Rise of the Otherworld.

The temple's gates slowly opened, and a stale, decaying atmosphere filled the air. It felt like the vicissitudes of time, yet also like it concealed countless unknown secrets. Men in black filed in, their figures blurred and mysterious in the dim light.

Zhang Hao lowered his voice and said, "Let's wait for them to go in for a while before we take action. Be careful of ambushes." His eyes were fixed on the temple gate, his eyes full of vigilance.

Everyone nodded in agreement, a tense atmosphere permeating the air. Everyone breathed cautiously, as if afraid of disturbing some terrifying being.

After a moment, Zhang Hao signaled everyone to follow, and they quietly approached the temple gate. The stone pavement beneath their feet made a slight creaking sound, which was particularly clear in the silent environment.

Entering the temple, it was dark and damp, the murals on the walls were already blurred, and only a few weak oil lamps emitted a dim light. The light flickered, making the shadows around even thicker, as if countless dangers were hidden.

Suddenly, a low incantation was heard, echoing in the empty temple, making people shudder. The incantation seemed to come from the ancient darkness, carrying an evil power that stung everyone's eardrums.

"Be careful!" the old man warned. Although his voice was calm, it also revealed a hint of nervousness.

They walked in the direction of the sound and saw men in black surrounding a huge stone platform, on which sat an ancient book emitting a strange light. The cover of the book was engraved with strange symbols, and the light was emanating from these symbols.

Zhang Hao was shocked: "Is this their purpose?" He frowned and thought about how to stop the man in black from getting this ancient book.

At this moment, a man in black seemed to sense their presence and turned around. His eyes were cold and fierce, like a wolf in the darkness.

"We've been discovered! Attack!" Zhang Hao shouted. His voice was decisive and resolute, instantly breaking the brief silence.

Everyone immediately rushed forward and engaged in a fierce fight with the man in black. For a moment, the temple was filled with the flashing of swords and the gleam of magic.

Although the herbalist was relatively weak, he used his agility to dodge the attacks of the men in black and occasionally created opportunities for Zhang Hao and his companions. He shuttled between the men in black like a nimble monkey, swinging his wooden stick from time to time to relieve the pressure on his companions.

The old man cast a powerful spell, shining with light, and repelled many of the men in black. His spell was like surging waves, one after another, making it difficult for the men in black to get close.

Zhang Hao's swordsmanship was fierce, and each move was aimed directly at the black-clad man's vital points. His sword drew graceful arcs in the air, carrying the determination to kill.

The black-robed man was like a ghost, moving among the other men in black, causing them great trouble. His figure was as fast as lightning, making it difficult for the men in black to predict his whereabouts.

However, the black-clad men were numerous and well-trained, and for a time, the two sides were in a stalemate. The black-clad men cooperated well, covering each other and launching continuous attacks, making Zhang Hao and others exhausted.

At this moment, Zhang Hao discovered a mechanism behind the stone platform. The mechanism was hidden in the shadows, and if he hadn't accidentally glanced at it, it would have been difficult to find.

"Perhaps this is the key to breaking the deadlock!" He fended off the attacks of the men in black while approaching the mechanism. Every step forward required tremendous effort.

Finally, he successfully triggered the mechanism, and a roar suddenly resounded in the temple. The entire temple began to shake violently, stones on the walls fell, and cracks appeared on the ground.

"Oh no, this temple is going to collapse!" exclaimed the herbalist.

The men in black were also thrown off balance by this sudden change, and their attacks became panicked.

Zhang Hao took the opportunity to lead everyone to launch a more fierce attack and gradually gained the upper hand.

In the chaos, the ancient book fell from the stone platform...