Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao gazed at the unfamiliar, deep forest before him, his mind racing. "Let's move forward and see if we can find any inhabited areas," he said, taking a deep breath. His gaze was determined, and he gripped his sword tightly, as if it were his only hope in this unknown world.

Everyone nodded and cautiously followed Zhang Hao into the forest. The forest was thick with fog and humidity, and the soil beneath their feet was soft and slippery. With every step, they could feel their feet sinking into the mud, making a "puffing" sound.

"Everyone, be careful. There might be some danger here," the old man warned. His voice was especially clear in the silent forest, with a barely perceptible tremor.

As they advanced slowly, they could hear strange noises from time to time, like the growling of animals or the rustling of branches in the wind. These sounds echoed in the mist, making it difficult to tell which direction was which.

The herbalist followed Zhang Hao closely with a nervous look on his face, "I always feel like someone is watching us." His voice was very low, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.

"Don't scare yourself." The black-robed man said this, but he also tightened his grip on his weapon. He glanced around vigilantly, leaning forward slightly, ready to respond to any emergency.

Suddenly, a huge python swooped down from the tree, its bloody mouth wide open, and pounced on them. The python's body was as thick as a tree trunk, and its scales gleamed coldly in the dim light.

"Be careful!" Zhang Hao shouted, swinging his sword towards the python. His movements were swift and decisive, and the sword drew an arc in the air, slashing at the python's head.

The python's body was thick and powerful, and its tail swept across, stirring up a gust of wind. Leaves fell and branches broke. Zhang Hao was knocked back a few steps by the force, but he quickly steadied himself and rushed forward again.

The old man took the opportunity to cast a spell, and rays of light hit the python, slowing its movements. The rays of light were like ropes, wrapping around the python's body and restricting its movement.

The black-robed man saw the right moment, leaped up, and stabbed the python's eyes. His figure in the air was like a black eagle, swift and accurate.

With everyone's concerted efforts, the python finally fell to the ground. Its body twitched a few times before it stopped moving. Blood stained the ground red, emitting a pungent odor.

"Keep going," Zhang Hao said, wiping the sweat from his face. His breathing was a little rapid, but his eyes remained firm.

After walking for a while, they found themselves going in circles. The surrounding scenery looked exactly the same: the trees, the grass, the fog, nothing had changed.

"This forest seems to be a maze. We're lost," the herbalist said anxiously, his face covered in sweat and his eyes filled with panic.

Zhang Hao stopped and observed the surrounding environment. "Don't panic, we will definitely find a way out." His voice was steady and powerful, trying to calm everyone's emotions.

Just then, a melodious flute sound emanated from the depths of the forest. The sound was clear and melodious, as if it came from another world. In this silent forest, it seemed particularly mysterious.

"What's that sound?" asked the man in black robe.

Zhang Hao frowned, "I don't know, but we have to be careful."

They walked in the direction of the flute sound, and the fog seemed to grow thicker. As they walked, they came to a small lake. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the surrounding trees.

By the lake, a figure was playing the flute with his back to them.

"Who are you?" Zhang Hao asked vigilantly.

The figure slowly turned around, and everyone gasped after seeing clearly...