The ice threatened to block Ryu's Spiritual Sense entirely, if it wasn't for the cracks made within it by the 13th root, Ryu had a feeling that he wouldn't be able to observe the situation without his eyes or trying to shatter the ice.
But from what Ryu could tell, it was unlikely that he would have the strength to deal with this mysterious floor of ice. Just from a logical perspective, even though the 13th root had managed to penetrate it, how was it that an Earth Grade treasure like this couldn't do what it was designed to do?
It had to be remembered that the base function of the Trembling Frost Fog Root was to increase the solidification and condensation points of objects. Ice like this should have long since been turned into water just by being in the vicinity of the Spiritual Herb, let alone while having its root growing within it.
And yet, it managed to remain a solid block of ice, one that Ryu could see, without the insolation of earth in place, was actually in the process of trying to freeze the remaining water in the area. If not for the heat Ryu was giving off, and the Trembling Frost Fog Root fighting back by a measure, Ryu might have been encased in a block of ice by now.
Ryu's gaze sharpened as he paid more attention to what was below.
There were three individuals in a state of meditation, but it was clear that this wasn't their choice. The cold qi in the surroundings had gotten so overwhelming that they had no choice but to do this.
There were two women and a man. The man and one of the women were especially blue in the lips and pale faced. From what Ryu could see, they were barely holding on. A slightly older woman among them who looked to be in her mid-20s looked like she was in a better situation, but the fact that she had to sit in meditation along with her companions instead of going to get help or even helping them herself likely meant that she was in a worse situation than it seemed.
Before the three individuals was the statue of a woman in a fighting stance, a current of flowing water dancing around her as though she was still alive. When Ryu's Spiritual Sense locked onto this water, he could feel it trying to erode his mind. No, maybe erode wasn't the right explanation. It was more like it was trying to convert all of his qi into cold qi so that it could take it on for itself.
'What a tyrannical Yin Water…'
Ryu's brows furrowed before they relaxed.
Just a small interaction with this flowing water told him all he needed to know. This treasure was likely the reason the three individuals below were in such a state and this treasure was definitely of a powerful origin.
Classifying Yin Waters was difficult due to their rarity. There wasn't a lot of information about them on Sacrum, and the Radiant Star Sect also didn't have much knowledge to give on the topic. However, Ryu only needed his Ice Phoenix Bloodline, or rather what remained of it, to understand the rarity of what he was seeing.
When Ryu thought to this point, he shifted, flipping over a palm and put on a silver mask. It was an Ancestral Grade item from Sacrum, but it was at best an Earth Grade item here. However, he didn't need it to hide his identity, he just needed it as a cover so that he could use his Void Spiritual Sense to obscure any attempts one might make to see his face.
What Ryu planned to do now could very well expose him, and in the case that happened, he wanted the freedom to go all out.
The Trembling Frost Fog Root didn't seem like that big of a deal anymore. That savage water that could even suppress three cultivators of that caliber below… he wanted it.
Because their auras were so restrained, it was difficult to tell exactly how powerful they were since Ryu still wasn't quite used to the standard of the True Martial World. But, he was still certain that they were at least in the Cosmic Seed Realm, like the World Sea Realm.
In addition, the fact they could be so young and still have such cultivation meant that they also likely weren't from the First Heaven.
Why would someone from a higher Heaven randomly come to a lower Heaven? In all likelihood, it wasn't random at all and this Ruin was their goal from the very beginning, but now they had been stuck here for an unknown amount of time.
Even though Ryu's actions now could be said to be saving them, he had been in the cultivation world for too long that such saving was never appreciated. Let alone appreciating him for taking away something they would never be able to control in the first place, he'd be lucky if they didn't spit in his face while ganging up on him.
In such a situation, Ryu had to be ready. And that, he definitely was.
Ryu crossed his legs and sat in meditation before placing a palm on the small cracks beneath him.
At that moment, Ryu began to communicate with the flowing waters, sensing the dancing golden runes within it. At the same time, he reached into the depths of his Bloodlines, remembering the feeling he felt when he forcefully awakened his Rebirth Talent.
Unlike the Rebirth Talent, this Yin Water Seed Talent of the Ice Phoenixes didn't need to be awakened. Although it was the core ability of the race, it also relied on external factors, so it had this sort of benefit to offset it.
At that moment, the illusion of a crystal blue seed slowly manifested out of Ryu's chest and the waters below surged.
In one moment, they were still flowing around the palms and body of the female statue. But in the next, they roared upward like an enraged dragon, shooting up toward Ryu.
BANG!