Rise of the Otherworld.

Everyone was thrown out heavily, landing in an unfamiliar place. Zhang Hao struggled to his feet and looked around, only to find a thin layer of mist permeating the area, severely obstructing his vision. The mist drifted softly like a veil, making everything around him seem dreamlike, yet fraught with unknown dangers.

"Where is this?" the black-robed man asked, bewildered, brushing off the dust on his body. His eyes were filled with confusion and uneasiness, and as he looked at the vast fog, a feeling of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

Zhang Hao frowned and walked forward cautiously. The ground beneath his feet felt soft, as if he were stepping on clouds. Every step felt unreal. His heartbeat was particularly clear in the silence, as if it were the only sound in this mysterious place.

The old man observed the surrounding environment and said, "There is a strange atmosphere here, everyone be careful." His voice was low and serious, and the staff in his hand was unconsciously clenched, ready to deal with any possible danger at any time.

The herbalist followed closely behind the others, not daring to relax even a little. His eyes kept darting around, his body trembling slightly, as if countless demons were hidden in the surrounding fog.

As they slowly moved forward through the mist, they suddenly heard the melodious sound of a zither. The music was gentle and melodious, like a plaintive lament, as if telling an ancient and sad story. The music seemed to have a magical power, drawing them forward.

"Where does this music come from?" Zhang Hao wondered. He quickened his pace, wanting to find the source of the music as quickly as possible.

As they approached, the sound of the zither grew clearer. Deep within the mist, an ancient pavilion appeared. Inside sat a woman dressed in white, intently strumming the guqin. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her fingers danced nimbly across the strings, each note seemingly flowing from the depths of her soul.

As everyone entered the pavilion, the woman stopped playing and looked up. Her face was stunningly beautiful, but her eyes held a deep sorrow. That sorrow, like the waters of a late autumn lake, was calm yet profound, making one want to delve into its secrets.

"Why are you here?" the woman's voice was gentle, yet with a hint of caution. Her eyes swept over everyone, as if trying to read their minds.

Zhang Hao clasped his fists and said, "Girl, we didn't mean to break in. We just lost our way in this mysterious place." His tone was sincere and humble, hoping to gain the woman's understanding and help.

The woman sighed softly: "This is a forbidden area. It's easy for you to come in, but it's hard to get out." Her voice was full of helplessness and regret, as if she had foreseen the difficulties and obstacles that everyone would face.

Everyone's heart sank, and the herbalist said anxiously, "Miss, please give us some advice so that we can leave." There was a hint of pleading in his voice, and his eyes were full of desire for life.

The woman was silent for a moment and said, "To leave this place, you need to pass three tests." She looked at everyone with a firm gaze, as if judging whether they had the courage and ability to accept these tests.

"Which three tests?" the black-robed man asked. There was a hint of nervousness in his voice, but more of it was firmness and determination.

The woman stood up and said, "The first test is courage. In the forest ahead, there is a ferocious monster that you need to defeat." She pointed to the forest in the distance, which was filled with a gloomy atmosphere.

Everyone looked at each other with determination in their eyes. They knew that this was their only chance to leave this place, and no matter how difficult it was, they had to face it bravely.

They walked towards the forest. As soon as they entered, they felt a powerful pressure. A huge monster appeared before them. The monster was as big as a mountain, its fur was as hard as steel, its eyes flashed red, and flames spewed from its mouth.

Zhang Hao rushed forward first, engaging in a fierce battle with the monster. His sword slashed across the monster's body, sending up a string of sparks, but the monster's skin remained unscathed. The monster's claws scraped across his shoulder, and blood instantly gushed out, staining his clothes red.

The old man cast a spell to support Zhang Hao. Rays of light shot towards the monster, but the monster only trembled slightly before continuing its attack.

The black-robed man and the herbalist also joined the battle. The black-robed man moved around the monster, searching for its weaknesses. The herbalist pulled out various herbs from his pockets, trying to disrupt the monster's movements.

The monster roared angrily, its attacks becoming increasingly fierce. The crowd gradually fell into trouble under the monster's attack, but they did not retreat at all and continued to resist tenaciously...