Li Yuan stood on the edge of the slope, looking down at the valley shrouded in a light, shimmering mist. "Why am I here?" - he thought. "Why did the system bring me to this particular place? These symbols, the crystal... It's all connected. But to what? My past? Or the future?" This crystal. and all these symbols. It's like it's all part of some scheme, but how do I fit into it?" The place itself seemed to be alive: the mist flowed as if it were breathing, and the air was filled with the sounds of nature. The trees with curved branches resembled hands reaching for the sky, their bark covered in an unusual pattern like ancient symbols. Li Yuan noticed the branches moving slightly even though there was no wind, and the leaves glowed with a faint greenish light for a moment as he passed by. The grass beneath his feet was thick and soft, but occasionally there were strange plants with white, porcelain-like petals that glowed in the semi-darkness. Somewhere in the distance, birds chirped, leaves whispered among themselves in the gusts of wind, and from deep in the valley came the barely audible roar of an animal.
"Why did the system bring me here?" - he thought, clutching the crystal in his hand. The light of the starry sky, so low and unusually bright, was left behind, giving way to dense vegetation and rocky slopes barely illuminated by the sun's rays breaking through the mist.
Cautiously making his way down, Li Yuan noticed the landscape gradually changing. Along the way, he came across the overgrown remains of an ancient well. Its stone edges were covered in moss, and from the depths came the faint sound of dripping water. Li Yuan froze, feeling a strange premonition roll over him. "There were once people who lived here. But what became of them?" There was a strange scent in the air, a mixture of damp earth and something sweet, almost ethereal. It seemed to him that each step brought him closer to some hidden knowledge, but with it came a growing sense of unease. The stony surface was replaced by moist soil, in some places covered with moss. Grass grew in thick clumps, and low trees, their curved branches like claws, overhung the path. Every step was echoed with a soft rustle, and Li Yuan couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone here.
Soon, his gaze was drawn to old stone steps covered in cracks and twisted with plant roots. They led somewhere deep into the valley, as if inviting him to go further. "Someone must have lived here..." - he thought, noticing the remains of a ruined wall that looked like part of a temple or watchtower. Stone blocks were scattered around, and strange footprints could be seen between them. Among the debris, Li Yuan noticed a fragment of pottery covered with an ancient pattern. He picked it up, scrutinizing it carefully. "This is part of something bigger... A temple? A settlement?" - he thought, carefully tucking the find into his pocket.
Li Yuan crouched down to examine them closer. Paw prints, but too big for an ordinary animal, intersected with faintly visible human footprints. His heart beat faster. "So I'm not the first to come here. But who was it?"
The system panel suddenly activated:
Warning: area of potential danger. Be vigilant.
Those words made him freeze. It was quiet, too quiet. The chirping of the birds had died down, and only the slight rustle of leaves accompanied his next steps. Thoughts swirled in his head. "Should I go further? The system is guiding me, but why? Could I be just a pawn in someone else's game? Or did it choose me for some reason? But what's the connection between this place and me?"
For a moment he felt vulnerable. But then another feeling came - a desire to know the truth. He inhaled deeply, clutching the crystal. "What if this place does have a connection to me? But how?" - he pondered, feeling each new find adding more questions. Then, suppressing his doubts, he went forward.
At one part of the road his way was blocked by a rockslide. Dirt and rocks crumbled, forming a natural obstacle. The system panel burst into flames:
Use ability: Inner Vision to assess a safe route.
Activating the skill, Li Yuan saw a path that was previously unseen. A thin line of aura stretched through the dense vegetation, indicating a detour route. He followed it, bypassing the dangerous area. After a while, he came to something unusual.
In front of him stood an ancient stone pillar covered in symbols. He noticed the crystal in his hand begin to pulse in time with the glow of the symbols, as if reacting to their presence. The system panel blinked slightly, as if sensing this connection as well. The symbols began to change their glow as before, but now their glow was brighter, emitting a subtle, almost musical sound. Li Yuan felt the tension building up around him, as if the place itself was reacting to his presence. They resembled the ones he had seen in the cave, but were more complex. Some of them glowed with a faint bluish light. As Li Yuan moved closer, the symbols began to change their glow, going from bluish to a soft golden hue. The panel lit up again:
Ancient symbols have been discovered. The analysis has begun.
Li Yuan walked closer, running his hand over the cold surface of the stone. Suddenly, there was a whisper in his mind - unintelligible words, but they caused him to feel a sense of anxiety and anticipation. The panel reflected a new message:
New task: explore the valley. Symbols indicate a possible settlement. Follow the signs.
A settlement? The thought that there might be people in the valley, or something that could explain what was happening, both pleased and alarmed him. He took a step back to look around and noticed that the fog was getting thicker.
He had to decide whether to move on or stop for the night. He chose a secluded spot by a large rock, hoping it would provide some protection. Starting a small fire, Li Yuan tried to calm his thoughts. But barely had he settled down when he heard a strange sound, a muffled echo that came from deep within the valley. It sounded like footsteps, but after a moment he recognized another sound-a quiet rumbling, as if someone or something was watching him from the mist. It was like footsteps, but too loud to belong to a person.
He froze, listening. The fog around him was faintly rippling, as if it was moving along with something invisible. Li Yuan felt a slight chill run across his skin, reinforcing the feeling that he was not alone. The air whispered unfamiliar words, quiet and barely perceptible, giving the impression that the place was trying to speak to him. The air seemed to whisper unfamiliar words he couldn't make out, reinforcing the feeling that he was being watched. In the distance, a faint flicker of light flashed through the thick veil, as if inviting him to come closer. For a moment he thought he recognized a figure lurking in the light, but the fog closed in again, concealing it from view. His heart beat more frequently. "What is it? A friend? An enemy? Or another trial?"