Beast Taming Star Journey

The air around me seemed to freeze, and an inexplicable sense of oppression gripped me tightly, making it almost impossible for me to breathe.

Su Yao also noticed something was wrong. She gripped my hand tightly, her eyes filled with worry.

I looked around warily, trying to find the source of this unease.

In the distance, behind the bushes, a dark figure flashed by with astonishing speed, leaving only a blur.

“Someone is lurking in the shadows…” I said in a low voice, a sense of foreboding rising in my heart.

Just then, a shrill laugh broke the silence.

"Hehe, Nong Yu, we meet again." I looked in the direction of the voice and saw the Beast Tamer slowly walking out from behind a big tree with a sinister smile on his face.

He was still dressed in a magnificent brocade robe, holding a gleaming dagger in his hand, his eyes filled with provocation.

"It's you again!" Su Yao roared, drawing her longsword and pointing it directly at the Beastmaster. "What kind of trick are you up to now?"

The Beastmaster scoffed disdainfully, "Intrigues and schemes? That's called strategy! A new test has begun, Nong Yu. This time, I won't let you get away with it so easily."

My heart sank. A new test? I looked around and realized we were in a dense forest.

The tall trees blocked out the sun, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The air was filled with the damp smell of earth, and the low growls of an unknown wild beast could be heard in the distance.

"What is this test?" I asked in a low voice, trying to keep myself calm.

The Beastmaster's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Guess? Why should I tell you?"

As he spoke, he made a gesture, and several strangely shaped tamed beasts darted out of the woods, roaring and hovering around my tamed beast companions, poised to attack.

My beast companions began to stir restlessly, emitting low warning sounds.

"What did you do?" I glared at the Beastmaster, a surge of anger rising within me.

The Beastmaster laughed heartily, "I didn't do anything. I just had my little darlings greet your beast companions. That's in accordance with the test rules, you know."

His words startled me. Rules? Could the content of this test be...? I suddenly realized that the Beast Tamer wasn't just provoking me; he was exploiting a loophole in the rules to deliberately interfere with my Beast Tamer partner, preventing me from concentrating on the test.

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger in my heart, and kept my eyes fixed on the Beastmaster's every move.

His smugness grew stronger, as if victory was already assured.

No, I can't let him lead me by the nose. I must calm down and find his weakness... My gaze swept over the beast tamer and the beasts behind him, and suddenly, I noticed a subtle detail... There seemed to be some strange powder on the beast tamer's sleeve... I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down.

The more complacent a beast tamer is, the more likely they are to reveal a weakness.

I carefully observed his every movement and expression, trying to find the slightest clue.

His eyes flickered, and although he had a smile on his lips, it seemed forced.

His hand gripped the dagger tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the excessive force.

My gaze fell on his cuff, where there was some pale yellow powder, almost imperceptible.

A thought struck me: this powder… I had once seen it in an ancient book. It was called “Beast-Bewitching Powder,” which could interfere with the senses of tamed beasts, making them agitated and restless.

“Beastmaster,” I said in a deep voice, my tone full of confidence, “do you think your little tricks can fool me?”

The smile on the beast tamer's face froze. His eyes flickered, and he said, feigning composure, "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Don't understand?" I sneered, pointing at his cuff. "Is the Beast-Bewitching Powder on your cuff just my imagination?"

The beast tamer's expression changed drastically. He instinctively tried to cover his cuffs, but it was too late.

The surrounding beast tamers also noticed this scene and began to discuss it amongst themselves.

"Beast-Bewitching Powder? He actually used such a despicable method!"

"How shameless! They actually cheated during the test!"

"How can someone like that be worthy of being a beast tamer!"

Faced with the accusations of the crowd, the Beastmaster's face turned ashen. He stammered and tried to explain, but could not find any excuse.

The elder in charge of supervising the test came over, carefully examined the sleeves of the beast tamer, and his expression became very serious.

"Cesium Beast Tamer, you have violated the test rules. Your participation is hereby disqualified, and you are to be confined for three years!"

Upon hearing the elder's verdict, the Beastmaster collapsed to the ground, his face filled with despair.

He never imagined that his carefully planned conspiracy would be so easily exposed by me.

Su Yao walked to my side, her eyes full of pride. She gently stroked my arm and said, "Yu, you are really amazing."

I smiled at her, feeling a surge of accomplishment. After this ordeal, the trials continued.

I successfully passed the test and obtained a precious beast-taming egg.

However, I felt no relief whatsoever. Although the Beastmaster had been punished, the power behind him remained.

This incident has made me realize more deeply that in this world where beast taming is revered, strength is the only guarantee.

I looked up ahead; the road to the next test had begun.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward. "A new testing ground..." I murmured to myself, my gaze falling on the towering, cloud-piercing tower ahead. "This...is..."