Star Journey: Destiny Returns

Yunxuan and Yaoyue, having inherited the Star Map, slowly emerged from the heart of the Spirit Valley. The afterglow of the stars cast a shadow behind them, illuminating their steady steps. While the Spirit Valley marked the end of their trials, it was also the starting point of a new path of protection. Along the way, they endured spiritual trials and life-or-death trials, growing from mere adventurers to emissaries protecting the world. Now, they no longer sought the secrets of the Star Map, but shouldered the responsibilities bestowed upon them, becoming guardians of the balance of heaven and earth.

Under the veil of night, Yunxuan and Yaoyue walked side by side. The return journey remained as peaceful as before, yet the air was thick with a solemnity. They spoke not a word, simply trudging along, each carrying within their hearts a firm faith in the future. The gentle breeze from the valley carried the tranquility of the night into their hearts, like a silent baptism. However, they had no idea that on this return journey, fate would lay the final test for them, ultimately determining whether they could truly shoulder the mission of guardians.

Passing through the shadows of the trees, Yunxuan looked up at the distant night sky. The star map seal in his palm was faintly warm, as if foreshadowing some unexpected change. He couldn't help but whisper, "Yaoyue, I have a feeling that there is some power waiting for us outside the Spirit Valley. Perhaps this is fate's final judgment on us."

Yao Yue's eyes shifted slightly as she looked back at the starlight behind her and whispered, "The power of the Star Map doesn't just belong to us. Perhaps the entire world is awaiting its revival. We are destined to face even greater trials before we become worthy of this responsibility of protection."

The two nodded slowly, a tacit understanding between them. At that moment, a low rumble suddenly erupted from the jungle ahead, accompanied by a slight tremor in the earth. Yunxuan instantly became alert, quickly drawing his sword and staring ahead.

"Someone has set an ambush ahead." He whispered, with a hint of vigilance in his tone.

Yaoyue also gently drew her silver blade and calmly surveyed her surroundings. Just as she was about to alert Yunxuan, a surge of spiritual energy emerged from the depths of the jungle, and a figure gradually emerged. He was draped in a black robe, his face shrouded in shadow, only his cold eyes gleaming with a sharp light. The spiritual energy emanating from this mysterious figure was so profound and powerful that it almost overshadowed the surrounding starlight.

"Yunxuan, Yaoyue, I never thought that you could pass the test of Linggu and obtain the inheritance of the star map." The voice of the man in black robe was as low as thunder, with ridicule and contempt.

Yun Xuan gripped his sword tightly and asked in a cold voice, "Who are you? Why are you blocking our way?"

The black-robed man smiled slightly, a hint of coldness in his eyes. "It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is that I don't want you to take the power of the Star Map out of the Spirit Valley. Such a powerful force should be in stronger hands."

Yao Yue's eyes darkened, and she whispered, "Don't you understand? The power of the star map isn't meant for control. It exists for the balance of heaven and earth."

The black-robed figure snorted coldly, as if mocking her naiveté. "Balance between heaven and earth? That's just an excuse for the weak. As long as you possess the power of the star map, you can control everything. Why waste its value for the sake of a false balance?"

Yun Xuan's gaze grew colder as he pointed at the man in black robes, "You are wrong. The power of the Star Map does not belong to anyone. If you dare to claim it for yourself, you will become an enemy of heaven and earth."

Before he finished speaking, the black-robed figure sneered and waved his hand. The surrounding trees withered and turned to dust in an instant. His figure suddenly disappeared, then reappeared in front of Yunxuan, striking him in the chest with a palm bearing a fierce spiritual force. Yunxuan quickly raised his sword to block. The spiritual force collided through the air like waves, making a deafening roar.

Seeing Yunxuan locked in a fierce battle, Yaoyue immediately joined the fray, her silver blade flashing in her hand as it stabbed the black-robed man's flank. The black-robed man reacted quickly, retreating like a black mist, avoiding Yaoyue's attack.

"Hmph, it seems you're not completely powerless after all," the black-robed figure said disdainfully. Then, with a wave of his hand, a thick black mist emanated from his fingertips, completely obscuring the surrounding vision. Yunxuan and Yaoyue were trapped by the mist, barely able to see each other.

"This black fog... seems to be able to weaken our spiritual power." Yao Yue frowned and said, feeling that the spiritual power around her was gradually suppressed.

Yunxuan nodded and tried to use sword energy to disperse the black fog, but found that the black fog continued to gather like a living thing and could not be easily shaken.

