Rise of the Otherworld.

As the figure approached, Zhang Hao, the herbalist, and the old man's nerves grew increasingly tense. They stared at the figure, gripping their weapons even tighter. Their heartbeats were remarkably clear in the silence, like the tense drumbeats of a battlefield.

When the figure fully emerged before them, they realized it was a stranger clad in a black robe. His robe swayed gently in the breeze, seemingly blending into the surrounding darkness. His face, obscured by shadows, was indistinct. He exuded an unfathomable aura, like a ghost emerging from the depths of darkness.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" The man in black robe spoke first. His voice was low and hoarse, like the cry of a night owl, echoing in the valley with a chilling chill.

Zhang Hao stepped forward and said, "We are here to destroy this monster. Who are you?" His eyes were firm and sharp, as if he could see through the black robe to see through the other person's true identity.

The black-robed man sneered, "Destroy the monster? Just you?" His tone was filled with disdain, as if mocking their presumptuousness. The sound echoed in the air, stinging their eardrums.

The old man said: "Anyway, the monster has been defeated by us. But you, why are you sneaking here? What is your purpose?" The old man's voice was steady and powerful, with unquestionable majesty.

The man in black robe was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "This monster was originally sealed here. Someone tried to break the seal and obtain its power. I am here to stop them." His voice revealed a hint of helplessness and fatigue, as if he had experienced a long chase.

The herbalist widened his eyes, "Then why did you show up now?" His voice was full of suspicion and questioning, and his hands unconsciously clenched the wooden stick in his hand.

The man in black robe glanced at him and said, "I encountered some trouble on the way and came a little late." A trace of barely perceptible anger flashed in his eyes, as if he was dissatisfied with the herbalist's questioning.

Zhang Hao frowned, "Are you telling the truth?" His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were fixed on the man in black robe, trying to find a flaw in his expression and tone.

The man in black robe snorted, "Believe it or not is up to you. However, now that the monster has been eliminated, I have completed part of my mission." His tone became cold and distant, as if he didn't care whether they trusted him or not.

"Then do you know who wants to break this seal?" the old man asked. His eyes were filled with anxiety and anticipation, hoping to get some useful clues from the man in black robes.

The man in black robe shook his head. "It's not clear yet, but this matter is by no means simple. There's probably a huge conspiracy behind it." His voice was low and solemn, as if he was telling a terrible prophecy.

Zhang Hao said: "No matter what, we must get to the bottom of this." His voice was firm and resolute, revealing an indomitable determination.

The man in black robe nodded slightly. "In that case, perhaps we can cooperate." There was a hint of hesitation in his voice, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.

The herbalist was a little hesitant, "Can I trust him?" His eyes wandered between Zhang Hao, the old man and the man in black robe, his heart full of worry and uneasiness.

Zhang Hao pondered for a moment and said, "There is no other way at the moment. We can only wait and see." A hint of determination flashed in his eyes, and he decided to take a risk.

So they decided to look for clues together to uncover the mystery behind it.

During their subsequent exploration, they discovered more secrets about the seal. Ancient documents documented the origins of the demon and the reason for its sealing. They found themselves in a dilapidated stone chamber, its walls covered in densely inscribed text and patterns.

"It turns out this monster was once the pet of an evil wizard, sealed here to prevent it from wreaking havoc on the world," the old man said, looking at the document. His voice was filled with wonder, his eyes revealing awe for that dark period of history.

"Could it be that whoever broke the seal intends to use this monster for evil?" the herbalist speculated. There was a hint of fear in his voice, as if he had foreseen the potential disaster.

Zhang Hao said: "It's very likely, but we need more evidence." His eyes searched the stone chamber, hoping to find more useful information.

Just then, they discovered another hidden cave. The entrance to the cave was blocked by a huge stone slab with some strange symbols carved on it.

"What does this mean?" asked the herbalist.

The old man stepped forward and carefully observed the symbols. "This seems to be a code or a seal."

The man in black robe said, "Let me try." He stretched out his hands, muttered something, and a mysterious power surged from his hands and rushed towards the stone slab.

The stone slab slowly rose, and a pungent smell emerged from the cave...