The various predicaments encountered by the Lingxu Market made all forces realize the seriousness of the problem, and a comprehensive investigation was launched in earnest. The Linghe Chamber of Commerce's intelligence network, like a vast and intricate spider web, extended to every corner of the cultivation world. Intelligence agents disguised themselves as all sorts of characters, including traveling merchants, wandering cultivators, and ordinary laborers, infiltrating various cultivation towns and sects. They frequently contacted informants from all sides, leaving no possible clue unchecked.
In the remote town of Lingfeng, an intelligence agent stumbled upon crucial information in a bustling tavern. Several suspicious-looking individuals, speaking with an accent characteristic of the Blood Demon Palace's region, were vividly spreading rumors about the Lingxu Market to those around them. They were spouting absurd claims that the Lingxu Market was secretly colluding with the "Shadow Society," attempting to dominate the entire cultivation world. The intelligence agent's heart skipped a beat. He casually approached, listening intently. After confirming the reliability of the information, he didn't dare delay for a moment. He immediately used his lightness technique to swiftly relay the news back to the Linghe Merchant Guild. Upon learning of this, the guild leader's expression turned serious. He quickly mobilized a group of experienced trackers, who rushed to Lingfeng Town to conduct a thorough investigation of these suspicious individuals.
Meanwhile, the sword cultivators of the Spirit Sword Sect laid a tight net along the trade routes. Divided into multiple teams, they patrolled tirelessly day and night like guardians. During one patrol, a team of sword cultivators discovered some extremely peculiar traces at the scene of a robbery. These traces resembled the markings of a unique cultivation technique, imbued with an eerie aura. The sword cultivators carefully preserved the scene and quickly relayed the news back to the Spirit Sword Sect. The elders of the Spirit Sword Sect personally arrived, and after careful examination, solemnly declared that these markings were remarkably similar to the characteristics of the Poison Dragon Sect's cultivation techniques. The Poison Dragon Sect's techniques were known for their insidious and unpredictable nature, perfectly matching the methods employed in the robbery.
The Spirit Sword Sect immediately informed other factions of this important discovery. Upon hearing this, the disciples of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion sprang into action. They retrieved various powerful and unique magical artifacts to analyze the recent spiritual energy fluctuations around the Spirit Ruins Market. Among the Myriad Treasures Pavilion's artifacts was a divine item called the "Spirit Wave Retrospection Mirror," capable of capturing and analyzing the trajectory of spiritual energy fluctuations in a specific area over a certain period. The disciples manipulated the "Spirit Wave Retrospection Mirror," meticulously scanning every inch of space. After several days of arduous analysis, they discovered that a mysterious spiritual energy fluctuation frequently appeared during the time periods of the several robberies. This spiritual energy fluctuation was extremely complex, possessing both the bloodthirsty and violent aura of the Blood Demon Palace and the sinister and eerie characteristics of the Poison Dragon Sect, showing a subtle yet close connection to the spiritual energy features of both the Blood Demon Palace and the Poison Dragon Sect.
Lin Yang and the leaders of various factions gathered together for an in-depth and heated discussion based on these clues. The atmosphere was heavy, and everyone wore a serious expression. Lin Yang frowned, his gaze cold, and said, "Based on the clues we've gathered so far, the Blood Demon Palace and the Poison Dragon Sect are highly suspicious. However, we cannot hastily conclude that they are the masterminds based solely on this indirect evidence. The situation in the cultivation world is complex, and rash action may trigger unnecessary conflicts. We need more conclusive evidence."
Zhao Wanbao, the head of Wanbaoge Pavilion, nodded slightly, his eyes revealing wisdom and composure: "That's right. Only solid evidence can convince people. Otherwise, if we easily resort to accusations, we may find ourselves in a passive position. We must strike decisively and leave them with no room for excuses."
After a moment of contemplation, the president of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce made a resolute suggestion, saying, "In that case, we might as well send people to infiltrate the Blood Demon Palace and the Poison Dragon Sect, to delve into their inner workings and gather irrefutable evidence of their conspiracy. Only in this way can we gain the absolute initiative when facing them."
After careful consideration and detailed discussion, everyone unanimously decided to select a group of elites to infiltrate the Blood Demon Palace and the Poison Dragon Sect. The Spirit Sword Sect, relying on the superb swordsmanship and outstanding stealth and tracking abilities of its sword cultivators, selected several of their most skilled practitioners. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion, leveraging its expertise in magical artifact crafting, equipped these sword cultivators with specially made concealment artifacts and tracking talismans. These concealment artifacts could perfectly mask one's aura, allowing the user to blend seamlessly into their surroundings; the tracking talismans could lock onto targets at crucial moments, providing vital guidance for the operation. The Spirit Harmony Merchant Guild, with its abundant intelligence resources and in-depth understanding of various forces, provided the infiltrators with detailed intelligence, including the internal structure, personnel distribution, and patrol routes of the Blood Demon Palace and the Poison Dragon Sect, and also prepared realistic disguise props to help them successfully infiltrate.
The sword cultivators who infiltrated the Blood Demon Palace moved like ghosts through its numerous checkpoints. Their movements were swift and light, their superb stealth skills allowing them to skillfully evade wave after wave of Blood Demon Palace disciples' patrols. After a difficult search, they discovered some crucial clues near a secret chamber within the Blood Demon Palace. The heavy stone door of the chamber was tightly closed, but the faint sounds of conversation drifting from it clearly reached the sword cultivators' ears. From the conversation, it was clear that the Blood Demon Palace was indeed involved in a conspiracy against the Spirit Ruins Market. They secretly colluded with forces such as the Poison Dragon Sect, attempting to gradually weaken the Spirit Ruins Market's influence in the cultivation world through a series of means, including spreading rumors, robbing caravans, and disrupting exchange conferences, thereby achieving their ulterior motives.
Meanwhile, the sword cultivators who had infiltrated the Poison Dragon Sect were also carrying out their mission with great tension. They skillfully avoided the various dangerous traps and tight defenses within the sect, penetrating deep into its warehouse. In a corner of the warehouse, they discovered some goods looted from the Spirit Ruins Market caravan. These goods bore the distinctive mark of the Spirit Harmony Merchant Guild—a type of rune drawn with special spiritual power. Only the guild's high-ranking members and specific craftsmen knew how to create it; this was undoubtedly irrefutable evidence of the Poison Dragon Sect's involvement in the robbery.
The elites dispatched by Lingxu Market successfully gathered irrefutable evidence. Knowing the urgency of the matter, they quickly returned in disguise and presented the evidence to Lin Yang. Lin Yang looked at the irrefutable evidence, a flash of anger and determination in his eyes. He clenched his fist and said, word by word, "The truth is out, their evil deeds are crystal clear. We can no longer stand idly by and watch them do what they have done. It's time for them to pay the price for their stupidity and greed."
The leaders of each faction expressed their agreement, their eyes gleaming with fighting spirit. They then began discussing countermeasures, and a counterattack against the Blood Demon Palace and the Poison Dragon Sect was being meticulously prepared. Whether the Spirit Ruins Market could seize this opportunity to completely thwart the conspiracy and restore its former prosperity and reputation remained to be seen.
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