Lin Mo blinked, and when he regained his senses, he found himself in a bamboo forest. The bamboo leaves rustled softly, and a faint fragrance filled the air. Not far away, a delicate bamboo house stood quietly, with wind chimes hanging from the eaves, producing a clear sound in the breeze.
"Where is this?" Lin Mo looked around warily, with Xiao Hui closely following at his feet, its fur still bristling.
The door of the bamboo house creaked open, and a girl in a green dress stepped out. She appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, with delicate features and skin as fair as snow. Most striking were her emerald green eyes, resembling two clear springs, sparkling with clarity.
"You finally came," the girl said, her voice sweet and melodious but tinged with a slight tremor. "I waited for you for ten whole years..."
Lin Mo was taken aback. "Ten years? Miss, do we know each other?"
A flicker of disappointment crossed the girl's face, but she quickly smiled again. "Now we do, right? My name is Qing Zhu, and I am one of the guardians of this pendant's space."
"Guardians?" Lin Mo was even more confused. "What is the origin of this pendant?"
Qing Zhu didn’t answer directly. Instead, she turned and walked toward the bamboo house. "Come in and sit. I will tell you slowly."
Inside the bamboo house, the furnishings were simple yet elegant. Several ink paintings hung on the walls, depicting spirit beasts that seemed alive. Lin Mo noticed that one painting featured a white wolf that closely resembled Xiao Hui.
"This pendant is called 'Myriad Beasts,' forged by a powerful being from ancient times," Qing Zhu said, pouring him a cup of tea. The aroma wafted through the air. "It can not only command countless beasts but also contains the lifelong knowledge of that powerful being."
Lin Mo's heart trembled. "Then why—"
"Why is it in your possession?" Qing Zhu interjected, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. "Because you are a descendant of that powerful being."
"What?" Lin Mo nearly dropped the tea cup.
Qing Zhu continued, "Ten years ago, your parents sealed the pendant within you to protect it. They..."
Before she could finish, a loud crash suddenly echoed from outside, shaking the entire space.
"Not good!" Qing Zhu's face changed. "That old man in the purple robe has found this place!"
Stolen novel; please report.
Lin Mo stood up. "Who is he?"
"He is from the 'Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion,'" Qing Zhu explained quickly, "an organization that specializes in collecting ancient relics. They have been searching for the Myriad Beasts pendant."
Another loud crash reverberated, causing the bamboo house to sway.
"We have to leave immediately!" Qing Zhu grabbed Lin Mo's hand. "I’ll take you to a safe place."
At that moment, Xiao Hui suddenly let out a long howl, its form changing once again. Its fur became even whiter, and the golden pattern on its forehead became more pronounced, exuding a powerful aura.
"This is..." Qing Zhu gazed at Xiao Hui in astonishment. "It has awakened!"
Before Lin Mo could ask, he felt a powerful force enveloping him. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a massive cave.
The cave's ceiling was embedded with countless glowing crystals, illuminating the entire space. The surrounding rock walls were inscribed with ancient runes, radiating a mysterious light.
"This is the Myriad Beasts Cave," Qing Zhu explained. "It is the core of the pendant's space."
Lin Mo noticed a stone platform in the center of the cave, upon which floated a translucent pearl.
"That is the Myriad Beasts Pearl," Qing Zhu said. "As long as you can gain its recognition, you will be able to truly control the pendant's power."
Taking a deep breath, Lin Mo approached the stone platform. He could sense the immense power contained within the pearl.
Just as he reached out to touch it, something unexpected occurred!
The pearl suddenly erupted with dazzling light, and a torrent of information flooded into Lin Mo's mind. He saw countless images: epic battles from ancient times, the spectacle of myriad beasts charging, and... the figures of a young couple.
"Father... Mother..." Lin Mo murmured, tears streaming down his face.
Qing Zhu watched quietly, a flicker of sorrow in her eyes. She knew that from this moment on, Lin Mo's fate would be forever changed.
Suddenly, the entire cave shook violently.
"Not good!" Qing Zhu's expression changed dramatically. "The people from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion have found this place! They are forcibly breaking through the spatial barrier!"
Lin Mo clenched his fists, determination flashing in his eyes. "Let me deal with them!"
"No!" Qing Zhu hurriedly stopped him. "You are still too weak. We must—"
Before she could finish, a crack suddenly appeared in the cave's ceiling, and a chilling voice echoed: "Found you!"
Lin Mo looked up to see the old man in the purple robe appearing in the crack, his eyes filled with greed.
"Hand over the pendant!" the old man shouted, a powerful pressure enveloping the entire cave.
Lin Mo felt it hard to breathe, but he straightened his back. "No way!"
At that moment, the Myriad Beasts Pearl suddenly flew into Lin Mo's body. A powerful force instantly filled him, and his cultivation began to rise rapidly!
"This is..." The old man's face changed dramatically. "You actually gained the pearl's recognition!"
Feeling a surge of strength within him, Lin Mo raised his hand, and a beam of golden light shot toward the old man.
"Boom!"
In the midst of a massive explosion, the old man's figure vanished. But Lin Mo knew this was only a temporary victory.
"We have to leave immediately," Qing Zhu urged. "The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion won't give up easily."
Lin Mo nodded, but his eyes shone with determination. "No matter what dangers lie ahead, I will face them all. Because..."
He looked at Qing Zhu and Xiao Hui, a smile forming on his lips. "I’m no longer fighting alone."
Qing Zhu gazed at Lin Mo, an unusual light gleaming in her eyes. She knew that this young man's legend was only just beginning.
