Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao's heart sank. "It's not that easy to get the ancient books!" He gripped his sword tightly, staring firmly at the group of people outside the cave. His eyes burned with rage, as if he wanted to burn all the enemies before him to ashes.

The tall man snorted coldly, "If you don't accept my toast, you'll have to drink for it. Attack!" With his command, the crowd behind him rushed towards the cave like a tide. Their footsteps shook the ground slightly, and their shouts echoed in the valley.

Zhang Hao and the others did not flinch either, but rushed forward. For a moment, a fierce battle broke out between the two sides at the cave entrance.

The old man unleashed a powerful spell, sending beams of light blazing towards the enemy. The beams were like dazzling meteors, carrying immense power. Upon striking the enemies, they were instantly knocked back, some even falling to the ground, groaning in pain.

The herbalist was no longer timid. He used the surrounding terrain to cleverly dodge the enemy's attacks and occasionally attacked them with hidden weapons made of herbs. His movements were swift and flexible. Although he was not as strong as others, his wit added a boost to the battle.

The black-robed figure moved like a ghost, weaving freely among the crowd, each swing of his weapon causing damage to the enemy. His figure was like a ghost in the night, elusive, and wherever he went, enemies fell one after another.

Zhang Hao engaged the towering man in combat. His sword clashed with the man's weapon, sending out dazzling sparks. The clash of metal echoed through the air like a symphony of battle.

"Boy, today is your death!" the tall man roared, his attacks becoming increasingly ferocious. Each of his blows was filled with the determination to kill, and the force was so immense that Zhang Hao felt a tingling sensation in his arm.

Zhang Hao gritted his teeth, "It's still uncertain who will win!" He concentrated his energy, focusing on countering the opponent's attacks. His eyes were sharp, constantly searching for the opponent's weaknesses. In the fierce battle, his clothes were soaked with sweat, his hair was a mess, but his fighting spirit was even higher.

After a fierce battle, Zhang Hao and his men gradually gained the upper hand. The enemy began to suffer casualties, and their momentum gradually weakened. Fear and retreat began to appear in the eyes of some enemies.

"Boss, no, they're too strong!" one of his men shouted, his voice filled with despair and helplessness, the weapon in his hand beginning to tremble.

The tall man's face was gloomy. "Retreat!" He glanced at Zhang Hao and the others unwillingly, then turned and quickly fled the scene with his men. Their figures gradually faded away in the valley, leaving behind only chaos and devastation.

Zhang Hao and the others breathed a sigh of relief and dragged their exhausted bodies back to the cave. Their breathing was rapid and their wounds still ached.

"Who are these people?" the herbalist asked. His voice was weak and tired, and he sat down on the ground, breathing heavily.

The old man pondered for a moment, "Looking at their attire and martial arts, they don't seem like the common sects on this continent." His brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed deep worry.

The man in black robe frowned, "Could it be from some other mysterious place?" His eyes were full of confusion and vigilance.

Zhang Hao said: "No matter what, we have to be careful. This ancient book seems to have caused a lot of trouble." As he spoke, he looked at the ancient book in his arms. The light was still flickering, as if telling something.

At this moment, the ancient book in Zhang Hao's arms suddenly began to glow again. This light was even brighter than before, illuminating the entire cave like daylight. Everyone was drawn to it and gathered around.

"What's going on?" asked the herbalist in surprise.

Zhang Hao also looked puzzled. "I don't know either, but this light seems to be guiding something."

As the light grew stronger, strange words and patterns began to emerge from the ancient books. These words and patterns shone with golden light, mysterious and ancient.

The old man carefully observed the words and patterns and said, "This seems to be an ancient heritage."

Zhang Hao asked, "Inheritance? What does that mean?"

The old man explained, “Perhaps this ancient book contains some powerful power or secret that will only be revealed under certain conditions.”

Just as they were studying the ancient book, the light suddenly gathered into a beam and shot towards the depths of the cave...