Star Journey: Destiny Returns

Yunxuan and Yaoyue left the ancient monument in the deep forest and continued their journey, guided by the star map. As they entered a vast valley, the surrounding scenery gradually became more mysterious. Thick mist drifted through the valley, and in the distance, the outlines of ancient and magnificent buildings could be vaguely seen, as if they had slumbered for a thousand years, exuding a solemn atmosphere.

"This place... seems to be a relic." Yao Yue stood at the entrance of the valley, looking at the area carefully, with a trace of awe and curiosity in her eyes.

"Well, these architectural styles are completely different from what we've seen before," Yun Xuan nodded, his eyes determined. "The star map's guidance is correct. It seems there must be some profound clue hidden here."

The two walked towards the ruins. As they got closer, a mysterious power surged out from the depths of the earth, and the air around them began to fluctuate, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching their every move in secret.

"Attention! There is the breath of a strong man!" Yun Xuan gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, feeling a faint oppression, and was ready to deal with any emergency at any time.

Yaoyue also entered a state of alert, the silver blade making a soft, clear sound, ready to strike. Steadying their breathing, the two men walked cautiously into the depths of the ruins, feeling that every inch of the air around them seemed to be filled with an unknown power.

Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the thick fog, charging towards the two with a fierce aura. Yun Xuan swiftly swung his sword to block the attack. The blade collided with the dark figure with a deafening roar, and a powerful gust of air spread out in all directions, stirring up gravel and mist from the ground.

When the fog dispersed a little, the two men could see the face of the person who came: it was a man in a black robe, with a silver mask covering his face, revealing only his cold eyes and a somewhat arrogant look.

"I didn't expect there would be an intruder." The man's voice was as cold as ice, with a hint of sarcasm. "How can a mortal like you pry into the secrets here?"

"We are not here to spy, but are guided by the star map." Yunxuan responded calmly, his eyes firm and unwavering.

"Star map?" The man was slightly startled, then sneered, "That thing is indeed restless. However, this is not a place where anyone can come and go as they please."

A ball of black spiritual energy suddenly emerged from the man's hand, sweeping towards Yunxuan and Yaoyue like an undercurrent from the abyss. Yunxuan raised his sword to counter the impact, and the sword energy and the black spiritual energy collided, sparks flying in an instant, and the air was filled with tense murderous intent.

Yao Yue swiftly attacked from the side, the silver blade arcing in her hand as she accurately slashed at the man's side, attempting to break through his defenses. The man's figure dodged like mist in an instant, clearly possessing extremely high speed and agility, making it difficult to determine his exact location.

"This person is very tricky!" Yao Yue frowned secretly and became more alert.

The man seemed to sense their tacit understanding and strength, no longer looking down on them. With a cold snort, a dark aura thickened around him, seemingly engulfing the surrounding air. His attacks became increasingly swift and ferocious, the black spiritual energy seeming to possess a corrosive quality, each strike carrying a powerful destructive force.

Yunxuan and Yaoyue joined forces to counter the attack, their spiritual energy and sword energy intertwining between them, and they managed to resist the man's attack. However, the man's strength seemed unfathomable, and despite their best efforts, they still felt heavy pressure.

Just as they were at a stalemate, a bright light suddenly burst out from Yaoyue's silver blade, instantly forcing the man back several steps. The man's eyes instantly became solemn, obviously not expecting the other party to possess such powerful spiritual power.

"Hmph, it seems you are not ordinary people." The man looked at Yaoyue coldly, with a hint of fear in his eyes.

Yao Yue took a deep breath, her eyes gleaming with determination: "We came here to follow the guidance of the star map, and we will not retreat easily."

Yunxuan's expression was equally resolute. The longsword in his hand emitted a low ringing sound, and sword energy surrounded him, forming a subtle protective barrier. He whispered, "Since you are blocking us, we can only resolve the problem through strength."

The man sneered, and the black energy in his hand became thicker and thicker. Under the influence of his spiritual power, the surrounding fog quickly formed a huge dark vortex, enveloping the three people, and the light was gradually swallowed by the darkness.

In the darkness, the man's figure loomed, his attacks appearing and disappearing like ghosts. Yunxuan and Yaoyue struggled to cope with his attacks with their keen perception, but they were still overwhelmed and seemed to be in a very disadvantageous situation.

At that moment, Yaoyue flicked her wrist gently, and the silver blade emanated a soft moonlight, dispelling a corner of the surrounding darkness. In this glimmer of light, she caught a glimpse of the man's weakness and immediately swung the blade at him, stabbing him precisely in the side.

The man was caught off guard, and the silver blade slashed a shallow wound, oozing black blood with a strange aura. However, he did not retreat. Instead, a look of madness appeared on his face, and the black energy in his hand became more violent, as if it wanted to completely devour the two men.

"You will never pass the trial here!" The man roared, his spiritual power almost reaching its peak, pressing down on the two men fiercely.

Yunxuan and Yaoyue exchanged a glance, a tacit understanding forming between them. They simultaneously channeled their spiritual energy into their weapons, a faint glow emanating from their swords and silver blades. From left and right, they quickly launched a final attack at the man.

Under this powerful dual attack, the man's black energy was finally torn apart, and his figure gradually dissipated in the spiritual light, as if merging with the mist into the world. The dark vortex also dissipated, and the surrounding mist gradually calmed down, revealing the ruins' original appearance.

The two men panted lightly, a hint of fatigue in their eyes, but their hearts became more determined. This battle made them realize that the strength of the enemies on this journey was far beyond their imagination, but their faith was also strengthened.

Yunxuan looked at Yaoyue and smiled slightly: "It seems that we have finally passed this trial."

Yaoyue nodded, a determined light flashing in her eyes: "The Star Map's tests are one after another, but as long as we are determined in our hearts, we will have nothing to fear."

Just as the two of them were taking a short break, a clear voice suddenly rang out from the depths of the ruins, as if an invisible force was beckoning them in. The voice held a gentle and mysterious power that filled them with a sense of awe.

"Is this voice... the guidance of the star map?" Yunxuan looked at Yaoyue in confusion.

Yao Yue nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: "Whatever it is, it seems we must go there to find out."

The two stood up and walked down the stairs in the ruins. As they approached, a gentle light emerged from the ground, like a star-lit trail, leading them into the unknown depths.

Finally, they came to a huge stone platform. In the center of the platform was a crystal clear jade. Ancient runes were faintly engraved on the jade, emitting a faint light, as if conveying some mysterious message.

Yunxuan reached out and touched the jade, and immediately felt a warm power flowing into his body, which seemed to push his spiritual power to a new level. He was surprised to find that this power seemed to have some mysterious connection with the star map, as if it ignited the dormant power in his body.

Yao Yue also touched the jade and felt the surge of spiritual power in her body, as if she had received some kind of ancient blessing. A faint spiritual light appeared on her silver blade, and its power seemed to have increased.

The two smiled at each other, their hearts filled with gratitude and respect. They understood that this relic was an important part of the Star Chart journey. Here, they not only increased their strength, but also realized the true meaning of the journey.

"It seems that we have gained some new power. The guidance of the star map is indeed extraordinary." Yunxuan whispered, with a determined light in his eyes.

Yao Yue nodded gently, looking forward with deep eyes: "But this is just the beginning. Our journey is still long, but no matter how many unknowns and challenges lie ahead, I will continue to move forward."

With this new strength and faith, the two set out on their journey again. The fog once again filled the surroundings, and the ruins gradually disappeared into the mist, as if they had never appeared.