Walking through this completely dark dungeon, Ji Wuye moved with fluid grace, his movements effortless as he deflected the frenzied attacks from the remaining Dark Wolf pups that lunged at him with snapping jaws. The metallic scent of fresh blood hung heavy in the air, staining the path with a gruesome trail of young wolf corpses in his wake.

This time, his jian didn't even emit the faint, bubbling bloodied aura along its razor-sharp edge. Instead, he casually waved the blade left and right as he strode forward with purposeful strides, his crimson eyes darting from side to side, tracking for any incoming attacks.

Within moments, the danger subsided, the echoes of the brief skirmish fading into eerie silence. The path now cleared, wide enough for five horse-carriages to travel side by side. "Is it finally here?" Ji Wuye's deep voice echoed through the cave-like dungeon structure, the words reverberating off the damp stone walls. The only sound was the ominous drip of his bloodied white shoes stepping forward, disturbing the unnatural stillness.

The metallic tang of animal corpses lingered from behind, slowly fading and being replaced by the moist mustiness of a cave. The faint sound of water droplets reached his ears, like the steady beat of a distant drum.

When his feet finally stopped, the one-way passage opened into a vast, cavernous space. Unlike before, where gnarled serpentine tree trunks had dominated the terrain, this area sloped downward into inky darkness. What made it unique was...

"A pool?" Ji Wuye spoke with furrowed brows, his voice laced with confusion as he cautiously descended the uneven steps. An unsettling black water, like spilled ink, filled the entire lower ground. Even stranger were the crudely carved stairs, as if someone - or something - had fashioned them for two-legged beings to traverse.

With furrowed brows and cautious steps, his foot hovered just above the strange black water that even his Quick Adaptation skill couldn't penetrate this veil.

However, Ji Wuye's intense focus wasn't on the inky liquid, but instead fixed upon...

"What kind of creature is that? The alpha?" he mumbled under his breath, his words almost inaudible. In this vast expanse of black liquid, a gigantic wolf statue protruded menacingly, its form resembling the Dark Wolves but three times larger than any he'd encountered before. It stood at the center, its powerful jaws open wide in a silent, eternal snarl.

What made the daunting statue extraordinary was that its upper jaw reached towards the ceiling, while the lower touched the still surface of the inky black water, as if poised to drink deeply from the unsettling pool.

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Ji Wuye examined the imposing wolf statue briefly before stepping aside to get a look behind the wide, gigantic maw. On its broad chest, he spotted a rounded hole filled with a black object that shined with a lighter dark hue. It twitched and pulsed ominously, like a living, beating heart.

His stunned lips slowly curled upward into a knowing smile. "A Dungeon Heart," he stated, the revelation igniting a spark of recognition in his crimson eyes.

Unlike a mere Dungeon Core, which could only repair Dungeon structure and summon creatures, the Dungeon Heart was an upgraded, far more powerful version that could imbue specific specialty upon its Dungeon.

"Then this is the King itself," Ji Wuye mused, shifting his sharp gaze back to the towering creature before him. As far as he knew, there was no folklore or tales regarding wolf creatures in Jianghu. Not as big as one, but there was only a man befriended by a wolf. Not only that, this gigantic wolf also... "Why are there chains on its neck and limbs?"

Not dwelling on the mystery further, Ji Wuye immediately stored his jian back in his inventory with a deft motion.

CLICK!

With a sound akin to glass clicking together, a great wooden sword materialized in his calloused hands. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Ji Wuye placed the broad blade between his furrowed brows and began to concentrate, his focus inward.

Soon, vibrations enveloped the entire edge of the great wooden sword, the air around it humming with barely contained power. Simultaneously, his Qi infused from Ji Wuye's meridians into the great wooden sword, transforming the faint white vibration into a mix with a red, bubbling blood-like aura that danced along the blade's length.

Once the preparation was complete, Ji Wuye opened his crimson eyes, calmness and solemnity radiating from his gaze.

The final preparation was done. He knew all too well the difference between a Dungeon Core and a Dungeon Heart could prove dangerously underestimated if taken lightly.

Because Dungeon Heart had...

"Guardians, a Guardian," Ji Wuye solemnly muttered under his breath, his sharp gaze fixed upon the gigantic wolf statue before him. It was likely the guardian, still inactive for now but undoubtedly formidable.

Just from the sheer size alone, it was more than enough. He wasn't even sure he could kill or destroy this creature.

His crimson eyes then slid down to regard the still surface of the inky black water. This time, he didn't boost or force his body with acupressure, wary of the possibility of a prolonged battle and unknown enemy strength and background.

Even his Quick Adaptation skill couldn't penetrate the depths of this strange black water, suggesting there was a higher, potentially divine power involved in this kind of Dungeon... "Probably one of those gods," he murmured.

After carefully scanning the vast surroundings and finding no other viable exit except the way he had come from behind him, Ji Wuye's remaining concern centered on the unknown depth of the inky black waters and any potential creatures that may lurk beneath its still surface.

'Let's do this,' he thought, steadying his nerves as he gripped the vibrating great wooden sword tightly. The great wooden sword flashed with the active power of his Slash Breaker skill, a deadly aura of crackling red energy dancing along its length.

With steady composure, Ji Wuye stepped forward into the ankle-deep black water, his intense crimson gaze never leaving the towering wolf statue. Yet, the moment his foot breached the surface, something deeply unsettling occurred.

RUMBLE!

The whole Dungeon trembled violently underfoot, the black waters rippling outward as the giant statue began to crack and crumble, emitting dusty sparks of energy that danced through the air like fireflies.

Just as Ji Wuye tensed, coiling his powerful legs to sprint forward and close the distance, a booming voice suddenly rang out from the gigantic open maw of the statue:

"My name is Fenrir, son of Loki. I am destined to bring doom to Asgard and calamity to the world!"