Rise of the Otherworld.

After a brief rest, they continued their journey towards the summit. The path became increasingly rugged and difficult to navigate, shrouded in mist and clouds, as if transporting them into an ethereal world. The mist, like a veil, obscured the path ahead, making every step fraught with unknown danger.

Zhang Hao looked up at the seemingly unreachable summit, his faith growing stronger. "Everyone, keep pushing! We're almost there." His voice echoed through the silent mountain, filled with encouragement and persistence. His eyes were firm, his steps steady. Though his body was exhausted, the fire within him burned brighter.

Just then, the black-robed man discovered a cave in the mountainside. Its entrance was obscured by vines, making it difficult to spot without careful observation. "Look, there's a cave over there," he said, his voice tinged with surprise and curiosity. Everyone gathered around, and the old man observed it for a moment. "This cave exudes a mysterious aura. Perhaps there's something hidden within." His gaze was deep, as if he wanted to peer through the cave's entrance to see what was hidden within.

Zhang Hao pondered for a moment. "Let's go in and take a look. Perhaps it's related to the artifact we're looking for." His voice was decisive and resolute, with a hint of anticipation and a sense of adventure. Everyone nodded in agreement and cautiously entered the cave.

The cave was filled with a damp, earthy, stale smell that felt oppressive. The cave was dimly lit, relying solely on the light from the old man's staff to illuminate the path. The faint glow flickered in the darkness, as if it would be swallowed by it at any moment.

As they walked, they heard the sound of dripping water and saw a spring in front of them. The water was so clear that you could see the bottom. The surface of the water was as calm as a mirror, reflecting their figures.

The herbalists were about to approach to investigate when a gigantic water monster suddenly emerged from the spring. The monster, as massive as a small mountain, was covered in blue scales that shimmered with an eerie light. With its claws and fangs bared, it lunged at them, stirring up a gust of wind.

Zhang Hao quickly swung his sword to block the attack. "Be careful!" he said in a hurried and nervous voice. The sword collided with the water monster's claws, making a sharp sound and sending sparks flying.

Everyone attacked, engaging in a fierce battle with the water monster. The monster was incredibly powerful, and with a flick of its tail, it sent the black-robed man flying, slamming into the cave wall. The black-robed man's body slammed heavily against the stone wall, making a dull thud.

"Damn it!" The black-robed man braved the pain and climbed to his feet, rejoining the battle. His eyes burned with rage, and he swung his weapon even more fiercely.

The old man continued to cast spells, trying to restrict the water monster's movements. He muttered something, and the gem on his staff shone brightly. Rays of magic light shot towards the water monster, but the water monster nimbly dodged them.

The herbalist was on the side, searching for the monster's weaknesses. His sharp eyes scanned the monster's body quickly.

After a hard fight, they finally discovered the monster's eyes were its weak point. Zhang Hao seized the opportunity, leaped up, and stabbed the monster in the eye with his sword. The monster screamed and fell to the ground, splashing water.

"Finally solved." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Their bodies were exhausted, their clothes soaked with sweat.

However, before they could recover from their shock, a deep roar emanated from the depths of the cave. The sound seemed to come from an ancient beast, full of anger and majesty, making people tremble with fear.

"How many dangers does this cave hide?" The herbalist's voice trembled, his eyes filled with fear and anxiety.

"Don't be afraid, we'll face this together," Zhang Hao soothed. His voice was calm, but his heart was filled with worry.

They continued to delve deeper into the cave, only to see a massive stone doorway appear before them. Strange runes were carved into the door, emitting a mysterious glow. The runes flickered, as if telling an ancient story.

"What's behind this door?" the black-robed man asked in confusion. He walked forward, wanting to touch the runes.

Zhang Hao stepped forward and gently touched the stone door, but a powerful force pushed him back. His body flew backwards and fell heavily to the ground.

"This door seems to have a powerful restriction," the old man said. He walked forward and carefully examined the runes on the stone door, trying to decipher the secrets within.

Just as they were thinking about how to open the stone door, the surrounding walls began to slowly move. The stones on the wall rubbed against each other, making a dull sound, and the ground began to tremble.

"Oh no, this place is going to collapse!" exclaimed the herbalist.

Everyone suddenly panicked, and Zhang Hao shouted, "Calm down, find a way out!"

They searched for an exit, but the passages around them became narrower and narrower, as if they were going to be trapped in this dark cave forever...