The skies above were a brilliant shade of violet, and a strange calm had settled over the land as Lin Feng found himself standing on the edge of an unfamiliar cliff. The wind whispered around him, but it wasn't the usual rush of air that he had become accustomed to. This wind felt ancient, filled with whispers that seemed to travel from the heavens themselves. Below, the endless expanse of clouds stretched like an ocean, moving in swirling patterns. Far in the distance, something floated among the clouds—an island, suspended impossibly in mid-air.
Lin Feng's breath caught as he gazed at the floating isle. It was as if the very laws of nature had been bent to create this sight. The island was covered in lush greenery, its towering trees and waterfalls cascading over its edges, defying all logic. There were no supports, no signs of any magical mechanism. Just a piece of land floating effortlessly in the sky, surrounded by an ethereal glow.
"This…" Lin Feng murmured to himself. "What is that?"
The voice of an old man suddenly echoed behind him, breaking his concentration. "That is the Isle of Echoes."
Lin Feng spun around to find an elderly figure standing at the base of the cliff. The man was hunched over, his long, white beard flowing down to his chest. His robes were a dull grey, and his eyes, though clouded with age, gleamed with wisdom. There was a quiet power about him, the kind that spoke of someone who had lived far longer than most.
"The Isle of Echoes?" Lin Feng repeated, his voice laced with curiosity. "Why does it float? How is it possible?"
The old man chuckled softly, his voice deep and gravelly. "Ah, the questions of the young. Always seeking answers without truly understanding the nature of the world around them." He motioned for Lin Feng to come closer, and the young man hesitated for a moment before obeying. "The Isle of Echoes is not simply a place in the sky. It is a reflection of something greater, something older. It is the repository of memories, the keeper of forgotten truths."
Lin Feng frowned, trying to make sense of the old man's words. "A repository of memories? Forgotten truths?"
The old man nodded slowly. "This island exists in the space between time and memory. It was once a thriving place, but it was lost to history—hidden away, locked by those who feared its power. And now, only those who are chosen by fate can find their way to it."
Lin Feng's mind raced as he tried to grasp the significance of what he was being told. "So, what is it that lies on the Isle of Echoes? What am I supposed to do there?"
The elderly man smiled faintly, a knowing gleam in his eye. "What lies there is not for me to say. It is something you must discover on your own. But beware, young one—though the island may seem peaceful, its very nature is a challenge. It will test you, reflect your inner self, and reveal what you truly seek. And once you step foot on its soil, there will be no turning back."
Lin Feng felt a strange pull toward the floating isle, as if something deep within him was calling him to it. The old man's words carried a weight, and yet there was something enticing about the challenge that awaited him there. Whatever lay on that island, he knew he had to see it for himself.
"Is it dangerous?" Lin Feng asked, his voice steady despite the unease that was creeping in.
The old man's gaze softened, his smile slipping into something more serious. "Dangerous? Not in the way you think. The danger lies not in the monsters you will face or the traps that might lie in wait. The danger is in yourself, in the things you have long buried deep within your heart. The island will expose those things, and it will force you to confront them. It is a place where truths can be dangerous, where the mind can break if it is not prepared."
Lin Feng felt a chill run down his spine. "Confront what things? What truths?"
But the old man merely shook his head. "That is for you to discover. And for you to survive."
With that, the figure turned and began walking away, his form slowly dissolving into the mist that had gathered at the edge of the cliff. Lin Feng stood still, a sense of both dread and anticipation welling up inside him. He had come so far, faced so much already, but something about the Isle of Echoes seemed different. This wasn't just another test of strength or will—it was a test of who he truly was, deep down, beneath all the layers of doubt and fear.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Feng turned back to the floating island. The air around it seemed to shimmer, and despite the strange and ominous aura, he couldn't help but feel that this was where he was meant to go next.
He started walking towards the edge of the cliff, his feet heavy with the weight of his decision. The wind picked up around him, and the distant island seemed to pulse in response, as if it were waiting for him. With a final glance at the horizon, Lin Feng stepped forward. The moment his foot left the solid ground, the very air around him seemed to shift, and he was pulled toward the floating isle.
For a split second, he felt like he was falling, but then the sensation changed. The air was thick with a strange energy, and the world around him blurred, shifting like liquid. As if the island itself was reaching out to him, he felt his body gently pulled upward, as if gravity no longer had any hold on him. Slowly, his feet touched solid ground again, and he looked around, finding himself standing at the entrance to the Isle of Echoes.
The land was breathtaking. Lush forests with trees that seemed to hum with life surrounded him. A quiet river wound its way through the island, its waters reflecting the shifting skies above. But beneath the peaceful surface, Lin Feng felt an unsettling presence—a whispering, as if the very earth itself was speaking to him in languages long forgotten.
"Welcome, Lin Feng," a voice called from the shadows.
Lin Feng froze, his senses alert. From the shadows, a figure emerged—a woman, her long, silver hair flowing around her like a river of light. Her eyes were bright and sharp, and her presence was both ethereal and powerful. She was dressed in robes of deep blue, and her steps seemed to leave a trail of light in the air.
"Who are you?" Lin Feng asked, his voice tense, but there was a strange calm in the woman's gaze that made him lower his guard slightly.
"I am the Guardian of Echoes," the woman said softly. "I watch over the island and protect the memories that lie hidden here. But you, Lin Feng, are here for a different reason."
Lin Feng swallowed, feeling the weight of her words press down on him. "What do you mean?"
"The Isle of Echoes is a place for those who seek answers," she continued, her gaze unwavering. "But you must know—there are no easy answers here. The island will give you what you need to know, but not necessarily what you want to hear. And once you have seen the truth, you cannot unsee it."
Lin Feng felt a shiver run through him. The weight of the island's power, of its mysteries, pressed down on him, but his resolve remained. He had already come this far, and there was no turning back now.
The woman stepped forward, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made him feel as if she could see through to the very core of his being. "If you wish to proceed, you must pass the first trial of the Echoes. The memories of this place will reveal your greatest fear. And only by facing it will you be able to move forward."
Lin Feng's heart raced, but his gaze never wavered. "I'm ready," he said, his voice steady.
The woman nodded, and the world around him seemed to shift once again. A strange light filled the air, and the ground beneath his feet began to tremble. The trial had begun.