Rise of the Otherworld.

The even more eerie and terrifying sound continued to echo through the valley, causing everyone's nerves, which had just relaxed, to tense up again. Zhang Hao took a deep breath, suppressing the pain in his body, and gazed resolutely into the depths of the valley. His eyes gleamed with determination, as if burning with an unyielding flame.

"No matter what lies ahead, we must not retreat." His voice was a little hoarse, but it was full of determination. Every word was like a nail, deeply nailed into the hearts of the people, giving them the courage to move forward.

The black-robed figure wiped the blood from his mouth and gathered his magical power. His face was pale, but the determination in his eyes remained undimmed. "Let's continue forward and see what's causing this trouble." His voice was deep and powerful, carrying a sense of desperation.

The old man nodded, his hands tightly gripping his staff. The staff trembled slightly in his hand, revealing his inner nervousness, but his gaze remained steadfast. "Everyone, be careful." His voice was steady and calm, like a stabilizing force, calming everyone's panic.

The herbalist struggled to his feet and gathered the scattered herbs. His movements were slow, the wounds on his body causing him to grimace in pain with every movement. The woman, dagger in hand, followed the others. Her eyes were filled with fear, but her steps were unwavering.

They cautiously made their way down the rugged mountain path to the valley floor. The fog grew thicker, making it almost impossible to see the path ahead. Like a living thing, the mist swirled and surged around them, as if to devour them. Strange noises occasionally emanated from the cliffs on either side, as if something was secretly watching them.

"This place is so eerie. It feels like countless pairs of eyes are staring at us," the woman said in a trembling voice. Her voice was particularly clear in the silent valley, carrying an undisguised fear and uneasiness.

Zhang Hao comforted her, "Don't be afraid, we are here." His voice was gentle but firm, bringing a sense of comfort to the woman. He reached out and gently patted the woman's shoulder.

Suddenly, a gust of wind howled past, blowing everyone to and fro. The wind seemed to carry a few small sounds, as if telling of an ancient curse. The sound was sharp and piercing, like the screams of evil spirits, and it hurt people's eardrums.

"Hold steady!" the old man shouted. His voice seemed so small in the strong wind, but it was full of power.

When the wind died down, they discovered a massive cave ahead. The eerie sound had come from within the cave. The entrance to the cave was pitch black, like the gaping mouth of a giant beast, waiting to devour them.

Zhang Hao approached the cave cautiously and looked inside. He saw only darkness, bottomless. The darkness seemed to have an invisible power that made people afraid.

"This cave may be filled with great danger," the herbalist said, his face filled with worry, and the wrinkles on his forehead deepened.

"But it could also be the key to solving all these mysteries," the black-robed man said. His gaze was fixed on the cave, as if he could see through the darkness to its secrets.

Zhang Hao gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go in." His voice was firm and there was no sign of retreat.

As they entered the cave, a pungent odor filled the air. It was like a mixture of rotting corpses and decaying wood, leaving one's stomach churning. The ground beneath their feet was slippery, covered in moss and an unknown slime, making walking difficult. Strange lights flickered on the walls, flickering on and off, adding a mysterious and eerie atmosphere to the cave.

As they walked, they came to a spacious hall. In the center of the hall stood a huge stone statue with a hideous and ferocious face. Its eyes bulged out and its mouth opened wide, as if it were uttering a silent roar.

"What is this?" the woman asked in horror, her voice trembling so much that she was almost crying.

At this moment, the stone statue's eyes suddenly glowed red. That light instantly illuminated the entire hall, casting everyone's figures on the wall in a distorted and terrifying manner.

Zhang Hao subconsciously held his sword across his body in a defensive stance. "Be careful!" he shouted.

The black-robed man quickly formed seals with his hands, preparing to cast a spell. The old man tightly grasped his staff, muttering something.

The stone statue slowly moved, its body making a "cracking" sound, as if it had just awakened after sleeping for a thousand years.

The herbalist was so frightened that he stepped back and fell to the ground. The woman hurried to help him up.

The stone statue stretched out its huge arms and smashed towards everyone...