206: Energy Vortex and "Silver" Carnival

After resolving the minor trouble with the "Cleaners," Wen Youyi and the other five followed the "Flowing Silver Vanguard Squad" even more cautiously as they navigated through the labyrinth of wreckage.

The surrounding turbulent energy flow became increasingly apparent, and the air seemed filled with invisible static electricity that made one's scalp tingle.

"The needle on the Energy Directional Meter is shaking even more violently." Wang Wu stared at the compass in his hand, his tone grave. "The energy reaction ahead is extremely chaotic, and... very strong."

After bypassing another piece of armor plating wreckage that resembled a small hill, the sight before them made everyone gasp.

Ahead, it was no longer a dense pile of wreckage, but a relatively open "valley."

However, this valley was not formed of rock, but surrounded by countless twisted, shattered pieces of metal and crystals.

In the center of the valley, a massive, slowly rotating energy vortex was clearly visible!

The vortex was about a hundred zhang in diameter, displaying an extremely unstable, colorful hue. Inside, it seemed as if countless tiny flashes of lightning were being born and extinguished, emitting a low, humming sound like thousands of bees flapping their wings simultaneously.

From time to time, scattered streams of energy were flung from the edge of the vortex, striking the surrounding wreckage, exploding into dazzling sparks, and leaving charred marks.

"A Rule Energy Vortex... it's much smaller than the one we encountered last time, but it's still not something we can force our way through."

Wen Youyi's expression was serious; this kind of power of heaven and earth could definitely not be resisted by human strength.

He could even feel a slight palpitation coming from the star core fragment in his embrace, which was both a craving and carried a hint of instinctive vigilance.

What left them even more dumbfounded was the reaction of the "Flowing Silver Vanguard Squad."

These small silver things were not scared away by this terrifying energy vortex; instead, they were like hungry wolves seeing fat meat, and the entire group was in an uproar!

They emitted a high-frequency, excited fluctuation, their silver liquid surfaces churning violently, and then, like a flood breaking through a dam, they scrambled to rush towards the energy vortex!

"Holy crap! Are they suicidal?!" Zhao Iron Pillar's eyes almost popped out of his sockets.

They watched as the "Flowing Silver" fearlessly rushed into the outer region of the energy vortex.

That area was filled with violent turbulent energy and splashing energy fragments.

In an instant, several "Flowing Silver" that rushed too recklessly were grazed by an abruptly appearing spatial rift, their silver bodies easily torn apart and annihilated like water splashes!

But more of the "Flowing Silver" demonstrated their magical side.

They nimbly wove through the gaps in the turbulent energy, their silver liquid-like bodies seemingly able to be immune to most energy erosion.

Their target was not the most dangerous core of the vortex, but those relatively stable, high-purity energy crystal blocks that were flung out by the vortex and scattered in the surrounding area!

Those energy crystal blocks varied in size, emitting a soft and pure glow, like scattered gems on a beach.

The "Flowing Silver" pounced on these energy crystal blocks, their silver liquid quickly wrapping around and permeating them, "dissolving" and absorbing them at a speed visible to the naked eye!

With each piece absorbed, that "Flowing Silver" individual's glow became noticeably brighter, its volume seemingly faintly larger by a circle, and the satisfied and joyful intent it transmitted was almost overflowing.

They were like a group of children who had rushed into a candy factory, frantically picking up the most delicious candies dropped on the ground next to dangerous machines, completely ignoring the danger close at hand.

"They... are they 'having a feast'?" Wang Wu opened his mouth wide, feeling his worldview being refreshed once again.

Wen Youyi also watched with trepidation, while simultaneously having a sudden realization.

No wonder these "Flowing Silver" had little interest in the meager energy fragments at the base; it turned out their usual "diet" was this intense!

They were just "scavenging" for food right next to a Rule Energy Vortex!

"I understand!" Senior Brother Li suddenly clapped his hands, saying excitedly, "This relatively stable energy vortex area is, for the 'Flowing Silver', a natural 'canteen' that continuously produces 'high-grade food'!

"They are instinctively attracted here! The larger star core fragment we are looking for is likely deep within this vortex, or it has been 'spat out' by this vortex from even deeper within!"

