Rise of the Otherworld.

After the monster fell, a heavy atmosphere filled the cave. Everyone was exhausted, but there was a sense of relief in their hearts. Zhang Hao was panting, sweat dripping down his cheeks. He walked towards the mysterious man and helped him up. "Are you okay?"

The mysterious man shook his head, his face as pale as paper, "I'm not dead yet." He forced a bitter smile. The pain in his body made him feel excruciating pain every time he moved.

The woman came over holding the little girl, her eyes full of worry, "Let's find a way out." Her voice was a little hoarse. This fierce battle had put tremendous pressure on her body and mind.

Everyone began to explore the cave. A faint light flickered in the darkness, illuminating the surroundings. They discovered a passage hidden in a corner. The passage was narrow and deep, filled with an old smell.

Walking along the passage, the surrounding walls were covered with strange runes and patterns. The runes had smooth lines, as if they had life, and they were faintly visible in the dim light.

"These runes seem to be hiding some secrets," the old man said, frowning. He stared at the wall, trying to decipher their meaning.

Ling Yu leaned in to observe, "Maybe it is related to the core of the ruins." His eyes flashed with curiosity and anticipation.

Continuing forward, a huge stone gate appeared in front of us. The stone gate was tall and heavy, giving people a heavy and oppressive feeling.

The stone gate is inlaid with various gems, emitting a mysterious light. Those gems are colorful, like the bright stars in the night sky.

Zhang Hao pushed the stone door hard, "It doesn't move at all." His arm muscles were tense from the force, but the stone door didn't move at all.

"There must be a mechanism," the woman said, her eyes scanning the stone door, not missing a single detail.

Everyone started looking for the mechanism around them, but the little girl suddenly pointed to a pattern on the stone door and said, "This looks like the same thing I saw before."

Everyone looked in the direction the little girl pointed and indeed discovered a clue. The pattern was a complex geometric shape, subtly connected to the surrounding runes.

The old man studied it carefully and said, "This may be the key to opening the stone door." His fingers gently touched the pattern, feeling the texture on it.

After some attempts, everyone pressed the various parts of the pattern in a specific order, and the stone door slowly opened. A powerful force rushed in. The force surged like a tide, making everyone almost unstable.

As they walked through the door, they saw a giant crystal ball suspended in the air, emitting a multicolored light. Countless rays of light seemed to be circulating within the crystal ball, creating a dreamlike illusion.

"Could this be the core of the ruins?" Ling Yu said in surprise. His eyes widened, shocked by the scene before him.

Just as everyone was amazed, the crystal ball suddenly shone brightly, enveloping them. Everyone felt a vast expanse of white before their eyes, and their bodies seemed to have lost weight.

As the light gradually faded, they found themselves in a strange space, surrounded by an endless starry sky, with bright stars twinkling as if they were within reach.

"Where is this?" The woman's voice was filled with fear and confusion.

"I don't know, but we must be careful." Zhang Hao looked around vigilantly.

Suddenly, a voice sounded in the space: "Welcome to the core of the ruins. Only by passing the test can you gain true power."

"What test?" asked the mysterious man.

"You will face the deepest fear in your heart. Only by defeating fear can you leave here." The voice echoed, making people shudder.

Then, terrifying visions began to unfold before everyone's eyes. Zhang Hao saw the battles he'd lost, and the enemies charging at him once more. The woman, witnessing the agony of losing her loved ones, couldn't help but burst into tears. Ling Yu saw herself being devoured by a dark force, unable to break free. The mysterious man saw himself trapped forever in a dark cage, unable to escape. The old man saw his life's work destroyed, filled with despair. The little girl saw a terrifying monster approaching her.

"These are all illusions, we can't be defeated by them!" Zhang Hao shouted loudly, trying to wake everyone up.

Everyone struggled in fear, trying to keep a clear mind...