Rise of the Otherworld.

After bidding farewell to the people on the carriage, Zhang Hao and his group continued on their journey. Soon, they arrived at a mysterious town. Nestled in a valley, surrounded by mountains and shrouded in mist, it resembled a paradise. However, the moment they entered the town, they sensed a strange atmosphere.

The town appeared peaceful and tranquil, yet something inexplicably strange lingered. The streets were deserted, few people passing through, and the houses on either side had their doors and windows tightly shut, as if deliberately hiding something. The moss on the cobblestones spoke of the passage of time, and the occasional barking of dogs added to the desolate atmosphere.

"Why does this place feel so strange?" the herbalist couldn't help but mutter. He shrank his neck and looked around warily.

Zhang Hao frowned, "Be careful, something might be wrong." His hand unconsciously tightened around the hilt of the sword, his eyes full of vigilance.

As they slowly walked into the town, they suddenly heard the melodious sound of a flute. The flute's mellow and mournful sound seemed to be telling a tragic story. The plaintive sound echoed through the quiet town, chilling the heart.

Following the sound of the flute, they arrived at an ancient temple. The temple's doors were open, and smoke filled the air, creating a mysterious atmosphere. In the center stood a dilapidated statue, its surface covered with the marks of time.

An old man in a black robe sat in the center of the temple, playing a flute. His face was obscured by shadows, and his expression was unclear. But his slightly trembling body showed that he seemed to be filled with pain.

Zhang Hao stepped forward, bowed, and asked, "Senior, may I ask where this is?" His voice echoed in the temple, breaking the brief silence.

The old man stopped playing and slowly raised his head, "This is a forgotten corner." His voice was hoarse and low, as if it came from the distant past.

The man in black robe asked in confusion: "Forgotten? What does that mean?" He stared at the old man, trying to find the answer from his eyes.

The old man sighed and said, "Many years ago, this place suffered a terrible disaster. Floods, plagues, and wars followed one after another. People fled one after another, and only a few who could not leave stayed here." His eyes revealed endless sadness and helplessness.

When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy. They imagined the tragic situation here in the past, and gained a deeper understanding of the town before them.

The old man went on, "But recently, strange things have been happening in this town. Weird noises are often heard at night, and people disappear inexplicably." His eyes were filled with fear and worry.

"Is there some evil spirit at work?" the herbalist asked nervously, his voice trembling slightly and cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

The old man shook his head and said, "I don't know either. I just hope you can help us find out the truth." His eyes were full of expectation and hope.

Zhang Hao and the others looked at each other and nodded in agreement. They knew very well that this was their unshirkable responsibility.

As night fell, the town was plunged into darkness. The moon was obscured by dark clouds, and the stars also hid within them. The eerie sound rang out again, a sound that seemed to come from the depths of hell, leaving one's hair standing on end.

Everyone decided to look for clues separately.

Zhang Hao was walking alone in an alley when he suddenly felt a chill from behind. He turned around abruptly, but saw nothing. The alley was filled with thick fog, and his vision was blurred.

At this moment, a dark shadow passed over his head, moving at an extremely fast speed, like a flash of lightning.

Zhang Hao's heart tightened, and he quickly chased after him. He shuttled through the alleys, the only sounds in his ears were his own footsteps and breathing.

Finally, he saw the dark figure at a corner. The dark figure stopped there, motionless.

Zhang Hao approached cautiously, and when he saw the shadow's face clearly, he couldn't help but gasp. It was a distorted face with a strange light flashing in its eyes.

"Who are you?" Zhang Hao shouted loudly.

The shadow didn't answer, but just let out a sinister laugh.

Zhang Hao no longer hesitated and swung his sword at the shadow. The shadow dodged the attack.

A fierce fight broke out in the alley...