Beast Taming Star Journey

The moment the Li family patriarch appeared, the air seemed to freeze, oppressively thick with tension. His magnificent robes gleamed blindingly in the sunlight, accentuating his unparalleled majesty, like a god descending to earth, looking down upon me, an insignificant ant. His gaze, sharp as a knife, carried a superior's disdain as it slowly swept over me, as if trying to see right through me. I felt my heart skip a beat, and my palms began to sweat.

"You're Nong Yu?"

His voice was deep and resonant, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

I tried to straighten my back, meet his gaze, and do my best to appear neither humble nor arrogant: "Yes."

The Li family patriarch snorted coldly, his disdain even more evident in his eyes.

"I heard you did quite well in the Beast Taming Competition?"

I understood what he meant. He didn't believe in my abilities at all and thought that everything I had done was just luck.

I took a deep breath and calmly replied, "Whether it was luck or skill, I have a clear conscience."

"Have a clear conscience?"

The Li family patriarch seemed to have heard a joke, a mocking smile curving his lips.

"What right do you, a nobody from humble beginnings, have to compare yourself to the Li family? You think that by climbing up to Su Yao, you can become a phoenix on a branch? Let me tell you, that's wishful thinking!"

With each word he spoke, my heart sank a little deeper. I knew he had come with ill intentions.

"I am just friends with Miss Su Yao."

I tried to remain calm and explained.

"friend?"

The Li family patriarch interrupted me dismissively, "Stop pretending! Do you think I don't know what you're up to? I'm warning you, you'd better stay away from the Li family, especially my granddaughter! Otherwise, I'll make sure you can't have a place in the Beast Taming World!"

His tone was icy, carrying a strong sense of threat. I felt immense pressure, as if a mountain was pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.

I know that the Li family is powerful, and if they really want to deal with me, I have almost no power to resist.

My hands were clenched into fists, my nails digging deep into my flesh, yet I felt no pain. My heart was filled with resentment and anger, but I was utterly helpless.

Should I really give up? Should I really bow down to fate? Just then, Su Yao, who had been silent all along, suddenly stood up.

She stepped forward, blocking my way, her gaze fixed intently on the Li family patriarch, and said, word by word, "Patriarch Li, what do you mean by that? Bullying the weak and taking advantage of the powerful—is this the family tradition of your Li family?"

Her voice was clear and powerful, carrying an aura of unassailable authority that instantly shattered the oppressive atmosphere around her.

The Li family patriarch was clearly taken aback by her assertiveness, and his expression changed slightly... Su Yao's sudden intervention was like a lightning bolt piercing the oppressive sky. She stood before me, her figure petite yet like a majestic mountain, shielding me from all the storms.

She pointed at the Li family patriarch, her voice clear and cold like an icy spring, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Patriarch Li, what do you mean by that? Bullying the weak and relying on strength to oppress the weak—is this the family tradition of your Li family? If you dare to harm Nong Yu, I, Su Yao, will not let this go!"

The Li family patriarch's face instantly turned ashen; he clearly hadn't expected Su Yao to be so assertive.

He snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain: "Su Yao, you're just a girl, how dare you be so insolent in front of me? I advise you not to meddle in other people's business, otherwise..."

"How else?"

Su Yao interrupted him without fear, her eyes filled with provocation, "Although I, Su Yao, am a woman, I am not one to be bullied! So what if your Li family is powerful? I, Su Yao, am not easily intimidated!"

The air around them seemed to freeze, the atmosphere tense and ready to explode at any moment.

The onlookers began to whisper among themselves, their eyes darting back and forth between me and the Li family, their faces showing expressions of anticipation.

Some people whispered about my background, some mocked my overestimation of my abilities, and others gloated, waiting to see me make a fool of myself.

I felt like a wild beast trapped in a cage, surrounded by mocking and contemptuous gazes, so oppressive that I could hardly breathe.

The Li family patriarch laughed in fury, looking at Su Yao with disdain: "Su Yao, you are truly overestimating yourself! Who do you think you are? How dare you challenge the authority of my Li family? Today I will show you what true arrogance is!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful pressure emanated from him, pressing down on Su Yao and me like a tidal wave.

I felt as if my body was being crushed by a mountain, unable to move.

Su Yao also felt this powerful pressure, but she did not back down at all. Instead, she stood even more firmly in front of me, using her slender body to shield me from this powerful pressure.

My heart was filled with emotion and gratitude, but also with a profound sense of powerlessness. I knew that with my current strength, I was utterly incapable of contending with the Li family.

The Li family patriarch is a master-level beast tamer, while I am merely a novice beast tamer who has just entered the world of beast taming. The gap between us is like an insurmountable chasm. What should I do?

Will my beast-taming ability be able to come into play at this moment?

Just when I was feeling desperate, Su Yao suddenly grabbed my hand. Her hand was warm and soft, giving me immense strength.

She looked at me, her eyes full of encouragement and trust: "Nongyu, don't be afraid, I'm here!"

Her words were like a ray of sunshine entering my heart, dispelling all the gloom. I knew I couldn't give up; I couldn't betray Su Yao's trust.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm, and began to mobilize the beast-taming power within my body... Just then, a commotion suddenly arose in the crowd.

An aged voice slowly rang out: "Stop."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a mysterious old man in a gray robe slowly walking over.

His hair was gray and his face was covered with wrinkles, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp, as if they could see through everything.

His appearance instantly eased the tense atmosphere. Everyone curiously sized up the old man, guessing his identity.

He simply looked at me and slowly said, "Young man..."