The dawn's first light was like a sharp silver blade, slicing through the mist and falling into the valley of the Wolf Soul Mountains. Kale stood on the altar, feeling the power of the wolf soul that hadn't fully subsided surging within his body. Every inch of his muscles seemed to have been forged by fire, tough and full of explosive power.
Azure Claw stood quietly by his side, its eyes shining brightly, gazing at Kale with a hint of awe. The wolf pack surrounded them, whimpering in a low voice, as if responding to the trial that Kale had just passed. There was undisguised belief in their eyes, as if they regarded Kale as the true wolf king.
Kale lowered his head and gently stroked the head of Azure Claw, feeling the blood pulsing beneath its fur. His heart was filled with complex emotions, a mix of excitement for the new power and contemplation of the unknown destiny.
"You've changed." The voice of the old man in the gray robe came from behind.
Kale turned around and saw the old man standing quietly in the shadow of the altar. A mysterious light flickered in his eyes, as if he could see through the confusion deep in Kale's heart.
"Power is a double-edged sword," the old man said slowly. "It can help you protect everything you cherish, but it can also swallow you up inadvertently."
Kale was silent for a while and then said in a low voice, "I understand. The power of the wolf soul has indeed made me stronger, but I also know that this power is far more than what it seems on the surface."
The old man walked slowly to Kale's side and looked towards the valley still shrouded in the morning light in the distance.
"The trial of the Wolf Soul Mountains is just the first step," the old man sighed. "You've awakened the power that has been sleeping deep in your blood, but the real test is still ahead."
Kale frowned and stared at the old man. "You mean—the secrets hidden deep within the Wolf Soul Mountains?"
The old man nodded slowly, his gaze profound. "At the end of the Wolf Soul Mountains, a true wolf king is sleeping."
"The wolf king?" Kale's eyes widened in shock. "So, there is really a true king of the wolf clan in this mountain range?"
The old man said softly, "The bloodline of the wolf clan originates from the wolf king. It is the origin of all werewolves and the oldest guardian of the Wolf Soul Mountains. However, it is not an ordinary wolf. Its power has long transcended the constraints of the physical body and has become a symbol of the wolf soul."
Kale's heart began to beat faster, as if he had heard the call of fate.
"The power you possess now is just a part of the wolf king's inheritance," the old man said slowly. "Only by stepping into the deepest part of the Wolf Soul Mountains and awakening the sleeping wolf king can you truly inherit the complete bloodline of the wolf clan."
Kale took a deep breath and clenched his fists slightly. "If this is part of my destiny, I'm willing to embark on this journey."
The old man gave him a deep look, and a trace of approval flashed in his eyes. "Very well. But remember, the depths of the Wolf Soul Mountains are not a place that ordinary people can set foot in. There lurks something more dangerous than the wolf soul—the remnant wolves."
"The remnant wolves?"
The old man nodded, and his expression became solemn. "They are the wolf souls eroded by darkness. They were originally part of the wolf clan, but over the past thousand years, they chose to fall, were consumed by greed and killing, and became irrational beasts."
Kale's gaze was as sharp as a knife, cold and resolute. "No matter what, I will keep moving forward."
Deeper into the Wolf Soul Mountains
Without further words, Kale led Azure Claw and the wolf pack on the path deeper into the Wolf Soul Mountains.
In the mountains, the trees were as green as an ocean, and the mist curled around the ancient huge rocks. Every step seemed to lead them into an unknown world. The wolf pack closely followed Kale, occasionally looking up into the distance with a vigilant expression.
After walking for about an hour, the forest ahead suddenly became unusually quiet. Even the chirping of birds disappeared, leaving only the rustling sound of the wind passing through the leaves.
"There's something nearby," Azure Claw growled in a low voice, its sharp eyes fixed on the dense jungle ahead.
Kale stopped in his tracks and a sense of alertness rose in his heart. He slowly drew out the long knife at his waist, and the blade glinted with a cold light in the morning light.
Suddenly, a low growl came from the jungle, and a black shadow rushed out from the forest. A huge black wolf with red eyes leaped out and pounced on Kale!
Kale's figure flashed, and the light of the knife flashed like lightning. He swung the knife, cutting through the air and accurately slashing at the black wolf's front paw. The black wolf let out a shrill scream and fell heavily to the ground. But it didn't back down. Instead, it became even more furious. It got down on all fours and charged forward again.
The wolf pack immediately rushed towards the black wolf and fought with it. But the black wolf's power far exceeded that of an ordinary wolf. In just a short moment, several wolves were injured and fell to the ground.
Kale's gaze was as cold as frost. He suddenly leaped up, gripping the long knife with both hands, and slashed at the black wolf's head.
As the blade fell, the black wolf let out a roar. Blood spurted out, and finally, after twitching on the ground for a while, it completely lost its vitality.
Kale walked up to the black wolf's body, stared down at it, and frowned.
"This is a remnant wolf," he said in a low voice, feeling a faint sense of oppression in his heart.
The old man slowly emerged from the mist and stared at the black wolf's body. "The number of remnant wolves is increasing. They shouldn't have appeared on the outskirts of the Wolf Soul Mountains. This might mean that something we haven't noticed yet is happening deep within the Wolf Soul Mountains."
Kale pondered for a moment, and a determined light flashed in his eyes. "No matter what happens, I must keep moving forward."
The old man nodded. "At the core of the Wolf Soul Mountains, there is a wolf king's altar. You must receive the wolf king's summons there."
Kale took a deep breath, looked towards the misty depths of the mountains, and stepped firmly towards the unknown ahead.
And in the distant mist, a pair of dark blue wolf eyes quietly watched him, as if they had long been waiting for the arrival of this inheritor.