robe sat in the main seat. He appeared to be around fifty years old, with a dignified yet approachable face, and sharp, eagle-like eyes that seemed to see right through people. This was the emperor of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire, one of the most powerful beings in the universe.

"Your Majesty." The four men bowed in unison, showing their respect for the emperor.

The emperor slightly raised his hand, gesturing for them to dispense with formalities: "No need for such formalities. I saw your performance in the arena today; it was excellent."

Hong calmly replied, "This is just the preliminary round; the real challenge is yet to come."

The emperor nodded, his gaze turning to Rowan: "Rowan, as my son-in-law, your performance has been quite good. Although your strength still needs improvement, your potential should not be underestimated."

Rowan bowed respectfully: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I will continue to work hard."

The emperor chuckled softly: "Alright, enough of the small talk. I've summoned you here today because I have something important to tell you."

The four men's expressions turned serious as they listened intently to the emperor's words.

"Regarding the protection of Earth," the Emperor's voice was deep and powerful, "I have dispatched a King-level Immortal to Earth. He will be responsible for protecting Earth and preventing any invasion by external forces."

"Didn't you say that we needed to be in the top ten to be worth your time?" Rowan asked, puzzled.

The emperor smiled slightly: "I have seen your performance today. With your strength, it would be easy for all of you to enter the top 300. That is more than enough to match your value."

A flicker of excitement flashed in both Luo Feng's and Luo Wen's eyes. As Earthlings, their greatest concern was the safety of their homeland. With a powerful figure at the King-level immortal realm guarding it, Earth's safety would undoubtedly be greatly guaranteed.

"We Earthlings will never forget Your Majesty's kindness." Luo Feng bowed deeply, his voice filled with gratitude.

The emperor waved his hand: "This is merely part of our cooperation. Earth may be small, but its potential is immense. I am optimistic about Earth's future development, which is why I am willing to send an immortal king to protect it."

Hong asked, "I wonder which immortal prince His Majesty has dispatched?"

The emperor glanced at Hong: "It's 'Silver Moon King.' His strength is among the top tier of King-level Immortals; he's fully capable of handling any situation that might arise."

Thor raised an eyebrow in surprise: "'Silver Moon King'? That King-level Immortal renowned for his mastery of spatial laws? He's notoriously difficult to persuade, yet Your Majesty managed to convince him to come to Earth?"

The emperor smiled slightly: "Everyone has their own weaknesses and desires. Once you pinpoint them, there's no one you can't persuade."

The profound meaning of these words left the four people present deep in thought. This emperor's methods and wisdom were indeed extraordinary.

"Speaking of Earth," the Emperor's gaze turned to Rowan, "do you remember our agreement regarding that Zerg hive on Earth?"

Rowan immediately straightened up: "Of course I remember, Your Majesty. I promised to enslave the Zerg hive on Earth with my soul within a thousand years. If I fail to do so, the hive will belong to Your Majesty."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction: "Very good, I like people with good memories. Today is perfect; I've had a contract drafted, you can sign it."

A servant immediately stepped forward and presented a formal-looking contract. Rowan took it and read it carefully. The contract stated exactly as he had said: if he could not enslave the Zerg hive on Earth with his soul within a thousand years, then ownership of the hive would be transferred to the Black Dragon Mountain Emperor.

Without hesitation, Rowan signed his name on the contract. Then, he handed the contract back to the emperor: "Your Majesty, it's a deal."

The emperor accepted the contract and nodded with satisfaction: "You have great confidence, that's excellent. I look forward to seeing your growth."

Luo Feng asked curiously, "Your Majesty, what's so special about the Zerg hive? Why do you value it so much?" The Emperor glanced at Luo Feng, a profound look flashing in his eyes: "The Zerg are one of the oldest races in the universe, and their hives contain endless secrets. The hive on Earth, in particular, holds special value. If one could completely control it, one would gain unimaginable power."

Hong nodded thoughtfully: "It's said that the Zerg's life form is completely different from other races; their collective consciousness and adaptability are extremely strong. Controlling a hive would indeed be a huge strategic resource."

“Indeed,” the Emperor glanced at Hong in agreement, “that’s why I’m interested in that mother hive. But since Rowan is confident he can enslave it within a thousand years, I’m willing to give him that opportunity.”

Rowan bowed again: "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I will certainly not let you down."

The emperor waved his hand: "Alright, that's settled then. Next, I have something else to tell you."

The four immediately focused their attention, awaiting the emperor's next important message.

“According to the latest intelligence,” the Emperor’s expression turned serious, “an organization called the ‘Star Alliance’ is secretly growing stronger. This organization is a coalition of several small and medium-sized empires, aiming to challenge the existing cosmic order. They have begun spreading anti-Greater Empire rhetoric throughout various star systems and are secretly acquiring advanced weapons and warships.”

