Rise of the Otherworld.

Gripping the pain, the group searched the crystal cavern. A faint mist filled the cavern, the lingering energy of the dissipated crystal scorpion. It carried a chilling chill, a reminder of the fierce battle they had just endured. Multicolored lights still flickered on the cavern walls, but no one had time to admire the dreamlike beauty; everyone's thoughts were fixed on finding the key.

Zhang Hao inspected every corner with rapt attention, his sharp eyes catching no clues. His gaze swept across the ground, the cave walls, and even the scattered crystal fragments. Suddenly, he keenly sensed something flickering beneath a larger crystal fragment. The light, like a flickering candle in the darkness, was faint but captivating. He stepped forward quickly, the crystal floor crackling under his feet. Gently moving the fragment aside, a softly glowing runestone appeared before him. Strange symbols were engraved on the runestone, seemingly alive and radiating a mysterious power, as if guiding something.

"Everyone, come over here and see what this is," Zhang Hao called out, his voice rising. His voice echoed through the cave, a touch of urgency in its hue. Everyone gathered around him, their gazes fixed on the rune stone, their faces filled with confusion and curiosity, before falling back into deep thought. The old man solemnly lifted the rune stone, his hands trembling slightly, as if he were cradling an inestimably precious treasure. He narrowed his eyes, carefully examining the symbols, his gaze shone with concentration and perseverance. Time seemed to stand still for a long moment before a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, a light like a torch burning in the darkness, illuminating the hope in everyone's hearts.

"I've seen these symbols in ancient books before," the old man's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "They seem to be related to an ancient locating spell. Perhaps we can use it to find the key's location."

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope ignited within the crowd. This glimmer of hope was like a beacon of light in the darkness of the abyss, recharging their weary bodies with strength. The old man took a deep breath, calming his excitement. Then, following the guidance of the symbols, he cast a locating spell. The runestone shone brightly, a radiance like a dazzling sun, illuminating the entire cave. A beam of light emanated from the runestone, like a brilliant ribbon, pointing deep into the cavern's depths.

"It looks like the key lies in that direction," Ling Yu said, his tone tinged with excitement and anticipation. Everyone advanced, their steps hurried but determined, following the light. Along the way, they encountered several small traps. Some were sharp spikes that suddenly erupted from the ground, gleaming with an icy light, as if piercing through everything. Others were poisonous arrows shot from the cave walls, whistling with the wind, their arrowheads emitting an eerie green glow, clearly containing a deadly poison. However, thanks to their extensive experience and tacit cooperation, they were able to mitigate them one by one.

As they advanced deeper, a vast crystal platform emerged ahead. It resembled a shimmering palace, emitting a soft, captivating light. On the platform sat an exquisite crystal box, meticulously crafted by the world's finest craftsmen, its every line flowing and graceful. The light pointed directly at the crystal box, and everyone rejoiced, almost certain that the key lay within.

However, as they approached the crystal platform, a transparent curtain of light suddenly rose around it. Like an invisible barrier, it isolated the platform from the outside world. Mysterious runes flowed across the curtain, shimmering with a strange light and emitting powerful spiritual energy. The mysterious man frowned and stepped forward to touch the curtain. The moment his hand touched the curtain, a powerful force rebounded like a surging tide, knocking him back several steps. He stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

"The power of this light curtain is very strong. We have to find a way to break it." The mysterious man rubbed his numb arm, frowned, and said solemnly.

The woman frowned slightly, carefully examining the runes on the light curtain. Her eyes were filled with intelligence and sharpness. She whispered, "These runes appear to form a formation. We need to find a flaw in it before we can break the light curtain."

Everyone gathered around the light curtain, carefully studying the rune patterns and their arrangement. Time ticked by, each second seeming infinitely longer. Beads of sweat formed on everyone's foreheads, trickling down their cheeks and dripping onto the crystal floor. The atmosphere was tense, as if it could be wrung out of water. Just as everyone was growing anxious, Zhang Hao suddenly realized that the rune pattern resembled the spell patterns of the phantom monk they had seen earlier in the maze.

His eyes lit up instantly, as if he had found a beacon in the darkness. He quickly shared his discovery with the others, his voice tinged with excitement. Everyone immediately followed his instructions, attempting to activate the runes in a specific order. Their fingers danced lightly across the curtain of light, as if playing a mysterious melody. When the last rune was activated, the curtain flickered a few times, its light becoming unstable before slowly fading.

Everyone stepped onto the platform, their heartbeats accelerating. The moment the crystal box was opened, it felt as if time had stopped. Sure enough, a key emitting a mysterious light lay quietly within the box. The light was soft and pure, as if it contained endless power. Zhang Hao slowly picked up the key and felt a powerful and pure spiritual energy flow through his arm into his body, invigorating him. At this moment, the cave began to shake violently, as if the earth was roaring in anger. Crystals from the ceiling fell, and cracks appeared on the ground, as if some great danger was approaching...