Rise of the Otherworld.

After Zhang Hao and the herbalist emerged from the cave, they continued their journey through the valley. After their life-or-death struggle, their strength was severely depleted, and each step felt incredibly heavy. But the flame of hope within them remained steadfast, sustaining them as they pressed on.

The valley was picturesque, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers. A gentle breeze carried a refreshing breath of air. Colorful blossoms competed for beauty, and butterflies danced among the petals. In the distance, a clear stream gurgled, its water shimmering golden in the sunlight. It was a stark contrast to the peril they had just endured. However, they had no time to appreciate the beauty, only to find a way out as quickly as possible.

As they walked, they discovered a mysterious ruin. The entrance was obscured by weeds and vines, making it barely visible. The stones at the entrance were engraved with vague symbols, as if telling them of the vicissitudes of time.

"What is this place?" the herbalist asked curiously, his eyes wide open, filled with a desire to explore the unknown.

Zhang Hao frowned and said, "I don't know, but maybe there's something we need in there." His voice was low and cautious, and he was secretly alert to possible dangers.

The two cautiously entered the ruins, which were filled with an ancient atmosphere. The walls were covered with strange patterns and words. The patterns had smooth lines, as if imbued with some mysterious power. The words were ancient and obscure, leaving people baffled.

They slowly advanced along the passage, the stone slabs beneath their feet making a creaking sound, which was particularly clear in the silence. The walls on both sides of the passage were inlaid with faintly glowing night pearls at regular intervals, illuminating their path.

Suddenly, a stone door appeared in front of them. It was inlaid with various gems, emitting a mysterious light. The gems were colorful and dazzling, making people unable to take their eyes away.

"What's behind this door?" the herbalist asked with a hint of anticipation. His eyes were drawn to the gem, and he couldn't help but move closer.

Zhang Hao stepped forward, carefully observing the stone door, trying to find a way to open it. His fingers gently touched the lines on the stone door, sensing the hidden mechanism. Just then, the stone door slowly rose, and a powerful force surged from it, sucking them in.

When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in a vast palace. Its dome soared into the clouds, and the walls were covered with exquisite murals depicting ancient legends. Countless treasure chests, filled with gold, silver, jewels, and precious magical instruments, shone with a dazzling golden light.

"I've made a fortune!" The herbalist ran towards the treasure chest excitedly. His face was filled with joy, as if he had seen a bright future.

Zhang Hao, however, observed his surroundings vigilantly, "Be careful, there might be a trap." His voice echoed in the empty palace.

Before he finished speaking, a sinister laugh echoed from the palace. "Hahahaha, intruders, you won't leave alive!" The laughter seemed to come from hell, making people's hair stand on end.

Zhang Hao and the herbalist felt a pang of anxiety and looked around for the source of the sound. They quickly scanned the palace but could not find the source of the laughter.

At this moment, a huge shadow slowly descended from the top of the palace. The shadow grew larger and larger, eventually revealing a gigantic monster. The monster was as big as a mountain, with three heads and six arms. The eyes on each head glowed red, and black flames spewed from its mouth.

"What kind of monster is this!" The herbalist was so scared that he stepped back and almost fell to the ground.

Zhang Hao gripped the sword tightly in his hand, "Don't be afraid, we will deal with it together!" His voice was firm and powerful, giving the herbalist a bit of courage.

The monster swung its massive arms and attacked them, each blow carrying such force that it stirred up a gust of wind.

Zhang Hao nimbly dodged the monster's attacks, searching for its weaknesses. The herbalist also assisted, using the stick in his hand to disrupt the monster.

After a fierce battle, Zhang Hao finally found the monster's weakness. He took advantage of the gap between the monster's attacks, jumped up, and stabbed the monster's weakness with his sword.

The monster roared in pain, fell to the ground, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Zhang Hao and the herbalist breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed on the ground.

"Let's quickly grab our things and leave here," said Zhang Hao.

However, when they opened the treasure chest, they found that all the gold, silver and jewels inside had turned into stone...