Domain

Within the Soul Beast World, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear had always been a terrifying existence standing at the pinnacle of land-based combat power. It was also a supreme ferocious beast that inherited the bloodline of the Ancient Behemoth, renowned as the "number one assault soul beast on land," a name that struck fear into countless soul masters.

Such a terrifying soul beast possessed an exceedingly fearsome physique upon reaching adulthood. Though this one had only a hundred years of cultivation, its body already stood over three meters tall, towering like a mountain. Its entire body was covered in dense, hard dark-gold fur, every strand gleaming with a cold metallic luster like natural supreme armor. Ordinary attacks could hardly break through its defenses. Its shoulders and back were broad and heavy, like an ancient city wall stretched across the land, while the knotted muscles on its arms bulged savagely, containing violent power capable of shattering mountains and cracking boulders. It fully displayed the tyranny of a primordial ferocious beast.

A chillingly vicious aura instantly swept through the entire forest. Wild winds carried dirt and shredded leaves through the air as the more than three-meter-tall Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear stomped down with a thunderous crash. Each step cracked the ground. Its dark-gold fur stood on end, and its scarlet beast eyes locked firmly onto Li Chen and Gu Yue. Its meter-long terror claws scraped across the earth, leaving trenches deep enough to expose bone as its violent ferocity bore down on them like a tidal wave.

At the sight, the purple soul ring beneath Li Chen's feet flashed, and his first soul skill activated instantly.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear shuddered violently. The sensation of its Soul Power being forced backward made its body feel instantly uncomfortable, but its powerful physique allowed it to launch an attack at once after recovering from the discomfort.

"Careful! Its body is extremely powerful, and its claws can split gold and stone!" Gu Yue's cool cry rang out first. She retreated gracefully, golden, green, and blue elemental light instantly gathering at her fingertips. Wind blades carrying the power of sharp metal shot toward the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's eyes, precisely restraining its assault.

Elemental power circulated endlessly around her. Wind increased speed, earth formed shields, and wood bound its feet. One elemental skill after another flowed forth without pause. Though the power appeared gentle, it precisely ensnared the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's limbs, forcing it to roar furiously while making it impossible to approach.

Li Chen's gaze turned cold as Soul Power erupted around him. Nether Soul Power, black as an abyss, surged like waves. The towering Pluto, crowned in bone and clad in nether robes, slowly fused with him. A deathly, icy pressure that governed life and death shot into the sky, instantly freezing the surrounding air into stillness.

He stepped on Underworld Fire and shot forward. Several nether soul chains formed at his fingertips and wound toward the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's torso. "Nether Prison Soul Lock, bind!"

Black nether chains clamped tightly around the bear's body, but the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's bloodline power was violent, and its brute force exploded forth. The chains immediately trembled as if on the verge of breaking. It threw back its head and roared, sweeping its terror claws. Sharp metallic energy and violent power directly tore apart the elemental shield, and a claw chopped down at Li Chen's head. Before the claw even arrived, the cutting gale had already made his skin sting with pain.

"Li Chen! Elemental Enhancement!" Gu Yue's eyes narrowed. Her hands formed seals as all four elements gathered around Li Chen, transforming into elemental light armor over his body. At the same time, she activated spatial power and abruptly pulled Li Chen half an inch away, barely avoiding the fatal claw.

At that critical moment, the ferocious aura bursting from the bear's body sent Li Chen flying backward. Blood trickled from the corner of his lips, and even the phantom of Pluto faded somewhat.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear pressed forward step by step, its terror claws striking again with unstoppable force. The very world around them seemed imprisoned by that violent power.

Li Chen looked up. On one side was Gu Yue, exerting all her strength to use the elements to restrain the ferocious beast. On the other was the deathly resonance transmitted from the Pluto Martial Soul deep within him. At the line between life and death, something exploded in his mind!

Deathly stillness intertwined with vitality, and the nether fused with heaven and earth. What Pluto governed was not mere annihilation, but the order that divided life and death and controlled a realm of heaven and earth!

