Rise of the Otherworld.

The group cautiously advanced deeper into the valley. The surroundings were eerily quiet, as if the entire world had fallen into a state of death. Only their footsteps echoed in the silence, a monotonous and dull sound, like the drumbeat of fate. Zhang Hao walked at the front with a solemn expression, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's, constantly observing the surroundings. Every slight movement would instantly tense his nerves, as if he were about to face a life-or-death challenge.

Suddenly, without warning, the ground beneath Lingyu's feet collapsed, like the mouth of a vast black abyss. Lingyu didn't even have time to utter a full cry before she plummeted to the ground. "Lingyu!" Zhang Hao cried out in a frantic panic. Instinctively, he reached out to grab her, but everything happened so suddenly that he only managed to grab the edge of Lingyu's clothes. He watched helplessly as Lingyu's figure quickly disappeared into the dark pit, a deep sense of powerlessness washing over him.

The mysterious man reacted quickly, reaching the pit in an instant. Frowning, he quickly focused his spiritual energy into his eyes, attempting to penetrate the darkness and peer inside. Beneath the pit, a number of sharp wooden stakes loomed, gleaming coldly, like fangs waiting for prey. "There seem to be a lot of sharp stakes down there. Lingyu must have triggered a mechanism. We need to find a way to get him out," the mysterious man said hurriedly, a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Upon hearing this, everyone frantically searched for rescue tools. Fortunately, the valley was densely wooded, with thick vines everywhere. Zhang Hao and the mysterious man quickly tied one end of the vine tightly to a nearby sturdy tree, ensuring it was secure, and slowly lowered the other end into the pit. "Lingyu, hold on to the vine, we'll pull you out!" Zhang Hao shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing through the pit with a hint of anxiety and anticipation.

After a while, Lingyu's weak voice rang out from the depths of the pit: "I... I was scratched by the stake, but I can still hold on to the vines." Then, the vines swayed slightly, and everyone was delighted. They quickly worked together to pull Lingyu up. Lingyu's body was covered with wounds, and blood flowed out, staining his clothes red. He looked very weak.

The woman hurried forward, her eyes filled with worry, and her hands swiftly cast a healing spell. A soft light emanated from her palms, like a warm spring breeze, gently caressing Lingyu's wound. "This is just a trap. Who knows how many dangers await us beyond this. Everyone must be extremely careful," the old man said, frowning with worry. His eyes revealed a hint of worry, as if he foresaw even greater difficulties and obstacles ahead.

Everyone took a deep breath and continued forward. Before long, a narrow passage appeared ahead. A faint light flickered on the walls on either side of the passage, as if some mysterious force was beckoning them, yet also concealed endless danger. Zhang Hao frowned slightly, knowing full well that behind this seemingly alluring light often lay a deadly danger. But to find the Spirit Breathing Grass and stabilize the Spirit Pearl, they had no choice. He took a deep breath and was the first to step into the passage.

The moment he stepped into the passage, the light suddenly grew incredibly intense, like thousands of sharp swords, piercing everyone's eyes. Immediately afterwards, countless sharp hidden weapons erupted from the walls, raining down on the crowd like crazy. These hidden weapons flashed with an icy cold light, carrying a fierce murderous intent, as if they were about to devour everyone in an instant.

"Be careful!" Zhang Hao shouted, quickly drawing his longsword. His figure was like a flash of black lightning, weaving through the rain of hidden weapons. The longsword swung in his hand with impenetrable force, drawing brilliant sword shadows in the air, trying to resist the tide of hidden weapons. The mysterious man did not dare to slack off. He quickly cast a shield, covering everyone. The shield emitted a faint blue light, like a solid fortress, temporarily providing protection for everyone. The hidden weapons hit the shield, making a "ding-dang-dang" sound, like a fierce symphony of metal collisions, sparks flying everywhere.

However, the number of hidden weapons was so great that it seemed endless. Under the continuous attack, the mysterious man's shield gradually dimmed, like a candle about to be extinguished. "This shield can't hold up!" the mysterious man shouted anxiously, his forehead covered with beads of sweat, and his hands trembled slightly from maintaining the shield.

Just as everyone felt the danger looming, nearing despair, Zhang Hao's keen eyes spotted a strangely shaped protrusion on the ceiling of the passageway, seemingly the button that deactivates the hidden weapon mechanism. A glimmer of hope ignited within him. Seizing the perfect moment, he slammed his feet against the ground, leaping like a cannonball. In mid-air, he exerted all his strength, striking the protrusion with all his might. With a dull sound, like the sound of a mechanism operating, the hidden weapon ceased, and the passageway instantly returned to calm.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their tense nerves finally relaxing a bit. But they knew this was just a minor incident on their journey, and more dangers awaited them ahead. They continued to advance, their steps slightly tired, but their eyes remained determined.

As they walked, a fog appeared ahead. It was so thick it seemed to be a substance, enveloping everything. Faint figures swayed within, as if hiding countless unknown dangers. The fog seemed to hold a mysterious power, instilling an inexplicable fear.

"There's something strange about this fog. Everyone, don't separate easily. Stay alert," Zhang Hao whispered, a hint of caution in his voice. They huddled close together, each one feeling their rapid breathing and nervous heartbeats. They slowly entered the fog, taking each step carefully, as if entering a maze filled with traps. As soon as they entered the fog, they heard a sinister laugh, sharp and piercing, chilling, as if a demon from hell were mocking their presumption...