"Give us some time to discuss it," Hong said calmly.
"Of course." Bolin nodded. "But please be quick. Luo Feng's condition cannot wait."
After leaving Bolin's residence, the three of them found a quiet place to talk.
"What do you think?" Hong asked.
"There's no real choice." Thor clenched his teeth. "Luo Feng's injury can't be delayed. We need that medicine as soon as possible."
"But an interstellar escort mission…" Rowan frowned. "Especially in the Chaotic Star Region. That place is infamous for how dangerous it is."
Hong took a slow breath. "Great rewards always come with great risks. For Luo Feng, it's worth taking the gamble. Besides, with our strength, we should be able to handle it."
In the end, the three of them reached an agreement and returned to Bolin.
"We accept your condition," Hong said.
"A wise decision." Bolin smiled with satisfaction. From inside his robe, he produced an exquisite jade box. "This is the Ice Soul Purification Pill. Hurry and give it to Luo Feng."
Hong took the box and immediately felt the chilling aura leaking from within.
"I will tell you the details of the mission after the tournament ends," Bolin added. "Remember, this matter must remain confidential."
The three nodded and hurried back to the medical bay.
When the chief physician saw the pill, his eyes lit up with relief.
"Excellent! With this medicine, the fire toxin inside Luo Feng can finally be removed."
Under the physician's careful supervision, the Ice Soul Purification Pill dissolved into a stream of cool energy that slowly flowed into Luo Feng's body. Visible to the naked eye, the black veins spreading across his right arm began to fade.
"That's incredible," Thor sighed in relief.
Yet Hong's expression remained serious.
"The price we paid is not small. An interstellar escort mission to the Chaotic Star Region."
"When soldiers come, we block them. When floods rise, we build dams," Rowan said with a small smile. "With the four of us working together, we should be able to handle it."
Several hours later, Luo Feng finally regained consciousness. He was still weak, but his condition had clearly improved.
"Thank you," he said softly.
"Forget it." Thor waved his hand. "Just focus on recovering. There are still tough battles ahead."
Luo Feng nodded. He could feel the fire toxin inside his body gradually disappearing. Still, he noticed the heavy expressions on their faces.
"Did something happen?" he asked sharply.
The three exchanged glances before finally telling him about the escort mission.
"I see." Luo Feng fell silent for a moment. "I'm sorry. I've caused you trouble."
Hong patted his shoulder. "Don't say that. We're a team."
"Once you recover, we'll go together," Thor said with a grin. "Think of it as training."
The next day.
It was the final day of the fifth round.
Rowan's opponent was Su Jin from the Silver Blue Empire.
"Su Jin. A member of the imperial branch family of the Silver Blue Empire. They say she displayed extraordinary talent for the Law of Darkness since childhood," Luo Feng said while reviewing the opponent's data. Although he was still recovering, he insisted on coming to support Rowan.
"Her weapon is a staff?" Thor looked surprised. "Darkness practitioners rarely use that kind of weapon."
"That's exactly what makes her special." Hong pointed at the holographic battle footage. "Look carefully. Her staff can change its form at will. Sometimes flexible like a whip, sometimes rigid like steel."
In the projection, Su Jin wore a dark blue battle robe and held a completely black staff. Her movements were light and graceful, every strike carrying a strange elegance.
The most striking thing was her shadow. It seemed alive, constantly shifting and moving with her actions.
"Shadow manipulation," Rowan said quietly. "An advanced application of the Law of Darkness. It allows the user to give shadows physical attacking power."
"Not only that," Luo Feng added. "Look at her footwork. Every step lands on a precise position within her opponent's shadow. That's the Shadow Step technique from the Law of Darkness. It allows her to lock onto the opponent through their shadow."
The next day, the Star Arena was once again roaring with excitement.
This was the final match of the fifth round, a duel many had been waiting for.
"Fifth Round, Match Ten. Rowan of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire versus Su Jin of the Silver Blue Empire!"
Rowan stepped slowly onto the battlefield. In his hand, the Starflare Rift Blade trembled faintly, its fiery patterns glowing with intense heat.
After the previous battles, his understanding of the Law of Fire had deepened significantly.
