Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao rushed towards the house enveloped in light like a gust of wind, with a single thought in his mind: rescue the people inside. The eerie light was like a physical cage, tightly locking the house shut. The terrified cries from within gnawed at his heart, as if an invisible hand were tugging at his nerves.

Seeing this, Ling Yu leaped from behind the earthen wall without hesitation, following closely behind Zhang Hao. His movements were nimble, like a cheetah chasing its prey, each step imbued with strength and determination. The mysterious man also quickly approached from the side of the light, his figure elusive like a ghost. In the blink of an eye, he was near the house, attempting to assist and contribute his own strength to rescue the people inside.

As they approached the house, the light seemed to sense a threat, and a portion of it detached from the main body, shooting towards Zhang Hao and the others like a sharp blue arrow. Zhang Hao's eyes glared with determination, and he swung his weapon rapidly, drawing silver arcs in the air, attempting to cleave the incoming light. However, the light was remarkably resilient, and the weapon's impact on it only produced a shower of blue sparks, as if the light wasn't a physical entity, but rather a mysterious and powerful energy.

"This light is too strange, everyone be careful!" Zhang Hao shouted, his voice echoing in the night sky, tinged with anxiety and vigilance. At the same time, he dodged to the side to avoid a streak of light that passed by him. Wherever the light passed, it burned a scorch mark on the ground and emitted a pungent smell, as if licked by the fire of hell.

Ling Yu's body was nimble, like a nimble monkey, constantly shifting positions to evade the onslaught of light. He seized the opportunity, pulled a dagger from his waist, and infused it with spiritual energy, a faint glow emanating from its surface. He hurled it with all his might, and the dagger flashed coldly in mid-air, piercing the light like a meteor. The light rippled, as if stimulated by something, becoming more frantic and radiating more intensely, striking the crowd like a torrential downpour.

Taking advantage of the light's fluctuations, the mysterious man quickly approached the house. He formed seals with his hands, his fingers moving swiftly as he muttered something. A black mist emerged from his hands, spreading like a black dragon towards the light-shrouded house. The mist hissed as it met the light, as if engaged in a fierce battle. Light and mist eroded each other, and the air was thick with tension.

At that moment, the cries from within the house grew fainter, and the situation grew increasingly critical. Zhang Hao's heart was burning with anxiety, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, knowing every second was crucial. He concentrated all his spiritual power on his weapon, tensing his muscles and shouting, "Break!" A dazzling light erupted from the weapon, even more dazzling than before, as blazing as the sun, fiercely slashing at the eerie light enveloping the house.

This strike embodied all of Zhang Hao's strength, his most powerful strike unleashed in despair. Under this powerful attack, a crack finally appeared in the light, spreading like a spider's thread. Ling Yu seized the opportunity and hurled another dagger, piercing the crack. With the insertion of the dagger, the light instantly shattered, transforming into countless blue fragments that dissipated into the air, like a dreamy blue meteor shower, beautiful yet fraught with deadly danger.

Zhang Hao and the others rushed into the house without a moment's pause. A pungent odor filled the air, a mixture of burning and some unknown smell that made people feel nauseous. A villager collapsed on the ground, his eyes terrified, his face as pale as paper, as if a part of his soul had been drained away by the strange light.

"How are you?" Zhang Hao hurriedly helped the villager up and asked anxiously. His voice was full of concern, and he gently shook the villager's body with both hands, trying to help him regain some consciousness.

The villager's lips trembled and he said weakly, "That...that light...is so scary...it's going to take me away..." His eyes were full of fear, as if he was still immersed in the horrific scene just now and couldn't extricate himself.

The mysterious man frowned, carefully observing the room, trying to find clues to the strange light. Strange symbols appeared on the wall, flickering with a faint blue light. These symbols were peculiar in shape, as if from another world. As the light faded, the symbols gradually dimmed, as if they had lost some kind of support.

"These symbols might be the key," the mysterious man said, pulling out a piece of cloth and copying the symbols. His movements were swift and focused, his eyes fixed on the symbols on the wall, afraid to miss even a single detail.

Ling Yu searched the house, leaving no corner untouched. He carefully examined every item, hoping to find some clue related to the strange light. However, apart from the symbols on the wall, he found nothing else unusual.

At this time, the old man and the woman also arrived. The old man looked at the villagers on the ground with a serious expression and said, "Let's take him to the village chief's house first and let him have a good rest. Maybe we can get more information." His voice was steady and powerful, bringing a sense of reassurance to everyone.

Everyone nodded and helped the villager back to the village chief's house. The woman carefully cared for the villager. She brought a basin of warm water and a towel, gently wiping the villager's forehead, trying to calm him down. After he calmed down a little, Zhang Hao asked, "Can you tell me in detail what happened when the light appeared?"

The villager recalled with lingering fear: "I was getting ready to go to bed when I suddenly saw a flash of blue light outside the window. Then the light rushed into the house so fast that I had no time to react. I felt that my body was out of control, as if a powerful force was trying to pull me away. The force was icy and piercing, as if it came from the depths of hell..."

After hearing this, everyone felt that this matter was even more strange. What secret was hidden behind this strange light?

"It seems we have to start our investigation from these symbols." Zhang Hao said, looking at the symbols copied by the mysterious man. His eyes were full of determination, determined to uncover the truth behind it.

The mysterious man nodded: "I will study these symbols as soon as possible to see if I can find a way to crack them. In the meantime, everyone should remain vigilant, as that strange light may appear again." His voice was low and serious, making everyone realize that the danger was not over.

So, while caring for the villagers and awaiting the mysterious man's findings, everyone strengthened the village's security. They posted sentries in every corner of the village, taking turns patrolling to ensure every corner was under control and prevent further attacks. On this night filled with unknown dangers, the entire village was shrouded in a tense and oppressive atmosphere...