Rise of the Otherworld.

The group trudged forward through the scorching desert, sinking into deep sand pits with every step, the dust rising up blurring their vision. The merciless sun hung high overhead, seemingly scorching every life in the desert.

Zhang Hao narrowed his eyes, gazing at the boundless desert, a sense of despair welling up within him. But he knew he couldn't show it, or else everyone's morale would crumble. He gritted his teeth, trying to sound resolute and forceful: "Everyone, hold on a little longer. There might be an oasis just ahead." However, his voice was hoarse, and a trace of blood oozed from his cracked lips as he spoke.

The herbalist followed with difficulty, his steps growing heavier. His face was pale, his eyes filled with exhaustion and despair. "I... I simply can't walk any more," he said weakly, sitting down on the sand. The heat of the sand instantly burned him, but he no longer had the strength to stand up.

The old man panted heavily, supporting himself with his staff. His clothes were soaked with sweat and clung to his body. "We can't stop, or we'll all die here." His voice, though weak, still held a hint of authority.

The black-robed man stared at the blazing sun, sweat pouring down his face. His eyes were red and swollen from prolonged exposure, and his vision was blurry. "Will this damn place ever end?" he roared angrily, his voice filled with helplessness and resentment.

At this moment, a gust of wind whistled past, sweeping up the yellow sand all over the sky, forming a huge sandstorm that swept towards them. The sandstorm was like a huge yellow wall, approaching at an alarming speed.

"Oh no! It's a sandstorm!" Zhang Hao shouted. His voice was instantly drowned out by the strong wind, but his gestures made everyone understand the danger was approaching.

Everyone stared at the approaching sandstorm in horror, not knowing what to do. Their hearts beat faster and faster, as if they could hear the footsteps of death approaching.

"Quick, find a place to hide!" Zhang Hao looked around for a place to hide, trying hard to keep his eyes open in the strong wind. Finally, he found a huge rock.

They ran desperately towards the rock, each step full of difficulty. The sand kept hindering their steps, and the strong wind seemed to threaten to blow them down.

They hid behind rocks just before the sandstorm arrived. The force of the sandstorm was immense, with sand and rocks crashing against the rocks, making a crackling sound. The howling of the wind was terrifying, like the roar of a demon.

The sandstorm lasted for a long time, with howling winds and sand and rocks constantly hitting the rocks. They clung tightly to the rocks, not daring to relax even a little.

When the sandstorm finally passed, everyone came out from behind the rocks and found themselves even more lost. The clues they had originally relied on to identify the direction of the sun were completely disrupted by the sandstorm.

"What should we do? We are completely lost." The herbalist cried in despair. His cry sounded particularly desolate in the empty desert.

Zhang Hao took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He looked up at the sky, trying to find the sun's position again. "We can only determine the direction based on the sun's position." His voice was calm, but his heart was filled with anxiety.

So they continued to move forward in the desert, their strength gradually failing them. Every step they took felt like they were dragging a heavy burden.

As night fell, the temperature in the desert dropped sharply, and the cold attacked their tired bodies. The stark contrast between the scorching heat of the day and the cold of the night made it difficult for their bodies to adapt.

"This isn't a solution. We have to find water and food," the old man said, his voice trembling in the cold night wind.

Just when they felt desperate, an ancient castle seemed to appear in the distance. In the moonlight, the castle looked gloomy and terrifying, like a sleeping giant beast.

"What's that?" The black-robed man pointed in the direction of the castle, his voice filled with confusion and caution.

Zhang Hao looked at the castle, his heart filled with doubt. The castle's sudden appearance made him feel vaguely uneasy. "I don't know, but maybe there's something we need there." He hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to walk towards the castle.

Everyone walked towards the castle, holding a glimmer of hope in their hearts. But they didn't know what kind of dangers and secrets were hidden in the castle...