32: Crisis looms large, difficult to resolve

Shen Lang and Xu Ziling galloped to the Danxia Sect. At this moment, the atmosphere at the Danxia Sect was somewhat heavy. The Disciples were privately discussing the rumors about Beyond Heaven, and their trust in Beyond Heaven was shaken.

After Shen Lang and Xu Ziling met the Sect Head of Danxia, Master of Danxia, they quickly saluted. Shen Lang said, "Sect Head Master of Danxia, we have come to explain the rumors circulating in the Jianghu about Beyond Heaven recently. Those are all schemes of the Shadow Cult, aimed at alienating our relationship with various forces."

Master of Danxia frowned, his expression serious: "Young Master Shen, Young Master Xu, it's not that I don't trust you. It's just that these rumors are so convincing, and they involve sensitive matters like the Earthly Fiend Alliance, which makes me have to treat them with caution."

Xu Ziling sincerely said, "Sect Head, Beyond Heaven has always upheld justice, and confronting the Earthly Fiend Alliance is also to maintain Jianghu peace. The Shadow Cult harbors ill intentions, attempting to dominate the Jianghu, which is why they resort to such insidious methods. If you don't believe it, you can send someone to investigate, and you will surely find that these rumors are baseless."

Master of Danxia pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "I allied with Beyond Heaven precisely because I valued Beyond Heaven's righteous actions. However, the Jianghu is complex, and people's hearts are unpredictable. Since you two are so candid, I am willing to trust Beyond Heaven once more. I will immediately send people to investigate, and if it is truly as you say, the Danxia Sect will definitely resist the Shadow Cult together with Beyond Heaven."

Shen Lang and Xu Ziling were overjoyed and repeatedly expressed their gratitude. After bidding farewell to the Danxia Sect, they rushed non-stop to other allied forces. Thanks to their efforts, some forces that were initially skeptical gradually came to believe in Beyond Heaven and expressed their willingness to jointly counter the Shadow Cult's conspiracy.

However, not all forces were so easily persuaded. Some forces were still observing, and the experts infiltrated by the Shadow Cult also began to stir.

In a town within Beyond Heaven, several Shadow Cult experts disguised as merchants secretly observed the situation in the town. They found many Beyond Heaven Disciples coming and going in the town, so they decided to launch a surprise attack here to create chaos.

At night, the moonlight was hazy. The Shadow Cult experts quietly infiltrated a residence of Beyond Heaven Disciples. They moved swiftly, like ghosts weaving between the houses. Suddenly, a Disciple noticed an anomaly and shouted loudly, "Assassins!"

Immediately, the Beyond Heaven Disciples in the residence awoke, picking up their weapons to prepare for battle. The Shadow Cult experts no longer concealed themselves, displaying the Shadow Cult's Cultivation Technique. Black spiritual Qi permeated the air as they engaged in battle with the Beyond Heaven Disciples.

"Hmph, today is the doomsday for your Beyond Heaven!" a Shadow Cult expert sneered, brandishing a black longsword in his hand, and a black sword light shot towards a Disciple.

The Disciple quickly raised his sword to block, but the power of the black sword light was too great. He was shaken back a few steps, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Seeing this, other Disciples gathered around, protecting the injured Disciple behind them.

Just then, a team of The Unruly patrolled to this location. Hearing the commotion, they immediately rushed into the residence. "Marshal of the Unruly has an order: kill anyone suspicious without question!" The Unruly Leader shouted, leading The Unruly to engage in fierce battle with the Shadow Cult experts.

The Unruly were well-trained and coordinated. They were skilled in assassination and surprise attacks, catching the Shadow Cult experts off guard for a while. A Shadow Cult expert tried to break through and escape. The Unruly Leader seized the opportunity, and a dagger flew from his hand, accurately striking the expert's back. "Ah!" The expert screamed and fell to the ground.

After a fierce battle, although the Shadow Cult experts were not weak, they gradually couldn't hold on under the combined assault of The Unruly and the Beyond Heaven Disciples. In the end, except for a few who escaped in the chaos, the remaining Shadow Cult experts were all killed.

"Not good, a few of them escaped, which might lead to bigger trouble," The Unruly Leader said with a frown.

Indeed, the escaped Shadow Cult experts did not give up. They contacted other experts lurking within Beyond Heaven's sphere of influence, preparing to launch a larger-scale surprise attack.

Meanwhile, Xiang Shaolong finally completed the research and development of new defensive mechanisms in the workshop. These mechanisms included spiritual Qi crossbows that could automatically track enemies, defensive Formation Plates that could release powerful spiritual Qi shields, and some hidden underground traps.

"Master, the new defensive mechanisms have been successfully developed and can be deployed at any time," Xiang Shaolong reported to Jun Xiaoyao.

"Good, immediately arrange personnel to deploy these mechanisms at Beyond Heaven's important strongholds. Also, notify everyone to strengthen their vigilance. The Shadow Cult may launch a more fierce attack at any time," Jun Xiaoyao said.

At the Shadow Cult headquarters, Shadow Demon was furious upon learning of the failed raid: "A bunch of good-for-nothings! You can't even handle such a small matter. Intensify efforts, launch a full-scale raid as soon as possible. I want Beyond Heaven to perish in fear!"

The Shadow Cult's new round of attacks was imminent. Although Beyond Heaven had successfully resolved some crises, it still faced enormous threats. Would those forces that had not yet been persuaded turn to the Shadow Cult at a critical moment? And could Beyond Heaven withstand the Shadow Cult's frantic assault with its current strength? The entire Jianghu was watching this impending fierce conflict, and the situation became increasingly tense...