Rise of the Otherworld.

After resting, the group continued their journey deeper into the mysterious ruins. The atmosphere grew increasingly eerie, as if countless eyes were watching them from the darkness. A stale, decaying air filled the air, leaving people feeling oppressive and uneasy.

Zhang Hao, sword in hand, carefully cleared the way, taking each step with extreme caution. His eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly, not missing a single movement. The sword gleamed coldly in the dim light, as if ready to face any unknown danger.

The woman followed closely behind, holding the dagger tightly in her hand. Her heartbeat was rapid and her breathing became rapid. Every slight movement would make her nerves tense, and her eyes were filled with tension and fear, but she still followed Zhang Hao's steps firmly.

As the herbalist walked, he kept an eye out for any precious herbs. Despite the danger, his keen sense of herbal medicine remained undiminished. From time to time, his gaze would be drawn to some unusual plant on the roadside, but he would quickly withdraw his gaze and remain vigilant of his surroundings.

The black-robed man and the old man watched their surroundings warily. The black-robed man clutched his staff tightly, ready to cast a spell at any moment. The gemstone atop the old man's staff flickered faintly, illuminating the path ahead.

"There's something strange about this place. Everyone, be careful," the old man whispered. His voice was especially clear in the silent passage, carrying a hint of solemnity and worry.

Suddenly, a cold wind blew by, carrying with it a faint sound of crying. The crying seemed to come from far away, yet it seemed to be right next to my ears, making me shudder.

"What's that sound?" The woman turned pale with fear, and her body involuntarily moved closer to Zhang Hao. Her voice trembled, and her hands tightly grasped the dagger, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Zhang Hao stopped and listened attentively. "I don't know, but it's definitely not a good sign." His brows were furrowed and he looked around more vigilantly.

At this moment, a huge stone door appeared in front of them, and the door was covered with strange symbols and patterns. Those symbols and patterns seemed to be telling ancient secrets, leaving people puzzled.

"What's behind this door?" the herbalist couldn't help but ask. His eyes were filled with curiosity and anticipation, but also with deep worry.

Zhang Hao walked forward and gently pushed the stone door, but it didn't budge. He felt the heaviness of the stone door and secretly assessed it.

"Let's try together." Zhang Hao said.

Everyone worked together, exerting all their strength. Their faces flushed crimson from the effort, veins bulging on their foreheads. With their combined efforts, the stone door slowly opened, letting in a stale, decayed smell.

Inside the doorway was a vast hall, surrounded by various ancient instruments and statues. The instruments emanated a mysterious light, and the statues' faces were blurred, yet they evoked a solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere. In the center of the hall, a crystal ball shone with an eerie glow. Its light flickered, sometimes brighter and sometimes darker, as if it had life.

"This crystal ball looks extraordinary," the black-robed man said. His eyes were drawn to the crystal ball, and he couldn't help but want to get closer to study it.

Just as everyone was about to approach the crystal ball, the ground suddenly began to shake violently. The entire hall seemed to be collapsing, and rocks fell from the ceiling.

"Oh no, something's happening!" Zhang Hao shouted.

A group of dark shadows emerged from all four corners of the hall, lunging at the crowd with their fangs and claws bared. The shadows took on various shapes, some resembling giant beasts, others distorted humanoids, and emitted terrifying roars.

Everyone quickly entered combat mode, engaging in a fierce battle with the shadowy figures. Zhang Hao brandished his sword, its shadows flickering, each strike carrying a fierce momentum as he repelled the advancing shadows. The woman, unwilling to be outdone, swiftly wielded her dagger, stabbing the shadows' vital points.

The herbalist took out some powder and herbs from his backpack and threw them at the shadow. As soon as the powder and herbs touched the shadow, they made a sizzling sound, restricting the shadow's movements to a certain extent.

The man in black robe cast a powerful spell. Fire, ice and lightning intertwined in his hands, forming a powerful force that rushed towards the black shadow.

The old man was muttering something, and the gem on the top of the staff shone brightly, forming a shield to protect everyone.

With everyone's joint efforts, the number of shadows gradually decreased, but they were all exhausted and had suffered some injuries.

"We can't relax, it's not over yet!" Zhang Hao shouted loudly.

At this moment, the light from the crystal ball suddenly became stronger, illuminating the entire hall like daylight...