Rise of the Otherworld.

The crowd slowly approached the ancient building, its outline becoming clearer as the distance shortened. It looked dilapidated, its walls covered in creeping vines, which twisted and slithered like snakes, as if telling of the vicissitudes of time. The door was closed, its brass ring rusted, as if resisting any intrusion from the outside world.

Zhang Hao walked to the door and pushed hard, but it didn't budge. "This door seems to be sealed by some force," he said, his voice remarkably clear in the silence. His brow furrowed, his eyes revealing a hint of confusion and worry.

The black-robed figure stepped forward, carefully examining the runes surrounding the door. They shimmered faintly, mysterious and complex. "This is an ancient sealing spell, and opening it won't be easy." His voice was low and serious, and he unconsciously clenched the staff in his hand.

The old man stroked his beard and said after thinking for a moment: "Let's look for other entrances together." His eyes were full of wisdom and determination, as if he could still remain calm and sober in this predicament.

The crowd dispersed, searching along the building's exterior. The woman found a small window on one side, but it was barred. "There's a window over here, but I can't get in," she shouted, a hint of disappointment and anxiety in her voice.

The herbalist found a secret door hidden in the grass behind the building. "There's a secret door here!" he shouted excitedly, his voice full of the joy of discovery.

Everyone gathered hastily. Zhang Hao carefully pushed open the secret door, and a stale smell hit him. It was a mixture of rotting wood and damp earth, making people cover their mouths and noses. It was dark and damp inside, filled with a mysterious atmosphere, as if it hid countless secrets and dangers.

"Everyone, be careful," Zhang Hao warned, walking through the door first. His steps were light, his sword tightly gripped, ready to deal with any danger that might arise.

Everyone followed him, moving forward cautiously. The room was filled with worn-out tables, chairs, and cabinets, all covered in dust and cobwebs. Every step they took stirred up a cloud of dust, which drifted in the dim light.

Suddenly, a giant spider dropped from the beam and pounced on the herbalist. The spider was huge, with hairy legs like steel needles and eyes flashing with a ferocious light.

"Ah!" The herbalist screamed in horror, his voice echoing in the small space, full of fear.

Zhang Hao swung his sword quickly, cutting the spider in half like lightning. The spider's green blood splattered all over the ground, emitting a pungent odor. "Don't panic, it's just a spider," Zhang Hao soothed, his voice steady and powerful.

They continued to move forward, passing through one room after another, each room full of unknowns and dangers. Some rooms were filled with old books, the pages of which had turned yellow and moldy; some rooms were filled with strange instruments, the purpose of which was unknown.

In one room, numerous traps suddenly appeared on the ground, with spikes popping out from the ground. "Watch your step!" the black-robed figure shouted, his voice anxious and nervous.

Everyone jumped and dodged, their movements swift and agile, but some were still accidentally scratched by the sharp thorns, and the blood stained the corners of their clothes.

Finally, they arrived at a large hall. In the center of the hall stood a huge stone platform, on which lay a yellowed ancient book. The book exuded an ancient aura, as if it contained endless wisdom and power.

"Could this be the key to solving the mystery?" the woman said, her voice full of expectation and hope.

Zhang Hao stepped forward and was about to reach for the ancient book when he was repelled by a powerful force. He flew backward and fell heavily to the ground. "There are powerful restrictions on this," the old man said. He stepped forward and carefully observed the light surrounding the ancient book.

Just as everyone was at their wit's end, a deep roar suddenly erupted from the hall. It seemed to come from deep underground, carrying with it endless anger and resentment. Everyone's faces instantly turned pale, and fear spread throughout their hearts.

"What's that sound?" the herbalist asked tremblingly.

"I don't know, but it's definitely not a good thing." said the man in black robe, his eyes full of vigilance.

As the roar sounded, the hall began to shake violently, cracks appeared on the walls, and dust fell.

"Everyone, find a place to hide quickly!" Zhang Hao shouted.

Everyone looked for a place to hide, but the dangers in the hall became more and more...