Rise of the Otherworld.

Just as they were about to examine the strips of cloth on the old locust tree, a sinister laugh suddenly erupted from all around them. The laughter echoed in the mist, as if coming from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint its source. A chill ran down everyone's spine.

Zhang Hao's heart tightened, "Who is it? Come out!" he shouted loudly, with a hint of anger and tension in his voice. The sword in his hand unconsciously tightened, and his eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly.

The herbalist was so scared that he hugged the tree trunk tightly, "What, what on earth is this thing?" His teeth were chattering, his voice was distorted, his body was shaking, and his eyes were full of fear.

The old man looked solemn, with the staff in his hand slightly raised, and a faint light flashing on the tip of the staff. He was ready to deal with any possible situation at any time. His brows were furrowed, and there was a hint of worry in his eyes.

The man in black robe glanced around sharply, trying to find the owner of the laughter. He squatted slightly, ready to attack or dodge at any time, and tightened his grip on the weapon in his hand.

The laughter didn't stop because of their reaction, but instead grew louder, as if mocking their incompetence. The sound rose and fell, weaving through the fog, making it feel as if countless pairs of eyes were secretly watching them.

"Playing tricks! Show yourself if you dare!" Zhang Hao shouted again, his voice echoing in the silent forest. His heartbeat quickened, but his eyes remained firm, showing no sign of retreat.

At that moment, a dark figure slowly emerged from the mist. Shrouded in a black cloak, his face was invisible, revealing only a pair of eyes that shone with an eerie light. Those eyes seemed to see through people's hearts, sending a chill down their spine.

"You shouldn't come here." The black shadow's voice was low and hoarse, as if it came from the underworld, with an unquestionable majesty.

Zhang Hao stepped forward, "Why? What secret is here?" He looked at the black shadow without fear, his eyes full of curiosity and determination.

The black shadow sneered, "Secret? This is not something you can bear." There was a hint of disdain in his tone, and he seemed very dissatisfied with the arrival of Zhang Hao and others.

The old man said, "Now that we are here, we must find out." His voice was steady and powerful, showing his determination.

The shadow was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and waved it, sending a powerful force towards everyone. The force was like a gust of wind, carrying a biting cold that made it difficult to breathe.

Zhang Hao and the others rushed to resist, but were knocked back several steps by the force. Zhang Hao felt a dull pain in his chest and a surge of blood, but he remained steady and held his sword tightly.

"What a powerful force!" the herbalist exclaimed. His face turned even paler, and the fear in his eyes became more obvious.

Zhang Hao steadied himself and said, "No matter how powerful you are, we will not back down." His voice was firm and powerful, giving everyone a bit of courage.

The black shadow seemed to be angered by Zhang Hao's words, "You guy doesn't know how to live or die!" After that, he launched an attack again, this time with even greater force than before, sweeping towards everyone like a surging wave.

Everyone fought with all their might, but they were gradually losing ground. Zhang Hao's arms began to ache, and sweat soaked his clothes, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered.

Just when they were about to collapse, Zhang Hao suddenly discovered a flaw in the black shadow. When the black shadow attacked, the left side of its body would reveal a slight gap. Although it was only a moment, it was a rare opportunity for Zhang Hao.

Zhang Hao saw the right moment, shouted loudly, and rushed towards the shadow. His speed was extremely fast, and he attacked the shadow's left side like an arrow from a bow.

The shadow seemed to be caught off guard by Zhang Hao's discovery of his weakness and was slightly startled, but he quickly reacted and tried to dodge. However, Zhang Hao's attack was already in front of him, and he only had time to dodge to the side.

Zhang Hao's sword cut through the shadow's cloak, but did not hurt his body. The shadow quickly stepped back, a flash of surprise and anger in his eyes.

"I didn't expect you to have such skills." The black shadow said coldly.

Zhang Hao didn't say anything, but just stared at the black shadow, preparing for his next attack.

At this time, the old man and the man in black robe also took the opportunity to adjust their status and stood together with Zhang Hao, forming a triangle to fight against the black shadow together.

Although the herbalist was still afraid, he knew that he could not retreat at this time. He hid behind the crowd, holding a small herbal shovel tightly in his hand in case of emergency.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The two sides stood face to face, neither making the first move. The mist slowly flowed around them, as if also awaiting the outcome of this battle...