Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao and his companions bid farewell to the white-robed elder and continued on their journey filled with uncertainty. As they followed the winding path, the scenery grew increasingly desolate. The earth beneath their feet was parched and cracked, the weeds withered and yellow, as if this land had been forgotten by the world. The mountains in the distance were shrouded in a faint mist, appearing mysterious and eerie.

"After this series of encounters, I feel like we're getting closer and closer to the secret of the ruins," Ling Yu said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. His steps were brisk, as if the hope in his heart gave him endless strength.

"But the dangers along the way are increasing. Everyone must not take it lightly." Zhang Hao reminded everyone, his eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance. His hand was always tightly gripping the hilt of his sword, ready to deal with any possible danger.

At this moment, the little girl suddenly stopped, squatted down and picked up a strange stone. The surface of the stone was rough, but it emitted a strange light.

"Sister, look at this." The little girl handed the stone to the woman. Her eyes were full of curiosity, as if the stone was an inestimable treasure.

The woman took the stone and examined it carefully, discovering some strange symbols engraved on it. Those symbols were crooked and twisted, like ancient totems, leaving people puzzled.

"Could this be a clue related to the ruins?" The woman frowned, lost in thought. Her fingers gently touched the symbols, trying to find a clue.

The old man came over and looked at the symbol on the stone, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. His originally cloudy eyes now became bright.

"I think I've seen similar symbols in an ancient book. Perhaps they can unlock part of the mystery of the ruins," the old man said. His voice trembled slightly with excitement, as if this was the answer he'd been searching for for years.

Everyone immediately became excited and started discussing the stone.

The mysterious man touched his chin and said, "But relying solely on this piece of stone may not be enough." There was a hint of doubt in his eyes and his brows were furrowed.

"That's right, we need more clues." Zhang Hao nodded. His eyes were firm, and he secretly made up his mind to find more clues and uncover the mystery of the ruins.

They continued on their way, carefully searching for possible clues along the way, not leaving out any stone or tree.

Soon, they arrived at an abandoned village. The village was deserted, the houses dilapidated, and the air was filled with a sense of decay. The houses' walls were mottled, and the doors and windows were rickety, as if telling stories of the past.

"It looks weird here, everyone be careful." Zhang Hao walked into the village cautiously, his steps slow, afraid of disturbing anything.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew, stirring up the dust on the ground. The dust flew all over the sky, blinding everyone's eyes.

"What is that?" The mysterious man gripped the dagger tightly. His body tensed, like a cheetah ready to pounce.

In a dilapidated house, they discovered an ancient mural. It depicted strange scenes and mysterious symbols, seemingly connected to the stone they had previously discovered. Though the mural's colors had faded, its powerful power could still be felt.

"This mural must be hiding something important," the woman said, her eyes fixed on the mural, not wanting to miss a single detail.

Everyone began to study the murals, trying to decipher more secrets about the ruins. The old man squinted his eyes, carefully observing every line on the murals.

"This seems to be an ancient ritual," said the old man.

Zhang Hao focused on the symbols on the murals and tried hard to recall the ancient books he had read.

Lingyu was thinking silently, when suddenly his eyes lit up.

"I understand. These symbols correspond to the symbols on the stone we obtained before." Ling Yu said excitedly.

After hearing this, everyone's hearts were filled with hope.

At this moment, a low roar was heard outside...