Rise of the Otherworld.

After learning of the Shadow Cult's plot, everyone felt a heavy weight weighing on their hearts. Knowing the gravity of the situation, they dared not delay a moment and immediately gathered in the village's slightly shabby meeting hall to discuss countermeasures. The atmosphere in the hall was solemn, and the flickering candlelight stretched the shadows of the people on the walls like warriors about to rush off to the battlefield.

Zhang Hao's face was solemn, like the gloomy sky before a storm, and he was the first to break the silence: "Now that we know their stronghold and their next plan, we can't just sit there and wait for death, we must take the initiative to attack. If we allow the Shadow Cult to continue to do evil, this continent will never have peace." His voice was firm and powerful, as if he wanted to convey this determination to everyone.

Ling Yu nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with determination, like two burning torches: "That's right, if they use the evil formation again in Qingfeng Village, who knows how many innocent villagers will suffer. Those living lives cannot become victims of the Shadow Cult leader's selfish desires." He clenched his fists, his joints turning white from the force, and the anger towards the Shadow Cult in his heart burned like a raging fire.

The mysterious man stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes slightly, with a thoughtful glint in his eyes: "But as their stronghold, Black Wind Valley must be heavily guarded. If we go there rashly, we may be in danger. Since the Shadow Cult has chosen this place as their stronghold, it must have been carefully arranged and will not let us succeed easily." He was well aware of the difficulty of this operation, and every detail was related to success or failure.

The old man stroked his beard, which trembled slightly in the candlelight, and said slowly: "We need to make a comprehensive plan. First, send people to explore the vicinity of Black Wind Valley to find out their defense layout and personnel distribution. As the saying goes, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles'. Only by understanding the enemy can we find a way to deal with it." His voice was steady and wise, as if giving everyone a direction in the darkness.

The woman echoed, her eyes revealing intelligence and courage: "Yes, only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you win a hundred battles. And we can set up an ambush on the way to Black Wind Valley to prevent them from escaping. We can't let any member of the Shadow Cult slip through the net, otherwise they may continue to do evil." She knew very well how dangerous the Shadow Cult was, and she must not leave them any chance to make a comeback.

After a heated discussion, everyone decided that Lingyu would lead a few agile villagers to explore Black Wind Valley. Lingyu quickly selected his companions. While these villagers lacked advanced martial arts skills, their eyes revealed a simple courage and determination. Taking advantage of the inky darkness, they set off as quietly as ghosts.

Meanwhile, Zhang Hao and the mysterious man were organizing villagers to craft simple defensive and offensive tools for emergencies. The village was abuzz with activity as villagers dug out their own tools and worked together to forge weapons. Zhang Hao personally guided the group, moving among the crowd and patiently explaining the key points. The mysterious man, meandering nearby, prepared special potions that might prove useful in battle.

The old man and the woman were intently researching targeted spells, hoping they would prove effective in the fight against the Shadow Cult. They had set up a makeshift spell laboratory in a corner of the village, filled with a variety of bizarre books and magical instruments. The old man flipped through ancient tomes, muttering to himself, trying to draw on the wisdom of his ancestors to find a spell to counter the Shadow Cult. The woman, meanwhile, was experimenting with combining different spells. Her gaze was focused and determined, and beads of sweat covered her forehead, but she paid no heed, completely absorbed in her research.

A few days later, Ling Yu and the others returned. His face was serious and dusty, and without even taking a moment to rest, he unfolded the map of Black Wind Valley he had drawn and placed it before everyone. The map clearly showed the topography of Black Wind Valley, with every detail clearly marked.

"The Black Wind Valley is in a dangerous location, surrounded by mountains, and there is only one narrow passage for entry. There is a main hall in the stronghold, and some small tents are scattered around it. Their defense is divided into three layers. The outer layer is patrolled by some ordinary minions, the middle layer is guarded by several powerful men in black robes, and the inner layer is the core of the stronghold, which must be guarded by more powerful characters." Ling Yu introduced in detail, his voice a little hoarse due to fatigue, but every word was clear and powerful.

Zhang Hao frowned as he gazed at the topographic map, as if he could see through it the dense defenses of Black Wind Valley. "This defense is indeed formidable. We must find a way to break through the outer defenses and enter the stronghold to completely disrupt their plans. But how to break through and how to deal with the internal defenses require careful consideration." He was well aware of the difficulties of this operation, but there was no sign of retreat in his eyes.

The mysterious man pointed to a spot on the map, his finger seemingly carrying immense force as he spoke, "This is the weak spot in their defenses. We can break through here. But after that, we need to carefully plan how to deal with the middle and inner defenses. It's like a game of chess; every move must be carefully considered. One mistake could lead to a complete loss."

The old man pondered for a moment, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes. He said, "I have an idea. We can split into three groups. One group will be responsible for luring away the outer patrols, one group will break through the weak points and enter the stronghold, and the other group will ambush at the entrance to prevent them from escaping and block any reinforcements. This clear division of labor and mutual cooperation may increase our chances of success."

Everyone nodded, agreeing that the plan was feasible. They then went on to make detailed arrangements for the personnel in each group. Each name read out was met with a determined look and a slight nod of response.

Zhang Hao volunteered to lead a team to breach the weak point. His eyes shone with fearless courage, as if declaring his determination. The mysterious man led a team to distract the outer patrol. His lips curled slightly, a hint of confidence, as if he had devised a clever plan to distract the enemy. The old man and the woman led the remaining men in ambush at the entrance to the passage. Their eyes shone with composure and calmness, as if they were waiting for their prey to fall into their trap.

With all preparations complete, they set out under cover of darkness towards Black Wind Valley. The night, like a vast sheet of black silk, enveloped their figures silently. The atmosphere along the way was tense and solemn. Everyone was fully aware of the dangers of this operation, yet their eyes shone with determination. To stop the evil deeds of the Shadow Cult and to protect innocent lives, they were fearless.

When they reached the Black Wind Valley, they each acted according to plan. The group led by the mysterious man launched the first attack, deliberately creating a noise like dropping a boulder into a calm lake, attracting the attention of the outer patrols. Those patrols, believing they were an enemy attack, flocked toward the mysterious man and his group, their figures swaying like ghosts in the night.

Seeing this, Zhang Hao waved his hand, like a general giving the order to march, and led his team towards the weak point in the defense. Their steps were light and swift, like a cheetah chasing its prey. However, just as they were about to reach the weak point, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded. The whistle pierced the night sky like a demon's roar, foreshadowing the arrival of danger...