Beast Taming Star Journey

The wooden box was cool to the touch and unlocked. I gently lifted the lid, and inside lay a jade slip. A strange energy fluctuation emanated from the jade slip; my intuition told me this was what I was looking for. I carefully put the jade slip into my pocket, a huge weight lifted from my heart. However, I didn't let my guard down. I knew the real test had just begun. This was the lair of the dark forces; escaping unscathed would be no easy feat. I looked around; besides bookshelves and some miscellaneous items, there were no other exits in the secret room. Could there be some hidden passage or mechanism? I carefully examined the walls, hoping to find some clues. Suddenly, I noticed a stone brick in the corner that was slightly different in color, seemingly newer than the others. I walked over and gently tapped the brick, producing a dull echo. Something was definitely amiss! I took a deep breath, circulated my spiritual energy, and slammed my palm onto the stone brick. With a loud "boom," the brick shattered, revealing a dark hole. A chilling aura emanated from the cave entrance, sending a shiver down my spine. This seemed to be the escape route. Without hesitation, I jumped into the cave and followed the narrow passage downwards. The passage was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face; I could only grope my way forward using the faint light of my spiritual energy. After walking for what felt like an eternity, a glimmer of light finally appeared ahead. I quickened my pace, running towards that light. Suddenly, the view opened up, and I found myself in an underground cavern. The cavern was filled with jagged rocks, flowing water, and a damp smell. "Who goes there?!" A sharp voice suddenly rang out, startling me. I turned around immediately. A short man stood not far away, holding a sharp dagger, watching me warily. It was that strategist, Lai! "Hmph, I didn't expect you to find this place," Lai sneered. "But do you think you can escape like this? You're dreaming!" I stared at him coldly, saying nothing. I knew this wasn't the time for idle chatter. I had to leave as soon as possible and bring the intelligence back. "Where's Tungsten Boy?" I asked in a low voice. I had previously encountered a boy who had escaped after being captured by the dark forces; his name was Tungsten Boy. He knew some things about the lair's interior and might be able to help me. The Strategist was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "You're still thinking about that trash? We've already captured him! Now, you might as well surrender!" My heart sank; it seemed Tungsten Boy was likely doomed. However, I couldn't give up! I took a deep breath, preparing to fight the Strategist to the death. "Looks like you're going to take the punishment!" A cold glint flashed in the Strategist's eyes as he raised his dagger and charged at me… I dodged to the side, avoiding his attack, and simultaneously threw a punch, striking him squarely in the chest. The Strategist grunted and staggered back a few steps. I pressed my advantage, throwing another punch… "Stop!" a voice suddenly rang out. The wind howled as I pressed forward relentlessly, forcing the strategist to retreat step by step. Though cunning and treacherous, he was utterly powerless against me. My spiritual energy surged, sharing power with my tamed beast, the Crimson Flame Tiger. Each punch carried a scorching heat, forcing him to retreat repeatedly, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "You…you actually…" The strategist clutched his chest, a trickle of blood escaping his lips, his eyes filled with terror. He probably never imagined that I, a seemingly unremarkable commoner, possessed such formidable strength. I ignored his fear, my attacks growing even more ferocious. I had to finish this quickly, for my heart was always with Su Yao. Thinking of her, a warm current surged through me. I had been away for so long; I wondered how she was doing. I had promised her I would return safely. The thought of seeing her soon, sharing the joy of my intelligence with her, filled me with motivation. "Boom!" Suddenly, a violent tremor struck, and cracks began to appear in the walls of the secret chamber, with debris raining down. Oh no! A chill ran down my spine. Had the self-destruct mechanism activated? The dark forces were indeed cunning, setting such a trap in the chamber. "Hahaha! Even if you defeat me, you can't escape! Let's die together!" The strategist, far from being afraid, laughed maniacally. I cursed inwardly; this guy was a