Across from him, Su Jin walked forward gracefully. She had delicate features and an air of quiet melancholy. Her dark blue hair flowed in the wind, while the black staff in her hand radiated a deep, shadowy aura.
"I've heard your Law of Fire is powerful," Su Jin said coolly. "I've always wondered whether flames can truly drive away darkness."
Rowan smiled slightly. "Why don't we find out?"
"Begin!"
The moment the referee finished speaking, Su Jin's figure blurred.
More precisely, her shadow split apart, transforming into dozens of dark silhouettes rushing toward Rowan.
"Shadow Clones!"
Rowan had already prepared for this. He swung the Starflare Rift Blade, and a wall of flames rose instantly.
When the shadows touched the fire, hissing sounds filled the air. But instead of disappearing, the shadows slithered around the flames like living creatures and continued closing in.
"Interesting." Rowan's eyes gleamed with excitement.
His body flashed forward like a streak of fire, charging directly toward Su Jin's true form.
Su Jin remained calm. She tapped the ground lightly with her staff.
Instantly, her shadow spread outward, forming a massive field of darkness.
"Dark Domain. Eternal Night."
The entire battlefield was swallowed by darkness. Even sunlight could not penetrate it.
Inside the domain, Rowan felt his senses drastically weakened.
"Within my domain, light cannot escape," Su Jin's voice echoed from every direction.
Rowan closed his eyes.
The Law of Fire within his body stirred. A faint flame appeared around him, illuminating a few meters of space.
Suddenly, the sound of something slicing through the air came from behind.
Rowan instinctively dodged sideways. A black staff brushed past his shoulder.
"Good reflexes," Su Jin said, her figure flickering in the darkness. "But how long can you keep avoiding me?"
Her staff suddenly softened, twisting like a black serpent around Rowan. At the same time, countless shadows surged from all directions, attempting to trap him.
"Law of Fire. Flame Dragon Break!"
Rowan refused to remain on the defensive. The Starflare Rift Blade burst with blazing light.
A massive fire dragon roared out, tearing through the darkness and burning the shadows wherever it passed.
Su Jin's expression changed slightly.
She pulled back her staff and drew a circle before her. Darkness condensed into a shield that blocked the dragon's assault.
"Law of Darkness. Devour!"
The shield twisted into a vortex, swallowing the fire dragon's energy.
"Energy absorption?" Rowan frowned.
"Not only that." Su Jin smiled coldly. "The energy I devour becomes my own."
She swung her staff.
The fire energy she had just absorbed erupted again, this time as black flames racing toward Rowan.
Rowan's pupils shrank. These flames, tainted by the Law of Darkness, were even more dangerous and carried corrosive power.
He quickly dodged while thinking of a countermeasure.
"Ordinary flames won't work against her," he thought. "I need a higher level of power."
He inhaled deeply.
The Law of Fire within his body began to transform. The originally crimson flames gradually turned golden, radiating a sacred aura.
"Law of Fire. Fourth Profound Meaning. Heavenly Flame!"
Golden fire burst from his body, instantly illuminating the entire dark domain.
Su Jin's face turned pale.
"Heavenly Flame? You actually comprehended Heavenly Flame?"
Heavenly Flame was an advanced form of the Law of Fire. Only those with deep understanding of the essence of fire could awaken it. It possessed the power to purify all corrupted forces.
Wherever the golden flames spread, darkness melted away like snow under the sun.
Su Jin's dark domain began collapsing. The surrounding shadows vanished under the purifying flames.
"It's over," Rowan said quietly.
He raised the Starflare Rift Blade, now completely engulfed in golden fire.
"Heavenly Flame Judgment!"
A massive golden blade of fire slashed forward with overwhelming authority.
Su Jin tried to counter with her devouring power, but discovered the Heavenly Flame could not be absorbed.
At the critical moment, she unleashed her ultimate technique.
"Law of Darkness. Fifth Profound Meaning. Void!"
Her body suddenly turned transparent, merging with space itself. The golden blade passed through her without causing harm.
"Intangibility?" Rowan murmured in surprise.
"In the Void state, I am immune to all physical and energy attacks," Su Jin's voice drifted through the air.
She raised her staff.
Dark power gathered at its tip.
