Rise of the Otherworld.

After some effort, they finally pushed the brick away and discovered a narrow passage behind it. A foul odor filled the passage, and the darkness seemed to hide unknown dangers. The odor was strong and pungent, like the breath of death, making people want to vomit.

"Whatever, let's try this passage first," Zhang Hao whispered. His voice was particularly low in the narrow passage, with a hint of uncertainty, but more of determination.

Everyone nodded and entered the passage one by one. Zhang Hao walked in front, sword in hand ready to deal with any situation. The blade flickered with a faint light, drawing arcs in the darkness.

The passage was narrow and rugged, forcing them to bend over and move forward cautiously. Water dripped from the walls from time to time, dripping onto their bodies and sending a chill down their spines. The water was icy and piercing, like tears from hell.

"Everyone, watch your step," Zhang Hao warned. His voice echoed in the passage, a hint of tension in it.

Suddenly, a hissing sound came from the front. Zhang Hao's heart tightened and he stopped. The sound was like the whisper of a demon, making him shudder.

"What is it?" the herbalist asked nervously, his voice trembling with fear.

Before Zhang Hao could reply, a gigantic python sprang out from the darkness, its maw wide open, and lunged at them. Its scales shimmered eerily in the dim light.

"Get out of the way!" Zhang Hao shouted, swinging his sword at the python. His movements were swift and decisive, and the wind from his sword whistled.

The python nimbly dodged Zhang Hao's attack and swept its tail towards the crowd. The tail was like a steel whip, carrying a powerful force.

The black-robed man dodged sideways and took the opportunity to stab the python. His eyes were full of ferocity, and the weapon in his hand pierced deeply into the python's flesh.

The python felt the pain and attacked them even more frantically, spewing venom from its mouth, nearly splashing onto everyone.

The old man cast a spell, and a beam of light struck the python's eyes, temporarily blinding it and slowing its movements. The light, like the dawn's rays, instantly illuminated the dark passage.

Zhang Hao seized the opportunity and stabbed the python in the vitals with his sword. The python struggled for a few times and finally fell to the ground. Its body twisted and kicked up a cloud of dust.

"Keep going," Zhang Hao said. There was a hint of fatigue in his voice, but more of determination.

They continued to grope their way forward in the passage, and after an unknown amount of time, they finally saw a ray of light. The light was like a beacon of hope, guiding them in the direction of their progress.

"The exit is just ahead!" the herbalist said excitedly. His voice was filled with joy, as if he saw hope for life.

The group quickened their pace and walked out of the passage. Outside was a forest, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting patches of light onto the ground.

They didn't dare to stop and quickly ran away from the town. Their footsteps echoed in the woods, startling a flock of birds.

After running for a while and making sure no one was chasing them, they stopped to catch their breath. Everyone took a deep breath of fresh air, as if to expel all the foul air that had been in the passage.

"This time it was really dangerous," said the black-robed man, his body covered in sweat and dust. Sweat flowed down his cheeks, leaving streaks in the dust.

"But we finally escaped." Zhang Hao said, "However, the road ahead will probably be even more difficult." There was a hint of worry in his eyes, but more of determination.

The old man looked into the distance and said, "No matter what, we can't give up." His voice was steady and powerful, bringing a sense of comfort to everyone.

Everyone nodded, took a short rest, and continued their journey.

Along the way, they slept in the open air, encountered all kinds of harsh weather and ferocious beasts. Amidst the raging storm, they struggled forward, each step filled with hardship. Lightning flashed across the night sky, illuminating their resolute faces.

Ferocious beasts lurked in the darkness, gazing at them with eager eyes. However, with their unwavering faith and tenacious perseverance, they overcame difficulties time and time again. They supported each other and together resisted the threats from the outside world.

Finally, they arrived at the foot of a steep mountain, which towered into the clouds and was shrouded in mist, like a stairway leading to a fairyland.

"Could this be the mysterious mountain we're looking for?" the herbalist asked, his voice tinged with anticipation and doubt.

Zhang Hao looked at the mountain and said, "It's very likely. Let's go up and take a look." His eyes were full of determination.

However, the mountain is steep and difficult to climb, with walls that are almost vertical and covered with sharp rocks and loose stones.

"Everyone be careful and hold on tight," Zhang Hao reminded.

They began to climb with difficulty, taking each step carefully. Zhang Hao led the way, stabbing his sword into the mountain wall to provide support for those behind him.

The herbalist accidentally stepped on empty space and nearly fell. "Help!" he cried in terror.

The man in black robe quickly reached out and grabbed him: "Don't be afraid, we are here!"

The old man was also encouraging everyone: "Hold on, we're almost there."

After a long climb, they finally reached the halfway point of the mountain...