Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao and the herbalist lay in the dark, narrow vent, afraid to breathe. The strange noise had once again strained their nerves. The darkness around them seemed to have substance, weighing heavily on them.

"Zhang Hao, what on earth is that?" The herbalist's voice trembled noticeably, his eyes wide open in the darkness, filled with fear. His breathing was rapid, his heart was pounding, and his hands were clutching the wall beside him.

Zhang Hao pursed his lips and said, "I don't know, but he is definitely not a good person. Be careful." His voice was low and calm, trying to give the herbalist some comfort and courage.

They continued to crawl forward. A pungent, musty smell filled the vents, making them feel nauseous. Water dripped from the walls, piercing their bodies with a chilling cold. The sound of each drop was amplified in the silence, like some mysterious countdown.

Suddenly, a giant spider leaped out of the darkness and pounced directly at Zhang Hao. The spider's body was huge, and its eight long legs waved like steel whips, instantly shattering the brief peace.

"Ah!" Zhang Hao cried out in surprise, and quickly swung his sword to block. His movements were swift and decisive, and the sword shone a cold light in the darkness.

The spider's legs were long and thick, covered in fur, and its sharp fangs gleamed coldly. Its eyes emitted an eerie light that made people shudder.

The herbalist was so frightened by this sudden scene that he collapsed to the ground, "Help... Help!" His voice was trembling almost out of tune and his body was shaking uncontrollably.

As Zhang Hao fought the spider, he shouted, "Don't be afraid, I can handle it!" Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were determined and fierce. Every swing of his sword was filled with a determination to burn his boats.

His sword danced in the darkness, slashing at the spider again and again, but the spider was extremely agile and dodged his attacks several times. Its long legs kept attacking Zhang Hao, trying to find a flaw.

Just when Zhang Hao was feeling overwhelmed, he discovered the spider's weakness: its eyes. That was the only part of the spider that wasn't protected by a hard shell.

Zhang Hao saw the right moment and stabbed the spider's eyes with his sword. His movements were as fast as lightning and he used all his strength.

The spider screamed in pain, loosened its claws, and fell to the ground. It rolled and struggled on the ground, making a creepy sound.

"Hurry up!" Zhang Hao pulled the herbalist up and continued to crawl forward. His voice was a little tired, but still firm.

After climbing for an unknown amount of time, they finally saw a ray of light ahead. That ray of light seemed so precious in the darkness, as if it was the hope of life.

"It's the exit!" the herbalist shouted excitedly, his voice filled with the joy of surviving a disaster.

However, when they approached the exit, they found it was blocked by an iron fence, which was rusty but extremely strong.

"What should I do?" the herbalist said in despair. His eyes dimmed again, and the hope that had just risen was instantly shattered.

Zhang Hao observed the iron fence and found a lock on it. The lock was rusty and looked very old.

"See if there's a key," Zhang Hao said. His voice was steady, without a trace of panic.

They groped around, their hands groping in the darkness, their hearts leaping into their throats every time they touched an unknown object.

Finally, in a corner, the herbalist touched a cold object. "It's the key!" he shouted excitedly.

Zhang Hao hurriedly inserted the key into the lock, turned it a few times, and with a "click", the lock opened. The sound was like a heavenly sound at that moment.

They pushed open the iron fence and walked out of the vent. Outside was a valley with bright sunshine and a gentle breeze. The warm sunshine sprinkled on them, as if it was a gift from heaven.

"Finally out!" The herbalist breathed a sigh of relief. He opened his arms, feeling the embrace of the sun, and a long-lost smile appeared on his face.

But before they could enjoy this moment of peace, they heard a low roar coming from the valley. The sound seemed to come from an ancient beast, full of anger and majesty.

Zhang Hao and the herbalist's expressions instantly grew serious, and they looked warily in the direction of the sound...