Light-Dark Secret Realm, Two Paths

On Star Luo Continent, He Qiang and Chen Long were walking side by side through a forest.

Ever since leaving the Dragon Valley Minor World, they had been searching every corner of Star Luo Continent for opportunities. Yet, to their frustration, more than half a year had passed. Although their cultivation had improved considerably, they had found no other opportunities.

While a hundred-thousand-year dragon-type soul bone was already extraordinarily valuable to ordinary people, it still fell far short of their expectations, given that their goal was godhood.

"What should we do? We haven't found any suitable opportunities in a long time," He Qiang asked. "Should we go to Dou Ling Continent or Sun Moon Continent?"

"Sailing is an extremely dangerous undertaking to begin with. We were already fortunate to make it to Star Luo Continent. Other than returning to Douluo Continent, I don't recommend risking our lives to travel to another continent," Chen Long said, shaking his head.

"Then let's keep going," He Qiang said. "There's always a way when the cart reaches the mountain."

As the two walked, they suddenly felt the surrounding space twist. Then, the scenery before them changed.

"Is this... an illusion?" He Qiang asked through mental transmission as he looked at the transformed surroundings.

"It could also be Space Teleportation," Chen Long replied through mental transmission. "We should still be careful."

The two moved forward slowly, occasionally surveying their surroundings.

The lush green trees had long since vanished, as had the intermittent chirping of birds. In their place stood a forest of maple trees.

"He Qiang, does Star Luo Continent have maple trees?" Chen Long asked.

"I'm not sure either." He Qiang's expression was grave. "But judging by the looks of it, this shouldn't be an illusion. This is a real space."

Suddenly, a golden-furred canine creature emerged from the maple forest, majestic and imposing.

"A Golden-haired Lion Mastiff?" He Qiang's expression changed. "Didn't these things go extinct long ago?"

"He Qiang, tell me everything you know about this spirit beast," Chen Long said hurriedly, cold sweat trickling down his forehead. "I can sense a powerful threat from it."

"Legend says that the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff is the ancestor of all dog-type spirit beasts. It is born with the Domination Domain, which vastly increases its attack and defense, grants it immunity to pain, enhances all its abilities, and... makes it fight to the death!" He Qiang said. "Even a hundred-thousand-year Golden-haired Lion Mastiff could rank among ferocious beasts. Although this one looks like it only has a thousand years of cultivation, I'm afraid it is no weaker than any Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast."

"So... relatively speaking, its weaknesses are speed and stamina?" Chen Long asked, narrowing his eyes.

"You said it yourself—relatively speaking." He Qiang gave a bitter smile.

Golden-black halos slowly rose around the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff. Its Domination Domain activated, and its body continued to expand until it was as large as a small hill.

He Qiang and Chen Long did not hesitate. They immediately fled in opposite directions.

They understood clearly that facing it head-on would be unwise. Attacking from afar was the proper choice.

The Golden-haired Lion Mastiff did not pursue them. Instead, it opened its mouth and unleashed a deafening roar.

"Careful! This is the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff's signature move, a soundwave-type soul skill—Lion Mastiff Roar." As He Qiang spoke, he released his martial soul, and five spirit rings circled around him.

Chen Long also released his martial soul, with five spirit rings likewise circling around him.

The Lion Mastiff Roar targeted the seven orifices, the most vulnerable parts of the human body. No matter how strong one's external defenses were, internal defenses could never be nearly as strong.

Chen Long and He Qiang both poured all their strength into mobilizing their Soul Power for defense, barely managing to endure it.

Before the two could recover their senses, the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff leaped into the air and came crashing down toward Chen Long.

He Qiang's expression changed. His Fourth Spirit Ring lit up as he unleashed Blue Lightning Divine Dragon Swift Strike. At the same time, he charged toward the falling Golden-haired Lion Mastiff and rammed into it, knocking its body off course.

Chen Long and He Qiang had worked together for many years and had long developed perfect coordination. He immediately used the opportunity to dodge aside.

"This can't go on. I'm afraid it'll wear us down until our Soul Power is exhausted first," Chen Long said with a frown.

"I have an idea," He Qiang said. "Let's activate the power of our soul bones and make light and darkness collide. The energy released should be enough to break through the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff's defenses."

"Then let's try it." Chen Long nodded.

As they spoke, the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff slammed a paw into the ground. Rows of earthen spikes immediately erupted from the ground, and Chen Long and He Qiang leaped to opposite sides to evade them.

Then, the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff charged toward them at incredible speed.

"Now!" Chen Long shouted. He activated the hundred-thousand-year Light Dragon Soul Bone, converting his lightning-attributed Soul Power into Light Attribute Soul Power. He condensed it into a sphere and fired it out.

That was the ability of his Light Dragon Soul Bone: Attribute Conversion. It could convert Soul Power of any attribute into Light Attribute Soul Power. If the Soul Power was already of the Light Attribute, its power would rise by an entire level.

At the same time, He Qiang used his hundred-thousand-year Dark Dragon Soul Bone to fire a sphere of Dark Attribute Soul Power. It collided directly with Chen Long's sphere of Light Attribute Soul Power in front of the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff, unleashing an enormous burst of energy that reduced all the maple trees within dozens of meters to dust.

He Qiang and Chen Long stared ahead. The Golden-haired Lion Mastiff was still alive, but blood poured from its body, and half of its flesh had been blasted into a mangled mess.

The two did not hesitate. Their Second Spirit Rings lit up simultaneously as they unleashed Thunderous Force. One lightning sphere after another bombarded the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff, and a succession of thunderous explosions rang out.

As the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff's roars gradually faded away, the two stopped attacking and looked over once more.

The Golden-haired Lion Mastiff's entire body had been blasted into several chunks of rotten flesh. It was dead beyond all doubt.

He Qiang and Chen Long relaxed slightly, then cautiously approached the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff.

Though it appeared to be thoroughly dead, they remained on guard.

Fortunately, the attack they had anticipated never came. He Qiang and Chen Long safely approached the Golden-haired Lion Mastiff. After confirming its death, they turned and headed in the direction it had been guarding.

Chen Long and He Qiang continued onward, but found no other abnormalities.

Suddenly, Chen Long pointed ahead. "Look!"

He Qiang focused his gaze and saw the maple trees part ahead of them, revealing two paths leading in different directions.

The two hurried forward to the fork in the road and looked into the distance, but they still could not see the end of either path.

The path on the left appeared wider, with faint footprints visible upon it. The path on the right was covered in fallen maple leaves and seemed somewhat secluded.

"I feel like something on the left path is drawing me in," Chen Long said.

"My sixth sense tells me that the path on the right suits me better." He Qiang fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"It seems we must part ways here." Chen Long smiled faintly.

"Two roads diverged in a forest, and I chose the one less traveled. From then on, it determined the path of my life." He Qiang sounded somewhat wistful.

"Farewell. Until we meet again," Chen Long said, cupping his fists.

"Until we meet again." He Qiang returned the gesture.

After bidding each other farewell, the two set out along different paths, walking toward distant lands.