Rise of the Otherworld.

That eerie laughter reverberated relentlessly through the mist, like countless ghosts whispering in one's ears. The voice was twisted and eerie, as if it came simultaneously from all directions, and seemed to penetrate the depths of everyone's minds, stirring their minds with unrest. They huddled together, back to back, forming a tight defensive circle. Their hands clenched tightly around their weapons, their joints white with the effort. They were on full alert, their nerves tense to the utmost, as if any slack would instantly devour them in the unknown dangers lurking in the mist.

Zhang Hao suppressed his inner tension and whispered, "Everyone, don't panic. This laughter might be trying to disturb us. Stay calm." Although he tried to make his voice sound steady and calm, a subtle hint of nervousness inevitably lingered in this strange atmosphere. He knew that in this extremely dangerous and uncertain situation, panic would only make the situation worse.

Suddenly, a dark figure darted out of the mist like a ghost, lightning-fast, aiming directly at Zhang Hao. Wherever the shadow passed, the mist ripped open, then quickly closed again. Zhang Hao's reaction was extremely fast. Years of adventure had cultivated sharp intuition and decisive action. He thrust his sword forward, and with a flash of cold light, it struck the shadow directly. However, when the sword struck the shadow, it felt like piercing nothingness. Without the slightest resistance, the shadow instantly dissipated into the air, leaving only a faint mist, as if it had never appeared.

"What is this?" Ling Yu asked with a lingering fear, his voice trembling slightly, his eyes filled with fear and confusion. His breathing was rapid, and beads of sweat covered his forehead and slowly slid down his cheeks.

The mysterious man had a solemn expression, his eyes revealing deep thought, and he slowly said, "It seems that the thing hidden in this fog is not simple. It may be some kind of spirit, invisible and intangible. Our conventional attacks are not effective against it." He knew very well that when facing this unknown spirit, they needed to deal with it more cautiously. If they were not careful, they might fall into an irretrievable situation.

As soon as the words left his mouth, several more dark figures attacked from different directions like hungry wolves, moving so fast that the crowd barely had time to react. The shadows loomed in the mist, like the grim reaper of death in the darkness, carrying with them a cold murderous intent. Everyone hurriedly cast spells to resist. For a moment, light flashed, and the roar of various spells echoed in the mist, weaving into a chaotic and tense melody. Fireballs, ice arrows, lightning spells, and other spells rained down on the shadows, but the shadows seemed endless, pouring in wave after wave, as if they could never be completely slain.

While casting a spell, the woman said anxiously, "This is not a solution. We have to find a way to dispel the fog. Perhaps the black shadow will disappear as the fog dissipates." Her eyes revealed a hint of anxiety and helplessness, and the magic light in her hand flickered slightly due to nervousness.

The mysterious man nodded in agreement. "I'll try to forcefully dispel the fog with my spiritual power." He quickly formed seals with his hands, and complex, mysterious runes flickered at his fingertips. Then, a powerful spiritual power surged from him like a surging tide, spreading outward in an attempt to dispel the strange fog. However, the fog only faded slightly, and like a stubborn rock, it quickly returned to its original state, continuing to shroud everyone.

"No, this fog is maintained by a mysterious force, and my spiritual power cannot dispel it." The mysterious man said helplessly, a trace of fatigue and frustration appeared on his face, and the blue veins on his forehead were slightly bulging, showing that the previous attempt had consumed him greatly.

At that moment, Zhang Hao suddenly remembered the runes he had seen in the cave. They seemed to possess the power to dispel the fog. A glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes, and he quickly traced the shape of the runes on the ground with his spiritual power. Under his control, his spiritual power was like a nimble paintbrush, sketching mysterious lines in the air. The runes shimmered and gradually merged into the fog, as if engaging in a silent battle with the mysterious power within.

Miraculously, the fog began to dissipate, and with it, the shadows gradually vanished. As the mist cleared, everyone finally saw their surroundings clearly: they were in a vast circular plaza. The plaza's floor was paved with ancient stone slabs, engraved with mysterious patterns and symbols, as if telling stories from long ago. In the center of the plaza stood a stone platform, crafted from an unknown white stone and emitting a soft, shimmering light. Atop this platform sat a shimmering box, its surface also intricately carved, exuding a mysterious and ancient aura.

"That box might contain clues about the Spirit Breathing Grass," Zhang Hao said, his eyes filled with anticipation and determination. He knew full well that this box might be the key to finding the Spirit Breathing Grass and resolving the Spirit Pearl crisis.

Everyone walked toward the stone platform, their pace unconsciously quickening, their hearts filled with anticipation. Just as they neared the platform, the ground suddenly shook violently, as if struck by a powerful earthquake. Then, a gigantic stone beast emerged from the ground. The beast was massive, like a small mountain, exuding an ancient and profound aura. Its body was covered with the marks of time, as if witnessing countless vicissitudes of life. Its eyes flashed red, like two burning flames, filled with vigilance and hostility, as if warning everyone to stay away.

"It seems this is another obstacle." Zhang Hao gripped his sword tightly and looked at the stone beast with a determined gaze. He knew that the road ahead was full of difficulties and obstacles, but he would never give up easily. In order to find the Spirit Breathing Grass and stabilize the Spirit Pearl, they must overcome all difficulties.

The stone beast roared, a roar that resonated across the square like rolling thunder, jarring everyone's eardrums. Then, it charged toward them, its massive paws stomping the ground. Every step made the entire square tremble, as if the very earth were yielding beneath its feet...