Rise of the Otherworld.

Zhang Hao charged into the new wave of phantom soldiers like lightning, his longsword swirling in a flurry of swords, each one imbued with a sharp aura, as he engaged in close combat with the phantom soldiers. His nimble form allowed him to weave swiftly through the enemy ranks, dodging the phantom soldiers' fierce attacks, which were as intense as a torrential downpour and could easily land him. He meticulously observed the phantom soldiers' attack patterns and defensive weaknesses. He knew only by identifying the enemy's weaknesses could he lead his men to a turning point in this difficult battle.

Lingyu and the woman exerted their full power in controlling their wind magic. A fierce wind howled and swirled across the square, threatening to engulf the entire space. The wind gradually coalesced into small tornadoes. Like raging beasts, these tornadoes swept towards the phantom soldiers, ripping the air apart and emitting a sharp whistling sound as they tried to engulf them and disrupt their orderly attack. The phantom soldiers struggled forward in the raging wind, their figures toppling and stumbling, their black armor rustling in the wind. Yet, with their immense strength, they pressed forward, their resolute steps seemingly unstoppable.

The old man's gaze was fixed on the phantom soldier, his eyes fixed on the weapon. Lightning flickered from the tip of his staff, like twinkling stars in the night sky. He seized the opportunity, and bolts of lightning struck the phantom soldier's weapon with the precision of a dragon emerging from the sea. The lightning and the weapon collided, emitting a dazzling light that illuminated the entire square like daylight, accompanied by a crackling sound that sounded like a fierce battle symphony. Many of the phantom soldier's weapons, crackled under the bombardment of lightning, their radiance gradually dimming. The once sharp weapons lost their sharpness, their attack power weakened.

The mysterious man cast a powerful earth-based spell on the ground, rapidly forming hand seals and muttering to himself. Suddenly, the ground bulged, and vast pits and sharp spikes appeared in the path of the phantom soldiers. These traps lay hidden in the path of the phantom soldiers, like lurking hunters waiting for their prey. Some phantom soldiers accidentally stepped into them, their bodies pierced by the spikes, emitting ethereal screams, or tumbling into the pits, their bodies twisting in an attempt to break free from the earth's constraints. However, the following phantom soldiers stepped over their companions without hesitation and continued forward, their eyes devoid of emotion, as if driven solely to complete a predetermined mission.

During the fierce battle, Zhang Hao, with his keen observation, noticed that before each attack, a rune on the phantom soldier's body would light up. The rune flickered with an eerie light, seemingly foreshadowing an attack. A sudden thought struck him, as if he had found a ray of light in the darkness. He shouted, "Everyone, pay attention! Attack the spot where the rune lights up. That could be their weak spot!" His voice was firm and powerful, resonating through the square like a bell, rekindling hope in the tense battle.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood and quickly adjusted their attacks. Lingyu controlled the wind blades, which were like sharp blades, slicing cold rays through the air and shooting towards the illuminated areas of the phantom soldiers' runes. The woman condensed ice arrows, which were crystal clear and gleaming with a cold light. They attacked the phantom soldiers along with the wind blades, as if to freeze the enemy within the cold ice. The old man concentrated the power of lightning on the runes, and lightning bolts coiled around like nimble snakes, trying to destroy the rune's power. The mysterious man also raised stone pillars from the ground, thick and solid, and smashed them into the phantom soldiers' weak points, as if to crush the enemy in one fell swoop.

Under the combined assault, the phantom soldiers' weak points suffered heavy damage. The rune lights on many of them dimmed, their glow like a candle in the wind, gradually dimming and disappearing under the attacks. Their bodies also began to dissipate, transforming into wisps of smoke that drifted through the air. However, the remaining phantom soldiers seemed enraged, their attacks becoming even more frantic. Disregarding their own safety, they charged towards the crowd, their speed as swift as an arrow from a bow, attempting to overwhelm them with sheer numbers. The dense mass of figures surged towards them like a black tide.

Zhang Hao knew time was running out; they had to resolve the battle as quickly as possible. He channeled all his spiritual energy, channeling it into his longsword. The sword shone brightly, as if transformed into a divine blade capable of splitting heaven and earth. With a roar that resounded through the heavens, he unleashed his most powerful strike, a massive sword energy slashing towards the horde of phantom soldiers. Wherever the sword energy passed, the air ripped apart, and the phantom soldiers dissipated, like thin paper cut by a sharp blade, becoming nothingness.

Taking advantage of the remaining power of the sword, everyone worked together to launch a final attack. Lingyu and the woman increased the power of their wind magic, and the gusts gathered into a storm that obscured the sky. The storm was like a huge vortex, sucking the phantom soldiers into it and leaving them struggling within it. The old man's lightning rained down like a torrential rain, each lightning bolt containing great power, striking the phantom soldiers with a dazzling light and a deafening roar. The mysterious man then gathered all his earth power into a massive mountain, which towered majestically and pressed down on the phantom soldiers with a tremendous force.

Under the combined attack of the crowd, the phantom soldiers finally gave way and dissipated into thin air. Calm returned to the square, with only a faint mist lingering in the air, as if telling of the fierce battle that had just taken place. Everyone looked at each other wearily, their clothes torn and their bodies bearing scars, yet smiles of relief appeared on their faces. However, they knew that this was only part of the trial; perhaps even more severe challenges awaited them ahead. Unknown dangers, like giant beasts lurking in the darkness, could emerge at any moment...