Rise of the Otherworld.

Finally, they arrived at a vast hall. Its dome soared into the sky, and the walls were inlaid with exotic gemstones, emitting a soft glow. Like the dazzling stars in the night sky, the gems adorned the entire hall with a dreamlike atmosphere. However, this beautiful sight did not lower the guard; instead, it intensified their caution.

"This place doesn't look simple," the black-robed man said warily. His eyes kept scanning the surroundings, his weapon tightly gripped, ready to respond to any emergency.

Zhang Hao nodded and said, "Everyone be careful, there may be new tests waiting for us." His voice was low and serious, and his eyes revealed determination and courage.

As soon as he finished speaking, a stone platform suddenly rose in the center of the hall, upon which stood several mysterious statues. The statues varied in form, some holding swords, some embracing staffs, and some baring their fangs and claws, like demons from hell.

The statue was so lifelike, as if it would come alive at any moment. Just as everyone was puzzled, the statue's eyes suddenly lit up with a red light. That light was like a burning flame, full of evil and threat.

"Not good! Get ready for battle!" Zhang Hao shouted. His voice echoed in the hall, instantly breaking the brief silence.

The statues began to move, attacking them. Their movements were swift and powerful, and each attack was accompanied by a whirring sound that was terrifying.

The old man quickly cast a spell to protect everyone. A transparent shield instantly appeared around them, flickering with a faint light.

Zhang Hao charged forward, engaging in a fierce battle with the statues. His sword streaked through the air, each strike carrying immense force. He weaved between the statues, nimbly dodging their attacks while searching for opportunities to strike back.

However, the statue's defense was very strong, and Zhang Hao's attacks did not cause much damage. His arms felt sore from the constant attacks, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted in fighting.

The herbalist was anxiously looking for the weaknesses of the statues. "I found that their joints are relatively fragile!" His voice became a little sharp due to nervousness.

Hearing this, Zhang Hao and the black-robed man immediately changed their attack strategy and concentrated their strength on attacking the joints of the statue. Their attacks were accurate and powerful, and each time they targeted the key parts of the statue.

After a hard fight, several statues were finally knocked to the ground. But the remaining statues became even more ferocious, and their attacks became even more fierce. As if enraged, they rushed towards the crowd without hesitation.

"This isn't going to work!" Zhang Hao frowned. His forehead was covered in sweat, and his breathing became rapid. But his eyes remained firm, his mind racing as he thought of a solution.

At this moment, he found a stone tablet in the corner of the hall, on which were engraved some strange words. Those words were ancient and mysterious, as if telling an unknown history.

"Perhaps this is the solution." Zhang Hao fended off the statue's attacks while approaching the stone tablet. Every step forward required tremendous effort.

After careful observation, he finally understood the meaning of the text.

"Destroy the statues in a specific order!" Zhang Hao shouted, his voice filled with hope and determination.

Everyone followed his instructions, attacking the statue in an orderly manner. Their coordination became increasingly seamless, and each attack was perfectly timed.

As expected, the statues' attacks gradually weakened. Their movements became sluggish, and their strength was much less than before.

Finally, all the statues stopped moving and fell to the ground, their bodies turning into a pile of rubble scattered around the stone platform.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground, their bodies exhausted and their clothes soaked with sweat.

"This test is too difficult," the herbalist gasped. His face was filled with fatigue and helplessness, but his eyes also revealed a hint of triumph.

Zhang Hao stood up and said, "But we passed. Let's keep moving forward. The artifact should be not far away." His voice was full of encouragement and expectation.

They continued walking deeper into the hall. The stone slabs on the ground made a slight sound, as if telling an ancient story.

Suddenly, a huge stone door appeared in front of them. The door was tightly closed, and it was engraved with complex patterns and runes.

"What is this?" asked the man in black robe.

Zhang Hao walked forward and observed the stone gate carefully. "Maybe this is the final checkpoint."

They began to look for a way to open the stone door...