Rise of the Otherworld.

As the mysterious figures drew closer, everyone's nerves tightened once again. Zhang Hao gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his gaze fixed intently on the figures, not daring to relax even a moment. His breathing became heavy and rapid, his heartbeat distinctly clear in the silence.

The woman struggled to her feet and leaned against Zhang Hao, the dagger in her hand trembling slightly. "Who are they?" Her voice was filled with tension and anxiety, and her delicate body seemed to be shaky in the wind.

The black-robed man panted heavily, the light on his staff dimming to the point of being almost invisible. "Whoever it is, they come with ill intentions," he whispered, his eyes revealing deep worry.

The herbalist and the old man also watched the figures warily, ready for battle at any moment. The herbalist's palms were sweaty as he tightly grasped the herbal bag; the old man's eyes were firm, as if he was considering a response.

Finally, the figures stopped not far from the crowd. In the dim light, they could see they were clad in black cloaks, their faces obscured by shadows, their features indistinct. A mysterious aura emanated from them, leaving them shuddering.

"Who are you?" Zhang Hao asked loudly, his voice echoing in the empty space with a hint of determination and fearlessness.

After a moment of silence, one of the figures slowly spoke: "Hand over what you have in your hands, and I will spare your life." The voice was cold and ruthless, as if it came from the abyss of Hell.

Zhang Hao snorted coldly: "Don't even think about it! This is what we fought for at the risk of our lives." His eyes were burning with anger, and his body leaned forward slightly, ready to fight.

The mysterious figures seemed enraged by Zhang Hao's attitude and took a step forward. A powerful pressure came over them. This pressure was like a substance, making it difficult for everyone to breathe.

"It seems you're not going to accept my offer, so you'll have to drink the wine instead." The leading figure waved his hand, and the people behind him rushed forward in an instant. Their movements were swift and agile, like ghosts.

Zhang Hao charged forward without hesitation, engaging the foremost enemy. His sword gleamed coldly in the darkness, each swing imbued with resolve. The sword clashed with the enemy's weapon, producing a resounding sound and sending sparks flying.

The woman also cast a spell to support Zhang Hao. However, her mana was nearly exhausted, and the power of her spell was greatly reduced. The faint light of the spell flickered in the darkness, but it also bought Zhang Hao a moment of respite.

The black-robed man gritted his teeth and once again activated his staff, unleashing the final burst of his magical power. Although this power was already very weak, it temporarily blocked some of the enemy's attacks. His face was as pale as paper, and his body was shaky.

The herbalist was looking for an opportunity to attack the enemy with a hidden weapon made of herbs. He moved very carefully, fearing that he would be discovered by the enemy.

Although the old man was seriously injured, he still relied on his rich combat experience to command the battle. "Left side, pay attention to defend!" His voice was weak, but full of majesty.

However, the mysterious figures' strength far exceeded everyone's imagination. Their attacks were fierce and deadly, each one carrying a killing determination. Soon, everyone was in trouble.

Zhang Hao had several new wounds on his body, and blood stained his clothes red. But he still gritted his teeth and fought hard to resist the enemy's attacks.

The woman was also on the verge of collapse due to the overdraft of her magic power. Her eyes began to become blurred, but she never put down the dagger in her hand.

"This is not a solution. We must find a way to break out!" Zhang Hao shouted, with a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Just when everyone was feeling hopeless, suddenly, a strong light descended from the sky, illuminating the entire battlefield. The light was so dazzling that everyone subconsciously closed their eyes.

The mysterious figures were startled by the sudden bright light and stopped their attacks. Their figures appeared distorted in the bright light, as if suppressed by it.

A mysterious figure appeared in the air, emitting a powerful aura that made it impossible to look directly at him. His figure was like a god descending from heaven, full of majesty and mystery.

"Who is it?" Everyone was full of doubts.

The mysterious figure slowly spoke, "You're quite courageous, running amok on my territory." His voice was like a resounding bell, making everyone's ears buzz. Every word seemed to contain boundless power.

The mysterious figures seemed to be very wary of this sudden appearance and began to slowly retreat. Their steps were disorderly, and they no longer had the arrogance they had before.

"Want to leave? Not so easy!" The mysterious figure waved his hand, and a powerful force enveloped the mysterious figures. This force was like a raging wind and huge waves, swallowing them up in an instant.

Amidst howls of pain, the mysterious figures fell to the ground one after another, their bodies twisted and deformed by this powerful force, and eventually turned into ashes.

The crisis was temporarily resolved, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, collapsing to the ground. Their bodies were exhausted to the point of exhaustion, and they felt like they would fall asleep at any moment.

"Thank you for your help, senior." Zhang Hao said, looking at the mysterious figure in the air, his voice full of gratitude.

The mysterious figure glanced at everyone, said nothing, and turned away, disappearing into the light. The light gradually dissipated as he left, and the surroundings fell into darkness again.

Everyone looked at each other, their hearts filled with confusion about the future.

"What should we do next?" the woman asked weakly.

Zhang Hao was silent for a moment, "Let's find a place to rest first, and then make plans."

Everyone supported each other and slowly left this bloody and dangerous place...