Star Journey: Destiny Returns

The road ahead twisted and turned, and Yunxuan and Yaoyue, through the baptism of wind and rain, came to a quiet forest. The forest was full of shadowy trees and thick fog. The air around them was filled with a cool breath, as if transporting them to another time and space.

Yao Yue looked up at the ancient trees with lush branches and leaves and whispered, "The spiritual energy here is different from that of ordinary places. It seems to be filled with some kind of confusing power."

Yunxuan nodded, frowning slightly: "We followed the guidance of the star map to get here. I believe this forest also hides clues to the ultimate taste."

Just as they were about to continue forward, the ground beneath their feet suddenly shook slightly. Then, mist dispersed, and as if controlled by an invisible force, several paths gradually appeared, winding their way deeper into the forest. Each path was covered in dark green vines, similar yet seemingly different. They could faintly hear whispers around them, as if some living being was secretly observing their movements.

Yaoyue observed intently, feeling her mind waver slightly. She immediately reminded Yunxuan, "This path may seem harmless, but it's probably a maze. Each path could lead us into a different fantasy world, and we could get lost if we're not careful."

Yun Xuan smiled faintly, seemingly calmed down, and walked towards a path. "If that's the case, let's go down and see. Our minds won't be easily deceived."

The two of them stepped inside, and soon after, the surrounding scene began to shift. The shadows of the trees in the forest gradually twisted, and a faint blue light spread from the vines, revealing a mysterious power. Yunxuan and Yaoyue felt their steps grow heavier, and with each step, the memories and emotions deep within were subtly stirred.

As they walked forward, Yaoyue suddenly heard a whisper, as if it came from deep within her heart: "Why do you want to take risks? Isn't your home the place you cherish most? Why not return to the comfort of your past?"

Yaoyue paused, her mind drifting into a trance. Her memories resurfaced with the scenery of her hometown, the tranquil valley, and the warm smiles of her family. That familiar warmth made her pause. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes, and she began to wonder: Is this pursuit of ultimate taste truly worth her all?

Yunxuan noticed her pause and turned back to whisper, "Yaoyue, what are you thinking about?"

Yao Yue shook her head slightly and came back to her senses: "I just have some thoughts. Let's go, I'm fine."

They continued on, but the scene ahead grew increasingly bizarre. Vines squirmed around them like living creatures, gradually transforming into towering stone walls that encircled them. Yaoyue felt a strange force tugging at her heart, as if tempting her to abandon the path ahead and pursue the warmth deep within her heart.

"This maze is actually trying to shake our beliefs through our inner obsessions..." Yaoyue whispered to herself, gradually understanding the power of this forest.

Yun Xuan also felt a strange wave of emotion in his heart, but he quickly suppressed it, took a deep breath, and said, "This illusion doesn't test our strength, but whether we can move forward with determination. If our minds are led by obsession, we will be lost here."

Yao Yue nodded, tightened her grip on the silver blade, and calmed herself down: "In this case, we must be more careful."

The two men continued forward with a determined pace, but the deeper they went, the stronger the visions became. A familiar figure appeared before Yaoyue: her late master. He stood in the distance, his gaze gentle and kind, as if silently urging her to stop. His deep eyes revealed a look of concern, as if to say, "Don't take any more risks. Return to the past, to the safety of the past."

Yao Yue's heart trembled, her feet seemed to be pinned down by an invisible force, unable to take a single step forward. She was momentarily overcome by this emotion, tears welling in her eyes.

"Master..." Yaoyue murmured softly, as if she had sunk into a fantasy.

Yunxuan looked at Yaoyue and realized that she had been bewildered by the maze. He immediately stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder. His voice was low but firm: "Yaoyue, that was just an illusion. If you can't move forward with determination in your heart, you will be trapped in your past and unable to extricate yourself."

Yao Yue's whole body trembled, and the confusion in her eyes gradually dissipated, as if she had awakened from the abyss. She took a deep breath and said softly, "Thank you, Yunxuan. I almost fell into the maze."

Yunxuan smiled slightly and patted her shoulder: "Although this road is difficult, if we can support each other, we will definitely be able to overcome these trials."

Yaoyue nodded, and the two of them stared at each other firmly before continuing forward. The illusion of the maze seemed to dissipate with their determined steps. The surrounding mist began to thin, and the vines and stone walls gradually crumbled, transforming into tiny specks of starlight that drifted through the air.

However, just as they thought they had successfully navigated the maze, a powerful spiritual pressure suddenly approached from all sides, as if all the spiritual energy in the world had converged. Then, a white-haired old man emerged from the open space ahead. He was tall, his eyes gleaming with wisdom, as if he could see through people's hearts.

The old man looked at Yunxuan and Yaoyue coldly and said slowly, "Younger generation, you dare to break into this ancient illusion array and try to steal the power of the ultimate taste. Isn't that too arrogant?"

Yun Xuan frowned slightly, clasped his fists, and said, "Senior, this maze is guided by the star map. We are just following the instructions. Please forgive me if I have offended you."

The old man sneered, his eyes sharp. "How can you juniors just casually step onto the Star Map Road? If you can't pass my test, forget about going any further!"

Yaoyue gripped the silver blade tightly, her eyes determined: "No matter how difficult the test is, we will never back down."

The old man nodded slightly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, but then he said coldly, "If you want to pass my test, you must stay awake under the dual pressure of your mind and faith. Otherwise, you will never be able to leave this place."

Before he finished speaking, the illusion around him changed instantly, and the scene in front of Yunxuan and Yaoyue became blurred again. Their thoughts seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, and the fear and obsession deep in their hearts emerged again.

Yunxuan felt a scene unfold before his eyes. He saw his home shrouded in darkness, his family and friends vanishing before him one by one, and screams of pain filled the entire space. The feeling of powerlessness nearly suffocated him, and the fear and anxiety deep within him were completely awakened.

"Yunxuan! These are all illusions. Wake up!" Yaoyue's voice rang in his ears, interrupting his thoughts. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and dispelled the haze in his heart, focusing his attention on his true self.

Yaoyue was also faced with a similar situation. Seeing her hometown destroyed and herself left alone in the ruins, she felt an unprecedented sadness. However, she quickly realized that it was just an illusion. She gripped the silver blade tightly, suppressed the grief in her heart, and resolutely opened her eyes.

The old man stood not far away, observing their every move with cold eyes. Seeing that they had finally awakened from their illusion, the old man nodded slightly and said calmly, "Only those with a firm will can withstand the power of the Ultimate Taste. You have passed today's test."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man's figure gradually dissipated, and the maze also vanished. The surrounding fog gradually receded, revealing a path leading deep into the forest. Yunxuan and Yaoyue exchanged a glance, each with a hint of relief in their eyes, as if this test had made their hearts stronger and deepened their trust in each other.

Yao Yue said softly, "Every test forces us to face our own hearts. If you weren't by my side, I might have been lost in illusions and unable to extricate myself."

Yunxuan smiled slightly and said softly, "That's why we must keep moving forward until we find our own answers."