Encounter

The jump engine of the Hua Qiang Starship emitted a low hum. Pale blue bands of energy flowed around the hull, illuminating this deathly silent expanse of cosmic void like a dream.

Hua Qiang sat before the main console, his fingertips gliding across the holographic control panel as he watched the constantly refreshing coordinates on the star map. A relaxed smile curled at his lips.

"Sit tight. We're entering the asteroid belt."

The moment his words fell, the starship gave a slight shudder, then passed smoothly through the energy barrier.

Yao Lenchen immediately pressed herself against the porthole, the tip of her nose nearly touching the cold alloy glass, her clear eyes widened round.

The pale purple gown she wore fluttered slightly in the ship's circulating airflow. Strands of hair mischievously brushed across her cheeks, yet did nothing to disrupt her focus.

"Wow! What's that? It looks like a glowing jellyfish!" She pointed at a cluster of translucent nebulae outside the window and cried out, her voice full of childlike curiosity.

Yan Ruyu sat in the observation chair beside her, elegantly holding a cup of warm Star Dew Tea. Hearing this, she chuckled softly.

"That's an energy cloud drifting through space. It glows when it encounters a starship's energy field.

It's your first time seeing these things, isn't it, sister Lenchen?" She set down her teacup, walked to the porthole, and pointed at a string of flickering lights in the distance.

"Look over there. Those moving points of light are space-drifting creatures. They feed on meteor dust."

"It's so spectacular!" Yao Lenchen spun around excitedly, her skirt sweeping out a lovely arc.

"Husband, look at that asteroid! There's such a huge creature on it!"

Everyone followed the direction she pointed and saw a lizard-like giant beast sprawled over a gray