Rowan had no intention of venturing into the ancient ruins of Tomb No. 9.
He knew well that entering the ruins could grant him access to the Art of Celestial Evasion, a technique used by high-level Mind Masters. But before that, one had to survive the deadly trials left behind by the intelligent core of Yunmo Planet. Those trials were not mere puzzles they were life-or-death ordeals.
To pass, a challenger needed to master either the 312 Foundational Forms of the Mind Master or the 186 Foundational Forms of the Illusionist within three years. Failure meant death at the hands of the intelligent system's automated weapons cold, precise, and merciless.
If one succeeded, the rewards were immense: the coveted Black God Set, the attack technique Celestial Evasion, and even a token once used to enter Yunmo Planet.
But Yunmo Planet had long since turned to cosmic dust, lost to time. Its token was nothing more than an ancient relic with no real value now.
Even so, the foundational training methods the 312 Forms and 186 Forms were priceless. Earth had almost no authentic resources for cultivating spiritual telekinesis or illusion-based attacks. The only known guide, the Divine Atlas, was now archaic in comparison. Both Yunmo techniques far surpassed it, belonging to a higher cosmic civilization.
Yet Rowan didn't plan to risk his life for them. He had saved Luo Feng's life more than once, and their friendship was genuine. If he asked, Luo Feng would gladly share the manuals with him.
Besides, he had far more urgent matters to handle. Spending months or even a year mastering those forms wasn't worth it not when he could instead push his cultivation from Stellar Rank One to Stellar Rank Seven.
He deliberately aimed for Rank Seven not the peak of Rank Nine.
After using the Power Stone, Rowan had realized something: as long as the Infinity Gem's energy coursed within him, his power would rise continuously, almost without resistance. While others struggled for decades to overcome bottlenecks, he could simply harness the stone's infinite energy to surge ahead.
But that gift came with danger. Power without foundation was like a castle built on sand. If his energy expanded too quickly, he risked losing control. And with the Virtual Universe Corporation's Genius Tournament approaching, he couldn't afford to make that mistake.
That competition would gather the most prodigious talents in the galaxy terrifying geniuses like the Reaper Brolan, the Savage Rong Jun, and Uka the Wild Titan of Manka. Every one of them could crush worlds.
Rowan's strength, though formidable, was still not enough to call himself invincible among them.
He needed to strengthen his domain and gain at least a touch of the Law of Fire. Only then could he hope to stand among those monsters not as a challenger, but as one of their equals.
The path of a Stellar cultivator was long and perilous.
He also worried that, just as the Power Stone had propelled him from Planetary to Stellar rank, another uncontrolled surge might push him too far straight into the Cosmic Level and cause him to miss the Genius Tournament entirely. That would be a disaster.
To prevent that, he decided to anchor himself at Stellar Rank Seven, the perfect balance point between safety and strength.
With this level, mastery of the Fire Domain, and the telekinetic might of a Planetary Rank Nine Mind Master, even the legendary Golden-Horned Beast wouldn't stand a chance.
After finishing his conversation with Luo Feng, Rowan returned to the Marvel World.
For now, the universe was quiet. With Thanos gone, peace had settled at least temporarily.
He walked into his coastal villa.
Pushing open the door, Rowan planned to grab a quick meal before meditating. The next phase of his training would require complete focus.
As he descended the stairs, he noticed Wanda in the kitchen, using her psychic energy to mimic his cooking style. Pots and pans floated in graceful arcs around her as ingredients danced in midair.
"Master!" she greeted, sensing his presence instantly.
The house was empty just the two of them. Out of habit, Wanda used the term she had grown comfortable with, one that carried both respect and affection.
In recent weeks, she had progressed astonishingly fast through the Divine Atlas. She had already completed the second diagram and stepped into the third. Her telekinetic power now matched that of an early-stage War God. On Earth, aside from Rowan and the deceased Captain Marvel, no one could rival her.
