Inside the council hall of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce, the debate over the ownership of the magical artifact continued fiercely. The situation remained deadlocked, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Lin Yang, watching the crowd, was extremely anxious. He knew that if things continued like this, even without intervention from the mysterious forces, the various factions in the Lingxu Market would suffer severe damage from internal strife.
Just then, a disciple of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce rushed into the council hall and whispered a few words in Lin Yang's ear in a panic. Lin Yang's expression instantly turned serious. He waved for everyone to be quiet and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, we have just received news that a large number of unidentified cultivators have appeared around the Lingxu Market. Their movements are strange, and they seem to be secretly gathering. It is very likely that the mysterious force from before has made another move."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stopped arguing, their expressions varying. Zhao Wanbao, the head of Wanbao Pavilion, frowned and said, "It seems they intend to take advantage of our internal strife to launch another attack."
The elder of the Spirit Sword Sect clenched his fist, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Hmph, even if there is conflict, we cannot let them succeed."
Lin Yang nodded and said, "That's right. With a formidable enemy at hand, we must put aside the issue of ownership of the magic weapon and unite against the common foe."
Despite their lingering resentment, the representatives of each faction understood the gravity of the situation and unanimously agreed. Lin Yang quickly made arrangements: "The Spirit Sword Sect will be responsible for strengthening the aerial defenses of the Spirit Ruins Market. Sword cultivators will patrol on their swords, closely monitoring the surrounding area. The Myriad Treasures Pavilion will utilize magical artifacts to construct an early warning and defense system, issuing an alarm immediately upon detecting an approaching enemy. The Spirit Harmony Chamber of Commerce will organize personnel to evacuate ordinary cultivators from the Spirit Ruins Market, ensuring their safety, and prepare various emergency supplies."
All factions sprang into action, and the Spirit Ruins Market was a hive of activity. Sword cultivators from the Spirit Sword Sect, clad in snow-white sword robes, soared into the air on their swords, forming streaks of white light as they patrolled back and forth above the market. Their eyes were sharp as they vigilantly observed their surroundings, not missing a single anomaly.
The disciples of Wanbaoge set up magical artifacts throughout the market. They buried spirit tablets inscribed with runes underground; these tablets could sense fluctuations in the surrounding spiritual energy, and would emit light and sound an alarm if anything unusual happened. At the same time, they also set up spiritual energy shields around the market, which emitted multicolored light, acting as a solid barrier.
Members of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce went door-to-door to notify ordinary cultivators to evacuate to safe areas. Organized efficiently, they helped the elderly and led children, gathering everyone in the underground shelters prepared in advance by the Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, the Chamber's logistics personnel were busy transporting emergency supplies such as pills and magical artifacts to ensure that frontline personnel could receive timely resupply should the battle begin.
However, the mysterious forces seemed to have sensed the Lingxu Market's defenses and did not launch an attack immediately. Like venomous snakes lurking in the darkness, they waited for the perfect moment. The atmosphere within the Lingxu Market grew increasingly oppressive. Everyone knew that a fierce battle was imminent, but they did not know when the enemy would attack. This unknown fear weighed heavily on everyone's hearts like a boulder.
Standing atop the tower of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce, Lin Yang gazed at the vast night outside the Lingxu Market, lost in thought. He knew that the mysterious force's arrival was ill-intentioned and that they had come prepared. Although they had repelled one of their attacks in the ruins, their strength was not to be underestimated, and they were likely to employ even more powerful methods this time.
To prepare for the impending crisis, Lin Yang decided to convene the core members of each faction again to discuss countermeasures. Everyone gathered once more in the Linghe Chamber of Commerce's council hall, their expressions grave. Lin Yang said, "Gentlemen, the mysterious force has remained inactive, presumably planning an even more powerful attack. We cannot sit idly by and wait to be destroyed; we must take the initiative and find their weaknesses."
Zhao Wanbao, the head of Wanbaoge Pavilion, nodded and said, "Manager Lin is absolutely right, but the mysterious force is very well hidden. How can we find their weakness?"
Lin Yang pondered for a moment and said, "We can send out elite reconnaissance teams to penetrate deep into the surrounding areas and gather intelligence. At the same time, we should strengthen the screening of suspicious persons in the Lingxu Market to prevent the enemy from infiltrating."
The elder of the Spirit Sword Sect agreed: "That's right. In addition, we also need to strengthen the joint combat training between various forces to ensure that we can cooperate well in battle."
Everyone responded enthusiastically and quickly formulated a detailed plan. A reconnaissance team was soon assembled, composed of agile and stealthy members from various factions. Dressed in specially made black clothing, these members quietly left the Spirit Ruins Market under the cover of night, heading towards the direction where the mysterious force might be hiding.
Inside the Lingxu Market, various factions intensified their patrols and investigations. Members of the Linghe Chamber of Commerce meticulously searched every corner of the market, leaving no suspicious area unchecked. Meanwhile, sword cultivators from the Lingjian Sect set up checkpoints at key points, rigorously questioning all passersby.
However, as time passed, the reconnaissance team reported nothing, and no suspicious individuals were found within the Lingxu Market. The mysterious force seemed to have vanished without a trace, and an eerie silence enveloped the entire Lingxu Market. But Lin Yang knew that this tranquility was merely the calm before the storm; the mysterious force was undoubtedly brewing an even more ferocious attack, and everyone in the Lingxu Market had to be fully prepared to face this impending life-or-death test.
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