Star Journey: Destiny Returns

The night was as dark as ink, the stars shimmering brightly. Moonlight streamed across the mountains like flowing water, draping the earth in a thin, silvery veil. Yunxuan and Yaoyue stood atop the mountain, gazing silently at the spot where the mysterious light had dissipated. A gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it bursts of fresh, herbal fragrance, but neither of them relaxed.

"The awakening of the mysterious spiritual power seems to be just the beginning." Yao Yue said softly, her eyes deep and a hint of worry between her brows.

Yunxuan clenched the star map in his hand and nodded gently: "Yes. Although we have obtained the Mysterious Spirit Seal, I always feel that there are greater mysteries waiting for us to solve."

Yao Yue turned to look at him, a hint of doubt in her eyes: "The next guidance on the star map seems to point to the depths of the Spirit Valley."

Yunxuan unfolded the star map, and a faint glow stretched out towards the distant Spirit Valley. He frowned, "Spirit Valley, known as the heart of the secret realm, is said to hold endless treasures and dangers."

"No matter what, we must go." Yaoyue said firmly, her eyes full of determination.

Yun Xuan smiled slightly, his eyes gentle: "With you by my side, no matter how difficult the journey is, it won't be a big deal."

Yaoyue's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded gently: "Then let's go."

The two set out on the road to the Spirit Valley. The night breeze blew gently, and the surrounding trees cast mottled shadows in the moonlight. As they advanced, the surrounding environment gradually changed. At first, the mountain road was flat, but gradually, mist began to fill the air, and a faint coolness filled the air.

"There's something strange about this fog." Yaoyue stopped and looked around vigilantly.

Yunxuan also felt something strange and frowned, "Yes, this fog seems to have some kind of oppressive feeling."

Suddenly, the star map trembled slightly in his hand, and the light dimmed. Yun Xuan said in surprise, "The guidance of the star map has become blurred here."

Yao Yue pondered and said, "Perhaps this is a maze set up by Linggu."

Yunxuan nodded, "We have to be careful."

As they continued on, the fog thickened, reducing visibility. The surrounding trees seemed to transform into blurry black shadows, barely visible. The road beneath their feet also became bumpy and uneven, as if at any moment they would step into an unknown abyss.

"Yunxuan, can you still identify the direction?" Yaoyue asked softly, with a hint of worry in her tone.

Yunxuan smiled bitterly and said, "The star map is useless here. We can only move forward based on our intuition."

At this moment, a low beast roar came from a distance, echoing in the fog, making people shudder.

"Something is coming!" Yao Yue gripped the silver blade vigilantly, her eyes sharp.

Yun Xuan also drew his sword, lowered his body slightly, and prepared for battle. "It seems we've been targeted."

Before he finished speaking, several dark shadows sprinted out of the mist at an unpredictable speed. They were bizarre, beastlike, yet not beastly, their eyes gleaming red and filled with a ferocious aura.

"Be careful!" Yun Xuan shouted, swinging his sword to block the attack of a black shadow. The sword tip collided with the black shadow, making a sharp sound.

Yao Yue's figure was nimble, moving like a flying swallow. The silver blade in her hand turned into a flash of cold light and swiftly slashed towards the other black shadow. However, the black shadow suddenly turned into a ball of black mist, avoiding the attack.

"They are not entities!" Yaoyue exclaimed.

Yunxuan also noticed this, and his brows furrowed. "They seem to be illusions formed by the condensation of mist."

The shadows didn't stop attacking, they gathered again and pounced on the two. Yunxuan and Yaoyue had to defend themselves while looking for a way to defeat the enemy.

"This is not a solution. We must find their source." Yunxuan said in a deep voice.

Yaoyue nodded, "Perhaps, this fog itself is the key to the problem."

Yunxuan suddenly thought of something, "Oh, right, the Xuanling Seal might be able to help us!"

