Night covered the forest outside the sect.
Li Wei walked alone beneath the ancient trees.
The moonlight revealed twisted roots and broken stones scattered across the ground.
Suddenly—
He noticed a faint silver glow.
At first he thought it was a firefly.
But the light remained still.
Curious, Li Wei approached.
Beneath the glow lay a skeleton wearing ancient robes.
Above its skull floated a small crystal fragment.
The moment Li Wei touched it—
Pain exploded inside his mind.
Memories flooded into his consciousness.
He saw a cultivator flying across the sky.
He saw battles that shattered mountains.
He saw betrayal.
And finally—
Death.
Li Wei collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
A whisper echoed inside his head.
"You can hear us…"
His heart began pounding.
"Who said that?"
The whisper continued.
"We are the echoes left behind by the dead."