Star Journey: Destiny Returns

Yunxuan and Yaoyue, armed with the Divine Shadow Fruit from Xuanying Mountain City, followed the star map to their next destination. The map revealed their next destination to be in a place called "Mixin Ancient Town," where legends circulated of a unique and exquisite delicacy. This delicacy, called "Dream Lotus," is said to emit a dreamlike fragrance when in bloom, allowing one to see their deepest wishes. However, this delicacy has also led some to become lost in the illusion, unable to extricate themselves.

The ancient town of Mixin lies in the vast wilderness, surrounded by mountains. Its buildings are ancient yet desolate. Once prosperous due to its hospitality to numerous practitioners, the town, however, has become increasingly lost in illusions due to the mysterious power of Menglian, and has gradually become considered a forbidden area by outsiders. Yunxuan and Yaoyue stood at the town's entrance, gazing at the ruins ahead with a sense of solemnity.

Yao Yue sighed softly, "The atmosphere here seems to be shrouded in a heavy layer of sadness, as if the former glory is buried in the desolation."

Yun Xuan nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of emotion: "Perhaps the illusions that remain in the town are the obsessions deep in the hearts of these people. We must be careful not to be deceived by illusions."

The two entered the ancient town, which was completely silent except for the faint hum of the wind blowing through the dilapidated eaves. The streets were lined with long-collapsed stalls and abandoned shops. Occasionally, scattered items could be seen on the stalls, as if traces of the people who once lived and communicated here still remained.

As they continued walking, the air around them suddenly grew unusually cold, and hazy figures began to appear on the street. These figures lingered in front of stalls or walked into shops, as if they had returned to the prosperous past, chatting with each other and smiling warmly.

"Is this... a resident of the town?" Yao Yue asked in a low voice, with a bit of confusion in her eyes.

Yunxuan nodded gently. "These should be illusions created by Menglian. The minds of these residents are trapped by the illusions. Perhaps they have never truly left, but are staying here forever in this way."

At this moment, a phantom in the shape of a woman slowly walked up to Yaoyue, with a kind smile on her face and a soft and warm voice: "Girl, come and try our cakes. This is the most popular delicacy in town."

Yaoyue stared at the woman in front of her, somewhat absentmindedly. Her face held a motherly expression of kindness, which stirred a vague feeling of familiarity within her. She was slightly moved, and couldn't help but reach out to touch the cakes the woman was holding.

Yun Xuan was quick to grab Yao Yue's hand and whispered, "Yao Yue, be careful, this is just an illusion, don't get lost in it."

Yao Yue instantly regained consciousness, stepped back slightly, and said calmly, "I'm sorry, I was almost deceived by the illusion. It seems that Meng Lian's power not only allows people to see their inner desires, but also can lure people into illusions."

Yunxuan nodded gently and reminded: "We must always remain vigilant. Every illusion here may be a trap set by Menglian."

As they continued forward, the illusions grew denser, and more and more figures began to appear on the streets. There were vendors shouting, and children chasing and playing, as if the town's past life was truly unfolding before them. However, every smiling face and every figure exuded an eerie aura, as if trying to lure the two into it.

Suddenly, a deep bell rang from the front. With an irresistible power, it seemed to penetrate their souls and evoke their deepest memories. Yunxuan's eyes flashed with images of his fellow apprentices cultivating in the mountains during his youth. Yaoyue saw the scene of her leaving home. The faces of her family floated before her, bringing a pang of sadness to her.

Yun Xuan realized the illusion's growing power. He quickly gripped his sword, concentrating his spiritual energy on it, and swung it in the direction of the bell. The sword's light flashed like a rainbow, tearing the illusion in front of him apart. The illusion quickly dissipated, and the bell's sound gradually faded.

Yao Yue took a deep breath, calmed her mind, and whispered, "Every illusion here is testing our resolve. We can't let our guard down even a little, or we'll be trapped."

Yunxuan nodded, his eyes fixed firmly on the front. "The star map has led us here, perhaps precisely to make us face our truest obsessions. Only by transcending these illusions can we find Menglian's location."

They continued deeper into the ancient town. In the center of the town stood a deserted square, with an ancient stone sculpture in the center. A blooming lotus was carved on the base of the sculpture, and the petals of the lotus were covered with intricate runes, as if telling them some ancient legend.

Yaoyue gently touched the stone sculpture and suddenly felt a warm spiritual power coming from her fingertips. She closed her eyes and seemed to have entered a strange dreamland. She saw the townspeople gathered here, praying devoutly around the lotus, praying for peace and tranquility.

"This stone sculpture may be the symbol of Menglian. It plays an important role in the hearts of the townspeople." Yaoyue said in a low voice, her eyes full of emotion.

Yunxuan smiled softly, "Perhaps because of this, Menglian has become the ultimate delicacy here, carrying the faith of the townspeople. If we can awaken Menglian, perhaps we can also free them from their illusions."

At this moment, the air around the square suddenly twisted, and a huge shadow rose from the ground, transforming into a ferocious phantom beast. The phantom beast's form was as ethereal as mist, its eyes glowing with a faint green light, filled with endless malice.

"It seems that Menglian's trial is the final fantasy beast." Yunxuan said in a low voice, with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

Yao Yue gripped the silver blade tightly and said calmly, "This phantom beast is formed by illusions. Attacking its entity may not be effective. We must find its weakness."

The phantom beast roared and lunged at them, stirring up a powerful gust of air. Yunxuan and Yaoyue quickly separated, avoiding the beast's attack. Yunxuan swung his sword, attempting to strike the phantom beast's shadow, but found that the sword energy had no effect at all after traversing the beast's body.

Yao Yue calmly observed the phantom beast's movements and quickly analyzed, "Its body is composed of illusions. Our attacks have no effect on it. Perhaps only the power of the mind can break its power."

Yunxuan pondered for a moment, gradually discarding his distracting thoughts and focusing on his inner convictions. He took a deep breath, lowered his sword, closed his eyes, and meditated silently, gradually channeling his spiritual power into a pure thought.

Seeing this, Yaoyue also began to calm down, concentrating all her attention on her inner convictions. The two of them tacitly entered a meditative state, and the illusions around them gradually weakened. The phantom beast's form also began to blur, as if gradually dissipating in their resolute resolve.

At the moment when the phantom beast completely disappeared, the stone sculpture in the center of the square suddenly emitted a faint light, and a real lotus slowly emerged from the stone sculpture, with a dreamy luster on the petals. It was the dream lotus.

Yaoyue looked at Menglian with a look of joy in her eyes, "We finally found Menglian. She is the soul of this ancient town, embodying the obsession and expectations of the townspeople."

Yunxuan smiled slightly, picked the Menglian gently, and placed it carefully in the spirit box, as if it was not just a flower, but also the crystallization of the wishes of the people in the town.

They stood quietly in the square, watching the illusion gradually dissipate around them, and seemed to hear the whispers of the townspeople, filled with affection and gratitude. The fragrance of Moraine gradually spread, bringing them an unprecedented sense of peace.

Yao Yue whispered, "Perhaps this is the meaning of the Dream Lotus. It is not just a spiritual flower, but also the embodiment of people's inner sustenance and obsession."

Yunxuan nodded, a trace of deep affection in his eyes. "We pursue the ultimate taste not only for the power of the star map, but also to protect those forgotten wishes. Perhaps the true meaning of the star map is to awaken our awe of heaven, earth, and human hearts."

They left the ancient town with Menglian in tow. Night enveloped the silent ruins, as if bidding them farewell. Yunxuan and Yaoyue smiled at each other, and with unwavering faith in their journey, they continued on the path guided by the star map.