The darkness enveloped everything like an endless curtain, and the aura of the fissure gnawed at everyone's nerves. Kale held his long knife tightly, feeling a heavy sense of oppression rising from beneath his feet, as if the land itself was whispering. The wolf pack followed behind him, their steps steady and alert. Only Yize walked at the front, deftly navigating through this forbidden land as if he knew it well.
"How far have we gone?" Cangzhao asked in a deep voice, his eyes sharp as he scanned the flickering shadows around them.
"We're not far from the Tomb of the Wolf Soul." Yize didn't look back, and his voice echoed in the empty tunnel. "But the real challenge is just beginning."
Before the words had even faded, the surrounding air suddenly condensed. A strange, cold wind blew from the depths of the fissure, carrying whispers that seemed to come from another world, faintly echoing in everyone's ears.
Kale stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowing slightly as he listened to those whispers.
"Do you hear it?" He turned his head to look at Cangzhao. "This sound..."
Cangzhao nodded slowly. "It's not just the wind. Those whispers are like some kind of... call."
Yize stopped as well, his gaze fixed on the end of the tunnel, his tone uncharacteristically solemn. "Those are the whispers of the Abyss."
"The whispers of the Abyss?" Kale frowned.
"Deep within the fissure, there are some existences beyond our comprehension. The closer you get to the truth, the more actively they will reach out to you, trying to erode your consciousness." Yize pointed to his temple and said in a low voice, "Stay awake, or you'll become their puppet."
Kale was silent for a moment, then continued walking.
After walking along the tunnel for about a quarter of an hour, they came to a naturally formed underground hall. The rock walls here were rugged, and the ground was scattered with dense wolf bones, as if it were the remains of a former battlefield. In the very center, a huge stone pillar stood tall, and it was engraved with countless ancient runes. Those runes seemed to have a life of their own, faintly emitting a blue light that gradually grew brighter as they approached.
Kale walked slowly towards the stone pillar, his gaze wandering among the runes. He felt a power that was both familiar and strange slowly flowing out from the runes and seeping into his body.
"What is this..." he murmured softly, his fingertips gently sliding over the runes, and a faint flow of energy trembled in response.
Yize leaned against the stone pillar with his arms crossed, his eyes profound. "These runes were personally engraved by the Wolf Soul King before his fall. The secrets of the Abyss, the truth of the fissure, are all hidden here."
Kale looked up and stared straight at Yize. "You already knew all this?"
Yize shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I know some things. But the truth needs to be uncovered by you yourself. I'm just a guide."
Kale didn't ask any more questions. He knew that Yize always had too many secrets. At this moment, it was more important to decipher the runes on the stone pillar than to ask for more information.
He slowly closed his eyes and placed his hands on the stone pillar. The power of the Wolf Soul within him resonated with the runes. In the next instant, the stone pillar suddenly shook, and a dark red light spread out from the ground, illuminating the entire hall.
At the same time, those whispers sounded again. This time, they were no longer blurred but clearly reached the depths of Kale's consciousness.
"Bloodline... Return..."
"The King... Hasn't Died..."
Kale's pupils shrank slightly, and his heart was filled with shock. Those voices carried a sense of familiarity, as if they came from the depths of some distant memory.
Yize noticed Kale's strange reaction and said softly, "What did you hear?"
Kale slowly opened his eyes, his eyes shining with a dim light. "The Wolf Soul King is still alive, or rather, his consciousness remains beneath the fissure of the Abyss."
Upon hearing this, Cangzhao suddenly raised his head and looked at Kale in shock. "How is this possible? The Wolf Soul King has been dead for a thousand years. Why does his consciousness still exist?"
Kale shook his head. "I'm not sure either, but these whispers can't be without meaning. The power of the Wolf Soul King might be the key to preventing the complete awakening of the Abyss."
Yize slowly walked up to the stone pillar and placed his palm on the cold runes. A complex look flashed in his eyes. "The will of the Wolf Soul King is indeed tenacious. Even though the Abyss has devoured everything, he still left behind a faint trace."
He turned around and stared straight at Kale. "You must find the remaining consciousness of the Wolf Soul King. This is the only way to stop the fissure from expanding."
Kale pondered for a moment and then nodded. "If that's the case, then let's go deeper into the fissure."
Yize smiled and turned to walk towards the depths of the tunnel. "Follow me. We're just one step away from the real fissure."
The wolf pack growled and followed. Cangzhao followed closely behind. Kale took a deep breath and stepped into the deeper darkness.
The whispers gradually faded away in his ears, but Kale knew that those voices hadn't really left. Instead, they were waiting, deep within the fissure, waiting for the return of the bloodline of the Wolf Soul King.