Star Journey: Destiny Returns

As dusk deepened, a thin mist enveloped the surrounding wasteland, and a chilly air emanated from the air, as if all life in the world had been swept away. Yunxuan and Yaoyue stepped into this silent wasteland. The wild grass swayed in the wind, making a slight rustling sound, as if telling some unsolved secret of the past.

The light of the star map flickered faintly in Yunxuan's hand, as if guiding him in a certain direction. Yaoyue's gaze narrowed slightly, and she whispered, "There seems to be something strange about this wasteland. The light of the star map has become so dim, as if it's suppressing something."

Yunxuan looked around, feeling a sense of oppression creeping in. He nodded, his voice low, "It seems it's not just the environment. I feel like countless eyes are watching us in this wasteland, lurking in the shadows, watching our every move."

Not long after they walked, an abandoned ancient stone tablet emerged from the weeds. Carved with weathered symbols, it offered the faintest glimpse of ancient text. Yunxuan approached, gently caressing the tablet, his fingertips feeling the coolness of the stone. He stared at the words, trying to decipher their meaning.

Yao Yue slowly approached and asked softly, "These symbols seem to be related to ancient legends. Could this also be part of an ancient relic?"

Yunxuan nodded slowly, and after a moment's contemplation, he said, "If I'm not mistaken, this is one of the entrances to the 'Four Directions Realm'. Legend has it that in ancient times, inheritors of the ultimate flavor would gather here to share power and secrets. However, as time passed, the Four Directions Realm gradually disappeared from people's sight, leaving only legends and incomplete stone tablets."

Yaoyue silently memorized this information. She felt the significance of their journey deepened. The secrets within the star map went far beyond the essence of the taste, and seemed to conceal a greater mission. However, as she pondered this, several vague figures suddenly emerged from the mist in the wasteland ahead. They resembled human figures, yet they carried a strange sense of unreality.

"Attention, there is movement." Yunxuan instantly entered a state of alert, the long sword in his hand was slightly unsheathed, and he looked ahead vigilantly.

The blurry figures gradually approached, their faces shrouded in shadows, and their true appearance could not be seen clearly. However, a familiar yet unfamiliar aura emanated from them, which made people suspicious.

Yunxuan and Yaoyue exchanged a glance, and Yaoyue lowered her voice and said, "These people don't look like the living. Instead, they look more like undead souls lost in the wilderness."

At this moment, one of the figures slowly spoke, his voice hoarse and low, as if penetrating the barriers of several ages: "O holders of the star map, why have you come here? Do you know that the land ahead is lost, and stepping in will be the beginning of a nightmare?"

Yun Xuan remained unmoved. He met the figure's gaze and responded calmly, "We have only one goal: to pursue the ultimate guidance of the star map. Whether it's a nightmare or not, it's all fate. We move forward fearlessly."

A hint of melancholy crossed the figure's eyes, as if he were reminiscing about a past event. He sighed softly, "Traveling on the star map, all that the world seeks is vanity. If one obsessively pursues the ultimate pleasure, they will ultimately pay a heavy price..."

Hearing these seemingly ominous words, Yao Yue frowned slightly, her heart filled with confusion. Who were these figures? Why did they know the secret of the star map, and why were they lingering here?

Before she could ask, another figure slowly approached, his eyes cold and his voice tinged with disdain: "Since you insist on going on, then prepare to face the test."

As soon as he finished speaking, the wasteland suddenly began to surge with wind and clouds. Under the cover of night, the surrounding fog slowly condensed into a high wall, as if with consciousness, trapping them. Simultaneously, the figures gradually vanished, becoming part of the mist, leaving behind the empty and silent wasteland. Yunxuan and Yaoyue stood within this cage formed by the mist, trapped in endless silence and darkness.

Yun Xuan frowned and whispered, "It seems they are deliberately trying to lure us into this. But no matter what the test is, we must face it one by one."

Yaoyue's expression also took on a hint of determination. She said firmly, "We have already embarked on this path. We cannot retreat because of the unknown. Whether it is a test or a trap, we will not be intimidated."

Before she finished her words, countless red dots of light suddenly flashed in the mist. They were as crimson as blood, like countless pairs of eyes, staring coldly at them. Then, a low, murmuring sound, like the whispers of countless souls, echoed in their ears.

"Continue forward, or turn back... the choice is yours..." The whisper lingered in their ears, as if trying to shake their resolve. Yun Xuan gripped his sword tightly and said coldly, "Even fear cannot shake our resolve."

Before he could finish his words, a dark shadow suddenly emerged from the mist and lunged towards Yunxuan, carrying a bone-chilling chill. Yunxuan reacted quickly, swinging his sword to meet the attack. The sword light collided with the shadow, making a sharp sound. The shadow quickly retreated back into the mist, disappearing without a trace.

Seeing this, Yao Yue tightened her grip on the short blade and gazed intently around her. She whispered, "These shadows are incredibly strange. Not only are they incredibly fast, but they also seem to have no physical form, making them difficult to repel."

Yunxuan nodded slightly, pondering a response. He knew that if they continued to react passively like this, they would eventually be exhausted and trapped in a desperate situation. He glanced at the star map, the light flickering on it, as if guiding them in a certain direction.

"The light of the star map is giving us faint guidance. Perhaps we can use it to find the direction of breakthrough." Yunxuan said in a low voice, pulling Yaoyue and leading her in the direction indicated by the star map.

However, with every step they took, the red dots of light followed, as if unwilling to let them pass easily. Yao Yue suddenly stopped, a thoughtful expression on her face, and then said, "These dots of light seem to have some kind of pattern. If we can find a loophole in them, perhaps we can temporarily escape their entanglement."

Yunxuan looked at her, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes, and nodded, "That's right. We might as well walk in the opposite direction and see if we can find the exit."

The two decided to go the other way, and sure enough, they noticed that the red dots began to slowly shift, as if to confuse them. Yunxuan and Yaoyue exchanged a smile and continued forward, gradually leaving the dots behind. However, just as they thought they were out of danger, a deep laugh emanated from the fog, filled with sarcasm and disdain, as if mocking their struggles.

"Struggle, holder of the star map... This road is a nightmare from which you can never escape."