Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao's sword thrust was imbued with all his strength and hope. The blade flashed with a sharp light, shooting like a meteor towards the monster's eyes. The light seemed to rend the darkness, shattering all obstacles. As if sensing mortal danger, the monster jerked its head in an attempt to evade the blow, its movements swift and abrupt, sending a whistling blast of air swirling through the stone chamber. However, Zhang Hao's sword was too powerful, its unstoppable momentum seemingly shattering all obstacles. While it missed the eyeball, it still inflicted a deep wound on the edge of the monster's eye socket, sending green blood gushing out. The blood, with its pungent, fishy smell, splattered onto the ground with a sizzling sound, as if corroding the very earth.

The monster roared in agony, its voice thick with rage and resentment, threatening to collapse the entire stone chamber. It lashed its tails wildly, its three tails like thick steel whips, whipping up a fierce wind through the stone chamber. The howling wind swept everything around it, sending dust flying and blurring everyone's vision. Everyone quickly scattered and dodged, each maneuvering to find safety in the chaotic situation. Ling Yu, fighting back the pain, climbed from the ground. His body trembled slightly, each movement piercing with pain, but his eyes remained resolute. He, along with Zhang Hao and the others, sought new opportunities amidst the frenzied wind and monster attacks. The mysterious man, despite his fatigue, was as pale as paper, his forehead covered in beads of sweat, but he gritted his teeth, gathering his spiritual energy once more, preparing to unleash a more powerful spell.

The woman and the old man cooperated with each other, showing an incredible tacit understanding. The old man frowned, quickly formed seals with his hands, and muttered something. As he moved, golden runes rose from the ground, and the runes flashed with mysterious light, as if containing ancient power. These runes slowly wrapped around the monster's limbs, trying to restrain its movements. The woman raised her hands, and a healing light bloomed in her palms. The light was soft and warm, like the warm spring sun. The light fell on Lingyu and the mysterious man, relieving their injuries. Lingyu felt the warm power, and the pain in his body seemed to be relieved a lot, and his physical strength was also restored a little. Under the cover of this healing light, the mysterious man's face gradually regained some color, and his spiritual power was also replenished to a certain extent.

While the monster's movements were temporarily restrained by the binding spell, the mysterious man formed complex hand seals with his hands. The seals resembled the trajectory of stars, imbued with the mysteries of heaven and earth. He muttered something in a deep, solemn voice, as if communicating with the heavens and earth. Then, he shouted, "Ice Prison Arrives!" With this roar, the temperature in the stone chamber plummeted, as if instantly transitioning from a scorching summer day to a freezing ice cellar. A thick layer of ice quickly spread from the ground, sweeping towards the monster. Everything in its path was frozen, and the air was filled with a biting chill. In the blink of an eye, the monster's lower body was firmly encased in ice. The ice was crystal clear, yet incredibly solid, like an impassable iceberg.

Zhang Hao seized the opportunity and charged at the monster again, his figure ghostly in the light reflected from the ice. His eyes revealed a resolute determination, a resolve that would not give up until his goal was achieved. This time, he focused his spiritual energy on the tip of his sword, swirling and surging around it like a small vortex. He stabbed the monster's other eye with precision. The monster struggled desperately, its limbs twisting desperately in the ice, trying to break free. But the ice was too solid, and its struggles were futile. It roared in anger, echoing through the stone chamber with a terrifying force. Trapped in the ice, it could not completely avoid Zhang Hao's attack. The longsword pierced the monster's eye, and it let out a shrill scream, so sharp and piercing that it seemed to pierce everyone's eardrums. The scream echoed through the stone chamber, chilling and terrifying, like a wail from hell.

With this fatal blow, the monster's body began to tremble violently, its strength rapidly dissipating. Its lower half, encased in the ice, gradually cracked, and cracks spread across the ice. Its entire massive body collapsed to the ground with a thud, sending up a cloud of dust. The dust flew throughout the stone chamber, obscuring everyone's vision.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the fallen monster. Fatigue instantly washed over them. Their bodies felt drained of strength, their legs weak and they could barely stand. But they knew this adventure wasn't over yet.

Zhang Hao walked to the stone platform, his steps heavy, each one akin to the exhaustion of battle. He gently picked up the crystal box. The moment he touched it, a gentle spiritual energy surged into his body, like a trickle of water, nourishing his weary body and invigorating his spirits. He carefully opened the box, revealing a stone radiating a multicolored glow. The stone was engraved with mysterious runes, like living spirits, flickering and dancing across the stone. They bore similarities to the runes they had seen previously in the ruins and valley, yet seemed to hold a deeper mystery.

The mysterious man stepped forward, his eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. He examined the stone carefully, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "This could be the key to unlocking the secrets of the ruins and the valley. Perhaps it could reveal the truth behind this mysterious place." His voice was filled with excitement, as if he had seen the light at the dawn of a new chapter.

The crowd gathered around, gazing at the mysterious stone, their hearts filled with curiosity and anticipation. Their eyes gleamed with a longing for the unknown, a pursuit of the truth. They knew that the next exploration might uncover a greater secret, a secret that could change their understanding of the world...