Chapter 269: Slave of the Underworld
The anomaly in the Underworld Sea attracted numerous powerful beings.
From what Xiao Ze could see, there were more than ten revered fighters, including the four masters of the Four Halls, the respected members of the Tian Yao Huang family and the Jiu You Di Ming Mang family, and some lone cultivators.
However, Xiao Ze didn't see anyone from the Fire Valley. Perhaps they didn't arrive in time?
It was understandable, as the respected members of the Four Halls could arrive thanks to the current conference of the Four Halls.
The other clans decided to send their powerful members only after hearing the rumors. The Fire Valley only sent Elder Chi Huo, probably because they considered the opportunities in the deep-sea ruins not suitable for them, so they didn't give it much importance.
Soon, the infernal gas erupting finally calmed down. Those who were impatient, seeing this, rushed toward the huge vortex.
Xiao Ze frowned, feeling it wouldn't be that simple.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, those who rushed toward the vortex seemed to see something terrifying and began to retreat frantically.
"Those reckless guys won't have a good ending," said the Grand Elder suddenly.
Xiao Ze nodded. The cessation of the vortex didn't mean safety.
On the contrary, it was accumulating even more powerful infernal gas.
The infernal gas filled with desolation rose to the sky, engulfing those who had rushed in.
At first, they could resist with their combat energy. However, the amount of infernal gas was so immense that the energy consumption was greater than they expected. Some failed to react in time and were devoured by the gas.
Xiao Ze saw with his own eyes the fate of those affected by the infernal gas: the parts of the body touched by the gas necrotized instantly.
With the continuous flow of gas in the body, the necrotized parts became fragile.
Finally, under the onslaught of the gas, they disintegrated into black dust that joined the gas.
This terrifying spectacle made the powerful beings on the coast feel a chill.
Those who had explored the Underworld Sea before and had been touched by the infernal gas felt lucky to have survived.
Seeing their bodies fragment and turn into black dust that joined the infernal gas made Xiao Ze frown.
Could this be the reason why the infernal gas of the Underworld Sea never dissipates?
With countless beings devoured by the gas, their bodies turned into dust that fed the gas, making it inexhaustible.
"What is that?" someone shouted, pointing to the edge of the infernal gas.
Xiao Ze looked in the indicated direction and saw a figure different from the others.
Unlike those who turned to ashes, this figure was completely black, evidently deeply affected by the infernal gas, but its body remained intact, emitting a sense of desolation similar to the infernal gas.
Its eyes shone with a red light, as if they were human eyes blinking.
With so many cultivators present, some had knowledge about the Underworld Sea.
The Grand Elder said gravely, "I didn't expect the underworld slaves to be formed this way."
"Underworld slaves?" Xiao Ze asked curiously.
Despite his efforts to learn about Zhongzhou, his knowledge wasn't as deep as the Grand Elder's.
"Their bodies are black as ink, their eyes red as blood, they emit ashes, and feed on infernal gas, serving the Underworld Sea. Hence, they are called underworld slaves," explained the Grand Elder. "These slaves are born from the infernal gas, and the strongest ones can make even revered fighters tremble."
"Today I had the chance to see the birth of an underworld slave."
Xiao Ze watched as the underworld slave extended its arms and the infernal gas surrounded it, being absorbed like a river flowing into the sea.
After absorbing all the gas around it, its strength rose from the Douhuang realm to the Douzong realm.
Seeing this, Xiao Ze understood what it meant to feed on infernal gas.
"Grand Elder, what do you mean by 'serving the Underworld Sea'? Does the Underworld Sea have consciousness?"
"It's not that. It just means that the underworld slaves cannot leave the Underworld Sea. If they try, their bodies will disintegrate without the infernal gas."
"It's like being enslaved, unable to leave their prison, hence the name underworld slaves."
"Fortunately, they can only act within the Underworld Sea. Otherwise, Zhongzhou would face a catastrophe with this terrifying infernal gas."
Xiao Ze sighed with relief.
"Ha, don't worry. If that happened, the powerful beings at the continent's peak would intervene," said the Grand Elder, smiling.
Xiao Ze's eyes sparkled. The powerful beings the Grand Elder was talking about must be the Dou Sheng fighters.
While they were talking, the powerful beings on the coast attacked the underworld slave.
They couldn't allow it to absorb all the infernal gas and become stronger.
A lone fighter launched a space attack, tearing a large black crack.
The underworld slave was split in half, but to everyone's surprise, its body expelled more infernal gas, allowing its two halves to reunite, healing quickly.
"That's the terrifying ability of the underworld slaves: their astounding regeneration. Unless the infernal core inside them is destroyed, they will keep healing," someone explained.
The lone fighter snorted. "Regeneration? It's still a Douzong. If I destroy it completely, I'll find that infernal core."
The Dou Zun charged at the underworld slave, covered in combat energy, and made it retreat.
The lone cultivators watched with envy, while the great clans remained indifferent.
The Grand Elder smiled. "That Dou Zun knows what he's doing."
"What do you mean?" asked Xiao Ze.
"A crafty lone Dou Zun wouldn't act like a pawn. He must have his own plans."
Xiao Ze squinted, thinking about the Dou Zun's movements.
"Are you saying he has other motives?"
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