This deduction was reasonable and logical! Only a higher-level energy source could form and maintain such an energy vortex, and only then could it attract the "Flowing Silver" so crazily.

"But... how do we get over there?" Zhao Iron Pillar looked at the terrifying vortex and swallowed his saliva. "I feel like if we get any closer, this armor will be torn to shreds."

Indeed, with their current strength and equipment, forcibly crossing the energy vortex would be no different from suicide.

Those "Flowing Silver" could be immune to most energy erosion, but they couldn't.

Wen Youyi's brows were locked in a frown, his brain working at high speed.

Forcing their way through wouldn't work, and going around? The vortex had a considerable range, and there was no telling what the situation was on the other side.

His gaze fell once again on the group of "Flowing Silver" in the midst of their carnival.

After absorbing a large amount of energy crystals, they seemed to have become even more "active" and "powerful."

A few "Flowing Silver" that were noticeably larger by a circle even began to try and probe deeper into the inner area of the vortex, to scoop up those energy blocks that were of higher quality but also closer to the source of danger.

An extremely bold, and one could even say fantastical, idea flashed through Wen Youyi's mind like lightning.

He took a deep breath and said to everyone, "We are not going over there."

"Huh? Not going over? Then didn't we come here for nothing?" Zhao Iron Pillar was stunned.

Wen Youyi pointed at the "Flowing Silver," his eyes flashing with the look of a gambler: "Let them... help us 'scoop' it out!"

"What?!" Everyone exclaimed in unison, thinking they had misheard.

"Look," Wen Youyi explained, "These 'Flowing Silver' are not afraid of the turbulent energy here, and they have an innate desire to capture high-energy objects."

"The star core fragment we have in our hands has a fatal attraction for them."

"If we can simulate... a signal that there is something 'super delicious' deep in the vortex, would they... crawl in themselves and 'snatch' the good stuff out from inside?"

This idea was too whimsical, leaving everyone stunned.

Let the "Flowing Silver" go into the energy vortex... to treasure hunt? Would that work?

Wen Youyi, however, felt it was worth a try.

He once again carefully guided out the aura of the star core fragment, but this time, he did not let it disperse. Instead, he tried his best to compress and condense it, simulating a top-tier, alluring fluctuation that was "restrained," "profound," and "originating from the core of the vortex," and then "projected" it intermittently towards the direction of the energy vortex.

At the same time, through the star core fragment, he transmitted a strong intent to those "Flowing Silver" in the midst of their carnival: "Inside... is more delicious... the biggest one... is inside..."

At first, the "Flowing Silver" remained immersed in the joy of picking up the surrounding energy blocks and did not react much to Wen Youyi's "bluffing."

But as time passed, especially when the easily picked up energy blocks in the vicinity were mostly consumed, and Wen Youyi's simulated "core deliciousness" fluctuation continued to lure them, some "Flowing Silver" individuals that had absorbed enough energy and become exceptionally "strong" and "bold" began to change.

They stopped picking up items, their silver liquid surfaces churning violently towards the direction of the vortex's core, transmitting intense desire and a hint of... hesitation.

The instinct for danger was still restraining them.

Wen Youyi gritted his teeth and decided to add more fuel to the fire.

He extremely stingily forced out a wisp of truly pure Origin Star Power from the star core fragment and infused it into the simulated alluring fluctuation, as if dripping a drop of real honey onto the bait!

This time, it was like pouring cold water into boiling oil!

Those few strongest "Flowing Silver" instantly went "crazy"!

The desire for top-tier energy overwhelmed the fear of danger. They let out a sharp mental screech, their silver bodies suddenly contracting into several condensed silver arrows, and without hesitation... they shot into the depths of that colorful energy vortex where destruction and vitality coexisted!

"They went in! They really went in!" Wang Wu exclaimed involuntarily.

Everyone's heart was in their throat, their eyes fixed intently on the direction of the vortex where those few "Flowing Silver" had disappeared.

Wen Youyi held his breath even more, his Mental Energy highly concentrated, struggling to maintain that weak alluring connection through the star core fragment, silently chanting in his heart:

"Success or failure... depends on this one move!"

(End of Chapter)