333: The initial formation of the Pure Meridian and the Starfall Poison Plan

Although the first full-power test of the spiritual energy resonance tower had its setbacks, it ultimately succeeded in establishing a stable connection with the dying earth vein spirituality deep within the Southern Fissure, withstood the backlash of the Devilish Qi, and pulled it back from the brink of annihilation.

This Breakthrough was like lighting a bonfire in the dark of night, bringing substantive hope to Zhenbei City, whose resources were on the verge of exhaustion.

Although the news was strictly sealed, morale among the core members soared.

Lin Shanhe immediately ordered the damaged spiritual energy resonance tower to be repaired at any cost, and Elder Mo was tasked with leading a team to optimize the tower's structure and runes day and night, enhancing its stability and power.

Meanwhile, Elder Jiang and Shi Lei devoted themselves to nourishing and guiding the jade marrow heart, ensuring it could continuously and stably output the purifying spiritual energy containing the ethereal Dao rhythm to nourish the earth vein "seed" deep within the fissure.

The process remained arduous.

The backlash of the Devilish Qi in the south was not a one-time event; every time the spiritual energy resonance tower was activated to deeply purify and nourish the earth vein spirituality, it would always attract interference and impacts from residual demonic thoughts.

It was like a tug-of-war, with purification and erosion repeatedly competing deep within the fissure.

Fortunately, after this eruption, the jade marrow heart seemed to have established a deeper "symbiotic" connection with the earth vein spirituality, becoming increasingly sensitive to its state and always able to adjust the output in time to resolve crises.

Hard work pays off.

Half a month later, the Spirit Web monitoring data showed that the pale yellow light spot representing the earth vein spirituality deep in the Southern Fissure had grown from a faint spark into a stable patch of pure light about ten zhang in radius!

Within the area of the light spot, the Devilish Qi was completely dispelled, and pure earth-attribute spiritual energy began to slowly grow and circulate.

Although the area was small and the energy level was not high, this meant that a piece of land that had been polluted by Devilish Qi for who knows how many years had truly begun to "revive"!

"Success! We have truly purified a piece of 'pure land'!" Elder Xuanji, who was responsible for frontline monitoring, could not hide her excitement and sent the message back through the Spirit Web.

The pure vitality radiating from that patch of light formed a sharp contrast with the dead and silent demonic domain around it, giving people infinite reverie.

"Immediately attempt to guide and extract the spiritual energy from this newly born Spiritual Vein!" Lin Shanhe made a prompt decision.

This was the ultimate goal.

Elder Mo's team had long been prepared.

Beside the spiritual energy resonance tower, they had urgently built a small "spiritual energy guidance formation," attempting to connect to the newly born Spiritual Vein through special spiritual meridians.

The process was cautious, like nurturing a newborn baby.

The first guidance attempt was a success!

A weak yet incomparably pure earth-attribute spiritual energy, carrying the heavy aura of the earth, was successfully extracted and channeled into a temporarily laid spiritual energy pipeline through the guidance formation!

Although the flow was very small, equivalent to the energy of only a few Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, its significance was immense—this was the first time Zhenbei City had obtained a supply of pure spiritual energy from the outside (and from a former demonic domain)!

"The quality is extremely high! Far exceeding ordinary earth vein spiritual energy!" Elder Jiang said with surprise after testing it.

"It contains a trace of the Origin of the earth, which has miraculous effects on practicing earth-attribute Cultivation Techniques and cultivating Spirit Plants!"

Although the quantity was negligible, this "first pot of gold" greatly encouraged everyone.

It proved that the "earth vein revival" plan was not only feasible but also produced excellent quality resources!

As long as they continued to purify and expand that "pure land," in time, it would surely form a stable Spiritual Vein resource belonging solely to Zhenbei City!

This would completely break the resource blockade of the Starfall Pavilion!

Hope had become tangible.

Throughout Zhenbei City, under extremely difficult circumstances, a greater enthusiasm for work erupted.

All resources were tilted toward the "earth vein revival" plan, striving to expand the results as quickly as possible.

However, the tenacious vitality and technological innovation demonstrated by Zhenbei City in its desperate situation completely enraged the Starfall Pavilion.

The low-price dumping strategy of Qing Sang Valley had failed to achieve a quick victory, and instead, it might have spawned an even more difficult opponent, which was something the Starfall Pavilion was unwilling to see.

On this day, inside a secret room at the Starfall Pavilion Headquarters filled with star trajectory charts, several Elders with profound auras were discussing matters.

Leading them was the Pavilion Elder responsible for the affairs of the Beiyuan Realm—Huangfu Shen.

"Zhenbei City... this little bug is quite tenacious." Huangfu Shen's voice was flat, yet carried a cold killing intent.

"According to Chen Yuan's latest secret report, there are abnormally powerful purification energy fluctuations on its southern defense line, suspected to be conducting earth vein purification.

If they succeed, our Pavilion's resource blockade will be in vain."

"A mere border town actually has such means?" A red-faced Elder frowned.

"Could it be true, as rumored, that there is an ancient legacy underground?"

"Whether there is a legacy is not important." Another Elder with a sinister face sneered.

"What is important is that they cannot be allowed to grow.

The Beiyuan Realm has been the sphere of influence managed by our Starfall Pavilion for many years; how can we allow others to touch it?

Especially... a force that might have ties to the Sky Patrol Inspectorate."

Huangfu Shen tapped the table with his fingertips, pondered for a moment, and said, "Conventional commercial suppression is too slow.

It seems some extraordinary means are needed." A cold light flashed in his eyes.

"Order the 'Shadow Star Guards' to initiate the second step of the 'Stranglehold' plan."

