Rise of the Otherworld.

The woman was tackled to the ground by the wolf. Its maw opened wide, its fangs flashing a chilling cold light as it bit down fiercely on her neck, threatening to rip her throat out in an instant. In that critical moment, time seemed to freeze. A flicker of determination flashed in Zhang Hao's eyes, a resolve like a burning flame that instantly dispelled the fear within him. He disregarded his own safety and rushed towards the woman like a bolt of black lightning, his speed so swift that it stirred a gust of wind, sending dust flying all around him.

He thrust his sword forward with unstoppable force, piercing the wolf's flank with pinpoint accuracy. The blade sank into the wolf's body, a stream of black blood cascading down its blade. The wolf cried out in pain, a shrill cry like the wail of a night owl, echoing through the valley with a chilling effect. It temporarily abandoned its attack on the woman and instead vented its anger on Zhang Hao. With a swift turn, it lunged at Zhang Hao like a raging bull.

As Zhang Hao fought the wolf, he shouted, "Don't panic, everyone! We'll find a solution together!" Sweat soaked his clothes, mixing with the blood on his body, emitting a strong stench of blood. But his voice remained firm and powerful, ringing like a bell in everyone's ears, bringing a glimmer of hope. Everyone was exhausted, their spiritual energy largely depleted, their bodies as if their bones had been drained, and every movement was accompanied by excruciating pain. But hearing Zhang Hao's cry, a flicker of fighting spirit reignited within them, a tiny spark in the darkness, faint but filled with the hope of igniting a prairie fire.

Lingyu took advantage of the gap when the wolf shadow attacked Zhang Hao and used his skills again. His figure was as elusive as a ghost, making it difficult to grasp. He tapped the ground with his toes and circled behind the wolf shadow like a wisp of green smoke. The dagger in his hand flashed with cold light and stabbed fiercely at the wolf shadow's hind legs. This attack concentrated all his strength, and the dagger penetrated deeply into the joint of the wolf shadow's hind legs. The wolf shadow felt pain and staggered, almost falling to the ground. It turned its head angrily and wanted to attack Lingyu, but Zhang Hao seized the opportunity and slashed its back with a sword. Zhang Hao used all his strength in this sword. The sword blade slashed on the wolf shadow's back with a "crack" sound, as if it had cut through something hard.

The mysterious man and the old man were also fully engaged in dealing with the other wolf figures. The mysterious man constantly shifted his hand gestures, complex and mysterious. Golden runes flew from his hands, like dancing golden butterflies, clinging to the wolf figures. The runes shimmered, attempting to weaken them. Each rune held a mysterious power, as if engaging in a silent battle with the dark forces within the wolf figures. The old man cast various supporting spells, sometimes offering protection for the group. He chanted something, and soft rays of light enveloped the group, forming a transparent shield that protected them from the wolf figures' attacks. Sometimes he used a spell to disrupt the wolf figures' movements. His eyes were focused, his hands waving, and he fired spell after spell at the wolf figures, slowing their movements.

However, the wolves were numerous and fierce, seemingly endless. They roared and roared through the valley like a black torrent, constantly battering the crowd's defenses. Their attacks could only temporarily suppress them, but they could not completely destroy them. As time passed, their spiritual power gradually depleted, and their bodies grew increasingly exhausted. Every breath was accompanied by a sharp pain in their chests, as if a huge rock was pressing down on them. The situation grew increasingly critical, and they felt as if they were on a crumbling island, surrounded by a surging dark wave that could swallow them all at any moment.

Just as everyone was feeling hopeless, the woman suddenly had an idea. Dodging the wolf shadows' attacks, she shouted, "Listen everyone! These wolf shadows are formed from the dark mist condensed by the black-robed guardians. If we can dispel the mist, the wolf shadows will naturally dissipate!" Her voice was hoarse with tension and fatigue, but every word struck the crowd like a hammer.

Everyone was delighted when they heard this, as if they had seen a ray of light in the darkness. Zhang Hao quickly said, "Mysterious man, you are good at magic. Is there any way to dispel this fog?" His eyes were full of anticipation, and he stared at the mysterious man closely, as if he was their last hope.

The mysterious man frowned, beads of sweat streaking his forehead. After a moment's thought, he said, "I'll try!" He then concentrated all his spiritual energy, like the last remaining stream of water in a dried-up river, gathering it to its utmost. He formed seals with his hands, his movements flowing like clouds and water, muttering a low, mysterious incantation, as if emanating from a distant, mystical land. A powerful golden light emanated from his hands, transforming into a massive rune that hovered in the air. The rune shone brightly, emitting a powerful purifying force, like the warm spring sun, illuminating the dark valley and spreading toward the area shrouded in black mist.

Under the power of purification, the black mist slowly dissipated, like ice melting in the warm sun. The wolf figures formed from the mist also grew ethereal, their once ferocious attacks becoming increasingly powerless. Their forms wavered in the air, as if they would vanish at any moment. The black-robed guardian's face dropped as he saw this, as if struck by lightning. He knew that if the mist dissipated, his attack would be ineffective, and he would be in even greater danger. So, regardless of his own exhaustion, he cast his spell once more, attempting to strengthen the black mist's power. His hands danced wildly, and he let out a series of deep growls, struggling like a wounded beast.

For a moment, the golden purifying force and the black mist clashed, shimmering with light and overflowing with energy. The golden light, like a sharp sword, attempted to pierce the black mist; the black mist, like a ball of sticky ink, tightly enveloped the golden light, attempting to devour it. Everyone seized this opportunity, unleashing their most powerful moves, attacking the wolf shadow and the black-robed guardian.

Zhang Hao brandished his longsword, unleashing a fierce set of sword techniques. Each strike carried the force of wind, as if to shatter the darkness. His figure shuttled between the wolf shadows and the black-robed guardians, his longsword flashing with a cold light, each stroke imbued with his fury and determination. Ling Yu and the woman coordinated their attacks. One drew the wolf shadows' attention from the front, leaping among them like a nimble monkey, constantly provoking them; the other attacked from the side, the magic in the woman's hand gleaming as powerful spells shot towards the wolves, attempting to quickly eliminate them. The old man wasn't idle either. He unleashed powerful offensive spells, sending beams of light shooting like meteors towards the black-robed guardians, aiding Zhang Hao and the others. The light shimmered in the night sky like a brilliant star, carrying the power of destruction.

With everyone's concerted efforts, the number of wolves gradually dwindled, and the black mist gradually dissipated. The black-robed guardian, under the attacks of the crowd, gradually began to lose his strength. Wounds appeared on his body, and blood continued to flow, staining his black robes even more crimson. He began to retreat, a flicker of fear in his eyes, and he prepared to flee, looking for an opportunity to strike back...