In the center of the altar, a dark nether quietly floated, containing an immense amount of energy. It could even cause the terrifying black frost to appear in this vortex ancient relic.
The black frost had both freezing and proliferating effects. Previously, someone had come into contact with the black frost; their body was immediately frozen to death, and shortly afterward, a large amount of ice vines and branches grew out from within them—utterly terrifying!
Senior Brother Gu Yue ordered the people behind him.
As they approached the freezing zones encircled by the black frost, these members of the Totem Bloodline were extremely cautious.
"Not fast enough, even faster!" Gu Yue reprimanded.
Behind Gu Yue were four people, each holding a golden silk chain, seemingly intending to use these to ensnare the dark nether material.
One short disciple moved slowly, and you could see black frost traces condensing around him. The black frost was like highly active black vines, spreading in space at a speed visible to the naked eye. If anyone stood still, they would be killed by this black frost!
The short disciple suddenly cried out, screaming in pain.
A sliver of black frost pierced directly through the joint of his arm like a sharp icy spear.
Struggling, he tried to break the black ice spear with his other hand. However, the long-haired man in fine clothes beside him coldly raised his hand, forming a blade with it, and directly chopped off the short disciple's arm!
The short disciple's hand did not bleed but shattered like a black ice stick.
A piece of the arm fell and touched the dense black frost on the ground, which rapidly grew tight flower vines and branches on the flesh. In seconds, the arm turned into a clump of black frost shrubbery, perfectly resembling a mutant plant growing on red meteorite.
The range of the black frost spread wider and wider.
Many corpses left by victims tortured by these Totem Sacred Sect disciples lay scattered around the altar.
These disfigured corpses were also covered by the black frost. Buds and vines sprouted from the bodies, transforming into dense thickets of thorny vines that intertwined around the entire altar.
Some of the black thorny vines were as fine as needles, while others turned into spears like those that pierced the disciple's arm. They formed a powerful guard around the Dark Nether Array Eye, killing anyone who tried to approach and seize it.
Clearly, the Dark Nether Array Eye followed some pattern of radiation and growth. The previous group had figured out the law and intended to seize it, but the arrival of the Totem Sacred Sect members led to their gruesome killing. Otherwise, the treasure might indeed have been taken by some weaker individuals.
Gu Yue and his team used straightforward tactics.
They prided themselves on their exceptional skills, aiming to dodge the black frost with swift techniques.
In their spiritual vision, the black frost was a living entity that attacked intruders. As long as they moved swiftly enough and dodged quickly, they could approach the Dark Nether Array Eye.
Regrettably, the power of the dark nether far exceeded their expectations. These powerful cultivators were repeatedly caught by the black frost. If an arm or leg was frozen, they could cut it off quickly to survive.
Any hesitation, however, would result in the entire body being frozen. In no time, they'd sprout all over, with flowers growing from their heads, and a cruel frost tree bursting from their bodies!
"Senior Brother, we can't get through this Black Frost Domain!" Little Sister Qing Meng said.
"After the array eye fragment flew here, it must have absorbed some energy from the ancient relic, enhancing its activity. It might even be developing spiritual wisdom." Gu Yue said.
"What do we do then? We can't move slowly like those natives, stepping on squares cautiously. We don't have much time." Qing Meng said anxiously.
"Retreat for now." Gu Yue commanded.
The powerful Black Frost Domain forced them to retreat. The group could only stand outside the black frost's range, gazing longingly at the array eye fragment.
Gu Yue obviously had a strategy. His eyes became as sharp as an eagle's as he scanned the chaotic ancient relic before issuing his next commands to his comrades: "Everyone spread out and capture as many of the natives and lower-class people as you can."
"What's the plan, Senior Brother?" the long-haired man in fine clothes asked, confused.
"A bridge of people. Areas saturated with human blood and flesh will reduce the black frost's activity." Gu Yue explained.
"That will require at least a hundred people."
"Is that a problem?" Gu Yue glanced back at the disciple who had spoken.
"Of course not. This ancient relic is as vast as a floating grand array. Thousands of people are trapped here; capturing a hundred won't be difficult…" the dark-skinned disciple replied.
After speaking, the dark-skinned man turned and left, grumbling as he went. If they had to make a bridge of living people, why had they wiped out the crowd around here earlier?
Wu Hen was also assigned the task of capturing some natives from the ancient relic.
These senior brothers were all incredibly powerful. Wu Hen naturally couldn't defy them and played the role of the compliant junior disciple well.
He was actually curious about what the Dark Nether Array Eye truly was. Despite its energy being similar to Yuan You's, it was fundamentally different. Yuan You wouldn't attack people!
