Han Xuanji ignored the strangely squawking Nether Crow and instead explained to the crowd:
"Dao-Devouring Worms are a type of peculiar creature."
"They survive by devouring the energy of the Great Dao Law. It seems your existence attracted these things. After gnawing through the great formation, they conveniently entered the formation to feed on your main body..."
"I knew something was wrong with the great formation! It's over, completely over. My main body hasn't been completely eaten, has it?"
The Nether Crow felt utter despair, but Han Xuanji glanced at it and replied:
"It hasn't come to that..."
"That's good then."
Just as the Nether Crow relaxed, it heard Han Xuanji continue:
"However, your Origin has indeed been depleted by more than half... It's a good thing we arrived. If this had dragged on, you might have been completely consumed."
"Ah?"
The Nether Crow's hanging heart completely died. It immediately let out a Soul-piercing shriek, falling straight backward as if struck by lightning, clutching its chest with its small wings, looking as if it were about to breathe its last:
"Depleted by more than half? Wuwuwu... My Origin cultivated over countless ages! My Foundation that allowed me to roam the Primordial Era! All eaten as snacks by these damned little bugs! This is worse than killing me!"
Jiang Hao also looked at the creature with pity.
This was truly hard to bear.
If most of his power were stolen, he would probably faint from rage too.
"Mhm..."
Han Xuanji shook his head slightly, ignoring the Nether Crow's dramatic antics, and said nothing further.
He carefully used his twin pupils to observe the distribution and gnawing marks of the Dao-Devouring Worms. Combining this with the complete formation map in his mind, he already had a plan.
"Although the situation is not optimistic, it is still salvageable."
Han Xuanji spoke calmly, his voice carrying a reassuring power,
"The core Origin is damaged, but fortunately, your vitality is strong enough. As long as your ninety-nine remnant Souls are merged into one and then return to the main body, you can still slowly recover."
"However, the immediate priority is still to drive these little bugs out."
Among these Dao-Devouring Worms, there were immature larvae, mature worms comparable to Golden Immortals, and even more powerful Worm Kings comparable to Grand Unity Golden Immortals.
Han Xuanji flipped his palm, and the emerald green [life source core] reappeared, spreading a gentle yet majestic vitality.
"This object contains the purest Origin of the Life Dao. To the Dao-Devouring Worms, it is an irresistible temptation."
Han Xuanji explained:
"I can use this as bait to lure these worms out and then deal with them."
Looking at the Nether Crow staring eagerly at him, Han Xuanji continued:
"At that time, I will act to complete the Fusion of your split Souls."
Hearing the detailed plan, the Nether Crow excitedly squawked:
"Milord! You truly are omniscient and omnipotent! Little Crow dedicates this life to you; whatever you ask me to do from now on, I will do without question!"
At this moment, it wished it could tear out its heart to show Han Xuanji; all sense of dignity was tossed to the winds.
Han Xuanji nodded slightly and said nothing more. He held the emerald green [life source core] in his palm. The pure Origin aura of the Life Dao it emitted was like casting a fatally tempting bait for the Dao-Devouring Worms, which fed on Law energy!
In that instant, a sudden change occurred!
The Dao-Devouring Worms that had been clinging to the cracks in the dark gold chains, and even those burrowed into the main body of the Nine Nether Devouring Phoenix, went completely insane, surging out from all directions like a dark gold flood breaking a dam!
Their sheer number surpassed imagination, instantly converging in the Void Realm into a dark gold swarm composed of countless tiny insect bodies.
The swarm emitted a dense, scalp-numbing screeching sound, its target clear. Like moths to a flame, they charged recklessly toward the life source core in Han Xuanji's hand!
With a wave of his sleeve, Han Xuanji suppressed all these reckless worms.
Seeing this situation, the massive dark gold swarm seemed to be drawn and compressed by some invisible force, and it began to rapidly undergo internal Fusion!
Their bodies melted and reformed, their dark gold carapaces flashing with light. In the blink of an eye, the endless swarm fused into one gigantic, ferocious-looking dark gold insect!
This giant insect had hundreds of compound eyes, flashing with chaotic Law light. Its mouthparts resembled massive guillotines capable of tearing space, and its body was covered in incredibly tough armor. The energy fluctuations it emitted had clearly reached the Hunyuan Level!
This was the Ancestral Dao Devouring Worm, formed by the Fusion of all the power of the Dao Devouring Worm swarm.
Facing mortal danger, the Dao-Devouring Worms released the power they had devoured over a long period.
"Gah? It can even perform Body Integration?"
The Nether Crow was so scared its Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, nearly falling off Jiang Hao's shoulder.
"Also, it must be this powerful because it stole my energy!"
After the Ancestral Dao Devouring Worm formed, its hundreds of compound eyes instantly locked onto Han Xuanji, who was holding the life source core. It let out a sharp, Soul-tearing shriek, and its massive body, carrying the power to crush the Void Realm, lunged fiercely toward Han Xuanji like a dark gold meteor!
"Be careful!"
Jiang Hao cried out, subconsciously tensing up.
Han You also frowned, unconsciously condensing a ball of terrifying energy in his hand.
Facing this sudden ferocious attack, normally, even a Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Expert would have to treat it seriously.
Han Xuanji's expression, however, remained placid. He did not even take half a step back, merely glancing indifferently at the lunging, ferocious giant insect and softly uttering two words:
"Suppress."
Before the sound faded, a dark banner, seemingly ancient but with endless Chaos Qi flowing down its edges, silently appeared above his head.
It was the supreme treasure, the yuanshi banner!
The yuanshi banner, upon its appearance, did not erupt with dazzling divine light or earth-shattering pressure. It merely swayed gently following Han Xuanji's thought.
"Whoosh!"
A stream of Chaos Qi, as if splitting heaven and earth, fell from the banner. It seemed slow, but in reality, it instantly enveloped the lunging Ancestral Dao Devouring Worm!
Where the Chaos Qi passed, all things returned to their Origin!
The Ancestral Dao Devouring Worm's frantic lunge instantly froze. Its mouthparts, capable of devouring ten thousand Daos, were completely useless, and its dark gold armor, capable of resisting ten thousand Laws, could not stop this power.
As the Chaos Qi swept past, the figure of the Ancestral Dao Devouring Worm vanished on the spot, suppressed within the yuanshi banner. Its aura weakened, and it immediately dissolved into numerous small worms, scattering inside.
The yuanshi banner gently swayed, then disappeared above Han Xuanji's head, as if it had only accomplished a trivial task.
In the world, only the emerald green life source core remained, emitting a soft glow in Han Xuanji's palm before he retracted it.
The Nether Crow opened its mouth wide, making a "clucking" sound in its throat, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.
Jiang Hao and Han You were also dumbfounded. Although they knew Han Xuanji was powerful, suppressing such a fierce creature so effortlessly still exceeded their imagination.
Han Xuanji's gaze swept over the chains, which had become much cleaner, and he said indifferently:
"The worm infestation is cleared. Next, it is time to guide your Origin back."
At this moment, the Nether Crow's eyes were wide, its feathers bristling. Its mind was filled with the terrifying image of the dark banner swaying gently, reducing all things to nothingness.
Hearing this, it suddenly reacted:
"Gah? The Hunyuan Level power that Master Crow accumulated by having most of my Origin stolen! Just like that, it was... swept away by you? Not even a speck left?"
For a moment, it didn't know whether to cry or laugh.