"Dinner's almost ready, Master," Wanda said softly, turning to return to her work.
But Rowan followed her into the kitchen.
Today, she wore her Black God armor reformed into a sleek black maid's outfit a playful use of its adaptive nanotech. Her graceful figure moved with practiced precision, her heels clicking faintly against the floor.
"Wanda," Rowan said calmly, "a true Mind Master must learn to divide their focus. In battle, you can't only control your weapons you have to handle close combat, too. So today, you'll cook while sparring with me. If the dish gets ruined, you fail and you'll have to face punishment."
Her cheeks flared crimson, but she obeyed.
Soon the kitchen filled with floating dishes, shimmering knives, and bursts of fragrance. The symphony of sizzling oil and dancing ingredients painted a scene both beautiful and surreal.
Later that evening, Maria Hill and Natasha returned home. The scent of food instantly greeted them.
"That smells amazing. Rowan, you're back?" Natasha smiled, seeing him at the table. She leaned close, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek.
"You've been hard to reach lately," she murmured teasingly, though her eyes were filled with warmth.
Rowan chuckled. "I've been busy."
"I figured," Natasha said, her tone light. "Still, I have something special to show you tonight a new dress."
She winked playfully, though beneath her teasing, she knew he had been carrying the weight of worlds. From Thor, she'd learned what had happened in Asgard that without Rowan, they might never have survived.
Now the surviving Asgardians had settled on Earth. The event had shaken the entire planet. Humanity was divided some filled with awe, others with fear. Gods had descended from myth to live among mortals.
The Earth Federation's governments were in chaos. The military stayed on high alert, unsure whether these newcomers were friends or potential conquerors.
Thor had promised peace, swearing that his people only wished for a quiet home. But words alone could not ease the fear of those in power.
During dinner, Natasha gently brought up the subject, her gaze lingering on Rowan. Hill watched silently, gauging his reaction.
Rowan simply nodded. "Thor and I have some history. Give them a place to live nothing more."
To him, Asgard's fate was trivial. But for Thor's sake, he was willing to offer them sanctuary.
If they ever threatened Earth, however, he would wipe them out without hesitation even if it meant killing Thor himself.
Hill understood immediately and said no more. With her brother's power, even gods would not dare defy him.
After dinner, Rowan returned to his room, intending to rest before beginning his next phase of cultivation. But before he could lie down, the door slid open.
Natasha slipped inside, wearing a pink dress and high heels, her movements graceful and deliberate. She pressed a button on the wall, sealing the room with vibranium panels.
Rowan couldn't help but laugh. "You really came prepared?"
She smiled mischievously and stepped closer. "Time is short, Rowan. Let's make it count."
What followed was a night filled with heat, laughter, and quiet whispers beneath the stars.
The next morning, Rowan traveled to Muspelheim, the Realm of Eternal Fire. The heat was overwhelming, yet to him, it felt like home.
He donned the Infinity Gauntlet and summoned the Power Stone's energy.
Violet flames erupted around him, crackling like living lightning. The gem's cosmic energy flowed into his body, and every cell roared to life, greedily devouring the endless surge of power.
Within his core, his inner star spun faster, radiating purple light that illuminated his entire being. The energy condensed, reshaping his essence the mark of another breakthrough.
A new star was born within him.
Stellar Rank Two.
Days turned into weeks as he absorbed the Power Stone's energy. Each advance took longer the process from Rank One to Two lasted three days, from Two to Three another four.
A month later, his entire body blazed like a miniature galaxy. Seven glowing stars orbited his central core, each etched with radiant violet veins pulsing with unimaginable force.
Rowan opened his eyes. Twin beams of purple fire shot out, burning through the air for two kilometers before fading.
"I can't believe it took over a month this time," he murmured. His voice was calm, but the sheer power coursing through him was intoxicating.
He clenched his fist, feeling the cosmos tremble at his touch. With just a thought, he could now obliterate a planet.
And this was only the beginning.
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