Rise of the Otherworld.

A sudden rustling sound in the forest alerted everyone instantly. Zhang Hao quickly stood up, his sword tightly gripped, his eyes fixed on the direction of the sound. His heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and every nerve was tense.

The woman pulled the little girl behind her, her eyes filled with vigilance and worry. She gently stroked the little girl's hair, trying to reassure her.

Lingyu and the old man were also prepared. Lingyu gripped the dagger tightly, his teeth chattering, ready to charge and fight the enemy to the death. The old man held his staff tightly in both hands, muttering something, ready to cast magic to deal with the impending danger.

The rustling sound grew closer, and the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Suddenly, a group of nimble black figures emerged from the woods, wielding sharp blades and fierce gazes. These figures, clad in worn leather armor and wearing hideous masks, sent a chill down their spines.

"Who are you?" Zhang Hao shouted. His voice echoed in the silent forest, carrying a hint of majesty and anger.

One of the shadows sneered, "I built this road, leave some money to buy your way through!" His voice was hoarse and harsh, like a demon from hell.

Zhang Hao's heart sank when he saw that they were a group of bandits. He knew that today would be a fierce battle.

"Don't even think about it!" Ling Yu shouted angrily, brandishing a dagger and rushing forward. His eyes were filled with rage, as if he wanted to burn all these bandits to ashes.

"Wait." The old man stopped Lingyu, "Don't be impulsive." The old man's voice was steady and calm. He knew very well that in this situation, being impulsive would only make things worse.

Zhang Hao tried to negotiate with the robbers, "We are just passing by and don't have much valuables on us." He tried to keep his voice calm, hoping to avoid an unnecessary fight.

The robbers were not willing to listen. The leader waved his hand and said, "Go ahead, don't waste your time talking to them!" His voice was full of greed and ruthlessness.

A fierce battle erupted instantly. Zhang Hao flashed, his sword swift as a dragon, engaging several bandits. His swordsmanship was sharp, each strike carrying a deadly threat. But the bandits were no pushovers either. They coordinated well, attacking Zhang Hao from all directions.

The woman also cast her magic to provide support. Her magical light was like a series of colorful ribbons, wrapping around the bandits and slowing their movements. However, her magic power was too much, her face turned pale, and beads of sweat covered her forehead.

Ling Yu moved nimbly, weaving between the bandits, looking for opportunities to attack. His dagger was as cunning as a venomous snake, leaving wounds on the bandits' bodies from time to time.

The old man chanted spells and occasionally launched a magical attack to disrupt the robbers' formation. His magic was powerful and mysterious, and each attack made the robbers feel terrified.

However, the robbers were numerous and worked in perfect harmony, and for a while everyone was in trouble.

Zhang Hao's body gradually became covered with wounds, his clothes stained red with blood. His breathing became rapid, but his eyes remained firm, showing no sign of retreat.

The woman's magic power was almost exhausted and her body was shaky, but she still insisted on providing weak support to everyone.

Ling Yu was also panting, and his movements began to become slow, but his fighting spirit remained high.

At this moment, the little girl suddenly shouted loudly: "Look, behind them!" Her voice was clear and loud, which was particularly eye-catching in this tense battle.

Taking advantage of the moment when the bandits were distracted, the crowd launched a fierce counterattack. Zhang Hao stabbed the leading bandit in the shoulder with his sword, and the bandits' offensive suddenly stopped.

"Hurry up!" Zhang Hao shouted, his voice filled with urgency and determination.

The crowd gave up fighting and quickly fled deep into the forest. Their figures shuttled through the woods, and the angry shouts of the bandits were heard behind them.

The robbers were in hot pursuit, their shouts echoing through the forest.

Everyone ran desperately until they came to the edge of a cliff.

"What should we do? There's no way forward!" Ling Yu said anxiously, his voice filled with despair and fear.

Zhang Hao looked down at the bottomless cliff, feeling a wave of despair. Various ideas flashed through his mind, but none of them seemed feasible.

The woman hugged the little girl tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

The old man looked at the robbers approaching from behind with a serious expression.

"Let's fight! Fight with them!" Ling Yu said gritting his teeth.

"No, there must be another way." Zhang Hao tried to calm himself down and think about how to deal with it.

At this moment, a strong wind suddenly blew up, making it impossible for everyone to open their eyes...