Hong frowned: "How powerful is this 'Star Alliance'?"

The emperor shook his head: "It's still unclear. They operate with extreme secrecy; we've only managed to glean fragmented information. But what's certain is that their strength shouldn't be underestimated, and they may be backed by an even more powerful entity."

Thor scoffed dismissively: "Even if they're strong, can they possibly be stronger than our Black Dragon Mountain Empire?"

The emperor glanced at Thor: "Pride is the greatest enemy, Thor. Never underestimate your opponent. How many powerful empires throughout history have perished because of underestimating their enemies?"

Thor immediately realized his slip of the tongue and lowered his head: "Your Majesty is right, I will keep it in mind."

The Emperor continued, "The reason I'm telling you this is because I suspect this 'Covenant' might develop an interest in Earth. After all, Earth may be small, but its potential is enormous, and now with the Zerg hive, it's even more attracting attention. Although I've already dispatched a King-level Immortal to protect it, it's always good to be extra vigilant."

Luo Feng and Luo Wen's expressions turned serious. For them, the safety of Earth was paramount. If any organization harbored ill intentions towards Earth, they would not stand idly by.

“Your Majesty,” Luo Feng said respectfully, “if the Star Alliance truly harbors any intentions towards Earth, we will resist with all our might and will not allow them to succeed.”

Rowan nodded firmly: "Yes, Your Majesty. Earth is our home, and we will protect it at all costs."

The Emperor nodded in satisfaction: "Your loyalty and determination have moved me. However, you are not yet strong enough to fight against the 'Star Alliance.' Therefore, I have decided to provide you with special training and resources after the upcoming competition to help you grow faster."

The four of them were overjoyed upon hearing the news. In the universe, powerful training resources are more precious than anything else, and to receive resources personally bestowed by an emperor is an unparalleled honor.

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" the four said in unison, their voices filled with sincere gratitude.

The emperor smiled slightly: "No need for formalities. You are important members of my Black Dragon Mountain Empire, and your growth contributes to the empire's strength. Moreover, I greatly admire your potential and character."

At this point, the emperor stood up, indicating that the conversation was about to end: "Let's conclude our meeting here today. I hope you will continue to perform excellently in the upcoming matches. Especially you, Hong, stop holding back and let the audience witness what a true champion looks like."

Hong bowed slightly in respect: "Yes, Your Majesty."

Afterwards, the four men, guided by their attendants, left the reception hall and exited the royal palace. On their way back, they remained silent, each pondering the information the emperor had just revealed and the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.

Back in the suite, Luo Feng couldn't help but ask, "Hong, what do you think of the 'Star Alliance' that the Emperor mentioned?"

Hong pondered for a moment, then replied, "They shouldn't be underestimated. An organization that can attract such attention from an emperor must have something special about it. Moreover, if they truly have designs on Earth, then we need to be even more vigilant."

Thor scoffed dismissively, "To hell with the 'Covenant,' if they dare touch our Earth, they'll taste my thunderous wrath!"

Rowan fell into deep thought: "His Majesty said he would give us special training and resources—this is a rare opportunity. We must seize it and improve our strength as quickly as possible to better protect the Earth."

Hong nodded: "That's right. But before that, we need to focus on the competition. Through the competition, we can not only test our strength but also accumulate experience, which is also very important for our growth."

Thor stretched: "Alright, I'm tired today, I'm going to rest. I have a match tomorrow, I need to be well-rested."

Luo Feng also stood up: "I'll go meditate for a while and digest what I've learned today."

Hong glanced at Luo Wen: "You should go and rest too. Don't overthink it, take it one step at a time."

The next day.

The morning light quietly filtered through the specially designed lighting system of the Cosmic Arena, illuminating the luxurious suites of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's contestants. Rowan had already woken up and was sitting cross-legged by the floor-to-ceiling window, bathed in this soft light as he meditated.

His mind was immersed in the world within his body, the Law of Fire flowing under his consciousness like a blazing river, nourishing every inch of his muscles and bones. At the same time, his mental power, like countless tiny tentacles, wove into an intricate network in his mind, constantly strengthening his control over one of the nine mental weapons—the Starburst Sky-Splitting Blade.

"It seems you're ready."

A calm voice interrupted Rowan's meditation. He opened his eyes and saw that Hong was already standing at his door, holding a glass of beverage that emitted a faint fragrance.

Luo Wen stood up and respectfully bowed to Hong: "Good morning, Hong."

Hong entered the room and handed the drink to Rowan: "Today is your match. This is a special energy drink I made to help stabilize your mental state and enhance your control over your mental abilities."

Rowan accepted the drink and nodded gratefully, "Thank you, Hong." He carefully took a sip and immediately felt a warm energy flow through his body, which invigorated him.

(End of this chapter)