"But the transformation method is very crude, like a cultivator imitating mechanical laws forcibly."

Jiang Shu nodded, his gaze sweeping across the purple-black fingerprints on the neck of the corpse.

He recognized the marks, clearly caused by the corrosion of Nine Nether Qi.

This so-called Nine Nether Qi comes from the Netherworld Clan, and although the traces have been erased, Jiang Shu could still perceive some clues through his keen soul sensitivity.

But to his surprise, Yu Tianming was able to discover it too.

"Your Highness, I came across some opportunities and comprehended the Soul Law."

Seemingly aware of Jiang Shu’s thoughts, Yu Tianming’s voice followed, carrying a hint of pride.

It was indeed a good fortune.

"Once we leave here, I will document some insights into the Soul Law for you. They may be of some use."

This Soul Law has a rather high ranking among the Three Thousand Dao, and Jiang Shu was pleased to assist the cultivators from Jiuyu Commerce Alliance.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Yu Tianming cupped his hands, seeing Jiang Shu seemed uninterested in this so-called sanctification opportunity, although puzzled, he did not say much and stood quietly beside Jiang Shu, occasionally exchanging a few words.

As time passed, the crowd gathered here grew, with over a dozen geniuses from Jiuyu Commerce Alliance now standing behind Jiang Shu.

The Mechanical Mother waved her hand, producing a sky full of precious resources, revealing a Mechanical Array to absorb them.

She spread her arms again, layers of armor on her chest unfolded, exposing an intricate star map-like mechanical structure inside.

Three hundred and sixty azure beams erupted from within her, cutting regular hexagonal grids on the surface of the Eye of the Void.

"Begin spatial deconstruction."

As the mechanical sound echoed, the solidified vortex suddenly trembled violently.

The triangular cores embedded in the corpses exploded simultaneously, erupting rancid blood mist.

Zhan Feng abruptly pulled two War Alliance cultivators back, as their previous position was melted into a deep pit by scarlet rays.

"What are you trying to do?!"

In just an instant, Zhan Feng donned heavy armor, wielding a Bronze Battle Axe, directly targeting the Mechanical Mother.

"It wasn’t me."

For the first time, a fluctuation appeared in the voice of the Mechanical Mother.

"This is the second trigger mechanism of the trap!"

Before her words were finished, the grids cut by the Mechanical Mother on the Eye of the Void surface suddenly twisted and distorted, like paper crumpled by an invisible hand.

The solidified space vortex began to reverse, even though the triangular cores embedded in the corpses had exploded, leaving scarlet energy veins that spread like vessels in the void, looking somewhat eerie.

"Retreat!"

Jiang Shu shouted, Chaos Thunder Pool leaped out from Heavenly Spirit, and Three Holy Embryos simultaneously performed sealing, laying protective layers around the Jiuyu Commerce Alliance cultivators.

Almost at that moment, countless silver beams exploded from the Eye of the Void.

The red energy veins weaved into a giant net covering the sky, if observed closely, every line was composed of countless tiny mechanical units.

They transformed at speeds beyond the eye’s capture, morphing into billions of micro insects.

"Your Highness, those are Sky-devouring Insects!"

Yu Tianming’s face turned pale, his Profound Battle Robe fluttered without wind, voice trembling with fear,

"Even among the Mechanical Clan, this kind of weapon is a forbidden type!"

The swarm’s buzzing formed a strange resonance, suddenly three closest cultivators covered their ears, silver-blue liquid seeped from their orifices.

Their brains were shattered into mush by the eerie resonance, leaving their Law Origin behind without any luster.

Jiang Shu swiftly acted, the Desolate Star Halberd swept out a dark gold arc light, with Power Dao and Taichu Dao Rhyme crushing the insect swarm and the space in front.

"War Alliance members, follow my command, array formation!"

Zhan Feng roared, tossing the Bronze Giant Axe, which split into twelve shields carved with runes, protecting the War Alliance members at the center.

The axe collided with the mechanical swarm, causing dazzling sparks.

War Alliance members stood behind Zhan Feng, luminous rays emitting from them, condensing a phantom figure in the void to resist the Sky-devouring Insect’s attack.