He and Yaoyue exchanged a glance, and both simultaneously channeled their inner profound spiritual energy. Instantly, a faint mystical light emanated from them, dispelling the surrounding mist and causing the shadows to grow uneasy.

"It works!" Yaoyue said happily.

Yun Xuan seized the opportunity and shouted, "Let's unleash the power of the Mysterious Spirit with all our might to break through this fog!"

The two of them worked together, pushing the profound spiritual power within their bodies to its limit. A profound light shone brightly, illuminating the entire space like the sun. The fog quickly dissipated under this light, and the shadows howled shrilly before eventually dissolving into wisps of black smoke and disappearing without a trace.

As the mist dissipated, the view opened up. They found themselves standing in a beautiful valley, surrounded by mountains, lush vegetation, and flowers everywhere. A clear stream gurgled beneath their feet, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers. It felt like they were in a fairyland.

"Is this the true face of Linggu?" Yaoyue exclaimed, her eyes full of joy.

Yunxuan was also shocked by the beautiful scenery before him. He smiled and said, "It seems that we succeeded."

Just when the two of them relaxed their vigilance, a melodious sound of piano came from afar, like the sound of nature, which made people feel peaceful.

"The sound of the piano? Is there anyone else here?" Yaoyue asked in confusion.

Yunxuan nodded, "Let's go and take a look."

As they walked along the stream, the sound of the zither grew clearer. Soon, they arrived in front of a small wooden house. Beside the house sat a woman dressed in white, concentrating on playing the guqin. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, her aura transcendent, like a fairy, untouched by the mundane world.

The woman noticed their arrival, raised her head and smiled slightly, "You two have come from afar, please take a seat."

Yao Yue was a little surprised, but still said politely: "Sorry to bother you, senior."

Yun Xuan clasped his fists and saluted, "Thank you for the invitation, Senior."

The two men sat down, and the woman poured them some tea, and a faint tea fragrance filled the air.

"Excuse me, senior, where is this place..." Yunxuan asked.

The woman smiled and said, "This is the core of the Spirit Valley. I am the guardian here."

Yaoyue said in surprise: "I see, no wonder this place is so beautiful."

The woman looked at them with a gentle gaze, "Your ability to pass through the misty illusion array proves your character and strength."

Yun Xuan said modestly, "Thank you for the compliment, Senior. We are here to follow the guidance of the star map. I wonder if this is related to you, Senior?"

The woman nodded. "The end of the star map is right here."

As she spoke, she took out an ancient scroll from her sleeve and handed it to Yunxuan.

Yunxuan took the scroll and found that the patterns on it matched his star map perfectly. He said in surprise, "This is the other half of the star map!"

The woman smiled and said, "Only by combining the two can we unlock the secret of the star map."

Yao Yue asked doubtfully, "Senior, what is the secret of the star map?"

The woman smiled mysteriously, "That depends on your luck."

At this moment, a huge roar suddenly came from the distance and the ground began to shake.

"Oh no, the people from the Black Flame Cult are chasing us!" Yun Xuan stood up vigilantly.

The woman's expression hardened, and she said calmly, "It seems that trouble is coming."

Yaoyue gripped the silver blade tightly, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes, "We won't let them succeed."

The woman looked at them and nodded slightly, "You guys go quickly, I'll hold them back."

Yun Xuan hesitated and said, "Senior, you are alone..."

The woman waved him off. "Don't worry, I have my own plan. Your mission is more important."

Yaoyue tugged at Yunxuan's sleeve and whispered, "Let's go."

Yun Xuan looked at the woman deeply, clasped his fists and said, "Senior, take care."

The two of them left quickly, running in the direction indicated by the star map. The sounds of fierce fighting could be heard behind them, but they could only grit their teeth and continue forward.

"We must complete our mission and live up to the expectations of our predecessors." Yunxuan said firmly.

Yaoyue nodded slightly, her eyes full of determination, "Yes, no matter how difficult the road ahead is, we must persevere."

As the night deepened, their figures gradually disappeared into the vast darkness, but their journey continued.