Rise of the Otherworld.

Seeing the situation was dire, the black-robed guardian's eyes flashed with determination, mingled with fear and unwillingness. He knew that if he continued to stalemate, he would surely perish. So, he stomped his foot with all his might, and the ground instantly cracked, as if a hideous wound had been torn through the earth. Billowing black smoke, like a surging tide, carried a pungent odor, and quickly spread, completely obscuring his figure.

"Oh no! He's trying to escape!" Zhang Hao shouted, his voice echoing through the smoke, filled with anxiety and alarm. He ignored the dense smog, which, like demonic tentacles, tried to block his vision, but it couldn't shake his resolve. He rushed towards the black-robed guardian, his figure looming in the mist like a fearless warrior. Ling Yu, the woman, the mysterious man, and the old man followed closely behind, knowing full well that the black-robed guardian must not escape, or else the consequences would be endless. If he escaped, he would undoubtedly continue his evil ways, and who knew how many innocent people would suffer.

Through the smoke, everyone spotted the black-robed guardian sprinting deep into the valley. His speed was immense, his figure looming in the night, like a black ghost, weaving through the darkness. Zhang Hao gritted his teeth, his cheeks puffed out, and gave chase with all his might, shouting, "Everyone, speed up! We can't let him get away!" His voice was firm and powerful, echoing through the valley like a bell, inspiring everyone.

Ling Yu unleashed his acrobatics, like a flash of black lightning, so swift it was almost invisible. He quickly closed the distance between him and the black-robed guardian, each step firm and powerful. The dagger in his hand flashed with a cold light, like a star twinkling in the night sky, as he thrust it towards the black-robed guardian's back. This strike condensed his rage and determination, intending to deliver a fatal blow.

The black-robed guardian sensed the attack from behind and dodged to the side like a sharp beast, his movements swift and agile. Lingyu's dagger grazed his clothes, leaving only a shallow mark, but failed to injure him at all.

"Hmph, you think you can stop me?" The black-robed guardian snorted coldly, his voice filled with disdain and mockery. He swung his hand back, and a black energy wave shot towards Lingyu. The energy wave was like a black cannonball, whistling with a powerful impact. Lingyu was unable to dodge and was hit by the energy wave. His body flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, hitting the ground heavily, splashing a cloud of dust.

Zhang Hao's heart raced upon seeing this, as if an invisible hand were clutching his heart. He concentrated his spiritual energy unreservedly on the longsword, and it shone brightly, as if ablaze with fire. Then, with a single, smooth, and unwavering hurricane-like movement, he hurled it forward. Like a meteor, the longsword trailed a long, radiant trail, carrying a sharp, piercing sword energy as it hurtled towards the black-robed guardian. The sword energy, like sharp blades, sliced ​​through the air, emitting a shrill, whistling sound.

The black-robed guardian sensed the powerful sword energy behind him, his heart trembling. He was forced to stop and turn to block it. He quickly formed hand seals with his hands. The movement was as smooth as flowing water, yet it exuded a sinister aura. A black shield appeared before him, shimmering with strange runes, as if speaking a dark spell.

"Bang!" The longsword pierced the shield, unleashing a resounding explosion, like a landslide. Cracks appeared on the shield, spreading like a spider web, but it remained intact. The black-robed guardian seized this opportunity, dodging and fleeing forward even faster than before, like a frightened bird.

Seeing this, the mysterious man frowned, his hands dancing rapidly as he cast a tracking spell. His eyes were focused, and he muttered a low, mysterious incantation. A golden light emanated from his hand, quickly clinging to the black-robed guardian like a golden thread. This way, no matter where the black-robed guardian fled, they would know his location, as if he had been fitted with a tracking device.

The chase continued, passing through a dense forest. The branches crisscrossed, like a natural obstacle. Their figures moved through the trees like ghosts. Finally, they reached a cliff. It was steep and bottomless, and below, shrouded in mist, it seemed to conceal endless danger.

The black-robed guardian stood at the edge of the cliff, turned around, and a ferocious smile flashed across his face. It was like the sneer of a demon, chilling to the bone. He shouted, "Stop chasing us! If you keep chasing us, no one will escape alive!" His voice echoed across the cliff, carrying a hint of threat and intimidation.

Zhang Hao and others surrounded the black-robed guardian. Zhang Hao said coldly: "You can't escape today. If you surrender obediently, I may be able to spare your life." His eyes were firm, looking directly at the black-robed guardian without fear.

"Hahahaha, expecting me to surrender is sheer wishful thinking!" The black-robed guardian laughed wildly, his eyes filled with madness. Suddenly, he swung his hands with a swift movement, like the Grim Reaper swinging his scythe. Black chains flew out from the cliff face, like black pythons, wrapping around the group. A strange light flickered on the chains, as if carrying some sinister power.

Everyone dodged, but the black chains were incredibly fast and numerous, like a dense hail of arrows. The woman couldn't dodge in time, and a chain entangled her ankle. She struggled hard, a grimace of pain on her face, but she couldn't break free. The chains, like living things, tightened around her.

Seeing this, Ling Yu rushed over without hesitation and slashed at the chain with his dagger. With a clang, the dagger hit the chain, splashing sparks but leaving only a shallow mark. The chain's hardness was beyond his imagination.

At that moment, the black-robed guardian, taking advantage of the moment when everyone was dealing with the chains, turned again, preparing to leap off the cliff. A flicker of determination flashed in his eyes, as if he were ready for the risk. Zhang Hao, feeling anxious, rushed forward recklessly, reaching out and grabbing the corner of the black-robed guardian's clothes, as if grasping at his last hope...