Lin Feng's footsteps echoed in the mist, each step taken with the heavy realization that his choice was not merely a shift in his path—it was a transformation. The air around him felt different now, lighter yet filled with potential, as though the very world was welcoming him into a new existence. The woman's figure had vanished, leaving only the quiet serenity of the mist-laden path before him.
But even as peace enveloped him, a gnawing sense of uncertainty lingered. Wisdom. It was the path of uncertainty itself. There was no immediate reward, no grand promise of power that burned bright like the other path had. There was only the unknown.
With each step he took, the mist seemed to grow denser, the light dimming until he could barely see ahead of him. Yet, the air felt charged with something ancient, something timeless. As if the very fabric of reality had woven itself into this place, waiting for him to discover its secrets.
What lies ahead? Lin Feng thought. What am I supposed to find on this path?
The question hung in the air as if the mist itself was listening, waiting for his next move. And then, a voice, soft and melodic, broke the stillness.
"You have chosen well, Lin Feng."
Lin Feng froze, his heart pounding. He had expected silence, not the voice of the woman who had guided him earlier. But now it came from all directions, as though the very mist itself had become alive with words.
"Wisdom is a gift that cannot be given, but must be earned. The path ahead will test you not only in body but in mind and spirit. The world you seek to change will first change you."
Suddenly, the mist parted, revealing a vast landscape ahead. It was not a simple path stretching onward. No, it was a series of trials, each one uniquely tailored to his inner fears, weaknesses, and desires. The landscape shifted from verdant forests to jagged mountains, from calm seas to torrential rivers. Each scene was a reflection of his soul, a vision of the world he could one day change, but also one that would change him in ways he could not yet understand.
Lin Feng took a deep breath, his feet firm on the ground. The journey had already begun. He knew there was no turning back now, no easy path forward. But he wasn't afraid. He had chosen wisdom, and in doing so, he had chosen the harder road—the road where the destination was not the point, but the journey itself.
Before him, a stone archway rose from the mist, its surface etched with unfamiliar symbols that seemed to shimmer and move. It was as if the archway held knowledge of the ages, a doorway to something greater.
As he approached it, the air around him began to hum with energy, and the symbols on the archway glowed with an intense light. It felt as though the very universe itself was speaking to him, guiding him toward something. But what?
The voice spoke again, this time more urgent, more direct.
"Pass through the archway, Lin Feng. Beyond lies your first trial of wisdom."
He hesitated for a moment, the weight of the decision pressing upon him. This was it—the point of no return. But despite the uncertainty, Lin Feng felt a surge of confidence. Wisdom was not a passive force—it was something to be earned, learned, and tested.
He stepped through the archway.
The world around him shifted in an instant. The mist vanished, replaced by an endless desert stretching out in every direction. The sun beat down from a cloudless sky, its heat nearly unbearable. Lin Feng squinted, shielding his eyes from the glare. In the distance, a small figure appeared—an old man, hunched and bent, his robes tattered and worn. He moved with the slow, deliberate steps of someone who had spent years—decades—walking alone.
Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat. The old man was a familiar figure—the one from his first trial. The one who had died in his arms, whispering cryptic words that had set him on his path. But how could he be here now? This place was a realm of wisdom, not a continuation of his past.
The old man paused, sensing Lin Feng's presence. He turned slowly, his cloudy eyes locking onto Lin Feng's. There was no hint of recognition, no sign of the death he had suffered, only the calm, unhurried gaze of someone who had seen the world in all its forms.
"You're alive?" Lin Feng whispered, unsure whether the question was meant for the old man or for himself.
The old man smiled faintly. "I never died. I only transformed. Just as you will, if you truly walk this path."
Lin Feng stepped forward, confused and intrigued. "What do you mean? What is this place? What is this trial?"
The old man's smile deepened, but there was no malice in his expression, only quiet wisdom. "This is the Trial of Reflection. It is the first of many that will test your understanding of the world. You have chosen wisdom, but that choice means you must learn to see beyond yourself. Your mind, your spirit, must grow in harmony with the world around you."
He gestured toward the desert that stretched out before them. "The path you must take is simple, but it will challenge you in ways you cannot yet comprehend. You must cross this desert, but there is no map, no clear way to reach the other side. You must rely on your senses, your instincts, and your ability to perceive the world in ways that others cannot."
Lin Feng furrowed his brow. "You're saying I have to cross this desert… with no directions?"
The old man nodded. "Exactly. The desert is not just sand and wind. It is a reflection of your mind. As you walk, the desert will change. It will adapt to your thoughts, your emotions, and your choices. If you act with arrogance or impatience, it will become treacherous. If you are consumed by doubt, it will become a labyrinth of confusion."
Lin Feng's gaze wandered across the endless expanse of sand, uncertainty creeping into his chest. This was the first true trial of wisdom, and it wasn't about brute force or speed. It was about perception, understanding the world and the forces that governed it.
The old man's voice broke through his thoughts. "Remember, Lin Feng, wisdom is not the absence of doubt. It is the ability to face doubt and still make the right choice."
With those final words, the old man turned and began walking into the distance, his figure slowly fading into the shimmering heat of the desert. Lin Feng stared after him, feeling both alone and deeply connected to something greater than himself.
He took his first step into the desert. The trial had begun, and the road ahead would require more than strength. It would demand understanding—the kind that came from within, not from external power.
And Lin Feng was ready.