Rise of the Otherworld.

Just then, a wave hit, and the board instantly lost its balance. Everyone screamed in surprise. Zhang Hao struggled to steady himself, but he stumbled and nearly fell into the river. His body swayed, his center of gravity lost, and his arms flailing wildly in the air, trying to grab onto something to maintain his balance.

"Hold on to the plank!" the old man shouted. His voice was particularly sharp amid the rushing water, carrying a hint of anxiety and fear.

Everyone clutched the edge of the plank, their hearts racing. Terror was written all over their faces, their fingers pale from exertion. The river surged, pounding against them. The icy water splashed against their faces, making it nearly impossible to open their eyes. The biting cold seemed to freeze their very souls.

The black-robed man's wounds were soaked by the water, and he couldn't help but groan in pain, but he still gritted his teeth and refused to let go. His brow was furrowed, and sweat mixed with river water flowed down his cheeks. Every breath was accompanied by a painful twitch, but his eyes were full of determination.

The herbalist was so scared that his face turned pale, "Will we be washed away?" His voice was trembling and crying, and his body kept shaking, as if he would be swallowed by fear in the next second.

Zhang Hao tried to calm himself down. "Don't be afraid, just hold on, you'll definitely get through this!" His voice was trembling, but it was filled with encouragement and determination. He looked forward firmly, trying to find a glimmer of hope in this chaotic situation.

However, the current was getting faster and faster, and the wooden board was like a drifting leaf, bobbing up and down in the river. Every ups and downs made their hearts jump to their throats, as if they would be swept into endless darkness in the next moment.

"Oh no! The planks are falling apart!" the old man cried out. His voice was filled with despair, and his eyes revealed fear of an unknown fate.

Sure enough, the wooden planks creaked and cracks began to appear. Those cracks spread rapidly, like the scythe of death, cutting off their hope of survival bit by bit.

"Everyone, get ready! If the planks break, swim as hard as you can to the other side!" Zhang Hao shouted. His voice was filled with determination, as if he had already prepared for the worst.

Everyone's heart tightened, and they held on to the wooden planks even harder. Their eyes were filled with the desire to survive, and they would never give up even if there was only a glimmer of hope.

Just when the wooden board was about to fall apart completely, Zhang Hao seized the opportunity and shouted, "Jump!" His voice exploded in everyone's ears like thunder.

Everyone jumped into the water and swam desperately towards the other side. The river was extremely powerful, constantly pulling at them, as if dragging them into the abyss. Every stroke required all their strength, and every inch of progress was extremely difficult.

Zhang Hao swam hard, with only one thought in his mind: he had to reach shore alive. His arms were aching, but he didn't give up, pushing forward.

The herbalist's strength gradually weakened and he began to sink. "Help!" he cried desperately.

"Hold on!" The black-robed man swam over and grabbed him. His strength was gradually fading, but with his tenacious will, he held on tightly to the herbalist, preventing him from sinking.

The old man also struggled forward in the water, his staff losing its luster in the water. His movements were slow, but his eyes were full of determination.

Finally, Zhang Hao reached the other side first, and he turned around and pulled the others ashore one by one. His arms were numb, but he still used all his strength to drag his companions ashore.

The crowd collapsed on the shore, gasping for breath, as if they had experienced a life-or-death catastrophe, their bodies exhausted and their hearts deeply traumatized.

"Finally, I'm here," Zhang Hao said tiredly. His voice was weak and hoarse, but a relieved smile appeared on his face.

"But what should I do next?" The herbalist looked at the unknown road ahead, his heart filled with confusion. His eyes were filled with helplessness and fear. His recent experience had almost made him lose his courage.

Zhang Hao stood up and said, "No matter what, we can't give up. Let's see if there is any other exit first." His eyes were firm. Although his body was extremely tired, his inner belief still supported him.

They walked along the riverbank, the surroundings still dark and damp, filled with a mysterious and dangerous atmosphere. The water droplets on the walls kept dripping, making a crisp sound, which seemed particularly eerie in the silence.

Suddenly, a strange noise came from the front. "Be careful!" Zhang Hao stopped in his tracks, his body tense, and he gripped his sword tightly again.

A group of black shadows rushed out from the darkness and rushed towards them. They were extremely fast and were in front of them in an instant.

"It's a shadow beast!" the old man exclaimed.

Zhang Hao didn't have time to think before swinging his sword towards the Shadow Beast. The sword collided with the Shadow Beast's claws, making a sharp sound.

The black-robed men and herbalists also joined the battle, but the shadow beasts were so numerous that they gradually fell into trouble.

"This is not a solution!" Zhang Hao was anxious.

At this moment, he discovered that Shadow Beast seemed to be afraid of light...