Rise of the Otherworld.

They began searching for a way to open the stone door. Zhang Hao's fingers gently brushed the runes on the stone door, attempting to decipher their secrets. The runes were like an ancient code, each line imbued with profound meaning. His eyes were focused and solemn, as if he could see through the runes to the truth hidden behind them.

The old man closed his eyes and muttered something, as if casting some kind of detection spell. His staff trembled slightly, emitting a faint light that echoed with the runes on the stone door.

The man in black robe paced back and forth around the stone gate, saying anxiously, "How do we open this broken stone?" His footsteps were heavy, raising a cloud of fine dust, and his face was full of impatience and anxiety.

The herbalist was also helping to search for clues, his forehead covered with beads of sweat. His eyes were fixed on the stone gate, not missing any tiny details. He also held some herbs in his hands, as if trying to use a special method to perceive the secret of the stone gate.

Zhang Hao frowned and suddenly said, "I seem to understand some patterns." He pointed to the arrangement order of the runes and said, "The combination of these runes may be related to a certain specific formation." There was a hint of excitement and uncertainty in his voice.

Following Zhang Hao's instructions, everyone began to try to break the formation. They gestured in the air, spiritual energy flowing through their fingertips, trying to resonate with the runes.

As time passed, everyone became increasingly tense. The air seemed frozen, with only the sounds of their heavy breathing and the occasional fluctuations of spiritual energy.

Just when everyone was feeling hopeless, the stone door made a dull sound and slowly opened a crack. A stale smell poured out from the crack, making people feel a chill.

"Success!" the herbalist shouted excitedly. His voice became shrill with excitement, and a joyful smile spread across his face.

However, a strong gust of air blew out from the crack in the door, blowing everyone to and fro, their clothes rustling in the wind, and their hair becoming messy.

Zhang Hao steadied himself and shouted, "Be careful, there may be danger inside!" His voice seemed a little vague in the wind, but still firm and powerful.

The group cautiously entered the stone doorway, revealing a vast circular chamber. The walls shimmered with a strange light, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching them. In the center of the room, a raised platform rested on a box emitting a mysterious glow. The box was engraved with intricate patterns, and its light flickered, sometimes brighter and sometimes weaker, imbued with a mysterious allure.

"That should be what we're looking for!" The black-robed man rushed over excitedly. His steps were urgent, and his eyes were fixed only on the mysterious box.

"Wait!" Zhang Hao stopped him, "It's not that simple." His voice was serious and calm, which made the man in black robe stop in his tracks instantly.

Sure enough, pillars of flame suddenly rose from the ground, blocking their path. The flames were so intense they seemed to reduce everything to ash. The pulsing sounds of the flames and the whirring of the burning coals mixed together, leaving them feeling eerie.

"This is another test," the old man said. His voice was steady, his eyes fixed firmly on the pillar of fire before him.

Zhang Hao observed the pattern of the flame column and said, "Everyone follow me closely and rush over at the right time." His eyes were focused and his brain was working fast, calculating the best route and timing.

They moved between the pillars of flame, narrowly avoiding being burned several times. The intense heat of the flames stung their skin, instantly evaporating their sweat.

Finally, they arrived in front of the platform, but before they could catch their breath, danger came again.

Just as Zhang Hao reached out to take the box, a dark shadow rushed out from the darkness and pounced on him. The shadow was extremely fast and had a strong force.

Zhang Hao reacted quickly, swinging his sword to block the attack. The sound of metal clashing echoed in the room, sparks flying everywhere.

Only then did everyone see clearly that the shadow was a mysterious guardian. The guardian was dressed in black armor, his face obscured by shadows, making it difficult to see his features, but the aura emanating from him revealed his formidable strength.

The guardian was powerful, and the fight with Zhang Hao was a stalemate. Every attack carried a deadly threat, and Zhang Hao could only respond with all his strength, not daring to relax even a little.

"Let's go together!" the black-robed man shouted. He no longer hesitated and joined the battle.

Everyone joined the battle, engaging in a fierce duel with the guardian. The light of various spells and weapons intertwined, illuminating the entire room.

With everyone's concerted efforts, the Guardian gradually lost the upper hand. His movements began to slow down, and his attacks became less fierce.

Finally, Zhang Hao struck the Guardian's vitals with a single blow, defeating him. The Guardian fell to the ground and vanished in a puff of smoke.

Zhang Hao picked up the box and slowly opened it. The light from the box instantly illuminated his face, and everyone watched nervously...