"This is... a domain..."

Li Chen's eyes suddenly lit up with dark, divine radiance. Nether power around him surged madly, and the scattered Nether Soul Power abruptly converged. Centered on him, the Dawn Nether Domain burst forth!

The black domain, mixed with faint dawnlight, instantly enveloped an area dozens of meters wide. Within it, the temperature plummeted and deathly power filled the air. The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's speed and strength abruptly dropped by thirty percent, its physical defenses were greatly weakened, and its violent hostility was completely suppressed, making its movements incomparably sluggish.

Underworld Fire burned faintly within the domain as the Power of Life and Death circulated. Meanwhile, Li Chen and Gu Yue's Soul Power was continuously enhanced, and the power flowing through their bodies became increasingly smooth.

Li Chen gave a cold shout. The phantom of Pluto raised a hand and gripped the Nether Ghost Scythe. All the domain's power poured into the scythe, which slashed toward the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's head with the pressure of one who governed life and death.

Gu Yue understood without a word. The elements around her instantly fused into an ultimate elemental pillar of light, joining as one with the nether-powered scythe edge. Earth broke defenses, wind increased speed, water slowed movement, and fire burned. The four elemental powers entwined with nether death energy, multiplying their might.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear let out a shrill roar and swung its terror claws in desperate resistance. But under the domain's suppression and the pair's combined attack, its dark-gold fur shattered inch by inch, its massive claws were instantly torn apart, and nether power and elemental power burst into its body, utterly destroying its life force.

With a thunderous boom, the enormous creature crashed heavily to the ground and moved no more.

As the hundred-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was successfully slain, golden spiritual energy rose up, splitting into two in midair before entering Gu Yue and Li Chen's bodies respectively.

But neither chose to continue exploring. Instead, they pressed the button. Their gains from this Spirit Ascension were already sufficient, especially since Li Chen had awakened his innate domain through this opportunity and needed time to properly consolidate it.

With a click, the figures of the two slowly disappeared from the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Immediately afterward, countless precision gears began turning in unison, and two metal capsules slowly emerged from the smooth, mirror-like metal wall.

As the capsule door rose, Li Chen opened his eyes in the darkness. The surrounding light seemed somewhat blinding at that moment. He instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes and squinted slightly.

Seeing Li Chen emerge from the Spirit Ascension Platform, Leng Qiu congratulated the youth who had just sat up. "Xiao Chen! You performed well this time. You awakened a domain through this opportunity, and the road ahead until you become a Super Douluo will be smooth sailing."

Gu Yue had also stepped out of her metal capsule by then. She gave Li Chen a meaningful glance before asking,

"Li Chen, how long does your soul skill last when it hits a person?"

Li Chen thought for a moment before answering. Ever since fusing with the soul spirit, his soul skill had only ever been tested on soul beasts, so he could not make a fully reliable judgment.

"This soul skill has one second of forced control. After that, breaking free requires not only Soul Power to dissolve it, but also strong mental will. But if you're unlucky and your Soul Power gets sealed, even strong mental will is useless."

"It even requires mental will to break through. This soul skill's control effect is stronger than I imagined. If you train your body properly and achieve a second awakening of your martial soul, coupled with your martial soul's innate attributes, fighting opponents above your level will basically be effortless for you." Leng Qiu gave a highly satisfied assessment.

"Next, I'll specifically find someone to arrange a training plan and meal plan for you, ensuring that your physical condition improves tremendously." After his brief assessment, Leng Qiu immediately made appropriate plans.

After hearing Leng Qiu's arrangements, Gu Yue and Zi Ji exchanged glances. Zi Ji then spoke, "Tower Master Leng, let's leave it at that for today. I'll take the children back first. Please inform us when Her Highness Heavenly Phoenix arrives."

Leng Qiu promptly returned the salute. "Since it is Your Highness's request, I will naturally do everything in my power to assist."

With that, he turned and returned to the Spirit Pagoda, beginning arrangements for Li Chen's upcoming training regimen.