Rise of the Otherworld.

Suddenly, a bird's cry filled the sky, and a massive eagle circled overhead. Everyone was startled, unsure whether this was a good omen or a bad omen. The eagle's wings were large and powerful, and each flap of them stirred a gust of wind that rustled everyone's clothes.

Zhang Hao looked at the eagle above his head vigilantly, holding the sword tightly in his hand, "Everyone be careful, this eagle is coming in a strange way." His eyes were full of vigilance, his body leaned forward slightly, ready to fight at any time.

The woman looked up, feeling uneasy, "Is there some danger waiting for us again?" There was a tremor in her voice, and her hands unconsciously clutched the corners of her clothes.

The eagle circled several times before swooping down towards them. Everyone retreated, taking a defensive stance. The air seemed to freeze at that moment, the tense atmosphere almost suffocating.

However, as the eagle approached them, it slowly landed and transformed into a mysterious man in feathered clothing. The mysterious man's feathers were shimmering and colorful, as if woven from the stars, and his face was shrouded in a faint light, making it difficult to see clearly.

The mysterious man glanced at everyone and finally stopped at the little girl. "Little girl, you have a special aura." His voice was low and magnetic, as if it came from ancient times.

The little girl hid behind Zhang Hao in fear. She poked her head out and looked at the mysterious man timidly, her little hands tightly grasping Zhang Hao's clothes.

Zhang Hao stepped forward, "Who are you? Why are you here?" His voice was firm and powerful, and his eyes met the mysterious man's without any hesitation.

The mysterious man smiled slightly and said, "I am the guardian of this valley. I sensed unusual fluctuations and came here to check it out." There was a mysterious charm in his smile that was hard to understand.

The old man then said, "Master Guardian, we just didn't mean to break in. We hope you can show us a way out." The old man's tone was respectful and sincere, his eyes full of expectation.

The mysterious man pondered for a moment and said, "There is a way out, but it requires passing a test." He swept his eyes over everyone with a scrutinizing look.

Everyone looked at each other, wondering what this test was.

The mysterious man waved his hand, and a portal to an illusory world appeared before everyone's eyes. The portal emitted a strange light, and the scene inside was blurry and full of unknown mysteries.

"Enter this door, complete the test, and you can leave the valley." The mysterious man's voice echoed in the air.

Zhang Hao took a deep breath and said, "In that case, let's give it a try." His eyes were determined and he took the lead to walk towards the door of illusion.

Everyone entered the illusionary doorway one by one, revealing a bizarre world within. The sky was a dazzling array of colors, and the earth seemed to flow like liquid, shimmering with a strange light. The surrounding trees were bizarrely shaped, some resembling distorted human faces, others resembling giant hands.

Shortly after entering, they encountered a turbulent river. The water roared and splashed, making a deafening sound. The water was icy cold, emitting waves of chill that seemed to freeze the soul.

"How do we get through this?" the herbalist asked, his face troubled. He stared at the surging river, his legs trembling slightly.

The man in black robe looked around and said, "Look over there, there seem to be trees that can be used to build a bridge." He pointed to a forest in the distance where there were several tall and sturdy trees.

Everyone worked together to drag the trees to the river and built a simple bridge with great effort. The bridge was shaky in the fast-flowing river and seemed to be about to be washed away at any time.

After crossing the river, we encountered a misty forest. The thick fog made it difficult to see the path ahead. From time to time, strange noises could be heard from within: deep growls and sharp cries, leaving one with a chilling chill.

The woman grabbed the corner of Zhang Hao's clothes tightly and said, "I'm scared." Her voice was full of fear and her body was trembling.

Zhang Hao comforted them, "Don't be afraid, everyone, be careful." His voice was steady and firm, giving everyone a little courage.

At that moment, a group of phantom beasts burst out of the mist. Their shapes were blurry, appearing and disappearing, as they lunged at them with their fangs and claws bared. Their eyes flashed with strange light, and black smoke belched from their mouths.

The crowd fought fiercely, engaging in a fierce battle with the phantom beasts. Zhang Hao wielded his sword, its shadows gleaming, each strike imbued with fierce momentum. The woman cast a spell, radiating light, temporarily repelling the phantom beasts. The old man swung his staff, unleashing powerful magical energy, forming shields to protect the crowd. The herbalist and the black-robed figure also fought the phantom beasts in close combat.

The battle lasted for a long time, and everyone gradually became exhausted. But they still gritted their teeth and persisted, without the slightest thought of retreating...