Embodiments of this application disclose a distributed retrieval method performed by a distributed retrieval system including a retrieval node and an access node. The retrieval node receives a retrieval request forwarded by an access node, at least two video memory blocks are searched for matching features matching a to-be-detected feature of an image, each video memory block being a unique physical storage unit with a fixed length, and then returns retrieval results to the access node, the retrieval results being used for indicating the features matching the to-be-detected feature. Because cache spaces are allocated between the at least two video memory blocks using a blockchain structure, the features can be continuously stored in the video memory blocks, thereby overcoming the problem of data discretization brought about by a storage hole caused by deletion in the related art.