Rise of the Otherworld.

Everyone was trapped in this unfamiliar, mist-filled space, their surroundings hazy, as if swallowed by an endless fog. The thick mist enveloped them like a substance, its dampness and heaviness palpable with every breath. Zhang Hao whispered, his voice soft yet unmistakable, his composure undeniable: "Everyone, maintain a back-to-back formation. The fog is too thick. We can't disperse, lest we encounter any danger." His eyes scanned the mist with determination, as if to penetrate it and discern the potential danger.

As instructed, everyone quickly gathered together, tightly huddled together to form a solid defensive circle. Their eyes revealed vigilance and focus, like soldiers about to enter battle, always ready to deal with unknown threats.

The mysterious man frowned, his eyes a look of contemplation and alertness. He whispered, "I can sense a strange flow of spiritual energy in this space, as if deliberately interfering with our perception." As he spoke, he slowly channeled his spiritual energy, attempting to untangle the chaotic flow, penetrate the mist, and explore the surroundings. The spiritual energy flowed through his body like a gurgling stream, but when it came into contact with the strange external spiritual energy, it experienced slight fluctuations and obstructions.

Ling Yu nodded slightly. Though the wound on his arm still ached, and every movement was accompanied by piercing pain, he forced himself to fight, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I'll try to use my wind energy to disperse some of the fog." With that, he waved his hands, a pale blue light emanating from his palms. Wind energy, like an awakened spirit, quickly gathered around him. A powerful gust of wind spread outward, whistling and threatening to tear the thick fog apart. However, the fog only dispersed briefly. Like a stubborn barrier, it quickly gathered again, trapping them in a hazy haze, preventing them from seeing their surroundings.

The woman cast an ice spell. Her hands shone with a shimmering blue light, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet. A shield of ice formed around them, crystalline and translucent, like a fine work of art, emitting a subtle chill. This shield not only provided protection, but its smooth surface also reflected faint light, allowing them to discern their surroundings and providing a sense of security amidst the fog.

The old man swung his staff, and a soft light flickered from its tip, like the breaking light of dawn. A gentle glow emanated from the staff, like warm sunlight, slowly spreading through the mist, illuminating a small area. "Everyone, be careful! This light might attract something," the old man warned, his voice carrying the calmness and caution of age.

Sure enough, not long after, everyone heard a low roar rising from the fog. The sound, like rumbling thunder, echoed in the silent space, drawing nearer from afar. The roar was filled with immense ferocity and brutality, as if some enormous monster were rapidly approaching. "Prepare for battle!" Zhang Hao shouted, unsheathing his longsword. The blade flashed with a cold light, like a flash of icy lightning. His eyes were fixed on the direction of the sound, his muscles tensed, every inch of his skin brimming with strength, ready to attack at any moment.

As the roar grew closer, a massive figure gradually emerged from the mist. It was a lion-like beast, its body as massive as a mountain, covered in black scales that shimmered with an eerie red light, like burning flames. Its eyes were like two blazing flames, emitting a ferocious and brutal aura that seemed to devour everything.

Seeing this, the mysterious man swiftly cast an earth-based spell, forming hand seals with his hands and muttering something. A thick earth wall rose before the crowd, imbued with the weight and solidity of the earth, like a towering mountain. As soon as the wall formed, the behemoth slammed into it with a resounding boom that shook the entire space. The wall shook violently, cracks forming, and it seemed poised to collapse at any moment.

Ling Yu controlled the wind blades, his eyes gleaming with determination. He swung his hands through the air, sending wind blades hurtling towards the beast like sharp blades. The wind blades whistled through the air, emitting a sharp sound. They sliced ​​through the beast's scales with a clanging sound, leaving only shallow marks. The beast's scales were incredibly hard, like steel, significantly reducing the wind blades' power.

The woman condensed ice spikes, her eyes focused and calm. With a wave of her hands, the ice spikes shot out like rows of sharp arrows towards the behemoth's eyes. The behemoth sensed the danger and tilted its head. The ice spikes grazed its cheek, leaving ice marks on its scales, and then melted into water droplets.

The old man swung his staff, its tip blazing brightly. A thick bolt of lightning burst forth from it, like a raging dragon descending from the sky. The lightning struck the beast, which trembled slightly under the impact and roared furiously. However, its body seemed to possess a formidable resistance, quickly recovering. With a furious roar, it opened its bloody maw and unleashed a stream of black flames at the crowd. The black flames surged like a surging tide, carrying a destructive aura.

Zhang Hao quickly formed a spiritual shield before him, emitting a pale blue glow, like a sturdy fortress. Black flames crashed against the shield, causing it to flicker and crackle, as if ready to shatter at any moment. The intense heat of the flames distorted the air around it. Zhang Hao gritted his teeth, maintaining the shield with all his might, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

"This beast is too powerful! We must find its weakness!" Zhang Hao shouted, struggling to maintain his shield while pondering a countermeasure. As they fended off the beast's attacks, they searched for its flaws in the intense battle. Every glance they exchanged conveyed mutual trust and determination. They knew that only by uniting as one could they find a chance of survival in this difficult battle...