在冰晶圣殿内，“暗黑同盟”残余势力眼睁睁看着灵墟市场探查小队将“玄冰神甲”和“冰魄神剑”收为己用，心中的绝望如潮水般蔓延。但血刃门高手怎肯轻易罢休，他心中的仇恨如烈火般燃烧，不顾身上的伤势，挥舞着血刃朝着探查小队队长冲去。

“把法宝交出来！你们灵墟市场的人，别想独吞！”血刃门高手怒吼着，施展出“血影裂空斩”，一道巨大的血红色剑气带着毁灭的气息，朝着队长呼啸而去。

队长面色凝重，迅速将“玄冰神甲”的灵力运转起来，一层晶莹剔透的冰甲瞬间覆盖全身。同时，他手持“冰魄神剑”，施展出剑招“冰棱风暴”。无数冰棱从剑身上涌出，与血红色剑气碰撞在一起。

"Boom!" The two collided, unleashing a deafening roar. The powerful spiritual energy impact shattered the surrounding ice, sending ice crystals flying everywhere. The other members of the "Dark Alliance" and the members of the Spirit Ruins Market exploration team all cast defensive spells to withstand the impact.

Taking advantage of the chaos, the elder of the "Netherworld Palace" quietly moved to the side. A sinister glint flashed in his eyes as he rapidly formed hand seals and chanted, "Netherworld Ghost Fire, burn everything!" Suddenly, several balls of eerie green ghost fire shot out from the ground and flew towards the exploration team members. Wherever the ghost fire passed, the air seemed to ignite, emitting a sizzling sound.

"Watch out, it's ghostly fire!" the team members exclaimed, quickly using their movement techniques to dodge. One team member couldn't dodge in time, and the ghostly fire touched him, instantly igniting him with green flames. He struggled painfully, trying to extinguish the flames on his body. Seeing this, the other team members rushed forward to help, using their spiritual power to suppress the ghostly fire.

Chaos reigned within the Ice Crystal Temple, with flashes of spiritual energy and a cacophony of shouts and screams. The leader of the Spirit Ruins Market exploration team, while fending off attacks from the Blood Blade Sect experts, kept a close watch on his team members. Seeing one of his members entangled in Netherworld Ghost Flames, he was frantic with worry.

"Everyone, stay calm! Don't panic! Focus your efforts on dealing with these problems first!" the captain shouted. Hearing this, the team members quickly adjusted their strategy. Some continued fighting the "Dark Alliance" members, while others focused on helping the team member who was being attacked by will-o'-the-wisps.

"Ice Soul Divine Sword, Freeze and Seal Evil!" The captain swung his sword, unleashing a powerful burst of ice-based spiritual energy towards the team member. The ice energy instantly froze the will-o'-the-wisp, forming a massive ice sphere that trapped it within. The team member seized the opportunity to break free from the flames' grasp, panting heavily.

"Thank you, Captain!" the team member said gratefully.

"Don't thank me yet, the battle isn't over yet!" the captain said, looking firmly at the Bloodblade Sect expert and the Netherworld Palace elder.

The Bloodblade Sect experts and the Netherworld Palace elder grew increasingly anxious upon seeing their plan fail. They knew that if they couldn't retrieve the magical artifact now, they would never have another chance. They exchanged a glance and decided to join forces for a final, decisive attack.

"Blood Blade Netherworld, Fusion Technique!" the two shouted simultaneously, their spiritual power surging wildly. The blood-red spiritual power of the Blood Blade Sect expert and the eerie green spiritual power of the Netherworld Palace elder intertwined and merged together, forming a strange and powerful force.

"Oh no! They're about to unleash a combined spell, its power is bound to be immense! Everyone, be careful and defend!" The captain, sensing the danger, shouted a warning to his teammates. The team quickly gathered together, channeling their spiritual energy to maximize the defense of the "Spirit Concealing Ice-Breaking Sword Formation." The sword formation shone brightly, forming a five-colored light screen that protected everyone within.

The combined figures of the Bloodblade Sect expert and the Netherworld Palace elder exuded a powerful aura. They conjured a massive, blood-green longsword in their hands and slashed towards the sword formation. "Slash!" With a loud shout, the longsword, carrying a world-destroying momentum, struck the multicolored light barrier.

"Crack!" Cracks appeared on the light screen, as if it would shatter at any moment. The team members felt a powerful force crashing down on them, as if their bodies were being torn apart.

"Hold on, we can't let them succeed!" The captain gritted his teeth and channeled all his spiritual power to reinforce the light barrier. However, the combined power of the Blood Blade Sect expert and the Netherworld Palace elder's spell was simply too great, and the cracks in the light barrier were multiplying.

