Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao quickly approached the tree, his eyes fixed on the markings on it. The markings were deeply engraved, as if carved with all his might. Though slightly worn by the years, the edges still bore a clear resemblance to the stone runes, like a mystical mark passed down through generations. He reached out and gently touched the mark. Instantly, a faint yet distinct surge of spiritual energy emanated from his fingertips, coursing through his body like an electric current. The surges of spiritual energy carried an ancient and mysterious aura, as if transcending the boundaries of time and space, revealing untold secrets to him.

"Everyone, come quickly! This mark is emitting spiritual energy fluctuations, and it's very similar to the runes on the stone. It might be the clue to the depths of the valley." Zhang Hao, unable to suppress his inner excitement, turned around and shouted. His voice echoed through the valley, shattering the original tranquility, as if awakening a dormant mysterious power.

Hearing the shout, the crowd quickly gathered around, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation. The mysterious man also hurried forward, carefully examining the mark. His eyes were focused and thoughtful, like an archaeologist examining a precious artifact. "Indeed, this spiritual energy fluctuation is very weak, but it does share the same source as the rune's power. Perhaps we need to use this multicolored stone to trigger it." He took the multicolored stone from Zhang Hao's hand, his movements gentle and cautious, as if he were holding a priceless treasure. He slowly brought the multicolored stone closer to the mark on the tree, his eyes fixed, not daring to slack off.

The moment the multicolored stone approached the mark, something strange happened. The runes on the mark glowed brightly, as if infused with life, the previously dim runes radiating a dazzling light. Simultaneously, the runes on the multicolored stone echoed this, emitting bursts of soft light. The two lights intertwined to form a dazzling curtain of light. Then, the ground around the tree began to shake violently, as if the earth were trembling, emitting a dull rumbling sound. Some stones slowly shifted, rubbing against each other, making a "creaking" sound, as if telling an ancient ballad. Gradually, a hidden underground passage revealed itself. A mysterious aura permeated the passage, as hazy as mist, and faint lights flickered, as if beckoning everyone to step inside.

"It seems this is the way to the depths of the valley." Ling Yu said, his eyes revealing a hint of excitement and anticipation. His eyes flickered, as if he saw the door to an unknown world slowly opening.

"Everyone, be careful. We don't know where this passage leads, and we don't know what dangers lie ahead," Zhang Hao warned, his eyes etched with caution. He knew that every time one ventured into the unknown, they faced immense danger. He took a deep breath and took the lead, stepping into the passage. His steps were steady and resolute, as if proclaiming his courage to the unknown. Everyone followed closely behind him, slowly moving forward along the passage, their hearts filled with curiosity and a touch of nervousness.

The walls of the passageway are covered in a variety of bizarre designs, like silent history books, chronicling ancient stories. Some depict ancient battle scenes, with warriors armed and valiantly fighting. The images are so vivid that one can almost hear the cries of the battlefield. Others depict mysterious sacrificial rituals, with people dressed in gorgeous attire and praying devoutly, exuding a solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere. These designs, illuminated by the dim light, appear even more vivid, as if telling stories from long ago, immersing oneself in them and lamenting the vicissitudes and mysteries of time.

As we walked, we came to a fork in the road. The two passages looked identical, exuding the same mysterious aura, as if they were twins, making it difficult to tell them apart. The faint light from within the passages flickered between them, casting mottled shadows and adding to the mysterious atmosphere.

"Which way should we go?" the woman asked hesitantly, a hint of confusion in her eyes. In this unknown world, every choice could determine their fate.

The mysterious man carefully observed the two passages, trying to find clues from the patterns on the walls and the surrounding spiritual energy fluctuations. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, scanning the passages back and forth, not missing a single detail. However, after a long observation, he found no obvious difference. The walls of both passages were covered with similar patterns, and the spiritual energy fluctuations were exactly the same, as if they were a deliberate puzzle.

Just as everyone was lost in thought, Ling Yu suddenly noticed some extremely subtle marks on the ground in one of the passages, as if someone or something had passed through. He squatted down, his eyes almost touching the ground, and after carefully examining it, he said, "Look, there are marks on the ground in this passage. Maybe we should go this way." His fingers gently touched the marks, trying to feel the outline of the object that left them.

Zhang Hao thought for a moment and said, "Although I'm not sure whether this trace is a guide, there is no better way at the moment. Let's take this route. Everyone stay vigilant." There was a hint of decisiveness in his voice, and at this confused moment, he made a decision for everyone.

The group continued along the traced passage. As they went deeper, the temperature inside gradually rose, as if they had stepped into a giant steamer. A parched heat permeated the air, making it difficult to breathe. Sweat dripped from their foreheads, soaking their clothes. After walking a little further, a stone gate appeared ahead, also engraved with runes. Those runes shone mysteriously, as if guarding the secrets behind the stone gate, filling them with curiosity and anticipation for the world beyond...