Rise of the Otherworld.

The energy ball flew toward the black-robed guardian like a meteor, its radiant light illuminating the entire dark valley. Its blazing light was like a rising sun, determined to shatter the darkness. Sensing this overwhelming threat, the black-robed guardian's expression instantly shifted to a solemn expression, like a sky covered in dark clouds, foreshadowing a coming storm. His hands formed seals with a swift movement, almost imperceptible. As he moved, the thick black mist surrounding him, as if drawn by some mysterious force, rapidly gathered, forming a thick black shield in front of him. This shield, like an impenetrable black fortress, exuded an eerie and sinister aura.

"Boom!" The energy ball collided with the shield, like two planets colliding, unleashing a deafening roar. The blast, like rolling thunder, echoed through the valley, jarring everyone's eardrums. Light and darkness intertwined and collided, forming a dazzling and terrifying energy storm. Powerful energy waves radiated from the collision point, like a raging tsunami, sending hurling sand and rocks everywhere it passed. The surrounding trees were uprooted, whirling wildly through the air, and then mercilessly hurled into the distance. Huge rocks were shattered by the overwhelming force, turning into dust that drifted through the air. The energy surge sent everyone flying backward like leaves in a gust of wind, slamming heavily to the ground.

Zhang Hao endured the excruciating pain in his shoulder, the pain like a sharp steel needle piercing deep into his bones. He gritted his teeth, a vein bulging on his forehead as he slowly raised his head. Where the light and darkness met, the figure of the black-robed guardian loomed, like a ghost from hell. He secretly rejoiced, believing his attack had worked. However, as the light gradually faded, the black-robed guardian emerged intact before everyone's eyes, only his robe had become even more tattered. The once neat robe was now riddled with holes, its strips fluttering wildly in the wind. His hair was a tangled mess, like a bird's nest, with strands obscuring his eyes, filled with rage and murderous intent.

"With that little skill, you still want to kill me?" the black-robed guardian roared, his voice like the roar of a wild beast, brimming with bloodlust. He raised his hands high, muttering something deep and eerie, as if he were engaging in some unholy bargain with the forces of darkness. As he chanted his incantation, a fierce wind suddenly swept through the valley, howling like the wailing of countless evil spirits. Black mist swirled in the wind, like a boiling black ocean, gradually converging into gigantic black wolf figures. These wolves were enormous, more than two men tall. Their fangs bared, each one gleaming with a cold light, as if they could easily tear through steel. From their mouths, a series of chilling roars echoed through the valley, sending shivers down their spines. Then, like hungry wolves on their prey, they pounced upon the crowd with all the ferocity of a hungry wolf.

"Everyone be careful, these wolf shadows are not easy to deal with!" Zhang Hao shouted, with a hint of anxiety and vigilance in his voice. He struggled to stand up, his legs a little weak due to the impact just now, but he relied on his tenacious will to stand firmly. He brandished his sword, and a faint light flashed on the sword, ready to meet the attack of the wolf shadow, with determination and fearlessness in his eyes. Ling Yu also stood up quickly. Although he had many injuries on his body, blood stained his clothes red, and every wound was aching, but his eyes were still as firm as iron, as if the pain could not shake his determination. He gripped the dagger tightly, and the dagger flashed coldly in the moonlight, ready to attack at any time, like a cheetah ready to go.

The woman quickly cast healing spells, her hands gleaming with a soft glow, like the warm spring sun, bringing warmth and hope. She first treated Zhang Hao's injuries, and the wound on his shoulder began to heal at a visible rate, the pain gradually easing. She then cast a defensive spell on herself and the others, a faint veil of light enveloping them, offering an added layer of protection. The mysterious man and the old man also cast their own spells. The mysterious man muttered something, his hands drawing intricate runes in the air, summoning a golden veil of light. Like a golden shield, it radiated a divine light, shielding the group. The old man frowned, chanting an ancient spell, casting a spell of immobilization, attempting to restrain Wolf Shadow's movements. The incantation, though ancient, held immense power.

Black wolf shadows surged toward the golden light curtain like a tide, tearing at it frantically with sizzling sounds, as if it were a delicious meal. The immobilization spell took effect on some of the wolves, causing them to tremble slightly and move more slowly, as if mired in a quagmire. However, many wolves continued to pounce, bypassing their slower companions, their eyes filled with ferocity and greed.

Zhang Hao seized the opportunity, shouted loudly, and thrust his sword at a wolf. The sword, with its fierce momentum, pierced the wolf's body like a flash of lightning. However, it felt like stabbing steel, leaving only a shallow mark. The wolf roared in pain, opened its bloody mouth and bit Zhang Hao, biting him with a sickening stench. Zhang Hao quickly withdrew his sword and dodged sideways, agile as a leopard. The wolf's teeth grazed his arm, leaving several bloody marks, and blood slowly trickled down his arm.

Lingyu seized the opportunity and leaped onto the back of a wolf like a flash of black lightning. His movements were so light and swift that the opponent barely had time to react. He plunged the dagger into the wolf's neck, sinking most of the way in. The wolf, in pain, thrashed frantically, trying to throw Lingyu off, its body twisting violently like a raging snake. Lingyu clutched the wolf's fur tightly, veins throbbing in his hands from the strain. He struck repeatedly with the dagger, each strike laced with fury and determination.

The woman unleashed a barrage of fire magic, which exploded among the wolf shadows like flaming meteors, instantly filling the sky with flames. However, the wolf shadows seemed to have some resistance to the flames, pausing only briefly before continuing to pounce with bared fangs and claws, moving through the flames as if they could not cause any substantial damage to them.

The mysterious man and the old man continued to cast spells, engaging the wolf shadows. The mysterious man's golden light screen flickered under the wolf shadows' attack, as if it would shatter at any moment. The old man's immobilization spell gradually lost its effect, and the immobilized wolf shadows slowly regained their ability to move. The wolves were numerous and extremely ferocious, and the group gradually fell into a predicament, like a small boat in a storm, threatened to be swallowed by the dark ocean at any moment. Just then, a wolf shadow took advantage of the group's unpreparedness and pounced at the woman like a ghost. The woman was unable to avoid the wolf shadow and was thrown to the ground, letting out a cry of surprise...