Genshin's Wish

Chapter 281: Bravely Entering the Phantom Forest

Bennett and Mika stood at the edge of the Phantom Forest, looking at the trees shrouded in mist, with determination written on their faces. They knew that there were countless secrets and challenges hidden in this forest, but in order to find the lost Stone of Wisdom, they had to take this step bravely.

"Are you ready, Mika?" Bennett adjusted his backpack, a gleam of adventure in his eyes.

Mika nodded, her hand tightly holding the ancient map, which was their guide and their hope. "We have to be careful, the illusions here are no joke."

As soon as they entered the forest, they felt a strange atmosphere. The air was filled with a faint floral scent, and the surrounding scenery seemed to be constantly changing. The trees twisted into strange shapes and the paths disappeared from time to time. Bennett took out his compass, but found that the needle was spinning wildly and without any regularity.

"It seems that we can only rely on our intuition." Bennett said, and then he took a step forward, carefully moving between the trees.

Soon, they encountered their first challenge. A seemingly calm lake appeared in front of them, and the water was clear. But when Bennett tried to scoop up some water with his hands, his hands passed through the water and touched nothing.

"This is an illusion!" Mika exclaimed, and she took out a special crystal from her backpack that was said to be able to see through illusions.

Sure enough, as soon as the crystal was placed on the lake, the clear water instantly disappeared, revealing the dense thorns underneath. Bennett and Mika smiled at each other and bypassed the trap.

As they go deeper into the forest, the visions they encounter become increasingly complex. At one point, they even see their own reflections, waving at them to come over. But Bennett remembers the warning in the book that these reflections are the spirits of the forest, leading people into an endless maze.

They did not fall for it, but continued on their way. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew and brought a piece of tattered parchment. Bennett quickly picked it up and saw a route to the Stone of Wisdom drawn on it.

"This is our clue!" Mika said excitedly.

They followed the instructions on the parchment and finally came to an open area. Here, a huge silver-white tree stood in the center, and a glowing gem was embedded in its trunk - the Stone of Wisdom.

Bennett and Mika walked forward and were about to take the gem when suddenly a voice sounded in their ears: "Are you really ready to possess the Stone of Wisdom?"

They turned around and saw an old man in a long robe with a kind face appeared in front of them. He was the guardian of the forest and the keeper of the Stone of Wisdom.

“We’ve been through a lot to get here,” Bennett replied.

"Then tell me your most precious memory," said the old man.

Bennett and Mika smiled at each other, knowing that this was the final test. They told their adventure stories, about friendship and courage, and about their determination to stand up again after every fall.

After hearing this, the old man smiled with satisfaction. "You have proven your worth." He waved his hand and the Stone of Wisdom floated into the hands of Bennett and Mika.

The moment they held the Stone of Wisdom, the entire Phantom Forest lit up. They not only found the gem, but more importantly, they found their own wisdom and courage.

Bennett and Mika left the Phantom Forest with the Stone of Wisdom. Their journey will continue, but they know that as long as they are together, nothing is impossible.