Rise of the Otherworld.

Just as everyone was dizzy from the black-robed man's attack, their shields shattering like fallen leaves in the wind and rain, a strange wave suddenly erupted from the depths of the cave. Like ripples caused by a boulder dropped into a calm lake, it spread with an unpredictable rhythm. Wherever it reached, the spiritual energy of the people, nearly depleted by the fierce battle, began to recover, like rain upon parched land.

The black-robed man's expression changed slightly, his already gloomy face now taking on a darker hue. He had evidently sensed this unusual power, and wondered to himself: Could some devastating event be hidden deep within these ruins? "Oh no! The seal deep within the ruins seems to be loosening. We can't let them slip away!" He shouted, his voice trembling with anxiety, echoing through the cave with an undeniable fierceness. With that, he once again summoned his power, and spiritual energy surged wildly throughout his body, like a black vortex, preparing to launch a new round of attacks, attempting to eliminate everyone before the eventual change in the ruins could fully unfold, thus preventing any further trouble.

Zhang Hao watched the crumbling shield, his anxiety flaring like an ant on a hot pan. He knew that if the shield shattered, everyone would be killed by the black-robed man's attack, with disastrous consequences. At this critical moment, his sharp eyes suddenly spotted a subtle crack in the side of the cave, almost imperceptible without careful observation. A faint light, identical to the strange fluctuations, shone through the crack. Though faint, it seemed to carry a mysterious call.

"Everyone, follow me!" Zhang Hao shouted, pointing at the crack without pause, his voice filled with a desperate determination. He hurriedly helped the injured Ling Yu to his feet. Ling Yu's body trembled slightly from the pain, but his eyes remained resolute. Zhang Hao was the first to run towards the crack, his steps hurried but firm. The mysterious man, woman, and old man followed closely behind, knowing full well that this crack might be their only chance of survival.

Seeing this, the black-robed man's eyes flashed with anger and resentment, like a wolf whose prey had been robbed. He immediately ordered his men to chase after them, shouting at the top of his lungs, "We can't let them escape! Catch them!" His voice echoed through the cave, filled with anger and resentment, as if it would collapse the cave.

The group struggled forward through the narrow crevice, the enemy stalking them like a shadow, relentless in pursuit. The crevice narrowed further inward, with some sections barely wide enough for one person to slip through sideways, a seemingly deliberate obstacle placed by nature, testing everyone's will to survive. This narrow passage severely limited the enemy's pursuit, preventing them from charging forward en masse. They could only trudge forward one by one, the distance between them gradually widening.

Suddenly, a stone door appeared before them. Ancient and heavy, it was covered in strange symbols similar to those on the cave walls. These symbols, like ancient writings, spoke of unknown secrets. At this moment, the strange vibrations grew stronger, and the stone door, pulled by this force, slowly opened with a rumbling sound, as if the gate of time were opening.

Behind the door lay a vast space, like a mysterious palace. In the center, a crystal ball shone softly, a light like the warm spring sun, evoking a feeling of warmth and tranquility. Mysterious runes shone around the crystal ball, flickering like dancing spirits, seemingly resonating with the spiritual energy of the people within.

"What is this?" the woman asked in surprise, her eyes wide open, full of curiosity and confusion.

"I don't know, but this may be the key to our escape from this predicament." Zhang Hao said, his eyes showing thought and determination. In this crisis-ridden environment, he tried hard to capture every possible ray of hope.

Just as everyone was about to approach the crystal ball, the black-robed man and his men followed in. The black-robed man immediately spotted the suspended crystal ball, and his eyes flashed with greed, as if he had seen an endless treasure. "You've truly found something valuable! This treasure belongs to me!" He ignored the others and rushed towards the crystal ball like a hungry wolf, his face filled with madness.

However, as he approached the crystal ball, a powerful force suddenly erupted from its surroundings, like a surging ocean wave, knocking him flying. The force came so suddenly and violently that the black-robed man was completely unprepared.

"Ah!" The black-robed man screamed, his body falling to the ground like a kite with its string cut. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with shock and unwillingness, as if he couldn't believe what was happening before his eyes.

This sudden change stunned everyone, and for a moment, the entire space fell into a brief silence. But Zhang Hao quickly reacted, keenly realizing that the crystal ball might have a self-protection mechanism that would not easily allow anyone with malicious intentions to approach.

"We can't delay any longer. We must find a way to use the power of the crystal ball to leave here." Zhang Hao said. His voice broke the silence, as firm and powerful as a huge bell, awakening everyone's thoughts.

Everyone nodded and began to carefully examine the crystal ball and the surrounding runes, trying to find a way to decipher it. They gathered around the crystal ball, their eyes filled with concentration and anticipation. Under this mysterious light, they seemed to see a glimmer of hope for escaping their predicament...