Could it be that it was indeed developing spiritual wisdom like Senior Brother Gu Yue said?
"Little Yi, can you eat that thing?" Wu Hen inquired.
Actually, Little Yi had shown excitement since they approached the dark nether material.
It was evident that the thing was a delicacy for the Desert Dust.
"You're saying that thing is like a distant relative? If you can devour it, it could enhance your power limit?"
This limit referred to the Black Divine Death Sword's upper limit, not the ever-changing strength of Wu Hen's right hand!
The Black Divine Death Sword was already formidable. Every time it was drawn, it gave Wu Hen a sense of ancient dominance…
But Wu Hen knew Little Yi had a nemesis.
It was this enemy that led to its current weakened state.
Only by increasing the Black Divine Death Sword's limit would Little Yi have the capital to confront its nemesis.
"This thing appears to be just a fragment. The master has a complete Dark Nether Eye. If we could get that, it would significantly enhance your strength, wouldn't it?" Wu Hen said.
After massacring the entire Yin Pole Heavenly Court, the Black Divine Death Sword went into complete hibernation, rendering Wu Hen unable to use it for some time.
Thus, on this outing, Wu Hen could only rely on himself.
"Too risky, no need?"
"Playing it safe, we can still return to our peak?"
"I know you're looking out for me… We won't provoke the master, but we can try to snatch the Dark Nether Array Eye in front of us."
Wu Hen rubbed his chin, observing the actions of those around him.
If everyone dispersed, he would have the chance to steal this dark nether treasure.
Seeing that it emitted such powerful black frost that even Senior Brother Gu Yue, whose strength was near that of the Heavenly Light, feared, Wu Hen couldn't help but be tempted.
"Chen Qi, you guard here. Don't let those pests take the Dark Nether Array Eye." Senior Brother Gu Yue commanded.
Chen Qi was the short man who had lost an arm.
He was already very unfortunate, yet he was still being treated like a beast of burden.
And they all knew, in the eyes of Senior Brother, if you were of no use, you would likely disappear mysteriously…
They suspected that Junior Brother Cai Ting had been deliberately abandoned by Gu Yue.
"Missing an arm shouldn't make it hard to deal with the natives, right?" Little Sister Qing Meng asked with a giggle.
"Not at all; not difficult at all. With the healing medicine you gave me, I believe my hand will soon grow back." The short Chen Qi said hurriedly.
"Move quickly, everyone. Don't make the master wait too long." Senior Brother Gu Yue said.
The group dispersed to hunt in other parts of the vortex ancient relic!
The ancient relic was like a unique city. Many indigenous people resided there, having lived for possibly hundreds of years. Their silhouettes could be seen among the vines and ancient stone halls.
Besides, many who traveled the Divine Python Earth Vein would unknowingly step into this vortex ancient relic. Such places were likely to contain ancient treasures and Yuanyou, which drew them here.
"Are you after the Dark Nether?" River Girl Qiaqia asked in a low voice.
Wu Hen openly admitted it.
"Only a one-armed disciple is guarding it; there might be a chance." River Girl Qiaqia said.
"The issue isn't him; it's how to get close. The black frost surrounding the Dark Nether is too powerful." Wu Hen said.
"True, otherwise, they wouldn't leave just a cripple to guard it."
"I was thinking, the human-faced duck we encountered before—could it evade the black frost?" Wu Hen said.
His comment made River Girl Qiaqia realize something.
It was a good approach!
The human-faced duck had peculiar abilities, evading virtually any threatening attack.
Could it fly over the Black Frost Frozen Domain?
"Do you know where the human-faced duck is now?" Qiaqia asked.
The duck's insulting voice could be heard clearly even miles away.
Just after Little Sister Qing Meng left the altar area, the human-faced duck had targeted her, turning her into an enraged Extinction Master, nearly destroying that section of the ancient palace—yet it still couldn't kill the bird.
Little Sister was in the Cang Xia Realm.
Even she couldn't handle the human-faced duck...
For some reason, hearing the duck call Little Sister Qing Meng names like "bastard, venomous woman, skunk woman" and seeing her go berserk made Wu Hen find its voice bizarrely melodic!
Since even a Cang Xia Realm expert couldn't deal with the foul-mouthed bird, Wu Hen thought his idea had higher chances!
"We have to find a way to capture that human-faced duck." Wu Hen said.
"It's so cheeky; it's hard to catch without getting cursed." River Girl Qiaqia replied.
"Follow it, it's headed to torment someone else now." Wu Hen heard the human-faced duck flying towards another part of the ancient relic and hurriedly chased after it.