Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao engaged in a desperate struggle with the giant bird. His eyes were determined and fierce, and every swing of his sword was like a wind-breaking force. His clothes rustled in the wind, and beads of sweat slid down his cheeks, but he didn't bother to wipe them away.

The bird's sharp beak, like a blade, hurtled toward Zhang Hao's face. Zhang Hao quickly leaned back, narrowly avoiding the fatal blow. His body was incredibly flexible, allowing him to react with the utmost precision in the nick of time. Simultaneously, his sword slashed at the bird's wings.

"Dang!" The sword collided with the bird's feathers, sending out a shower of sparks. The bird's feathers were as hard as iron, and the blow didn't cause much damage to it, but instead angered it.

The bird let out a sharp cry, which echoed in the valley and hurt the eardrums. The sound waves hit Zhang Hao's mind, making him dazed for a moment, but he quickly regained consciousness.

The herbalist shouted anxiously, "Zhang Hao, be careful!" His voice was trembling, and he held the wooden stick tightly in both hands, but he didn't dare to step forward to help.

Zhang Hao had no time to respond, completely focused on dealing with the bird's attacks. His agility kept him constantly dodging and evading the bird's attacks. Each dodge was perfectly timed, showcasing his extraordinary reflexes and combat skills.

Seeing that it couldn't take the enemy down after a long time, the bird grew increasingly frantic. It flapped its wings violently, and a gust of wind blew up, sweeping up the sand and rocks on the ground, blurring Zhang Hao's vision. The sand and rocks hit Zhang Hao's face, causing a stinging sensation, but he gritted his teeth and didn't retreat at all.

But Zhang Hao didn't panic. Drawing on his years of combat experience, he determined the bird's position. He listened to the sound of its wings flapping, and silently calculated its attack trajectory.

Just as the bird was about to swoop down again, Zhang Hao rolled sideways, then quickly stood up and thrust his sword straight into the bird's abdomen. His movements were smooth and effortless, without the slightest delay.

"Puff!" The long sword pierced Fei Niao's body, and black blood gushed out. The blood had a pungent smell that made people nauseous.

The bird screamed and struggled, its claws scrabbling towards Zhang Hao. Zhang Hao dodged swiftly, but did not draw his sword. Instead, he stirred it vigorously, causing greater damage to the bird.

Zhang Hao suddenly drew out his sword and swung it again, slashing at Fei Niao's neck. This time, he used all his strength, determined to kill.

This time, the bird was no longer able to resist, and its body fell heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. The ground shook as if a small earthquake had occurred.

Zhang Hao was breathing heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat. His arms were shaking slightly from the exertion, but his eyes were filled with the joy of victory.

The herbalist hurried over, "Zhang Hao, are you okay?" His face was full of concern and admiration.

Zhang Hao shook his head and said, "It's okay, it's just that this battle took up a lot of my energy." His voice was a little weak, but still firm.

After a brief rest, they continued their journey deeper into the valley. The thick fog still hung thick in the air, making it difficult to tell the direction. Every step they took felt like stepping into an unknown abyss.

"The fog is too thick. Where should we go?" the herbalist said worriedly. His voice seemed particularly small and helpless in the thick fog.

Zhang Hao looked around and said, "Follow me and watch your step." His eyes were focused and calm, trying to find a clue from the thick fog.

Just then, they heard a deep roar, as if some more powerful creature was approaching. The roar rolled through the valley like thunder, making people tremble with fear.

"Oh no, I'm afraid there will be trouble again." Zhang Hao frowned and clenched the sword in his hand again.

The herbalist's face turned pale in an instant, "What...what should I do?"

Zhang Hao took a deep breath and said, "Don't be afraid, we'll act according to the situation."

They walked cautiously towards the direction of the roar, each step filled with caution. As they approached, the roar became clearer and clearer, as if they could feel the ground trembling slightly.

Suddenly, a gigantic monster slowly emerged from the dense fog. Its body was as tall as a mountain, its fur standing on end like steel needles, and its blood-red eyes gleamed with ferocity.

"What...what kind of monster is this?" The herbalist was so scared that he almost collapsed to the ground.

A flash of shock flashed across Zhang Hao's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "No matter what it is, we have to find a way to deal with it."

The monster opened its bloody mouth and pounced towards them...