"Pointless struggle." The black-robed man's voice came from the black fog, with a hint of coldness. "In this darkness, your spiritual power will be gradually devoured until you lose all strength."

Yunxuan's gaze was solemn, knowing that if they remained trapped in this black fog, they would gradually lose their resistance. He closed his eyes, mobilizing the Star Seal within his body, feeling the power of the stars. Suddenly, his mind connected with the power of the Star Seal, and a clear starlight emanated from his body, piercing the thick black fog and seeming to tear a hole in the surrounding space.

"Yaoyue, the power of the star map can dispel this black fog!" Yunxuan reminded in a low voice.

Yaoyue understood immediately, closed her eyes, and mobilized the star map seal in her body. A cold starlight bloomed from her body and intertwined with Yunxuan's starlight, forming an intense light that instantly dispersed the surrounding black fog.

The black-robed man was forced to retreat by the sudden starlight, with a hint of surprise in his eyes. "So you have already mastered the power of the star map."

Yun Xuan sneered, "Not only will the power of the Star Map not be used by you, but it will become the end of your evil deeds!"

The black-robed man's face was grim, having clearly not anticipated Yunxuan and Yaoyue's rapid adaptation to the Star Map's power. He quickly gathered his spiritual energy, and the black mist between his palms grew thicker, swirling through the air like a giant black python, striking the two with destructive force.

Yao Yue's eyes focused, and the silver blade danced in her hand, emitting a cold flash, directly engaging the black-robed man's black mist python. The cold light pierced through the black mist like a sharp blade, instantly slicing the python into countless fragments. However, the black mist did not dissipate, but instead became more violent, as if it wanted to devour everything.

Yun Xuan didn't flinch, raising his sword and thrusting it straight at the black-robed figure. The power of the star map burst forth with his attack, and the sword energy streaked through the sky like a meteor, bearing down on the black-robed figure's chest. The black-robed figure quickly blocked the attack, and the spiritual energy collided fiercely in the air, erupting with a deafening roar. The air around them seemed to freeze in that instant.

During their fierce battle, Yaoyue suddenly sensed a strange aura in the black-robed figure's attack, as if attempting to intrude upon her mind. She immediately focused her attention, channeling the power of the star map into her entire body, resisting the onslaught of the black mist. At that moment, fragments of memory suddenly flashed through her mind, seemingly hiding memories she had never before remembered.

"Yaoyue, focus on the battle!" Yunxuan's voice brought her back to consciousness.

Yao Yue instantly regained consciousness, realizing she had nearly been bewitched by the black-robed man's spiritual power. A chill flashed in her eyes. She calmed herself, gripping the silver blade tightly in her hand. Starlight gathered on the blade, and with unbreakable force, she pierced the black-robed man's defenses.

The black-robed figure clearly realized his plan had been thwarted, a flicker of anger in his eyes. He quickly retreated, forming hand seals. The thick black mist gathered again, forming a barrier that enveloped him. However, Yunxuan and Yaoyue's starlight power had already penetrated his defenses. The silver blade and longsword pierced the black mist barrier almost simultaneously, striking the black-robed figure in the face.

"It's over!" Yun Xuan shouted angrily, and the Starlight Sword slashed down like thunder.

A glimmer of despair flashed in the black-robed man's eyes, knowing he couldn't withstand the blow. Just as the starlight was about to strike him, his figure suddenly transformed into a black mist, quickly dissipating into the air, leaving only a low curse echoing in the night sky: "Do you think you have won? The power of the star map will ultimately bring destruction. One day, you will realize your own folly..."

The black fog dissipated, and tranquility returned to the surroundings. Yunxuan and Yaoyue breathed a sigh of relief, but their hearts were not yet relaxed by their victory. The mysterious man's words seemed to contain some strange prophecy, which made them suspicious.

"His words are nothing but a loser's curse. We don't need to pay attention to them." Yao Yue said calmly, but there was still a hint of uneasiness deep in her heart.

Yunxuan nodded, sheathed his sword, and gently patted Yaoyue's shoulder. "No matter what the future holds, our mission is set. Whether we face destruction or not, our resolve to protect this world will not change."

Yao Yue smiled and nodded, "Yes, our belief is the core of the Star Map inheritance. Only by not fearing fate can we truly shoulder the responsibility of protection."

Hand in hand, the two continued their journey home. They knew the true test wasn't over yet, and their journey wasn't quite finished. But guided by the star map, their hearts grew stronger. Though the road to fate swirled, they were ready, using the map's power to protect this world until the very end.