Han Xuanji ignored the strange Nether Crow and instead explained to everyone:
" The Dao-Devouring Insect, a strange creature."
"They feed on the energy of the Great Dao of Devouring Principle. It seems your existence attracted them. After consuming the great formation, they conveniently entered it to devour your physical body..."
"No wonder the great formation malfunctioned! It's all over, everything's ruined. Will my main body be eaten up?"
The Nether Crow felt a chill run through it, while Han Xuanji glanced at it and replied:
"That's not quite it..."
"That's alright."
Just as Nether Crow breathed a sigh of relief, he heard Han Xuanji continue speaking:
"However, your essence has indeed been largely depleted... It's fortunate we arrived; if we had continued to drag this out, you might have been completely devoured."
"Ah?"
The Nether Crow's heart sank completely. It immediately let out a heart-wrenching scream, and as if struck by lightning, it fell straight backward, its small wings clutching its chest, looking as if it was about to die.
"Most of it gone? Waaah... My eons of painstaking cultivation of the origin! My foundation that has traversed the primordial era! All of it has been eaten like snacks by these damned little bugs! This is worse than being killed!"
Jiang Hao also looked at the other person with pitiful eyes.
This is indeed difficult to bear.
If most of his power were stolen, he would faint from anger.
"Um..."
Han Xuanji shook his head slightly, ignoring Nether Crow's dramatic behavior, and said no more.
He carefully observed the distribution and gnawing marks of the Dao-Devouring Insect with his Double Pupils, and combined this with the complete array diagram in his mind, he already had a plan in mind.
"The situation is not optimistic, but it can still be salvaged."
Han Xuanji spoke calmly, her voice carrying a reassuring power.
"Your core essence is damaged, but fortunately your vitality is strong enough. As long as your ninety-nine remnant souls merge and then take over your main body, you can still slowly repair yourself."
"However, the most urgent task is to get rid of these little insects."
Among these Dao-Devouring Insect are immature larvae, mature insects comparable to Golden Immortal, and even more powerful insect kings comparable to Daluo Golden Immortal.
Han Xuanji flipped his palm, and the emerald green [ Life Source Core ] reappeared, spreading out a gentle yet powerful vitality.
"This item contains the purest essence of the Great Dao of Life, an irresistible temptation for the Dao-Devouring Insect."
Han Xuanji explained:
"I can use this as bait to lure these insects out and then deal with them."
Looking at the crow staring at him Nether Crow, Han Xuanji continued:
"At that time, I will then merge your divided soul into one."
The Nether Crow, listening to the detailed plan, cawed excitedly:
"My lord! You are truly omniscient and omnipotent! I entrust my life to you from now on. I will do whatever you ask of me without hesitation!"
At this moment, it wished it could tear its heart out and show it to Han Xuanji, throwing all dignity to the winds.
Han Xuanji nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He held the emerald green [ Life Source Core ] in his palm. The pure life Dao origin aura it emitted was like a deadly bait for the Dao-Devouring Insect that fed on the energy of Principle!
In an instant, something unexpected happened!
The Dao-Devouring Insect that were originally attached to the cracks in the dark gold chains and even burrowed into the body of the Nine Nether Dao-Devouring Phoenix suddenly went completely mad, surging out from all directions like a bursting dam of dark gold!
Their numbers far exceeded expectations, and they instantly coalesced in the void into a dark golden swarm of insects composed of countless tiny insect bodies.
The swarm of insects emitted a dense, chilling hiss, their target clear, rushing towards the Life Source Core in Han Xuanji's hand like moths to a flame!
With a wave of his sleeve, Han Xuanji suppressed these ignorant insects.
Upon seeing this, the massive dark golden swarm of insects seemed to be drawn and compressed by some invisible force, and began to rapidly merge inward!
Their bodies melted and reformed, their dark golden carapaces shimmering with light. In the blink of an eye, the endless swarm of insects merged into a gigantic, ferocious dark golden insect!
This giant insect has hundreds of compound eyes that shimmer with chaotic light of Principle. Its mouthparts are like giant guillotines that can tear space apart. Its body is covered with an extremely tough carapace, and the energy fluctuations it emits have reached the Hunyuan level!
This is the Dao-Devouring Insect Worm formed by the fusion of all the powers of the Dao-Devouring Ancestral Worm.
Faced with deadly danger, the Dao-Devouring Insect unleashed the power it had been consuming for so long.
"Huh? It even has Body Integration?"
The Nether Crow was so frightened it nearly fell off Jiang Hao's shoulder.
"Also, it must be because it stole my power that it's so strong!"
After the Dao-Devouring Ancestral Worm took shape, its hundreds of compound eyes instantly locked onto Han Xuanji, who was holding the Life Source Core. It let out a sharp screech that tore apart the soul, and its massive body, carrying the power to crush the void, pounced towards Han Xuanji like a dark golden meteor!
"Careful!"
Jiang Hao exclaimed in surprise, instinctively tensing up.
Han You frowned, unconsciously gathering a terrifying ball of energy in his hand.
Normally, even Hunyuan expert would have to take this sudden and fierce attack seriously.
Han Xuanji's expression remained calm and composed. He didn't even take a step back, merely glancing indifferently at the ferocious giant insect that lunged at him, and uttering two words:
"Town."
Before he finished speaking, a small, dark banner that looked ancient, yet whose edges seemed to be draped with endless Chaos energy, quietly appeared above his head.
It is that supreme treasure, the Primordial Beginning Banner!
When the Primordial Beginning Banner first appeared, it did not unleash dazzling divine light or earth-shattering pressure; it simply swayed gently according to Han Xuanji's thoughts.
"Call!"
A stream of Chaos energy descended from the banner as if splitting the heavens and earth, seemingly slow, but in reality, it instantly enveloped the surging Dao-Devouring Ancestral Worm!
Where the Chaos energy flows, all things return to their origin!
The ferocious attack of the Dao-Devouring Ancestral Worm froze instantly. Its mouthparts, capable of devouring all Dao, were completely useless, and its dark Golden Armor, which could resist all laws, could not stop such power.
As the Chaos energy surged, the figure of the Dao-Devouring Ancestral Worm vanished on the spot, suppressed within the Primordial Beginning Banner. Its aura weakened, and it instantly transformed into numerous small insects, scattering away.
The Primordial Beginning Banner swayed gently before disappearing above Han Xuanji's head, as if it had only done a trivial matter.
In the vast expanse of heaven and earth, only the emerald green Life Source Core remained, radiating a soft glow in Han Xuanji's Han Xuanji, before being taken back by him.
The Nether Crow opened its mouth wide, making a "cawing" sound in its throat, but couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time.
Jiang Hao and Han You were also dumbfounded. Although they knew Han Xuanji was powerful, the fact that he could suppress such a powerful beast so easily was still beyond their imagination.
Han Xuanji's gaze swept over the chains, which had become much cleaner, and he said calmly:
"The pest infestation has been eliminated. Now, it's time to guide you back to your origin."
At this moment, the Nether Crow's eyes widened, its feathers bristled, and its mind was filled with the terrifying scene of everything Ruins of Return as the small black banner fluttered gently.
Upon hearing this, it immediately realized what was happening:
"Gah? You stole most of my essence to build up this Hunyuan level! And just like that, you... you took it all away in one go? Not even a trace left?"
For a moment, it didn't know whether to cry or laugh.