While various factions in the Lingxu Market were busy dealing with the mysterious force, the Linghe Chamber of Commerce and the joint intelligence team made new progress in their investigation of the "Shadow Society." Through meticulous tracking of clues, they finally identified a mid-level member of the "Shadow Society." This person frequently appeared in a small town near the Lingxu Market, using an ordinary tavern as a cover, but in reality, he was responsible for delivering important intelligence for the "Shadow Society."
The Linghe Merchant Guild dispatched its most elite intelligence personnel, and the joint intelligence team also brought in experts skilled in tracking and interrogation, to launch a covert operation in the town. They first conducted extensive surveillance of the tavern, uncovering the target's daily routine. Every morning, this person would go to an abandoned mill outside town, stay briefly, and then return. Further investigation revealed a secret tunnel hidden within the mill, which could very well lead to a crucial contact point for the "Shadow Society."
On a dark and stormy night, the operation officially began. The intelligence agents, dressed in black, stealthily infiltrated the tavern. Agile and nimble, they evaded the guards and quickly apprehended their target. However, the man was extremely cunning; even captured, he remained tight-lipped, refusing to divulge any information.
But the intelligence agents were prepared. They used a special soul-searching spell to carefully extract useful information from the target's memories. Under the spell's effect, the target's memories unfolded like a scroll in the agents' minds. From this, they learned that the "Shadow Society" was indeed preparing a large gathering in Black Moon Valley. This gathering was to discuss the final attack plan against the Spirit Ruins Market. The "Shadow Society" intended to unite various evil cultivation forces to launch a full-scale attack on the Spirit Ruins Market, completely destroying this obstacle in their eyes.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Sword Sect's exploration of the ancient city entered a crucial phase. Following clues on the stone coffin, they began searching for the three mysterious keys. In the ruins of the ancient city, they discovered an ancient diary. The diary's owner appeared to be a former guardian of the city, as it detailed the keys' whereabouts. It turned out that the three keys were sealed in three different locations within the ancient city, each protected by powerful mechanisms.
The first key was sealed beneath the ancient city's bell tower. When the sword cultivators arrived at the bell tower, it suddenly emitted a piercing roar, and countless sharp projectiles shot out from all directions. The sword cultivators swiftly used their movement techniques to weave through the projectiles while searching for weaknesses in the mechanism. After a fierce battle, they discovered that the bell tower's foundation stone was the core of the mechanism. An elder of the Spirit Sword Sect, leading several sword cultivators, unleashed powerful sword techniques, severing the spiritual energy channels connecting the foundation stone, successfully shutting down the mechanism and finding the first key.
The second key was hidden in the underground labyrinth of the ancient city. The labyrinth was intricate and filled with traps and illusions. The swordsmen cautiously navigated it, constantly breaking through traps and deciphering illusions. Deep within the labyrinth, they encountered a colossal guardian beast. This beast resembled a Qilin, radiating powerful flames. The swordsmen formed a sword formation and engaged the beast in a thrilling battle. Flames and sword energy intertwined, creating dazzling displays of light. After a fierce struggle, the swordsmen discovered the beast's weakness: its abdomen. One swordsman seized the opportunity, unleashing a powerful technique that struck the beast in the abdomen, causing it to collapse. The swordsmen found the second key in the treasure chest guarded by the beast.
The search for the third key was the most difficult. According to the diary, it was sealed atop the Sky Tower in the ancient city. The Sky Tower soared into the clouds, surrounded by a powerful storm of spiritual energy. The sword cultivators flew on their swords, attempting to approach the top, but the power of the spiritual energy storm was too great, repeatedly repelling them.
The elder of the Spirit Sword Sect was not discouraged. He carefully observed the patterns of the spiritual energy storm and discovered that it would calm down briefly every so often. He instructed the sword cultivators to wait patiently, and finally, the storm subsided. Seizing the opportunity, the sword cultivators rushed towards the top of the tower with all their might. At the top, they found a crystal ball emitting a mysterious light; the third key was sealed within it.
The sword cultivators successfully collected all three keys and returned to the temple to open the secret chamber beneath the stone coffin. Inside, rare materials emitted a dazzling light, overflowing with spiritual energy. These materials were crucial for refining elixirs that enhanced spiritual power; with them, the strength of the various factions in the Spirit Ruins Market would be greatly enhanced.
Meanwhile, at Wanbaoge, after successfully crafting the framework to contain the mysterious substance, the master craftsmen began experimenting with integrating it. Following meticulously planned steps, they carefully placed fragments of the mysterious substance into the framework. During the fusion process, the mysterious substance released powerful spiritual energy fluctuations, causing the entire crafting room to tremble.
The master craftsmen, completely absorbed in their work, manipulated spiritual energy, guiding the mysterious substance to perfectly fuse with the framework of the magical artifact. After several days of effort, they finally succeeded in forging their first magical artifact fused with the mysterious substance—the "Shadow Rift Blade." The blade shone brilliantly, its surface surrounded by mysterious runes, radiating immense power. Zhao Wanbao, the head of the Wanbao Pavilion, personally tested the blade; with a mere flick, he cleaved a massive rift in the void, its power astonishing.
With the Spirit Sword Sect finding rare materials, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion successfully forging powerful magic weapons, and the Spirit Harmony Merchant Guild and the Joint Intelligence Team gaining a deeper understanding of the "Shadow Society's" plans, the various forces in the Spirit Ruins Market are better prepared for the upcoming battle. However, the combined power of the "Shadow Society" and its evil cultivators should not be underestimated, and a battle that will determine the life or death of the Spirit Ruins Market is about to begin. Amidst their tense preparations, each force is also considering the best strategy to deal with this crisis and safeguard the peace and tranquility of the Spirit Ruins Market. They know that the upcoming battle will be incredibly difficult, but for the sake of their beliefs, they are prepared to fight to the death.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com