Rise of the Otherworld.

A strange sound echoed behind them, and Zhang Hao and the herbalist instantly tensed up. Standing back to back, they looked around warily. In the darkness, the sound seemed like a demon from the abyss, carrying with it an unknown fear and threat.

"What the hell is this?" the herbalist's voice was trembling. His breathing was rapid, and his hands were tightly gripping the worn stick, as if it were his last straw.

Zhang Hao didn't answer, but instead tightened his grip on his sword, his gaze piercing the darkness as he tried to discern the source of the sound. His heartbeat was like a drum, each beat a reminder of the unknown danger. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping down his cheeks to the ground.

As the sound drew closer, a chilling aura washed over him. It felt as if it could penetrate the bone marrow, sending shivers down his spine. Zhang Hao's heartbeat quickened, and beads of sweat once again formed on his forehead.

Suddenly, a huge black shadow rushed out from the darkness and rushed towards them. The shadow was extremely fast, carrying a strong wind pressure. Zhang Hao reacted quickly and swung his sword at the shadow.

With a clang, the sword struck the shadow, creating a metallic clang. Sparks flew, illuminating the small area around them. In the dim light, they finally saw a massive armored monster. Its body was the size of a small mountain, covered in thick armor, revealing only a pair of glowing red eyes.

"What kind of monster is this?" the herbalist cried in horror, his voice echoing in the cave, filled with despair and fear.

Zhang Hao also frowned, "No matter what it is, let's defeat it first!" His voice was firm and powerful, trying to bring a little courage and hope to the herbalist.

The armored monster attacked again, waving its massive arms and stirring up a gust of wind. Zhang Hao and the herbalist could only dodge and fight back. The cave was cramped, severely restricting their movements.

During the fierce battle, Zhang Hao discovered that the armored monster's joints seemed to be its weak points. While dodging the monster's attacks, he shouted loudly: "Attack its joints!"

Hearing this, the herbalist mustered up the courage to strike the armored monster in the joints. He fixed his eyes on the monster's joints and swung the stick with all his strength.

After a hard fight, the armored monster's movements finally slowed down. Zhang Hao seized the opportunity and stabbed it in the vitals. The armored monster let out a dull roar and finally fell to the ground.

The two men sat exhausted on the ground, breathing heavily, their clothes soaked with sweat, their bodies covered in scars and dust.

"How could there be something like this in this cave?" the herbalist asked. His voice was weak and tired, and his eyes were filled with confusion and fear.

Zhang Hao shook his head and said, "I don't know, but I feel this cave is not that simple." His eyes still scanned the surroundings vigilantly, his heart full of worries about the unknown.

After a short rest, they continued deeper into the cave. The further they went, the stranger the atmosphere became. The air was filled with a stale smell, as if this place had been forgotten by time.

Suddenly, they saw a strange light flickering on the cave wall, which was like a mysterious eye watching them.

Zhang Hao walked closer and saw that they were ancient runes carved into the cave wall. The lines were smooth and complex, as if they contained endless mysteries.

"These runes seem to be hiding some secrets," Zhang Hao said. His fingers gently touched the runes, feeling the slight bumps and depressions.

Just as they were about to study the runes carefully, the atmosphere in the cave suddenly changed. The originally calm air began to flow, forming a powerful whirlwind.

"Oh no, what's going on?" the herbalist shouted in horror.

Zhang Hao's expression turned serious. "Be careful, there might be danger!"

The whirlwind grew stronger and stronger, sucking them in. Zhang Hao and the herbalist struggled hard in the whirlwind, trying to keep their balance...