Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao and the herbalist walked along the stream, their mood lightened slightly by the beautiful scenery. The gurgling stream seemed to tell an ancient and mysterious story. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and onto the water, creating patches of golden light that danced and shimmered with the current.

"This place is so beautiful! If it weren't for all the dangers it's been facing, it would be a great place to live in seclusion," the herbalist sighed, a hint of longing on his face. His eyes were drawn to the wildflowers blooming by the stream, which were colorful and fragrant.

Zhang Hao smiled and said, "Don't think too much about it. The most important thing is to find a way out as soon as possible." His eyes never left the surrounding environment, alert to possible dangers.

Just then, Zhang Hao's gaze was drawn to a rock by the stream. It seemed to be engraved with strange symbols, with zigzagging lines and bizarre shapes. Zhang Hao walked over, squatted, and carefully examined the symbols, his brow furrowed as he fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, the herbalist came over and asked, "What is this? It looks like some kind of ancient writing." He tilted his head, trying hard to make out the clues.

Zhang Hao shook his head and said, "I'm not quite sure either, but I feel that these symbols are not simple." His fingers gently touched the marks on the stone, feeling the mysterious power contained therein.

They continued searching along the stream and found more stones with symbols engraved on them. Each stone had a different symbol, some resembling the arrangement of stars, others mysterious patterns.

"Could this be some kind of guidance?" Zhang Hao thought to himself. His heartbeat involuntarily quickened, as if he was about to uncover a shocking secret.

The herbalist was a little confused. "Even if it's a guide, we can't understand it." A frustrated look appeared on his face, and he felt that this was just a false joy.

Zhang Hao didn't answer, instead studying the symbols even more intently. His mind raced, recalling the ancient books and legends he'd read. Suddenly, something clicked in his mind.

"I've seen similar symbols in an ancient book before. Perhaps I can find a clue there," Zhang Hao said, pulling out the somewhat worn tome from his backpack. The pages were yellowed, the edges frayed, but the words seemed to hold endless wisdom.

After some comparison and thinking, Zhang Hao finally had some clues.

"These symbols seem to be telling us that if we keep following the stream, we'll find a hidden cave where we might find a way out," Zhang Hao said, his voice tinged with excitement and anticipation.

The herbalist was skeptical, "Really? I hope it's all in vain again." His eyes were full of worry, but he was unwilling to give up this glimmer of hope.

Zhang Hao looked ahead firmly and said, "No matter what, we must give it a try." His eyes were full of determination, as if nothing could stop him from moving forward.

So they quickened their pace and continued along the stream. The road became more and more rugged, and the thorns beside the stream occasionally cut their clothes and skin, but they did not retreat at all.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the sun gradually set and the sky began to darken. The entire forest was shrouded in a layer of dim light, appearing particularly mysterious and quiet.

"Why haven't they arrived yet?" The herbalist was a little anxious. His steps became heavy and his breathing became rapid.

At this moment, Zhang Hao pointed to the front and said, "Look, there seems to be a hole there." His voice was full of surprise.

They ran over excitedly and found a cave hidden in the grass. A thin layer of mist hung from the cave entrance, making it difficult to see what was inside. The mist seemed to have life, flowing slowly and exuding a mysterious aura.

"Is this the place we're looking for?" the herbalist asked, his voice tinged with fear and anticipation.

Zhang Hao took a deep breath and said, "Let's go in and take a look." He gripped the sword tightly in his hand and walked into the cave first.

The cave was filled with a damp smell, and a faint light flickered on the walls. They walked carefully, the ground under their feet was a little slippery, and they took every step with extreme caution.

Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in from the depths of the cave, bringing a chill.

"Be careful!" Zhang Hao whispered.

The herbalist's heartbeat instantly accelerated, and he followed Zhang Hao closely...