Rise of the Otherworld.

The passage was narrow and deep, the darkness like an impenetrable curtain, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts, constantly squeezing their psychological defenses. The roar of the cave collapsing behind them gradually faded, but this unknown passage was like the belly of a giant beast hiding countless treacherous and dangerous things, making people tremble with fear.

Zhang Hao walked resolutely ahead, his eyes adjusting to the darkness, relying on his keen senses as he carefully groped his way forward. Each step was taken with extreme caution, as if the slightest misstep would trigger an unknown danger. Suddenly, his footsteps paused, and he keenly sensed a strange sensation on the ground beneath his feet. A slight but distinct air current was quietly flowing from below. He slowly squatted down, reached out his hand, and carefully felt the ground. His fingertips touched a stone slab, which was slightly loose and seemed to hold a secret.

"Everyone, be careful! There might be traps on the ground," Zhang Hao warned cautiously, his voice low. His voice echoed through the narrow passage, a solemn tone ringing like a warning bell in everyone's ears. Everyone's heart tightened upon hearing his words. Their once rapid breathing instantly became cautious, and their steps subconsciously slowed, following closely behind him, each step carefully weighed.

Ling Yu quickly scrambled to Zhang Hao's side, and the two of them intently studied the stone slab. They exchanged a glance, a flicker of determination in each, and then, in tacit agreement, reached out their hands and gently attempted to lift the stone slab. As the slab slowly lifted, a deep cave entrance suddenly appeared before everyone. A pungent odor, like a surging tide, overwhelmed them, forcing everyone to cover their mouths and noses.

"What is this place?" The mysterious man frowned tightly, his eyes full of vigilance and confusion, and there was a hint of uneasiness in his voice that was difficult to conceal.

"I don't know, but perhaps this is a breakthrough," Zhang Hao said with a determined gaze. Despite the uncertainty surrounding everything, he remained steadfast in his conviction that this might be the key to escaping their predicament. He quickly produced a lighting stone and, without hesitation, tossed it into the cave entrance. The stone's faint light revealed a vast space beneath the cave entrance, filled with bizarre stone coffins. These coffins varied in shape, some engraved with mysterious patterns, others emanating an eerie aura, appearing particularly eerie in the dim light.

"Is this a tomb?" The woman covered her mouth in surprise, a flicker of fear in her eyes. The appearance of the tomb made the already tense atmosphere even more solemn.

"It's very possible, but we can't worry about that now. Let's go down and take a look," Zhang Hao said, his eyes revealing a resolute determination. He knew that retreating at this moment would lead to no escape; only by bravely exploring could there be a glimmer of hope. He took the lead in climbing down the stone wall toward the cave entrance, his movements nimble and steady. Seeing this, the others also mustered their courage and followed closely behind.

As they gradually entered the tomb, an ancient and mysterious atmosphere overwhelmed them. The walls were covered in strange runes and patterns. These runes shimmered faintly, like mysterious whispers from ancient times, telling stories forgotten by time. Zhang Hao's gaze was captivated by these runes. He slowly approached the wall, carefully observing the shape and arrangement of each rune, trying to find some clue.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he noticed that the arrangement of one set of runes bore a subtle resemblance to the mechanism he had seen on the stone wall. His heartbeat quickened, and a surge of excitement and anticipation washed over him.

"I think I know how to get out," Zhang Hao said excitedly, his voice filled with uncontrollable joy. He eagerly followed the runes' instructions, searching carefully in a corner of the tomb. Finally, he found a cleverly hidden button, seamlessly integrated into the surrounding wall. Without careful observation, it was practically invisible.

He took a deep breath, calming his excitement. Then he reached out and gently pressed a button. Instantly, the tomb floor began to shake violently, as if a long-dormant beast had been awakened. With a dull roar, a stone door slowly rose. Behind the doorway lay a brightly lit passage. At the end of the passage, warm sunlight streamed in like golden threads, seemingly beckoning everyone.

"We finally found the exit!" Ling Yu shouted excitedly, his voice filled with joy and relief. Everyone else's faces also showed relieved smiles, and their fatigue and fear seemed to be swept away at this moment.

Filled with the joy of survival and inexpressible exhaustion, they rushed toward the end of the tunnel. The moment they stepped out, warm sunlight poured down upon them unreservedly, like nature's gentlest, warmest embrace. Like a mother's hand, the sunlight gently caressed their faces, dispelling the lingering haze in their hearts.

They finally escaped the perilous cave and arrived in a strange yet vibrant valley. The valley was shaded by lush green trees, like giant umbrellas, partially blocking the sunlight and casting a dappled shadow across the valley. Delicate flowers and plants flourished, their vibrant colors vying for attention, emitting bursts of fragrance that brought peace and joy. A clear stream gurgled by, its water shimmering in the sunlight, creating a crisp, melodious sound, as if playing a joyful melody.

"We succeeded," Zhang Hao said with emotion, a pleased smile on his face. This smile showed both the joy of successfully escaping danger and gratitude for his companions' concerted efforts.

However, before they could fully enjoy this hard-earned peace, they suddenly heard a loud noise coming from outside the valley. The sound came from far away, like the prelude to an impending storm, mixed with the sound of horse hooves and shouts, as if a large number of people and horses were rapidly approaching...