Mechanical Mother hovered in the storm center, her silver-white hair wildly dancing in the energy streams.

Her hands swiftly forming seals, her voice increasingly metallic.

"I am attempting to seize control."

"The code structure shows third-party intervention marks... This isn’t my creation!"

Mechanical Mother was shocked, her seal-forming movements nearly invisible due to their speed.

Jiang Shu’s pupils contracted, within the view enhanced by Taichu Dao Rhyme, he noticed the energy flow inside the mechanical swarm wasn’t purely Mechanical Clan characteristic, but mixed with a familiar grey aura.

He had only sensed this aura from the black-robed individual.

Could he possess a Mechanical Array beyond the Mechanical Mother’s control?

For as an ancestor of the Mechanical Clan, anything mechanical couldn’t escape her control.

How the black-robed individual accomplished this is unknown.

"Watch the ground!"

Yu Tianming suddenly exclaimed, Heavenly Snake Scale Pattern appearing on her neck, pupils narrowing into vertical lines.

The ground unexpectedly split into web-like cracks, hundreds of metallic tendrils wrapped in azure electricity burst from the earth, the thickest as large as temple pillars, covered in rotating sawteeth.

A supreme genius from Jiuyu Commerce Alliance failed to dodge in time, his right leg swept by tendrils, the Protective Dao Rhyme tore like thin paper.

He screamed, falling, pierced through the chest by another tendril mid-air.

Strangely, no blood spewed from the wound, rapidly metalizing, silver-white substance spreading throughout his body.

"Your Highness save me!"

The genius, in shock, reached out to Jiang Shu for help, visibly, his fingertips were already transforming into cold machinery.

Without hesitation, Jiang Shu swung his halberd, severing the tendril, Taichu Dao Rhyme flowing through the wound into the cultivator, suppressing the mechanical spread, followed by Desolate and Devouring Law manifestations, devouring the Metal Law entirely, saving the genius’ life.

"Watch your feet from sneak attacks!"

Jiang Shu’s voice amplified by Dao Rhyme spread across the battlefield.

His left hand grasping voidly, thirty-six purple bolts flew from Chaos Thunder Pool, accurately striking the tendrils.

Tendrils’ surfaces rippled, absorbing and converting the lightning energy, instead expanding slightly.

Zhan Yun suddenly appeared beside Jiang Shu, slicing two attacking mechanical insects with her Bronze Battle Axe.

"Brother Jiang, look at the vortex center!"

Her axe tip pointed at the Eye of the Void.

Amid the chaotic energy storm, a pulsating crystal heart subtly emerged in the vortex depth, entirely transparent like crystal, containing multicolored glow, each pulse causing space to tremor, stalling mechanical creations momentarily.

"Heart of Space!"

A Divine Eagle Clan ancient prodigy exclaimed out of surprise,

"The legend speaks of Supreme Treasure conferring spatial affinity bloodline!"

Upon these words, greedy gazes gathered from all sides.

Several impatient cultivators already dashed towards the vortex, disregarding the raging mechanical storm.

The foremost black-robed cultivator brandished a Bone Shield, but upon contact with the multicolored glow both shield and person were fragmented by spatial folds, dying without even a scream.

"Idiots."

"Didn’t they see the spatial structure was already chaotic?"

"Daring to advance at such a time, truly ignorant of impending death!"

Mechanical Mother crossed her arms over her chest, the patterns on her silver-white shell shining intensely.

The once rampaging mechanical swarm abruptly froze in mid-air, the buzzing ceased as if an invisible hand pressed a pause button.

"Control protocol overridden."

Mechanical Mother’s voice rasped with metallic friction.

"But the maintenance lasts only for thirty breaths."

"After thirty breaths, whether or not you’ve obtained the Heart of Space, you must return, otherwise, trapped within, I cannot ensure your safety."

Golden Eagle heard this, merely sneering.

Ensuring safety?

If they truly get trapped, it’s fortunate enough for the Mechanical Mother not to add insult to injury, not to mention offering assistance.