Rise of the Otherworld.

At this critical moment, a beam of light shone from afar, instantly illuminating the fog surrounding the woman. Like the breaking light of dawn, it dispelled darkness and fear, bringing a glimmer of hope. The giant claw retracted in the light, vanishing into the mist, leaving the woman slumped on the ground, breathing heavily and staring in fear in the direction of the light.

A figure gradually emerged from the glow, a mysterious old man. He was clad in a spotless white robe, as if he didn't belong in this dusty and dangerous world. His hair, white as snow, fluttered in the wind, yet his eyes were exceptionally sharp, like the cold stars twinkling in the night sky, deep and bright, as if they could see through everything. In his hand, he held a staff radiating a mysterious light. A blue gemstone nestled at its tip, within it flowed mysterious runes. A faint halo enveloped him, like an immortal descending to earth.

"Little girl, don't be afraid." The old man's voice was gentle and kind, like a warm spring breeze, gently blowing across the girl's heart, instantly calming her originally panicked heart.

The woman hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you for saving my life, senior." Her voice was full of gratitude and tears were shining in her eyes.

The old man waved his hand and said with a smile, "It's more important to find other people first." His tone was firm and decisive, leaving no room for doubt.

As he spoke, he waved his staff, and light spread out in all directions, like waves, penetrating the thick fog. Wherever the light reached, the fog retreated, as if it had met its nemesis.

Zhang Hao was still groping blindly in the fog, his heart filled with anxiety and unease. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, trickling down his cheeks and onto the ground. "Am I going to be trapped here?" Zhang Hao muttered to himself, his voice filled with despair.

Suddenly, he felt a warm force pulling him, and that force was like an invisible rope, gently pulling him.

"Follow me." The old man's voice sounded in his ears, as if coming from the distant sky, but clearly audible.

Zhang Hao followed the guidance of that force and finally walked out of the fog and met up with the woman and the old man. When he saw the old man and the woman were safe and sound, he felt relieved.

The herbalist and the little girl also came together with the help of the old woman. The herbalist's face was full of relief at having survived the disaster, while the little girl threw herself into the woman's arms, sobbing.

Everyone was filled with gratitude and curiosity about the old man's appearance.

"Senior, why are you here?" Zhang Hao asked, his eyes full of confusion and expectation.

The old man smiled faintly, a smile that seemed to contain endless wisdom and vicissitudes of life: "I have been here for a long time, waiting for someone with a destiny to unlock the secrets of this maze."

The man in black robe looked at the old man with vigilance: "What is your purpose?" His voice was cold and full of suspicion, and his hands were secretly gathering magic power.

The old man did not care about the suspicion of the man in black robe, and said lightly: "I have no ill intentions, but there are huge dangers hidden in this maze. If you don't unite as one, you will all die here." He swept his eyes over the crowd with a hint of seriousness and solemnity.

Everyone fell into deep thought. The old man's words made them realize the seriousness of the matter. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with worry and hesitation.

At this moment, an even more violent tremor came from the depths of the maze, and the ground began to shake violently, as if some huge creature was about to break out of the ground.

"Oh no, the vibration is stronger than before!" Zhang Hao exclaimed.

The woman hugged the little girl tightly, her face pale: "What should I do?"

The old man frowned, his expression stern: "It seems that the real danger is coming."

The herbalist gripped the stick tightly in his hand and said through gritted teeth, "No matter what it is, I'm not afraid!"

The man in black robe remained silent, but the fluctuations of his magic power became stronger and stronger, showing his inner tension.

As the tremors intensified, cracks began to appear in the maze walls, and debris began to fall...