"Roar—"

  A deafening beastly roar echoed through the mountains and forests, startling countless birds. Lin Mo moved swiftly among the treetops, the heavy footsteps behind him causing leaves to fall in a flurry.

  "Xiao Hui, over here!" he whispered, and a silver-gray wolf leapt out from the bushes, nimbly landing on his shoulder. Lin Mo could feel the little guy trembling slightly, but his own heartbeat was unusually steady, even tinged with excitement.

  This was the adventure he had long awaited!

  Three days ago, he heard at the market below the mountain that a rare Crimson Flame Tiger had appeared in these woods, said to possess a core that could help one break through bottlenecks. For Lin Mo, who had been stuck at the Qi Refinement stage for three years, this was undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity.

  "Bang!"

  The sound of breaking trees came from behind him. Lin Mo glanced back to see a massive Crimson Flame Tiger relentlessly pursuing him. Its entire body was red like fire, with fangs nearly half a foot long, leaving deep claw marks on the ground with each step.

  A smile crept onto Lin Mo’s lips; he had already set a trap. Just as the Crimson Flame Tiger was about to pounce, he suddenly turned, forming a hand seal: "Rise!"

  "Swish, swish, swish!"

  Dozens of vines shot up from the ground, instantly wrapping around the tiger's limbs. These were spirit vines he had discovered while gathering herbs in the mountains, remarkably resilient. The tiger roared in anger, struggling but only becoming entangled tighter.

  "Now's my chance!" Lin Mo took out a dagger from his bosom, the only relic left by his father. The dagger was pitch black, its blade shimmering with a ghostly light, said to be capable of breaking through any defense.

  However, just as he prepared to strike, an unexpected event occurred!

  "Crack!"

  A bolt of purple lightning suddenly struck down, hitting the tiger squarely on the head. Lin Mo was knocked to the ground by the shockwave, and when he got up, the Crimson Flame Tiger lay charred and lifeless.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  "Who?!" Lin Mo scanned the surroundings warily.

  "Hehe, young friend, there's no need to be tense." An elderly voice came from the woods, and an old man in a purple robe stepped out. His hair and beard were white, yet his complexion was rosy, exuding a certain authority in his movements.

  Lin Mo's pupils constricted; he couldn’t sense the old man's aura at all! This indicated that the other party's cultivation was far beyond his own.

  "I want this Crimson Flame Tiger," the old man said indifferently, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

  Lin Mo clenched his fists, feeling discontent. But he knew that any resistance would be futile in the face of absolute power.

  At that moment, the little wolf on his shoulder suddenly let out a low growl, its fur standing on end. Lin Mo felt an unusual wave emanating from Xiao Hui, and then the jade pendant in his bosom suddenly grew warm!

  "Huh?" The old man's gaze sharpened, staring intently at Lin Mo's chest, "What do you have on you?"

  Lin Mo instinctively took a step back, but it was too late. The old man waved his hand, and an invisible force pinned him in place, causing the jade pendant to fly out of his bosom and hover in midair.

  The pendant was entirely emerald green, engraved with intricate patterns, and was now emitting a faint glow. This was the item that Lin Mo had worn since childhood, said to be the only keepsake left by his mother.

  "Indeed, it’s you!" A glint of ecstasy flashed in the old man's eyes, "After searching for so many years, I finally found you!"

  Lin Mo's heart raced with alarm; he felt an unprecedented sense of danger. Just then, the jade pendant erupted with blinding light, enveloping him in a powerful force.

  "No!" the old man shouted in anger, reaching out to grab it, but it was too late.

  Lin Mo felt the world spinning, and when he came to his senses, he found himself in an unfamiliar space. The spiritual energy here was so dense it seemed to condense into water, with countless points of light floating around, each containing vast amounts of information.

  "This is... the internal space of the pendant?" Lin Mo gazed around in shock.

  Xiao Hui jumped down from his shoulder, its size starting to change. The silver-gray fur gradually turned pure white, and a golden pattern emerged on its forehead. To Lin Mo's astonishment, Xiao Hui's eyes revealed a glimmer of human-like intelligence.

  "Master, you’ve finally come," Xiao Hui spoke!

  Lin Mo was flabbergasted; before he could react, a flood of information surged into his mind. He realized that this jade pendant was an ancient treasure, and Xiao Hui was its guardian spirit beast.

  "Boom!"

  A violent tremor came from the outside. Lin Mo knew the old man would not give up easily. Taking a deep breath, a determined light flashed in his eyes. Since the opportunity had arrived, it was time to uncover the truth behind it all!

  At that moment, a crack suddenly appeared in the pendant's space, and a clear female voice called out, "Hurry in!"

  Lin Mo had no time to think; he dashed in with Xiao Hui. Before his eyes stood a quaint bamboo house, and a girl in a green dress was anxiously looking at him.

  "You finally came," her eyes glistened with tears, "I waited for you for a whole ten years..."