Just as everyone was filled with despair, suddenly, strange light flashed on the walls of the Ice Crystal Temple. The light converged, forming a huge rune. The rune emitted a mysterious power and shot towards the merged figure of the Blood Blade Sect expert and the Netherworld Temple elder.

"What...is this?" The Bloodblade Sect experts and the Netherworld Palace elders were shocked to feel a powerful and mysterious force approaching. They tried to dodge, but the power of the runes followed them relentlessly, striking them instantly.

"Ah!" The two screamed in agony as their fused bodies were forcibly separated by the power of the runes, crashing heavily to the ground. The Bloodblade Sect expert and the Netherworld Palace elder coughed up blood, their eyes filled with fear and resentment.

"These are the protective runes of the Ice Crystal Temple, activated by our battle," the captain said with delight.

The Lingxu Market exploration team seized the opportunity and quickly launched a counterattack. "Attack now!" the captain shouted. The team members unleashed their strongest spells, attacking the remaining forces of the "Dark Alliance."

The members of the "Dark Alliance" were now powerless to resist and fell to the ground under the reconnaissance team's fierce attack. The Blood Blade Sect experts and the "Netherworld Palace" elders were also seriously injured and incapacitated.

"You...Lingxu Market...will not have a good end..." the Bloodblade Sect expert said weakly.

“Those who commit numerous evils deserve this fate,” the captain said coldly.

The reconnaissance team then bound the remaining members of the "Dark Alliance," preparing to take them back to the Spirit Ruins Market for disposal. They successfully thwarted the "Dark Alliance's" plot to acquire the magical artifact and, filled with the joy of victory, embarked on their journey home.

Upon returning to the Spirit Ruins Market, Lin Yang and the leaders of various factions highly praised the exploration team's valiant performance. The arrival of the "Mystic Ice Divine Armor" and the "Ice Soul Divine Sword" also greatly enhanced the strength of the Spirit Ruins Market.

However, Lin Yang did not lower his guard. He knew that although the "Dark Alliance" had suffered a heavy blow, the cultivation world was still rife with undercurrents. There might be other hidden forces coveting the treasures of the Spirit Ruins Market, or attempting to disrupt the peace of the cultivation world.

"Although we successfully thwarted the 'Dark Alliance's' conspiracy this time, the situation in the cultivation world remains dire. We cannot afford to be complacent in the slightest; we must continue to strengthen our defenses and enhance our strength," Lin Yang said to everyone in the Linghe Chamber of Commerce's hall.

The Pavilion Master of Wanbaoge nodded in agreement: "Young Master Lin is absolutely right. Wanbaoge will continue to develop even more powerful magic weapons to support the defense of the Lingxu Market."

An elder from the Spirit Sword Sect also stated, "The Spirit Sword Sect will strengthen the training of sword cultivators and enhance the power of sword formations. At the same time, we will also send disciples to patrol various parts of the cultivation world to maintain peace."

The president of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce added, "The Chamber of Commerce will further expand its intelligence network, penetrating every corner to keep abreast of the dynamics of the cultivation world. We will report any anomalies to everyone immediately."

Lin Yang nodded in satisfaction: "Alright, everyone, please do your part and work together to protect the Spirit Ruins Market and maintain peace in the cultivation world."

In the days that followed, the Lingxu Market entered a relatively peaceful period of development. The Wanbao Pavilion developed a series of new magical artifacts, which were not only powerful but also emphasized defensive and supportive functions. The sword cultivators of the Lingjian Sect, through rigorous training, increased the power of their sword formations several times over, enabling them to handle various complex combat situations. The Linghe Chamber of Commerce's intelligence network, like a giant spider web, covered the entire cultivation world, providing the Lingxu Market with timely and accurate intelligence.

However, this calm did not last long. One day, an intelligence agent from the Linghe Chamber of Commerce rushed to the Lingxu Market with astonishing news.

"Young Master Lin, something terrible has happened! A mysterious force has appeared in the distant Southern Wilderness. This force acts strangely and seems to be plotting some huge conspiracy. Moreover, there are indications that they have been in contact with the 'Dark Alliance'," the intelligence officer said breathlessly.

Lin Yang's heart skipped a beat: "What exactly is the situation? Tell me in detail."

The intelligence officer wiped the sweat from his brow and said, "According to our informants, this mysterious force has gathered many independent cultivators and small factions in the Southern Wilderness, forming a massive army. They are conducting secret training in a secluded valley, seemingly preparing for a large-scale war. Moreover, we have discovered that some remnants of the 'Dark Alliance' have also infiltrated their ranks."

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Yang said, "It seems this mysterious force is not simple. They are colluding with the 'Dark Alliance,' and they must be after the Spirit Ruins Market. We must understand their strength and plans as soon as possible and prepare accordingly."