Rise of the Otherworld.

The moment they entered the cave, they felt as if they had entered a mysterious realm forgotten by time. Their gaze was instantly drawn to the ancient tome on the stone platform, like a moth to a flame, unable to avert its gaze. Surrounded by a vortex of spiritual energy, the tome shone like a brilliant star, emanating a sacred and mysterious aura, as if whispering age-old secrets and beckoning them closer to unveil its mysteries.

Zhang Hao took the lead and walked towards the stone platform. His steps were steady but with a hint of urgency. As he approached the stone platform, the spiritual energy vortex surrounding the ancient book, which had been relatively peaceful, suddenly became violent like an enraged beast. A powerful repulsive force rushed towards him like a surging wave. The power was so overwhelming that it seemed to crush everything in the world. Zhang Hao's face suddenly changed, and he hurriedly mobilized all his spiritual energy to resist. The spiritual energy around him shone brightly, forming a solid shield. However, this mysterious force was too strong, and the shield trembled violently under its impact. Zhang Hao's feet left two deep marks on the ground, and he was eventually pushed back.

"Be careful! The spiritual energy vortex surrounding this ancient book seems to have a self-protection mechanism." Zhang Hao, after stabilizing himself, warned everyone loudly. His voice was slightly hoarse, with a hint of relief at having survived the ordeal, but also full of vigilance against unknown forces.

The mysterious man frowned, thoughtfully stepping forward. His gaze fixed on the spiritual vortex, as if intent on understanding every detail of its operation. After a moment, a glint flashed in his eyes, and he said, "The rhythm of these vortexes is similar to the runes we saw earlier. Perhaps by adjusting the frequency of our own spiritual energy, we can resonate with them and gain closer access to the ancient text." His voice, though soft, was remarkably clear in the silent cave, as if pointing everyone towards a path of hope.

The mysterious man slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and allowed his mind to gradually calm, like a tranquil lake. He concentrated intently on sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy around him, which, like delicate strings, gently plucked his heartstrings. He slowly released his own spiritual energy, like a feather, attempting to align with the complex yet orderly rhythm of the vortex. Everyone watched nervously, not daring to breathe, fearing that even a single sound would disturb his delicate perception. The cave was so quiet that only the faint sounds of breathing and the mysterious man's steady heartbeat could be heard.

After strenuous effort, beads of sweat covered the mysterious man's forehead, trickling down his cheeks. Finally, he succeeded in causing his spiritual energy to resonate with the vortex. In that instant, as if an invisible force connected him to the vortex, the once violent vortex became docile. He slowly approached the stone platform, taking each step cautiously, as if performing a sacred and solemn ritual. He extended his hand, which trembled slightly with a hint of nervousness and anticipation. The moment his hand touched the ancient tome, a powerful torrent of information flooded into his mind, like a door opening to an endless treasure trove of knowledge.

The mysterious man's body trembled slightly, a look of shock on his face, as if he had witnessed the most incredible thing in the world. His lips trembled slightly, but he was speechless. After a long moment, he slowly opened his eyes, his eyes filled with disbelief, as if he was still immersed in the shock brought by the powerful flow of information.

"The contents of this ancient book are far beyond our imagination. It tells the origin of this valley and the entire ruins." The mysterious man finally spoke, his voice trembling with excitement and shock.

It turns out this valley was once the training ground of an ancient master. This master possessed immense power, and to prevent his legacy from being coveted by those with ill intentions, he painstakingly constructed numerous traps and restrictions. The runes and monsters encountered along the quest are all part of these defenses. These defenses have withstood the test of time and remain as strong as ever, a testament to the strength and wisdom of this ancient master.

Ancient texts also record a powerful technique, said to transcend the limitations of one's current realm and reach a new height, a realm many dream of but never reach. However, practicing this technique requires specific conditions, the most important of which is finding a spiritual pearl hidden deep within a valley. This pearl, imbued with powerful spiritual energy, is the key to unlocking the technique. It's like a key; only by finding it can one unlock the door to a higher realm.

"It seems our next goal is to find that spirit pearl," Zhang Hao said, his eyes revealing a firm determination. His gaze was like a torch, burning with a desire for power and a fearlessness of unknown challenges.

However, the ancient texts do not clearly indicate the exact location of the spirit pearl, leaving only a few obscure clues. These clues seem to be related to certain special markings in the cave, which may be hidden in various corners. This undoubtedly adds a great deal of difficulty to the search, like groping in the dark, not knowing what awaits them.

Everyone immediately dispersed, carefully searching the cave for the unique markings. The cave was vast, like a boundless maze, its walls and floor covered in a dazzling array of patterns and symbols. These varied in form, some resembling mysterious spells, others ancient totems, creating a dazzling scene. Finding the markings that led to the clues was no easy task, requiring keen observation and patience.

Lingyu discovered a strange pattern in a corner of the cave. It depicted a circular object surrounded by a light that was as dazzling as the sun's radiance. Beneath it lay the lines of what appeared to be mountains and rivers, winding and twisting, as if telling an ancient story. He quickly called everyone over, his voice tinged with excitement.

"Look, could this pattern be related to the spirit pearl? These lines may represent the location of the spirit pearl." Ling Yu pointed at the pattern and said, his eyes full of expectation, hoping that his discovery could bring a breakthrough in the search for the spirit pearl.

After observing carefully, the mysterious man nodded slightly and said, "It's very likely. Judging from the direction of these lines, the spirit pearl seems to be deeper in the cave. We need to continue looking for a way to enter." His words brought a glimmer of hope to everyone, but also made everyone realize that the challenges ahead are still daunting.

At that moment, the cave floor suddenly began to shake. It was a slight tremor at first, but then it grew stronger, as if something enormous was approaching. Cracks appeared in the ground, and from within them emanated a strange light. Everyone's expressions changed, and they quickly gathered together, looking around warily, unsure of what they were about to face...