Rise of the Otherworld.

Suddenly, footsteps approached from the valley, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Everyone stood in a state of alert, their eyes fixed on the direction of the footsteps. Everyone's breathing became rapid, and the sound of their heartbeats seemed to be infinitely amplified in the silent valley.

A moment later, an army clad in black armor appeared before everyone. Their steps were synchronized, and their armor gleamed coldly in the dim light, like a torrent of black steel. Mysterious runes were engraved on the cold armor, emitting a chilling aura.

The leading general rode a tall black horse, his eyes sharp and cold. His face, as if carved by a knife or an axe, was filled with determination and majesty. "Who are you? Why are you here?" His voice was deep and majestic, like the voice of judgment coming from the depths of hell.

Zhang Hao took a step forward and said, "We were just passing by here and encountered some danger." Although his voice was firm, he still seemed a little lacking in confidence in the face of such powerful momentum.

The general snorted coldly, "This is a forbidden area. No one is allowed to enter without permission." His eyes were like sharp swords, piercing straight at Zhang Hao.

The woman said, "We didn't mean to offend you, it just happened for a reason." There was a hint of urgency and helplessness in her voice.

The general's eyes swept across everyone and finally stopped at the little girl, "This child..." A hint of doubt flashed in his eyes, and there seemed to be a subtle vigilance hidden in that doubt.

The old man quickly explained: "This child is related to the unusual movement of the treasure box just now." His voice trembled slightly, and he was obviously full of awe for this mysterious army.

The general frowned slightly, "Treasure box? That's an extremely dangerous thing." His brows furrowed even tighter, as if he was thinking about some important issue.

The herbalist said, "But this child also saved us at the critical moment." His voice was full of gratitude and admiration for the little girl.

The general was silent for a moment. "No matter what, you must come back with me for investigation." His tone was unquestionable, as if this was an order that could not be disobeyed.

Everyone looked at each other, and the man in black robe whispered, "I'm afraid this is not a good thing." His eyes were full of worry and uneasiness.

Zhang Hao said: "But at the moment, it seems that we have no other choice." He swept his eyes over the crowd. Although his heart was full of uneasiness, he tried his best to remain calm.

And so, escorted by this mysterious army, they set off in an unknown direction. Along the way, the army maintained strict discipline. No one spoke, only the cadence of their footsteps echoed through the valley. Those footsteps, like drumbeats, pounded everyone's hearts.

The little girl held the woman's hand tightly, a hint of uneasiness in her eyes. Her hand trembled slightly in the woman's hand, like a frightened bird.

The woman whispered, "Don't be afraid, child, it will be okay." Her voice was gentle but firm, trying to give the little girl a sense of security.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a massive castle appeared before us. Its walls soared into the clouds, seemingly reaching the heavens. The gates were heavily guarded, soldiers armed with spears, their eyes warily surveying their surroundings.

The general led the crowd into the castle, which was decorated in a solemn and dignified manner. Tall stone pillars supported the dome, and ancient portraits hung on the walls, seemingly telling of the castle's long history.

"Wait here," the general said, and he turned and left. His figure disappeared at the end of a long corridor, leaving everyone in the empty hall.

Everyone waited in the hall, their hearts filled with anxiety. Time passed by minute by minute, and each second seemed so long.

After a while, an old man in a gorgeous robe walked out. His eyes were deep and wise, as if he could see through everything. After scanning everyone, he finally fixed his gaze on the little girl.

"This child...perhaps it's fate." He said slowly, his voice full of emotion and helplessness.

Everyone was confused and was about to ask, but the old man waved his hand and said, "Let them rest first, and we'll discuss the follow-up matters later." His tone was unquestionable and made it impossible to refute.

Afterwards, a soldier led everyone to the room. The room was simply furnished, but very comfortable.

Everyone sat together and discussed what might happen next.

"What is going on?" The herbalist looked bewildered, his face full of confusion and anxiety.

Zhang Hao pondered for a moment, "It's not clear yet, but we must deal with it carefully." There was a hint of worry in his eyes, and he kept thinking about various possible situations in his mind.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door. The knock was neither hurried nor slow, but it seemed particularly abrupt in this quiet room.

"Who?" Zhang Hao asked vigilantly.

"It's me, bringing you some food." A strange voice came.

Zhang Hao opened the door carefully and saw a soldier standing at the door holding a plate of food.

"Thank you." Zhang Hao took the food and closed the door.

Everyone looked at the food, but they had no appetite at all.

"Is there something wrong with this food?" the man in black robe asked doubtfully.

"Don't eat yet, let's see what happens first." Zhang Hao said.

The room fell silent again, and the atmosphere became even more depressing...