Rowan was getting married, but unfortunately, the bride was not one of them.
Despite Rowan being outshone by Bloelyn, they all genuinely liked her. Although she was royalty, her demeanor around them was completely devoid of the usual princess airs.
Over time, the three of them had become inseparable, their bond evolving into something that could only be described as sisterly love, deep and unwavering.
Naturally, when it came to Bloelyn's marriage, they should have been happy for her and Rowan, especially Vinnea, who had already experienced marriage herself.
At first, she had been with Rowan seeking protection, but gradually she realized that her feelings for him had grown into something far deeper. She loved Rowan with a devotion she could not escape.
Yet when she heard that Bloelyn would marry Rowan before them, an inexplicable ache settled in her chest. It was as if someone had carved out a piece of her heart, leaving her both hurt and uneasy.
Yao Rao, standing nearby, slightly lowered her head. She forced a smile, but it was painfully strained. Her nature was straightforward; she could not feign emotions easily.
Deep down, she truly wished Bloelyn well. After all, in terms of status and power, Bloelyn far surpassed them. Her strength, too, was superior.
She and Rowan were simply a match made in heaven.
Seeing Yao Rao and Vinnea looking so downcast, Bloelyn felt a surge of amusement. She could not help but giggle softly.
"Hahaha, I'll tell you, what I just mentioned was the first piece of good news. But there's also a second piece, so listen carefully," she said, laughing as she pulled Yao Rao and Vinnea close.
The two women forced smiles in return, expecting the next announcement to be something like the wedding location or the guest list details of the celebration that would stir both excitement and envy.
But for them, such news only felt like salt on a wound. Even as sisters, the thought of someone else marrying Rowan first was hard to bear.
Bloelyn looked at their somber faces and could not suppress another giggle.
"Look at you two. I'll be honest: in the laws of the Black Dragon Empire, polygamy is allowed. Since you're now citizens, you must follow the law."
"Rowan can marry multiple wives at once, and they can all be registered simultaneously. Which means… the three of us can marry Rowan together and have a grand, unforgettable wedding!"
Only then did Yao Rao and Vinnea fully understand. The second piece of good news was that all three of them would marry Rowan at the same time.
The shock of this revelation instantly replaced their earlier disappointment with exhilaration.
"Ah, Bloelyn! You actually tricked us!"
Yao Rao and Vinnea exchanged glances and saw Bloelyn laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face.
They realized they had been played. The first piece of good news was simply a prank, designed to see their reactions if she had married Rowan first.
Furious but amused, the two of them pounced on Bloelyn.
"You little devil! How dare you trick us too!"
"Payback time!"
Their tickling attacks left Bloelyn laughing uncontrollably, tears streaming, as she begged for mercy.
But neither Yao Rao nor Vinnea intended to go easy. The embarrassment Bloelyn had caused them needed a proper reckoning.
Under their relentless onslaught, Bloelyn nearly laughed herself into collapse.
"Mercy! Please, sisters, I won't dare tease you again! Wahahaha!"
"Elder sister, my beloved sisters, I swear I'll never trick you again. Please, spare me!"
Meanwhile, Rowan was beginning to make his mark.
He held the Celestial Blade in hand, his feet gliding atop the Dark Cloud Shuttle a psionic weapon he had recently acquired on Babata's recommendation. It was the perfect match for him.
This was Rowan's first weapon of its kind, just as in the original tales. With the Celestial Blade, his strength had reached epic levels.
In Sector Seventy-One, with four days left until the final countdown, Rowan's ruthless decisiveness and relentless pursuit had catapulted him from rank 200,000 to 1,009 in just three days. Only a few more victories would secure him a spot in the semifinals.
On the battlefield, his mastery over the Celestial Blade created an impenetrable zone of lethal psionic energy. Any opponent entering it was shredded without mercy.
Rowan didn't even need to deploy the Golden Domain; his sheer skill was enough to dominate. For days, he fought tirelessly, his name becoming synonymous with relentless slaughter. Challengers called him a madman.
Anyone seeing him approach would attempt to flee, but escape was futile. With the Dark Cloud Shuttle, he could close the distance almost instantly, cutting down his enemies with precision.
Four years prior, under the guidance of the Black Dragon Emperor, Babata had trained Rowan. His talent, amplified by the Golden Horn Beast, surpassed even some god-level disciples. Babata spared no effort in nurturing him.
Later, Rowan acquired his own custom weapon, the Divine Shard, and a Magic Assassin Clone, while investing nearly thirty units of Pure Essence to strengthen the Golden Horn Beast. Money was spent freely training a Golden Horn Beast was extravagantly costly, though some resources came from the Magic Vine.
His abilities continued to grow steadily, and he had truly become a prodigy.
At the same time, in Sector Seventy-One, several highly ranked fighters, each around the 200s, had formed a warrior alliance. Four in a squad, they prohibited outsiders from targeting them, and coordinated attacks allowed them to gain points efficiently.
They spotted Rowan approaching their area, his rank nearing the top 1,000, and decided to ambush him. The four spread out from all directions.
Rowan sensed the trap: four opponents, skilled and synchronized, with domains of water, earth, wind, and metal, designed to crush anyone in their midst.
But instead of worry, Rowan laughed. Swiftly, the Celestial Blade fragmented into a storm of blades, his Blade Domain activated. The blades rained down on the four attackers.
They fought back with shields, psychic attacks, and laser weapons, but against Rowan's perfected technique, they were helpless. He singled out one, unleashing the Soul Blade Slash. The enemy's mind was pierced with agony, briefly fainting before being shredded into fragments.
With one down, Rowan's pressure eased, and he cut down the remaining three with ease.
The four had all been top scorers, yet Rowan's triumph propelled him to rank seventy-one. His achievement caused another wave of celebration across the Black Dragon Empire.
At the same time, Nabini, a disciple of Hargreave, had climbed to rank 981 three days prior and now advanced two more spots, delighting the Empire further.
Rowan's rise, alongside Raven, Hong, and Thunder God, was like a depth charge, shaking the foundations of the Empire.
"Lord Rowan… my heavens, another of our Black Dragon Empire has entered the top 100! Bless Black Dragon!"
"The Empire finally shines! No longer mocked by other universes!"
The news spread across the Black Dragon star systems, and countless spectators cheered. Everywhere they looked, it seemed that the Empire's name would now be spoken with reverence.
Meanwhile, in the sacred lands of the Qianwu Universe, the ruler was equally elated. He had not entered the Virtual Universe to observe, fearing the shame of previous failures. His 7,600 students had been nearly wiped out in the early stages.
Now, seeing talent from the Black Dragon Empire ascend to the top ranks restored his pride. Rowan, Raven, Hong, and Thunder God had all breached the top 100, a source of immense satisfaction.
Filled with confidence, he summoned the Black Dragon Emperor: "Open the Divine Realm transmission! Summon the Black Dragon Emperor immediately!"
At the Empire, the Emperor's expression shifted the moment he received the command. Without hesitation, he activated his Divine Realm transfer, vanishing before the astonished eyes of his court.
"Father, where is he going?"
The Second Prince's eyes widened in surprise, and those around him exchanged puzzled glances. No one could guess why the Emperor had departed in such urgency.