Star Journey: Destiny Returns

The power of the Heart of the Wind Blade granted Yunxuan and Yaoyue not only a nimble control of the wind, but also a deeper spiritual enlightenment. The understanding of adapting without resistance, and remaining light without wavering, enabled them to find inner balance in the face of the wind blade's trials. As they continued toward the star map, its light guided them through valleys and jungles, ever closer to a desolate and abject place ahead: the Vast Desolate Realm.

Legend has it that the Vast Desolate Land is a vast rocky wasteland dotted with vast expanses of bluestone pillars. These bluestones are so rough and hard, they feel like a wall of iron, making it difficult for ordinary people to leave a mark on them. This barren land is nearly devoid of vegetation, and the only living creature is a ferocious beast known as the "Iron Bone Rhino." This rhino feeds on bluestone, possessing a massive body and skin as tough as iron, making it extremely formidable. Legend has it that within the Vast Desolate Land lies a magical object, the "Iron Bone Essence," which is said to imbue practitioners with the same tenacity and fearless courage as the bluestone.

As the two reached the brink of despair, they looked out, only to see the world before them, blanketed in a layer of gray dust and utterly desolate. Bluish-gray rock, as if carved from the ground, stood abruptly, its surface covered in the marks of time. The wind rustled, as if every inch of this land spoke of the vicissitudes and forbidding severity of ancient times.

Yao Yue narrowed her eyes, staring at the rocks ahead, and whispered, "The spiritual energy here is very weak, yet there's a sense of oppression. It's as if this land has a powerful force of its own, suppressing all living things, making it difficult to breathe."

Yun Xuan agreed deeply and nodded, saying, "For such a desolate and desolate place to breed the Iron Bone Essence, it must have been an extremely difficult trial ground. Every rock here is as hard as iron. Without extraordinary endurance and courage, it is unlikely that one would be able to gain the Iron Bone Essence's recognition."

They adjusted their minds and stepped into the vast, desolate landscape. The air around them grew increasingly chilly, and the rocks on the surface were covered in cracks, as if silently telling of the impact and trials they had endured. As they advanced deeper, massive hoofprints began to appear on the wasteland, deeply engraved into the solid rock, each one revealing immense power and majesty.

Yao Yue whispered a warning, "These are the footprints of a wild rhinoceros. It looks like it's extremely large. If we were to face such a ferocious beast, it would definitely be difficult to deal with."

Yun Xuan nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly: "We must be careful. Everything here is part of the test. The essence of iron bones is waiting for us somewhere in this wasteland, and we must pass these tests to find it."

They advanced slowly, the air growing thinner and thinner, the desolate atmosphere oppressive. However, just as they were about to continue, a low roar erupted from the rocks ahead. The sound was like rumbling thunder, deafening, and the air suddenly filled with a bloody scent.

Yunxuan and Yaoyue quickly went on alert as they saw a massive wild rhinoceros slowly emerge from a nearby rock formation. Its body was covered in bluish-gray scales, and its bulk was as massive as a hill. Its eyes shone with a fierce and cold light. Its hooves stomped onto the ground with earth-shattering noises, cracking the hard rocks beneath its feet.

Yao Yue's expression changed slightly, and she whispered, "This is the legendary Iron-Bone Wild Rhino. Its defense is extremely strong, and it would be difficult to defeat it with external force alone."

Yun Xuan nodded, his eyes solemn. "This wild rhino should be the guardian of the Iron Bone Essence. If you want to obtain the essence, you must first pass its test." He gripped his sword tightly and said slowly, "Let's try to coordinate our attacks and find its weaknesses."

The two men stood apart. Yunxuan channeled his spiritual energy into his longsword, causing the blade to tremble slightly, flashing with a sharp light. He quietly approached the desolate rhino, searching for its weak spot. Yaoyue, holding the silver blade, tacitly distracted the desolate rhino and deftly moved around behind it.

The desolate rhino sensed the approaching presence and roared, cracking the rocks beneath its feet. It lowered its head and charged towards Yunxuan, its massive form bearing down like a meteorite. Yunxuan quickly dodged, thrusting his sword towards the desolate rhino's flank. The tip of the sword made contact with its armor, but a clanging sound escaped, and it failed to penetrate even a fraction.

"Its defense is even stronger than expected!" Yun Xuan said in surprise, and instantly stepped back to avoid the counterattack of the wild rhino.

Yao Yue was equally shocked. Her silver blade attempted to strike the desolate rhino's hind legs, but it only left a tiny mark on the surface of its scales. The two quickly retreated, keeping their distance from the desolate rhino. It was clear that a head-on confrontation would be difficult to win.

Yun Xuan calmed down and carefully observed the rhino's movements. He whispered, "Although it's powerful, it's not very fast. We can use its slow movements to find a breakthrough point."

Yaoyue nodded, and the two of them began to coordinate their tactics in tacit understanding. Yunxuan held the desolate rhino in front, drawing its attention, while Yaoyue deftly maneuvered behind it, trying to find its weak spot. The desolate rhino missed several times, its roar resonating through the air, but even its roar seemed to betray a hint of fatigue, its movements gradually becoming sluggish.

Finally, Yaoyue found a relatively soft scale below the desolate rhino's neck and quickly signaled to Yunxuan. Yunxuan understood and continued to draw the desolate rhino's attention. When it showed a flaw, he quickly dodged to the side of the desolate rhino and stabbed the weak spot with the tip of his sword like lightning. Spiritual power burst out, and Yaoyue's silver blade struck the desolate rhino's neck together.

The desolate rhino roared in pain, its massive body swaying a few times before collapsing to the ground with a thud. Its eyes gradually dimmed, and its body slowly turned to dust, gradually dissipating across the wasteland, as if it had never existed.

With the disappearance of the desolate rhino, the surrounding atmosphere suddenly shifted, a thick spiritual energy filling the air. The earth shook slightly, and a cyan crystal slowly emerged from the rock. The crystal radiated a deep and tenacious light, as if condensed with the spiritual energy of the vast wasteland. This was the essence of Iron Bone.

Yunxuan and Yaoyue exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy and respect. Yunxuan stepped forward, gently grasping the Iron Bone Essence in his hands. He felt a surge of powerful energy instantly flow through him. The spiritual energy was as thick and heavy as indestructible rock, granting him unparalleled defensive power. His heart seemed to be filled with a resilient will, like the blue rock on the wasteland, unwavering no matter the wind and frost.

Yaoyue also stepped forward to touch the Iron Bone Essence. Spiritual energy flowed through her fingertips and into her body, as if planting a seed of fearlessness deep within her soul, strengthening her inner peace. She sighed softly, "The power of the Iron Bone Essence not only provides defense, but also teaches us how to persevere in difficult situations without wavering."

They stored the essence of their iron bones in a spirit box and bowed deeply toward the vast desolate landscape. This desolate land and that wild rhino taught them the power of perseverance, making them understand that true courage is not just about moving forward bravely, but also about remaining true to one's original intention no matter what difficulties or obstacles arise.

Looking back at the desolate and bleak landscape, Yunxuan and Yaoyue were filled with emotion. The Iron Bone Essence not only granted them powerful defenses, but also a stronger will. In their future journey, no matter how many unknown difficulties lay ahead, they would rely on the power of the Iron Bone Essence to sustain their resolve and move forward steadily and resolutely.

Guided by the brilliant light of the star map, they once again embarked on an unknown journey, carrying their newfound strength and understanding, heading towards new adventures.