Star Journey: Destiny Returns

After leaving the Sea of ​​Mist with their Heart Fire Spirit, Yunxuan and Yaoyue continued their journey, guided by the star map. This time, the map's light pointed to a tranquil, ancient valley surrounded by dense forest. This area, known as the "Valley of Eternal Life," is said to be home to a mysterious, ancient creature called the "Wood Spirit." The spirit object, the "Eternal Life Spirit Core," emanated from the Wood Spirit, possesses unique powers to nourish the mind and prolong life. It's said that the Eternal Life Spirit Core is not only an exceptional spiritual object, but also contains the purest wood spirit energy in the universe.

Following the star map's guidance, the two men passed through the dense forest and reached the valley's entrance. They saw a lingering spiritual energy within the valley, and a green light flickered among the surrounding trees, filling the entire valley with a vibrant atmosphere. Yao Yue sighed, "The air here seems to be filled with the breath of life, and even the spiritual energy has a hint of freshness and gentleness."

Yunxuan looked around and nodded, saying, "This valley is rich in spiritual energy and is a natural hotbed of wood spirit energy. If we want to obtain the immortality core, we will probably need to resonate with the wood spirit in order to gain its approval."

They entered the depths of the valley, walking slowly and carefully, trying not to disturb any living creatures. The vegetation surrounding the valley was lush and dense, and every leaf and plant seemed imbued with spiritual energy. The concentration of spiritual energy was refreshing, as if they had entered another world of wonderland.

Not long after they began walking, they suddenly heard a faint, clear sound, seemingly coming from somewhere in the forest. It had a subtle rhythm, as gentle and moving as flowing water. Yunxuan stopped to listen, a hint of delight on his face. "That's the voice of the wood spirit. It's guiding us."

Yaoyue also heard the sound and felt her heart gradually calm down. She whispered, "The wood spirit is guided by sound. Perhaps it is testing whether we have enough patience and peace of mind."

The two followed the music, leading them deeper into the valley. The deeper they went, the more bizarre the surrounding vegetation became. Tall trees intertwined in the air, forming a dense canopy. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows and making the valley appear mysterious and dreamy. Spiritual energy flowed slowly through the trees, as if performing some ancient ritual.

Suddenly, a faint whisper mingled with the music, as if speaking to them. Yunxuan listened carefully, faintly hearing a hint of the voice, as if it were the trees themselves saying, "Outsiders, if you wish to seek the power of immortality, you must maintain a mind of non-aggression."

He whispered this to Yaoyue, and the two exchanged glances, growing more cautious. They understood that obtaining the Immortal Core wasn't about gaining power, but about respecting the will of nature. Yunxuan whispered, "Only by remaining quiet and following the guidance of the Wood Spirit can we truly understand the will of this valley."

They slowed their pace, no longer disturbing the valley's tranquility, and immersed themselves deeply in this world of spiritual energy. As their minds gradually calmed, the surrounding scenery gradually became clearer, and the plants in the valley seemed to gradually close the distance to them, even giving people a sense of gentle intimacy.

A moment later, a towering ancient tree appeared before them. Its trunk was as thick as a mountain, its bark covered in the marks of time, as if it had existed there for millennia. Its canopy blocked out the sun, and spiritual energy enveloped it. Beneath the tree grew strange spiritual herbs, emitting a faint glow.

Yao Yue's eyes showed respect, and she whispered, "This ancient tree may be the incarnation of the wood spirit, and the immortality core may be hidden here."

As they paid their respects, they suddenly felt a gentle force emanating from the ancient tree, like a warm current flowing around them. Then, the branches swayed gently, as if an ancient being were watching them. The wood spirit's distant and peaceful voice echoed in their ears: "Outsiders, if you seek the power of immortality, you must purify your heart and awaken the resonance of nature."

Yunxuan and Yaoyue immediately understood the wood spirit's intention. They focused their minds, adjusted their spiritual energy to a frequency in harmony with nature, and slowly injected it into the ancient tree's roots. Instantly, they felt their spiritual energy resonate subtly with the tree's life force, and an inexplicable sense of tranquility emerged within them, as if they had established a mysterious connection with the land.

At that moment, a pale green crystal core slowly emerged from the trunk of the ancient tree, emitting a soft glow, as if condensed from the essence of life. This was the legendary immortal core. Illuminated by the light, it appeared warm and pure, emanating a power that inspired awe.

Yao Yue gently stepped forward and placed her hand on the immortal core. She felt a gentle spiritual energy flow through her palm and into her body. This spiritual energy carried a nourishing power, as if injecting an invisible vitality deep into her heart. She closed her eyes and immersed herself in this power, as if she could feel the rhythm of life, and her mind became increasingly clear and peaceful.

Yunxuan also touched the immortal soul core, and spiritual energy flowed into his body, bringing a warm vitality, as if new strength was growing in his meridians. He felt an unprecedented sense of freshness and peace in his heart, as if this power was not only nourishing his body, but also cleansing his soul.

The wood spirit's voice slowly rang out, "The power of immortality lies in purity and harmony. Only those with pure hearts can receive its protection. This spiritual core is a testimony bestowed upon you by nature. It not only nourishes your body but also enables you to maintain a clear mind during your future cultivation."

The two bowed deeply in gratitude. Yao Yue, her heart filled with respect, whispered, "The Immortal Core has made us understand the gift of nature. It's not just an increase in strength, but also a realization of life and peace."

Yunxuan nodded, his eyes filled with determination. "In front of nature, we are just travelers. Only by living in harmony with nature can we gain its blessings. The power of the Longevity Core not only prolongs our lives, but also teaches us how to get along with the world."

As they comprehended the Longevity Core, the Wood Spirit's voice echoed again: "This place is rich in spiritual energy, a place where the spiritual energy of wood converges. I hope you will remember the grace of nature in your future journeys and treat all living things with kindness."

As the wood spirit's voice gradually faded, the surrounding trees continued to sway gently, as if bidding them farewell. The two gently placed the immortal spirit core into the spirit box, and with gratitude for every plant in the valley, they bowed deeply to the valley.

After leaving the Valley of Immortality, they continued along the star map, its light still flickering in the distant sky, guiding them in a new direction. With the power of the Immortal Core, Yunxuan and Yaoyue's steps became light and serene, their hearts filled with a reverence for nature and a sense of harmony.

Along the way, the two continued to move forward and embarked on a new journey, inspired by nature.