"Law of Darkness. Spear of Annihilation!"
A pitch-black spear formed, radiating an aura capable of erasing existence itself.
Rowan felt an unprecedented threat.
But he did not retreat.
"Then let's see whose ultimate technique is stronger."
He poured every bit of Heavenly Flame into the Starflare Rift Blade.
"Law of Fire. Ultimate Profound Meaning. Heaven-Burning Apocalypse!"
Golden flames soared skyward, forming a massive phoenix.
With a piercing cry, the fiery phoenix surged toward Su Jin.
The Spear of Annihilation collided with the phoenix, darkness and light clashing violently.
Boom!
A tremendous explosion shook the entire arena. Even the protective barrier cracked under the force.
When the dust settled, Su Jin knelt on one knee. Her staff had snapped in two, and her battle robe was badly damaged.
Rowan was not in much better shape. He knelt on one knee, breathing heavily.
"I surrender," Su Jin said with difficulty. "Your Heavenly Flame truly counters my Law of Darkness."
"Thank you for the match," Rowan replied, giving a respectful nod.
"Victory goes to Rowan of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
The battle between fire and darkness had thrilled everyone present.
Rowan walked off the battlefield and was immediately surrounded by his teammates.
"Heavenly Flame? When did you comprehend that?" Thor asked in disbelief.
"During the fight just now," Rowan said with a grin. "Facing her devouring ability pushed me to break through."
"As expected of you," Hong said approvingly. "Breaking through during battle. That's the mark of a true genius."
Rowan laughed weakly.
"Still, the energy cost is huge. My whole body feels like it's falling apart."
"Let's head back and rest," Luo Feng said. "Tomorrow we start the escort mission."
With Rowan's victory, the fifth round officially concluded.
All four members of the Earth team had advanced to the semifinals, making history.
That evening, the four gathered to discuss the mission.
"According to the information Bolin gave us," Hong said, spreading out a star map, "we'll need to pass through three dangerous regions. The Meteor Belt, the Magnetic Storm Zone, and the Pirate Nest."
"Sounds exciting," Thor said eagerly.
"Don't underestimate it," Luo Feng warned. "The danger of the Chaotic Star Region comes less from nature and more from people."
"Exactly," Rowan agreed. "It's home to the most ruthless pirates in the universe. They will do anything for profit."
The four talked late into the night, eventually finalizing a detailed plan.
Early the next morning, they arrived at the designated location.
The transport ship was ready. Bolin's steward was making the final checks.
"Everything is prepared," the steward said. "Good luck."
The spacecraft slowly lifted off, leaving Star City behind.
Rowan stood by the viewing window, watching the arena shrink into the distance.
"I never imagined my first interstellar journey would happen like this," he said softly.
"Yeah. I thought we were going out for training, not becoming cargo escorts," Thor joked.
At that moment, the interior door of the ship suddenly opened.
A middle-aged man in a black uniform walked in.
"Welcome aboard, everyone," the man said with a polite bow. "I am the leader of this mission. My codename is Shadow. For the next ten days, we'll be working together."
"Nice to meet you," Hong said politely. "Are there others on board?"
Shadow smiled slightly.
"Of course. A mission this important wouldn't rely on just a few people. Come with me. I'll introduce you to the rest of the team."
The four followed him down a corridor to a spacious lounge.
Five people were already waiting there.
"Let me introduce them," Shadow said, pointing to a bald, muscular man. "This is Ironwall, our defense specialist."
Ironwall nodded silently, his body built like solid steel.
"And this is Ghost, infiltration expert."
A slender woman smiled faintly. For a moment, her figure blurred, as if she could vanish into thin air at any time.
"This is Windblade, close combat specialist."
A young man holding twin blades gave a casual wave.
"Thunder, our heavy firepower."
A large man carrying a massive energy cannon stood quietly in the corner.
"And finally, Doctor, responsible for medical support and logistics."
The last man was a bespectacled middle-aged figure who nodded politely.
Rowan and the others exchanged glances.
Even without revealing their full strength, the aura from these individuals made it clear they were anything but ordinary.
"Looks like this mission is more important than we thought," Hong whispered.
"Yes," Rowan replied quietly. "They wouldn't send so many experts otherwise."