"The second step? Is it... too much?" The red-faced Elder was somewhat hesitant.

"Using them might leave traces; if discovered by the Sky Patrol Inspectorate..."

"In extraordinary times, take extraordinary measures." Huangfu Shen said decisively.

"Zhenbei City must be nipped in the bud.

Order the Shadow Star Guards to infiltrate the vicinity of Zhenbei City and find an opportunity to destroy its key facilities, especially... that abnormal 'purification tower' in the south.

Create chaos and frame the remnants of the Netherworld Path or evil Cultivators in the wilderness.

At the same time, spread rumors within the realm that Zhenbei City is involved with the Demonic Path and that its technology is evil sorcery, to induce fear and isolation from all parties."

"A two-pronged approach! Isolate them openly and sabotage them secretly!" The sinister Elder clapped his hands and laughed grimly.

"This plan is excellent! Even if we cannot destroy the city in one fell swoop, it will surely leave them in a state of chaos and unable to develop.

When they are extremely weak, our Pavilion will intervene in the name of 'rescue' and take over, which will be justified!"

A more vicious plan was quietly born.

The Starfall Pavilion finally tore off its last shred of disguise and decided to use its hidden assassination and sabotage forces to deal a fatal blow to Zhenbei City.

A few days later, in the wilderness around Zhenbei City.

A group of Cultivators disguised as merchants silently approached the perimeter of the southern defense line under the cover of night.

They moved vigorously, their auras restrained to the extreme; they were the "Shadow Star Guards" secretly cultivated by the Starfall Pavilion.

The leader was a Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivator with a plain face, codenamed "Dark Blade."

"Target, the valley ahead, that newly built stone tower." Dark Blade issued instructions through a sound transmission jade.

"Reconnaissance shows that this tower is directly related to the energy anomaly in the south of Zhenbei City.

Mission: Infiltrate, plant the 'Star-Splitting Thunder', cause an explosion, and retreat after destroying the tower.

The action must be fast, and the traces must look like the work of the Demonic Path."

The Shadow Star Guards were like ghosts, using the terrain for cover, and snuck toward the valley where the spiritual energy resonance tower was located.

They were proficient in concealment and sabotage and were the sharp blades used by the Starfall Pavilion to handle "dirty work."

However, they underestimated the current alert level of Zhenbei City, especially on the southern front.

Having experienced the Soul Transformation siege and earth vein purification, Elder Xuanji had organized the defense line like an iron barrel.

More importantly, they did not know that the current Spirit Web of Zhenbei City, under the blessing of the jade marrow heart's "Spiritual Heart Meridian Connection," had become extremely sensitive to energy fluctuations.

Just as the Shadow Star Guards snuck into the periphery of the valley and triggered an extremely hidden alert formation, a piercing alarm was instantly transmitted back to the frontline command post and the City Lord's Mansion through the Spirit Web!

"Enemy attack! Perimeter of Valley No. 3 in the south! Not Devilish Qi fluctuations! It's Cultivators! Five people, their cultivation is not low!" The on-duty Cultivator warned sternly.

"Not the Netherworld Path? It's someone else?" Elder Xuanji was instantly alert.

"Could it be... the Starfall Pavilion?!" She immediately ordered, "The garrison must not move to avoid alerting the enemy! Activate the 'Mirror Shadow' trap formation! Patrol squads, flank from the sides; I want live captives!"

As the order was given, several Formation Flags that had been set up around the valley lit up silently, and an invisible force field instantly enveloped the area.

At the same time, several elite squads silently surrounded them from different directions.

The leader of the Shadow Star Guards, "Dark Blade," just realized the alert Talisman had been triggered.

He was shocked and was about to order a forced attack or retreat, but found himself as if stuck in a quagmire, his movements suddenly slowed!

"Bad! It's an ambush! It's a trap formation!" Dark Blade's face changed greatly, knowing the operation was exposed and the other side was prepared.

He did not hesitate, sacrificed a crimson Talisman, and was about to detonate it, attempting to create chaos and break out.

However, a sharp Sword Intent was faster than him!

Ling Yunzi had appeared in the air at some unknown time, his Heaven Burning Sword Intent locked onto Dark Blade, and he shouted coldly: "You rats of the Starfall Pavilion, stay here!"

At the same time, shouts of battle arose from all around, and the Zhenbei City patrol squads appeared, forming a battle formation, surrounding the remaining four Shadow Star Guards.

The battle broke out, but there was no suspense.

Prepared against the unprepared, and fighting on their home turf, although the five Shadow Star Guards were fierce, they were quickly subdued.

Dark Blade was seriously injured and captured under Ling Yunzi's sword, while the other four were either killed or captured.

The "Star-Splitting Thunder" found on the captives and their Cultivation Technique style completely exposed their identities.

"It really is the Starfall Pavilion!" Elder Xuanji looked at the captives, her face as heavy as water.

"What a vicious method! To actually want to destroy my Foundation!"

When the news reached the City Lord's Mansion, Lin Shanhe was furious and even more shocked.

The Starfall Pavilion had finally shown its true colors and used the most despicable means.

Today it was destroying the resonance tower, tomorrow it could be assassinating key personnel, or even poisoning the water source!

"Keep the captives' testimonies and evidence properly.

Strengthen the defense of the whole city, especially the security level of key facilities and core personnel, which must be raised to the highest level!" Lin Shanhe ordered sternly.

"At the same time, spread the truth of this matter through secret channels! I want the Beiyuan Realm to see what kind of face the Starfall Pavilion has!"

A shadow war suddenly escalated.

Zhenbei City had just seen the dawn of technology, but it had fallen into a more dangerous vortex of conspiracy.

The road ahead was increasingly fraught with crises.