Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and the night of the decisive battle quietly arrived. The night, like a huge black silk ribbon, weighed heavily on the Lingxu Market. As midnight approached, all was silent, except for the Lingxu Market's defensive array, which emitted a soft light, like a lonely island standing guard in the darkness.

The elite disciples of the Shadow Gate approached the Spirit Ruins Market like ghosts. Clad in specially made black night-clothes, they blended perfectly into the darkness. The leading elder of the Shadow Gate, with sharp eyes, raised his hand to signal everyone to stop. He carefully observed the movements around the Spirit Ruins Market, and after confirming there was nothing unusual, he whispered the order: "Move. Remember, do not make a sound. If discovered, retreat immediately."

The disciples nodded in agreement, then each used their concealment techniques to silently make their way towards the defensive formation. Like ghosts, they moved through the dense forest, crossed the babbling stream, and gradually approached the key node of the defensive formation.

Just as the Shadow Sect disciples were about to approach the magic array, a sword cultivator from the Spirit Sword Sect on patrol in the Spirit Ruins Market suddenly stopped. His brow furrowed, and he vaguely sensed an unusual fluctuation in the air. "Something's wrong. It seems something's getting closer," the sword cultivator muttered to himself, simultaneously sending out warning signals to those around him.

The other sword cultivators quickly gathered around, swords in hand, spiritual energy flowing through their blades as they warily surveyed their surroundings. "Everyone be careful, there might be enemies infiltrating," the team leader said.

The Shadow Sect disciples sensed the alertness within the Spirit Ruins Market and inwardly cried out in alarm. However, they did not retreat but instead quickened their pace. One disciple flashed to a crucial node in the defensive array. He took out a specially crafted dagger, attempting to destroy the array.

However, the instant the dagger touched the magic array, a dazzling light flashed, and a powerful rebound of spiritual energy sent the disciple flying. "Not good, we've been discovered!" Upon seeing this, the Shadow Sect elder knew the plan had failed and immediately ordered a retreat.

The sword cultivators within the Spirit Ruins Market were not about to let them escape easily. "Chase them! We can't let them get away!" At the sword cultivator captain's command, the sword cultivators pursued the Shadow Sect disciples like a whirlwind. A fierce chase ensued in the forest.

The Shadow Sect disciples employed various stealth and escape techniques, but the Spirit Sword Sect sword cultivators relentlessly pursued them. One sword cultivator seized an opportunity, unleashing a fierce sword technique, a sword aura shooting towards a Shadow Sect disciple. The disciple was unable to dodge in time and was slashed on the arm by the sword aura.

"Run! Don't linger!" the Shadow Gate elder shouted as he parried the sword cultivator's attacks. Under his leadership, the Shadow Gate disciples barely managed to shake off the sword cultivator's pursuit and disappeared into the darkness.

Meanwhile, the Scorpion Gang members were preparing to spread poison on the other side of the Spirit Ruins Market. They hid in the bushes, waiting for the Shadow Gate's signal that they had succeeded. However, when they saw the Shadow Gate disciples fleeing in disarray, they knew their plan had gone awry.

"What should we do? The Shadow Gate has failed. Should we still make a move?" a Poison Scorpion Gang disciple asked anxiously.

The leader of the Poison Scorpion Gang gritted his teeth: "Proceed according to the original plan! Even if the Shadow Gate fails, our poisons can still cause chaos in the Spirit Ruins market."

So, the Poison Scorpion Gang disciples took out containers filled with deadly poison, preparing to scatter the poison on the water sources and roads around the Spirit Ruins Market. Just as they were about to act, a group of cultivators from the Spirit Union Merchant Guild suddenly appeared.

"You wicked bunch, you won't succeed!" the cultivators from the merchant guild roared, unleashing their spells and attacking the Poison Scorpion Gang disciples. The Poison Scorpion Gang disciples, caught off guard by this unexpected ambush, were thrown into chaos.

The leader of the Poison Scorpion Gang roared, "Fight them to the death!" He charged towards the cultivators from the merchant guild, brandishing a poisoned blade, attempting to carve a bloody path. A fierce battle instantly erupted between the two sides, magical light flashing, and shouts of battle echoing through the night sky.

Further away, the main forces of the Bloodblade Sect and the Purgatory Demon Sect, among others, had already assembled. The Bloodblade Sect Master, gazing towards the Spirit Ruins Market, gleamed with a sinister light: "Hmph, the Shadow Sect and the Poison Scorpion Gang are truly useless, but it doesn't matter. Even if our plan is exposed prematurely, we can still breach the Spirit Ruins Market. Issue my order: full-scale attack!"

With a command from the Bloodblade Sect Master, the allied army surged towards the Spirit Ruins Market like a tidal wave. A breathtaking battle erupted. Could the Spirit Ruins Market withstand this storm of attacks? The situation became extremely critical, and everyone was drawn into this life-or-death struggle.