Rise of the Otherworld.

After bidding farewell to Yuefeng, Zhang Hao and the herbalist continued their journey. A thin layer of mist hung over the mountain forest, making the path ahead seem even more hazy and mysterious. The surrounding trees were tall and dense, their branches and leaves intertwined, forming a vast green maze.

"Zhang Hao, where should we go next?" the herbalist asked, a hint of confusion in his eyes. His voice was particularly clear in the silent forest, carrying a hint of uneasiness and anticipation.

Zhang Hao looked up at the sky, thought for a moment and said, "Let's get out of this forest first. I don't think staying here is a solution." His eyes were firm and deep, as if he was looking for a ray of hope in the fog.

They walked with one foot deep and one foot shallow, and the dead branches and leaves under their feet made a "crunching" sound, as if telling the antiquity and mystery of this mountain forest. Suddenly, a bird flew overhead, its wings whirring through the air, startling the herbalists and making them stumble.

"Be careful!" Zhang Hao quickly supported him. His arms were strong and firm, which made the herbalist feel a little relieved.

The herbalist smiled bitterly and said, "This road is really difficult to walk on." His face was covered with sweat and dust, and he looked a little embarrassed.

After walking for a while, they found a stream ahead. The water was crystal clear, and the sound of its flow was melodious, like a beautiful piece of music played by nature. The ripples on the water reflected the surrounding trees and sky.

"Drink some water and take a rest first," Zhang Hao said. There was a hint of fatigue in his voice, but he remained calm and composed.

The two of them came to the stream, squatted down, scooped up the stream water with both hands and drank it. The cool stream water slid down their throats, making them feel refreshed, as if washing away the fatigue and anxiety of the journey.

At this moment, Zhang Hao heard a low roar coming from afar. The sound seemed to come from the depths of hell, carrying endless anger and majesty.

"Oh no, this could be dangerous!" He stood up warily. His eyes instantly sharpened, his body tense, like a cheetah about to pounce.

The herbalist also became nervous: "Could it be another ferocious beast?" His voice trembled and his face turned pale.

They looked in the direction of the sound and saw a huge black bear emerging from the woods. The bear was tall and mighty, its black fur gleaming glossy in the sunlight. Its eyes gleamed fiercely, and it panted heavily, each breath carrying a powerful force.

"Run!" Zhang Hao pulled the herbalist and turned to run. His steps were fast, leading the herbalist through the mountains and forests.

The black bear was hot on their heels, its footsteps heavy and powerful, shaking the ground slightly. They ran desperately, branches scraping at their clothes, leaving rips. The rocks underfoot also made them nearly fall several times, but they didn't dare to stop for a moment.

"Running like this isn't an option. We need to find a place to hide!" Zhang Hao said, his breathing rapid and sweat pouring down like rain.

The herbalist gasped and said, "There is a tree hole ahead, maybe we can hide in it!" His voice was intermittent, and he almost used up all his strength.

They ran towards the tree hole as if it was their last lifeline. As soon as they hid in it, the black bear chased them.

The black bear wandered outside the tree hole, occasionally slapping the tree trunk with its claws, making a "bang bang" sound. Every slap made the tree hole tremble slightly, as if it would collapse at any time.

Zhang Hao and the herbalist dared not breathe in the tree hole, their hearts in their throats. They huddled together tightly, their bodies trembling slightly.

"Will this black bear discover us?" the herbalist whispered, his voice full of fear.

Zhang Hao lowered his voice and said, "Don't make any noise. I hope it will go away soon." His heart beat rapidly, as if it was about to jump out of his chest.

The black bear wandered around for a long time, unwilling to let them go, sniffing around, trying to find their traces.

Time passed minute by minute, and each second seemed like a long century. Finally, the black bear seemed to lose patience, roared angrily, and turned away.

Zhang Hao and the herbalist breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the black bear's footsteps going away.

"Finally gone." The herbalist slumped on the ground, gasping for breath.

Zhang Hao also leaned against the wall of the tree cave and wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Let's rest for a while and continue after we have recovered our strength."

After a period of rest, they set out on their journey again. However, they did not know that there were more challenges waiting for them ahead...