Rise of the Otherworld.

Everyone cautiously approached the source of the sound, each step taken with extreme caution. The sound of their heartbeats was remarkably clear in the silent cave. In the darkness, Zhang Hao walked in front, his sword trembling slightly. It wasn't fear, but the long battle and travel had stretched his strength to its limit. His gaze remained resolute, and beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, dripping onto the damp ground beneath his feet.

The herbalist followed closely behind, his body shaking uncontrollably, and he kept muttering, "Buddha bless you, Buddha bless you." His breathing was rapid and disordered, as if he would faint from excessive fear in the next second.

The old man's expression was solemn, the light from his staff flickering faintly but continuously, illuminating the path ahead. His steps were steady, yet fatigue could not be concealed from his face. Every step seemed like a struggle against an invisible pressure.

The black-robed man was intently observing the surroundings, his footsteps light and silent. His eyes were as sharp as a hunting hawk, not missing a single movement.

As they got closer, the strange sound became clearer and seemed to be mixed with some vague words.

"You...can't escape..." The voice was eerie and terrifying, as if it came from the depths of hell, carrying endless resentment and curses. Every word was like a cold arrow, piercing everyone's heart.

Zhang Hao frowned, "What on earth is playing tricks on me?" His voice echoed in the empty cave, but received no response.

At this moment, a powerful gust of wind surged out from the depths of the cave, blowing everyone off their feet. The wind howled with a sharp whistling sound, as if it was going to tear them apart.

"Be careful!" the old man shouted. His voice was instantly swallowed by the strong wind, but his gestures helped everyone to stabilize themselves in time.

When the air currents subsided, they discovered a huge cave ahead. In the center of the cave stood a stone platform emitting a strange light. The light was sometimes dark blue, sometimes purple-red, and its ever-changing color was dizzying.

"What is this?" the herbalist asked in horror. His voice was filled with tears, and his eyes were wide open, filled with fear of the unknown.

Zhang Hao slowly approached the stone platform and saw it covered with strange symbols and patterns. Those symbols seemed to have life, slowly flowing in the light, making people dizzy.

Just as he was about to take a closer look, the stone platform suddenly blazed with light, illuminating the entire cave like daylight. The intense light stung everyone's eyes, instantly blinding them.

"Not good! Retreat!" the black-robed figure shouted. His voice was urgent and tense, but it was too late. The light instantly enveloped them.

Zhang Hao felt dizzy, as if his brain had been hit by a heavy hammer, and his consciousness gradually blurred. He tried to struggle, but found that his body was completely out of control and everything in front of him became blurry.

When he woke up again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by a desolate desert with no one else in sight. The scorching sun shone mercilessly on him, and the sand was scorching hot, so every step he took felt like stepping on burning coals.

"Where is this?" Zhang Hao's heart was filled with doubt and fear. He looked at the endless desert, and a feeling of despair surged in his heart. But he quickly forced himself to calm down and began to think of a solution.

He stood up and began to grope forward in the desert, hoping to find his companions or clues to their escape. Every step he took left a deep footprint, which was soon covered by the wind and sand.

The strong wind blew up a cloud of dust, which hit his face with a stinging pain. Zhang Hao covered his mouth and nose with his sleeves and trudged forward.

He walked for an unknown amount of time until his lips became parched and his throat was so dry it felt like smoking. But he didn't give up. He had only one belief in his heart: he must find a way out.

Suddenly, he saw something reflecting light on a sand dune in the distance. Zhang Hao was delighted and quickened his pace towards the dune.

When I got closer, I saw that it was a broken mirror with sharp edges and some blood on it.

Zhang Hao picked up the mirror and observed it carefully, his heart filled with doubts. At this moment, a dark shadow suddenly appeared in the mirror...