Whispers in the Wind

The dawn crept slowly over the peaks of the Endless Sky Sect, casting long shadows that mingled with the ever-present mist. The world seemed unnaturally still, as if the mountain itself was holding its breath. Li Feng stood at the base of the sect's stone stairway, looking upward, his mind far from the routine of the day. His fingers brushed the hidden mirror beneath his robes, a cold pulse thrumming from it, as though it had a life of its own.

The events of the previous day weighed heavily on his thoughts—the crack in the earth, the shadowy figure, the mirror's reflection that twisted him into something unrecognizable. It was no dream. Every sense told him that what he held was far more dangerous—and far more powerful—than he could understand.

Li Feng took a deep breath, looking up toward the distant halls where inner disciples trained. Even from here, he could hear faint shouts and clangs of steel from sparring sessions, their energies flaring in vibrant bursts. They were the true disciples of the sect, climbing the ranks swiftly, ascending in cultivation while he remained stuck at the third level of Qi Condensation—just another name soon to be forgotten.

He shook his head, trying to focus. Whatever was happening, he needed answers. And yet, something held him back. Could he even trust the sect with this secret?

"Li Feng!" a familiar voice called out, breaking his thoughts.

He turned to see Luo Chen jogging toward him, his usual bright grin plastered across his face. Li Feng forced a smile in return, though his mind was elsewhere. Luo Chen was one of the few outer disciples who hadn't yet surpassed him in cultivation, but even Luo Chen was making progress—something Li Feng could not claim.

"You're back early. Did the Medicine Hall send you on another one of those dreadful herb runs?" Luo Chen asked, eyeing him curiously. "You look like you haven't slept all night."

Li Feng let out a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… It's been a long day."

Luo Chen's brow furrowed. "Well, you might want to catch up. Elder Wen is going to inspect the outer disciples today. Could be our chance to prove ourselves."

Li Feng's heart skipped a beat. If Elder Wen, one of the inner sect's more powerful instructors, examined his Qi, he'd surely notice something strange. The mirror's presence still lingered around him like a heavy cloak, altering the flow of energy in ways he didn't yet comprehend.

"Right…" he muttered, trying to sound nonchalant. "I'll join you in a bit. I need to drop something off at the Medicine Hall first."

Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Don't take too long. You know how Elder Wen hates waiting."

Li Feng watched as Luo Chen disappeared into the mist, his footfalls quickly swallowed by the mountain's silence. Alone again, he glanced over his shoulder, making sure no one else was around. He had no intention of going to the Medicine Hall. Not yet.

His footsteps took him off the beaten path, away from the sect and deeper into the dense forest behind it. He moved quickly, heading toward a secluded cliff he knew well—a place forgotten by most, save for the wind and the occasional wandering spirit. As the trees closed in around him, the world grew quieter, the noises of the sect fading away.

After what felt like an eternity, Li Feng arrived at a clearing, a small, crumbling stone shrine at its center. Once, this place had been a sanctuary for ancient cultivators seeking enlightenment. Now, it was just another relic of a forgotten time, overtaken by vines and moss. But here, away from prying eyes, it was safe.

He pulled the mirror from beneath his robes, its surface still dark and cold. The weight of its mystery pressed down on him, heavier than before. It reflected nothing but the overcast sky and the faint mist that curled through the trees, as if the world itself was wary of its power.

Li Feng's heart raced. Was it watching him again? The thought sent a chill down his spine, but he pushed it away. He needed answers. He needed to understand what this mirror truly was.

"What are you?" he whispered, the words barely audible above the wind. His fingers tightened around the frame. "Show me."

The moment the words left his lips, the air shifted. The wind picked up, swirling through the clearing in unnatural patterns. The trees groaned under the force, and the mirror's surface rippled like water. Li Feng staggered back, his pulse quickening. The glow returned—faint at first, then brighter, bathing the shrine in an eerie, pale light.

He could feel it again. The presence.

The mirror began to hum, a low, resonating sound that seemed to come from deep within the earth. Shadows flickered across its surface, and for a moment, Li Feng saw worlds beyond his understanding—places where the skies were lit by twin suns, and colossal beings moved mountains with a thought.

Then the voices returned. Not one, but many, layered over each other like a cacophony of whispers.

"Fate bends… The Veil shatters… Reality is but a dream."

Li Feng gasped, stumbling back. The voices drilled into his mind, not painful, but overwhelming, a thousand ancient tongues speaking truths he could barely grasp. His Qi roared to life in response, surging within him, but it wasn't the same Qi he had cultivated for years. This felt different. Darker. More primal.

The mirror rippled once more, and this time, he saw it—a figure cloaked in shadow, towering and imposing. Unlike the reflection of himself from the previous day, this figure exuded a power that chilled him to the core. Its face remained hidden, but its gaze… Li Feng could feel it, sharp and all-seeing, as if it could strip away every layer of his being and expose the truth beneath.

The voices continued, growing louder, more insistent.

"Embrace the power… Break free of your chains… Ascend beyond the limits of this world."

Li Feng's breath came in ragged gasps. The mirror was pulling him in, its power wrapping around him, digging into the core of his soul. The energy that surged through his body was intoxicating, threatening to drown him in its magnitude. His muscles tightened as his vision blurred, the world around him dissolving into a vortex of light and shadow.

Then, with a violent jolt, the connection broke.

The mirror's glow faded, the wind died, and the clearing fell silent. Li Feng collapsed to his knees, gasping for air, his body trembling from the exertion. The mirror lay still in his hands, its surface now dull and lifeless, as though it had never stirred.

But the power… The power lingered.

Li Feng stared at his hands, feeling the faint echoes of the energy that had coursed through him. It was real. The mirror had shown him glimpses of realms beyond his imagination, and for a brief moment, it had given him a taste of that power. He had barely scratched the surface, but even that was enough to change him.

He stood shakily, tucking the mirror back into his robes. His mind buzzed with questions—what was this artifact? Why had it chosen him? And more importantly, what would it demand in return?

The wind picked up again, softer this time, carrying with it the distant toll of that strange, eerie bell.

As he made his way back to the sect, Li Feng couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Whatever had marked him, whatever had chosen him, was far from

done.

And the price of power had only just begun to reveal itself.