Rise of the Otherworld.

Nourished by the mysterious power, everyone's spirits lifted. Zhang Hao took a deep breath, feeling the surging strength within him, and a spark of hope reignited in his eyes. He looked around at his companions. Each one wore a hint of fatigue, but more of a look of determination and anticipation for the unknown.

Zhang Hao looked around and his eyes fell on the mysterious crystal ball again. "Since this crystal ball is the core of the ruins, it may hide more secrets." His voice echoed in the quiet space, with a hint of desire to explore.

The old man stepped forward and examined the crystal ball carefully, his weathered face filled with concentration and thought. "I feel like this light contains some kind of guidance." He stretched out a bony finger and gently touched the surface of the crystal ball, as if he could sense the mysterious power flowing within.

At this moment, some blurry images suddenly appeared on the crystal ball. Those images were like phantoms in water, swaying and uncertain, yet full of attraction.

"Look!" The woman pointed at the crystal ball in surprise, her voice filled with excitement and nervousness.

Everyone gathered together and saw an ancient map appear on the image. Strange symbols and routes were marked on the map. The symbols were twisted and complex, and the routes were winding and tortuous, leaving people confused.

"Could this be a map to leave the ruins?" Ling Yu asked doubtfully. His brows furrowed, his eyes fixed on the map, trying to find some pattern in it.

The mysterious man shook his head. "Not really. Maybe it's a clue to deeper places." His eyes were deep and alert, as if he was thinking about the dangers that might be hidden ahead.

The little girl blinked her big eyes and asked timidly, "Is it dangerous?" Her little hands tightly grasped the corner of the woman's clothes.

Zhang Hao touched the little girl's head and said, "No matter what, we have to go explore." His tone was firm and gentle, which brought a sense of peace of mind to the little girl.

Everyone began to study the map, trying to decipher its meaning. They gathered together, discussing it one after another, each offering their own ideas and insights.

After some discussion, they discovered that the symbols on the map seemed to have some connection with the runes they had seen on the walls of the passage. There seemed to be a secret resonance between the runes and the symbols.

"Perhaps we can find clues based on these connections," the old man said, his eyes gleaming with wisdom as he gestured back and forth between the map and the wall.

So, they walked back along the passage they had come from, carefully observing the runes on the wall. The passage was filled with an old atmosphere, and the weak light cast mottled shadows on the walls.

In a corner, they found a symbol similar to the one on the map, hidden under the moss and dust, barely visible.

Zhang Hao gently touched the symbol, feeling the uneven surface. "This could be a mechanism," he said in a low, cautious voice.

When he pressed the symbol, the wall next to him slowly opened, revealing a new passage. A mysterious atmosphere permeated the passage, cold and damp, making people feel both excited and nervous.

"Be careful when moving forward," the mysterious man warned. He walked in front of the group, the dagger in his hand flashing with a cold light, ready to deal with any possible danger.

Everyone walked cautiously into the dark and damp passage. From time to time, water dripped from the walls, making a crisp sound. The water droplets fell to the ground, splashing small water droplets, which were particularly clear in the silence.

As we walked, we found several forks in the road ahead. The air flow at these forks was turbulent, bringing a chill.

"Which way should we go?" the woman asked, her voice echoing in the passage, a hint of hesitation in her voice.

Zhang Hao pondered for a moment, his gaze darting back and forth between the several forks in the road. "According to the map, we should take the left one." His tone was firm. Although there was a hint of uncertainty in his heart, he knew that a decision had to be made at this moment.

The group continued forward along the left fork. The sound of footsteps echoed in the passage, breaking the long silence. Suddenly, a strange sound was heard. It was like a low roar, like a sharp scream, and it made people feel creepy.

"What's that noise?" The little girl held the woman's hand tightly, her body trembling slightly.

Everyone stopped and looked around warily. Something seemed to be stirring in the darkness.

A group of dark shadows swiftly approached from a distance, stirring up a gust of wind. As the shadows drew closer, everyone finally saw that they were a group of strange-looking creatures, their fangs bared and claws swaying, their eyes gleaming with ferocity...