The Lingxu Market is gradually recovering its vitality through orderly reconstruction and planning. New buildings are springing up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, the defensive facilities are more robust after upgrades, and the cultivators are training even more diligently. However, beneath the surface calm, an undercurrent is quietly surging.

After their failed raid, the Bloodblade Sect retreated to their stronghold. The atmosphere within the sect was oppressive. The sect leader sat in the main seat, his face so grim it seemed it could drip water. This failed operation not only cost him a significant amount of manpower and resources, but also caused him to lose face in front of other forces.

"Sect Master, we can't let this go! The Spirit Ruins Market dared to ruin our plans; we must teach them a lesson!" an elder said through gritted teeth.

The Bloodblade Sect Master snorted coldly: "Of course we won't let this go. This time we underestimated the strength and determination of the Spirit Ruins Market. But they won't be able to rest easy now; I already have a new plan."

It turned out that the Bloodblade Sect Master had secretly dispatched envoys to seek cooperation with some more distant evil forces. These forces were ruthless and would stop at nothing to achieve their goals, and had long coveted the resources and geographical location of the Spirit Ruins Market. The envoys, carrying generous gifts and tempting terms, conducted secret negotiations with these evil forces.

"If we join forces, all the magical treasures, spiritual materials, and cultivation manuals in the Spirit Ruins Market will be ours. Moreover, controlling the Spirit Ruins Market will greatly enhance our status in the cultivation world," the Blood Blade Sect envoy urged.

Meanwhile, inside the Lingxu Market, Lin Yang remained deeply worried. Although the reconstruction work was progressing smoothly, the unease in his heart had not dissipated. He knew that the Blood Blade Sect would not easily give up its revenge and was waiting for their next move.

"Any new information from the intelligence network lately? What's the Bloodblade Sect up to?" Lin Yang asked the president of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber of Commerce president shook his head helplessly: "The Bloodblade Sect seems to have fallen silent, and our spies are finding it difficult to get inside information. But based on past experience, they are definitely plotting something. We have increased our surveillance, and we will report to you immediately if there is any disturbance."

Meanwhile, the cultivation exchange event held by the Lingxu Market to enhance its influence attracted numerous cultivators. At a pill appraisal and exchange meeting, alchemists from various regions showcased their meticulously crafted pills. However, during the event, some strange things began to happen.

Several cultivators participating in the event suddenly exhibited symptoms of poisoning, their faces turning black, foaming at the mouth, and their lives hanging by a thread. The Linghe Chamber of Commerce immediately sealed off the scene and launched an investigation. After examination, it was discovered that the cultivators had been poisoned after consuming a pill called "Gathering Spirit Pill." This pill had been provided by an alchemist at the exchange meeting who claimed to be from a remote sect.

But when the Chamber of Commerce went to look for the alchemist, he had already vanished without a trace. "This is definitely not a coincidence; someone must be behind it. It's very likely that the Blood Blade Sect or other hostile forces are up to something, trying to sabotage our activities and disrupt the order of the Spirit Ruins market," Lin Yang analyzed.

The people in Lingxu Market acted swiftly. On one hand, they did their utmost to treat the poisoned cultivators, with the Pavilion Master of Wanbao Pavilion personally preparing antidotes and staying by the injured day and night. On the other hand, they intensified their investigation of the market, with sword cultivators from the Lingjian Sect and law enforcement officers from the Linghe Chamber of Commerce conducting a thorough search of the market in an attempt to find clues about the mastermind behind it all.

However, the enemy seemed to have been prepared, leaving no obvious clues. Just when everyone was at a loss, an intelligence agent from the Linghe Chamber of Commerce brought important news: some suspicious people had been discovered in the mountains surrounding the Lingxu Market, and they seemed to be secretly passing on some information.

Lin Yang and his team immediately led a group of experts to investigate the mountains. As they stealthily approached the suspicious individuals, they discovered they were exchanging a sealed box. Just as they were about to make their move, the suspicious individuals seemed to sense the danger and used their escape techniques to flee.

Lin Yang and his team only intercepted the sealed box. Inside were some strange letters, the text of which was an encrypted code they had never seen before. "It seems the enemy's plan is more complex than we imagined. We must decipher these codes as soon as possible; perhaps we can find crucial clues and stop their next move," Lin Yang said.