Rise of the Otherworld.

After successfully defeating the monster, everyone collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Zhang Hao gasped for breath, sweat dripping from his forehead, his chest heaving violently like a bellows. Every breath was accompanied by pain, the pain from the wounds left in battle, but he endured it, not letting the pain show on his face.

The woman gently set the little girl down and leaned against the nearby stone wall, her body trembling slightly. Her clothes, soaked with sweat, clung to her body, and her hair was disheveled and scattered on either side of her face. Her eyes were filled with exhaustion and fear. The intense battle had just taken a tremendous toll on her body and mind.

Ling Yu lay on the ground, eyes closed, struggling to regulate his ragged breathing. His chest rose and fell, each breath labored. His face was as pale as paper, his lips bloodless, as if he had just walked through the gates of hell.

The mysterious man clutched his injured arm, his face pale. Blood oozed from the wound, staining his sleeve red. He knitted his brows and clenched his teeth, trying to endure the excruciating pain.

The old man sat on a rock, his hands resting on his staff, looking extremely exhausted. His body was hunched, as if he had suddenly aged considerably. His eyes were a bit hazy, as if he was still immersed in the thrilling battle that had just taken place.

"Everyone, take a break and recover your strength," Zhang Hao said with difficulty. His voice was hoarse and weak, but it carried a firm strength.

Everyone nodded, no one was able to say another word. The little girl sat quietly beside the woman, a hint of fear in her large eyes. She clutched the corner of the woman's clothes tightly, as if it was her only support.

After a while, Zhang Hao felt he had regained some strength, so he stood up and began to survey his surroundings. This cave seemed to hide many unknown secrets. The walls of the cave were uneven, covered with traces of time.

He discovered strange patterns and words carved into the cave walls. These patterns and words were somewhat similar to those he had seen in the passage, but also different. Some of the patterns resembled mysterious symbols, while others resembled ancient creatures, leaving them baffling. The words, on the other hand, were twisted and curved, like earthworms, making them difficult to decipher.

"This might be some kind of clue," Zhang Hao thought to himself. He stared at the wall, trying to find some useful information.

At this time, the woman also came over and looked at the carvings on the wall. "These patterns seem to be telling a story." Her voice was soft and weak, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Lingyu and the mysterious man heard their conversation and came over. Lingyu's eyes flashed with excitement, "Maybe this can help us find a way to leave here."

The mysterious man remained silent, just staring intently at the patterns and words on the wall.

The old man studied the words carefully, his brow furrowed, his eyes a thoughtful expression. "This seems to be an ancient language. I need time to decipher it." His voice was low and slow, as if every word required immense effort.

So, everyone stayed in the cave for a while. The old man concentrated on studying the words on the wall, while the others looked around for something that might be useful.

Zhang Hao found a shabby box in a corner, its surface covered in dust and rust. He carefully opened the box and found a yellowed book inside. The paper was yellow and brittle, as if it would break at the slightest touch.

"What could this be?" Zhang Hao picked up the book and flipped it open. A stale smell hit him, and he couldn't help coughing a few times.

The text on the book was equally ancient and mysterious, but Zhang Hao still discerned clues from some of the patterns. "This seems to be a record of the ruins," Zhang Hao said, his voice tinged with surprise.

At this moment, the old man suddenly exclaimed: "I understand, these words tell the origin and secrets of the ruins!"

Everyone gathered around, waiting for the old man's explanation.

The old man cleared his throat and said, "According to these texts, this ruin was built by a powerful magician who hid all his life's knowledge and treasures here. However, he also set up numerous traps and tests. Only those with true courage and wisdom can obtain the treasures and power within."

"Then how can we find the treasure and leave?" the woman asked anxiously.

The old man shook his head. "There's no clear record, but it mentions several key clues that we need to further explore and discover."

"Anyway, there is finally some hope." Ling Yu said.

Everyone nodded and decided to continue searching for clues in the cave, heading towards their goal of leaving the ruins...