As countless parasites spread across the entire Hidden Ruins, another long howl echoed from the spatial rift. The parasites that covered the ground of the Hidden Ruins instantly formed ranks like an obedient army, ceasing all movement.
From the spatial rift, a monster with a worm's head and a human body slowly emerged. Its face was like that of a fly, covered in eyes, and just a glance was enough to make someone with trypophobia feel a sense of relief.
"That is the Marshal Worm Emperor of the Dark Side Legion. All the queen worms of the worm nests are under his command. Now that the Worm Emperor has descended upon the Hidden Ruins, it means the Dark Side Legion has been fully mobilized." Long Yao, standing behind Ye Ling, seemed very familiar with the Worm Emperor and introduced him to Ye Ling.
Ye Ling looked at the Worm Emperor standing in the void and asked Long Yao, "I suddenly remembered something… the Dark Side Legion seems to be a faction that split off from another world. Shouldn't those two factions be at each other's throats? Why have they united this time?"
Long Yao hid nothing from Ye Ling and said with a smile, "Naturally, they were manipulated. Whether it's the Dark Side Legion or the other world, they are just brainless fools. With a little effort from the Master, they were integrated together."
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to look at Long Yao, "So, after the Dark Side Legion and the other world broke through the barrier between the Void and the Dark Side of the Void, you have the ability to kick both factions out?"
Long Yao replied, "That is our secret… Of course, if you were to search my soul, you might be able to extract some information from my mind."
"Then let's forget it… Although we are enemies, you gave me the Great Transformation Heavenly Art, so you are at least half my benefactor. I don't want to use soul searching on you. If you don't want to say, then forget it."
Ye Ling smiled and shook his head. However, it wasn't entirely because Long Yao had given him the Great Transformation Heavenly Art that he wouldn't search her soul. The main reason was that Evil stood on Long Yao's side. Even if he searched Long Yao's soul, he would either get no useful information or be misled.
It was better to be straightforward and let Long Yao go.
After the Dark Side Legion descended, Ye Ling no longer intended to trouble Long Yao. He retracted the Shield of Immortality and said to Long Yao, "After the Dark Side Legion launches its attack, it will be a near-certain death for you to stay here, right? You should leave."
"Are you really going to let me go?"
Long Yao, having regained her freedom, looked at Ye Ling with surprise, not expecting Ye Ling to actually let her go.
Ye Ling waved his hand, "You should leave… Your strength is already far inferior to mine, and you will never be able to surpass me in the future. Killing you would be meaningless."
"Of course, if we meet again next time and you are still on the opposing side, I won't show any mercy."
"You still think there will be a next time meeting." Long Yao's face was filled with disbelief. "The Dark Side Legion's army has already arrived at the Hidden Ruins, and everything is set in stone. If you stay here, it's a dead end!"
"Perhaps." Ye Ling smiled, "Are you leaving or not?"
"You truly are an arrogant and strange fellow." Long Yao gave Ye Ling a deep look. "After you die, I will mourn you."
With that, Long Yao did not intend to linger there and left the Hidden Ruins, dragging her heavy body.
When the Worm Emperor, standing in the void, saw Long Yao leave, he made a grand gesture. The parasites in the Hidden Ruins then moved towards Ye Ling and Chu Yun, surrounding them heavily.
"Ye Ling."
Chu Yun approached Ye Ling and handed him the treasure that could shield against karma techniques, which she had taken from Long Yao. She asked in a low voice, "What should we do next? Fight to the death here?"
Chu Yun's plan, obtained from Ye Ling, was to deal with the judges of the Hidden Ruins and lure out the mastermind… As for what to do after luring them out, she had no idea.
"No rush, it's not time yet."
Ye Ling replied, took the prism-shaped crystal, and studied it carefully. He discovered that the crystal actually contained a magic formation constructed from runes.
"So runes also have the effect of blocking karma techniques. However, the internal structure of this crystal is incredibly complex, and I'm afraid I won't be able to replicate it in a short time. This must be Evil's work."
While Ye Ling was studying, the surrounding parasites, who were eyeing them menacingly, launched attacks on Ye Ling and Chu Yun. However, under the shroud of the Karma Mirror Domain, not a single parasite could get close to Ye Ling.
The Worm Emperor in the sky, seeing that Ye Ling possessed a karma technique similar to absolute defense, gave up on dealing with Ye Ling. He merely had the parasites surround Ye Ling and Chu Yun, while he himself flew towards the center of the Hidden Ruins.
He had another mission for coming to the Hidden Ruins.
"Ye Ling, the Worm Emperor is heading towards the center of the Hidden Ruins. It seems he doesn't really want to deal with us." Chu Yun immediately said to Ye Ling upon seeing the Worm Emperor's movements.
Ye Ling nodded slightly, "Yes, the center of the Hidden Ruins is the core of this continent. I estimate he wants to start from there, destroy the Hidden Ruins, and then break the barrier between the Void and the Dark Side of the Void to launch a full-scale invasion of the Void."
Chu Yun asked, "Then what are we waiting for? Aren't we going to stop him?"
Ye Ling chuckled, "The Worm Emperor's strength should be above mine, and with so many worm nests and queen worms, if the two of us rush over directly, it would be no different from seeking death."
"Moreover, the other world is cooperating with Long Yao. Currently, only Chan Si Tian has appeared from the other world. Stronger individuals are likely still hidden in the dark. Let's wait until they appear."
"By the way… how is Die doing?"
Seeing Ye Ling's calm demeanor, Chu Yun felt much more at ease and replied, "As per your instructions, Die and the Masters have hidden in the Star Devouring Abyss. As long as Vivian and the others arrive, all the masters from various realms can be rescued and returned to the Void."
Ye Ling nodded slightly, "With this, we only need to deal with the other world and the Dark Side Legion with peace of mind… This time, Evil and Bai Yue have finally gathered the Dark Side Legion and the other world in the Hidden Ruins. I must seize this opportunity to make a big move against them!"
With that, Ye Ling retracted the Book of Void into his body and directly sat on the ground to meditate and recuperate!
Chu Yun glanced at the dense parasites outside the Karma Mirror Domain, then at the meditating Ye Ling, and shook her head with a smile, sighing, "You fellow, I truly don't understand you more and more."
"However, the calmer you seem, the more mischief I feel brewing within you… Let me see how much trouble you can stir up?"
Saying that, Chu Yun also sat down beside Ye Ling and began to recuperate with peace of mind.
This vast Hidden Ruins had been occupied by countless parasites. The native creatures within the Hidden Ruins had all been devoured by the parasites. A pure land in the Void had now turned into hell.
And amidst this sea of worms, the place where Ye Ling and Chu Yun were was incredibly peaceful.
It was as if… the calm before the storm.