Rise of the Otherworld.

When Zhang Hao and the herbalist heard the news about the mysterious cave, they couldn't help but feel excited.

"Zhang Hao, do you think we should go take a look?" The herbalist's eyes flickered with curiosity and anticipation. He stared intently at Zhang Hao, as if waiting for an answer that would reassure him.

Zhang Hao pondered for a moment and said, "It wouldn't hurt to go and take a look. Maybe there will be an opportunity." There was a hint of determination in his eyes, as if he was ready to face all the unknowns.

After resting, the two set off towards the mountain said to contain a mysterious cave. The path was rugged and uneven, with the rocks and soil constantly loosening beneath their feet, making their progress extremely difficult. Towering trees flanked the path, their branches intertwined to form a canopy of green. Sunlight could only filter through tiny gaps, casting patches of light and shadow across the ground.

"This place feels a bit eerie," the herbalist couldn't help but say, his voice trembling. His eyes darted around, wary of everything around him.

Zhang Hao gripped the sword tightly in his hand and said, "Be careful, don't be careless." His voice was steady and powerful, giving the herbalist a sense of security.

After walking for a long time, they finally found a hidden cave entrance halfway up the mountain. The entrance was hidden by vines, making it difficult to spot without careful observation. The vines were densely intertwined, like a barrier set up by nature.

"This should be it," Zhang Hao said. He stepped forward and used his sword to push aside the vines. A stale smell hit him in the face, making him want to cover his mouth and nose.

The herbalist swallowed and said, "Then let's go in." Although his voice was a little trembling, he still mustered up the courage.

The two of them walked cautiously into the cave, which was filled with an old atmosphere and a faint light flickered on the walls. The light flickered, making people feel as if they were in an illusory world.

As we walked, we found several forked roads ahead. Each road was deep and dark, and we had no idea where it led.

"Which way should I go?" The herbalist was a little confused. He looked at the forks in the road, his heart filled with hesitation.

Zhang Hao observed for a while and pointed to one of the paths: "Try this way." There was a hint of uncertainty in his tone, but he still decided to take the risk.

As they continued along the chosen path, they suddenly heard a deep roar that seemed to come from hell, filled with rage and murderous intent.

The herbalist turned pale with fear, "What's that sound?" He almost cried out, and his legs began to go weak.

Zhang Hao stopped and said, "I don't know, but there is definitely danger. Be careful." His heart beat faster, but he still tried to stay calm.

As soon as he finished speaking, a gigantic monster rushed out from the darkness. The monster was huge, like a small mountain, its fur was as hard as iron, its fangs were as sharp as knives, and its eyes flashed with a ferocious light, as if it could devour them in an instant.

Zhang Hao was not afraid at all, and rushed forward with his sword. His figure seemed so small in front of the monster, but his momentum was not weak at all.

The herbalist also mustered up the courage to help, picking up stones from the ground and throwing them at the monster desperately, trying to distract its attention.

A fierce battle unfolded, Zhang Hao's sword left scars on the monster, but the monster was too powerful, and every attack made Zhang Hao unable to resist. His clothes were torn by the monster's claws, and blood stained his clothes red.

The herbalist seized the opportunity and hit the monster's eyes with a stone, creating an opportunity for Zhang Hao. The monster was enraged and turned to pounce on the herbalist.

Zhang Hao took the opportunity to leap up and stabbed the monster in the vitals. The monster roared in pain and fell to the ground with a thud, stirring up a cloud of dust.

They gasped, looking at the fallen monster, their hearts filled with relief at having survived.

"That was a close call." The herbalist slumped on the ground, gasping for breath.

Zhang Hao wiped the sweat off his face and said, "Let's keep going. There may be more dangers and opportunities ahead."

As they continued to delve deeper into the cave, the paths became increasingly complex, and the air grew damper and colder. The light on the walls also seemed to grow more eerie, as if it were guiding them towards an unknown abyss...