madman. However, I wouldn't die with him! I had to find a way out as quickly as possible! The tremors in the chamber grew more intense, and rocks continued to fall from above; the situation was extremely critical. I dodged the falling rocks while anxiously searching for an exit. However, apart from the hole I had entered through, there were no other passages. Was I really going to be trapped here to die? No! I would never give up! Su Yao was still waiting for me! I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to calm down. My tamed beast, the Crimson Flame Tiger, sensed my anxiety; it growled, its eyes burning with fierce flames. Wait! "Flames!" A thought suddenly flashed through my mind. The Crimson Flame Tiger possessed the ability to sense the earth's veins; perhaps it could find a way to escape! I immediately communicated with the Crimson Flame Tiger, telling it my idea. The Crimson Flame Tiger seemed to understand me. It closed its eyes, carefully sensing the fluctuations of the surrounding earth veins. After a moment, it suddenly opened its eyes, let out an excited growl, and then ran towards a corner of the secret chamber. I was overjoyed and quickly followed. The Crimson Flame Tiger reached the corner and scratched at the ground with its claws. I looked closely and discovered a tiny crack in the ground there. This crack was extremely well hidden; if it weren't for the Crimson Flame Tiger's special ability, I would never have noticed it. "This is it!" I was overjoyed and quickly circulated my spiritual energy, striking the crack with my palm. The crack split open, revealing a dark opening. A breath of fresh air rushed out of the opening, invigorating me. "This is..." Before I could even examine it closely, the strategist noticed my actions. A greedy glint flashed in his eyes as he roared and pounced on me: "Trying to escape? No way!" I snorted coldly, grabbed the Crimson Tiger, and leaped into the cave entrance. "Wait! Don't..." The strategist's voice trailed off... Beyond the cave entrance was a narrow passage. I clung tightly to the Crimson Tiger, sliding rapidly down the passage. The passage was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. The only sounds were the whistling wind and the clatter of falling rocks. The sounds of the collapsing chamber grew louder and louder. I was filled with anxiety, fearing the passage would also be blocked. The Crimson Tiger clung tightly to me, and I could feel its warmth and strength. It seemed to sense my unease, nuzzling my face with its head and whimpering softly, as if trying to comfort me. I gently patted its head, feeling a little calmer. I don't know how long I slid, but finally, I felt the speed slow down, and I landed on soft ground. I scrambled to my feet, lit a tinderbox, and by its dim light, I found myself in an underground cave. The cave wasn't large, and the air was thick with the damp, earthy smell of soil. "We're out!" I breathed a sigh of relief, my heart filled with the joy of surviving a near-death experience. I turned to look at the Crimson Tiger; it was looking at me too, its eyes gleaming with excitement. I couldn't help but hug it tightly, burying my face in its soft fur, my heart overflowing with gratitude. Without it, I would probably be buried in that secret chamber long ago. "Thank you, Crimson Tiger," I whispered. The Crimson Tiger licked my face and let out a low growl, as if in response. I stood up and looked around. The cave walls were covered in moss, and the ground was scattered with pebbles and withered branches. Deeper into the cave, there seemed to be another passage. "We need to get out of here quickly," I thought to myself. Although we had escaped the secret chamber, this was still the territory of the dark forces, and I had to find a way out as soon as possible. I walked forward along the passage, the Crimson Tiger close behind me. The passage wound its way through the tunnel, and after walking for a long time, I still couldn't see the end. A sense of unease began to creep into my heart. Suddenly, I heard faint footsteps and a low growl coming from the depths of the passage. My heart sank; I realized danger was approaching. I immediately stopped, held my breath, and listened intently to my surroundings. The footsteps grew closer, and the growl became clearer. I clenched my fists, my heart filled with vigilance. The Crimson Tiger also sensed the danger; it arched its back, letting out a low growl, ready to fight at any moment. "Who's there?" I asked in a low voice. No one answered; only the footsteps and growls grew ever closer…