Chapter 1846: Goodbye Old Friend

The Black Domain Assembly spanned nearly a full day and night. Han Li returned to his Nine Immortal Mountain residence on the morning of the second day. He summoned Hai Dashao and the other disciple. Learning that nothing unexpected had transpired during his absence, he felt a sense of relief. After dismissing his two registered disciples, he entered his private chamber and sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion.

With a flick of his wrist, a blue spirit beast ring appeared on his finger, and he tossed it into the air. A blue mist streamed from the ring, and a crystalline ice cage materialized before him. Inside the ice cage, a half-foot-long snow-white Ice Phoenix, clearly not expecting Han Li to release it so quickly, rapidly flapped its wings. A silver halo emanated from its body, instantly shrouding its form, before it cast a wary glance at Han Li.

"It's you! How is this possible!" As soon as it recognized Han Li's face, an expression of disbelief immediately appeared in the spirit beast's silver eyes, and it gasped out in human speech. It was a pleasant, young woman's voice, though slightly cold.

"Fairy Feng, it's been many years. I never expected us to meet here," Han Li sighed, looking at the Ice Phoenix in the cage. This Ice Phoenix was, of course, the "Fairy Feng" who, years ago, had entered the spatial node with him from the Human Realm but was forcibly separated by a spatial storm. Back then, she was the 'Lord of the Ice Sea,' a top-tier existence in the Human Realm. Yet, after only a few centuries, she had fallen to a state where she couldn't even transform into human form and was sealed in a cage, treated as a spirit beast. Seeing this, Han Li couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. Moreover, encountering this Ice Phoenix, a companion with whom he had covertly entered the Spirit Realm, brought forth an ineffable sense of nostalgia for an old acquaintance. That was why, at the exchange meeting, upon seeing her presented, he immediately stepped forward and exchanged for her without hesitation.

"It really is Brother Han! So, the person who exchanged for me at the assembly was also you. Have you already advanced to the Refinement Void stage?" The Ice Phoenix's voice was still exceptionally cold, but it trembled slightly. "Indeed, it is I. As for my cultivation level, you will soon know. I truly never expected to encounter you, Fairy, at the Black Domain exchange. One might say we are quite fated. Let's put other matters aside for now; first, I'll release you." Han Li did not hesitate. A green light flashed on one of his fingers as he pointed at the gold and silver talismans on the ice cage. Immediately, those talismans shone brightly and floated down, and at the same time, the ice cage opened with a creaking sound.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Han, for your great kindness!" Although the Ice Phoenix still felt some surprise and doubt, it naturally rejoiced upon seeing this. With a flap of its wings, it transformed into a ball of white light and flew out of the ice cage. Then, silver light flickered on its body, rapidly expanding to its original half-zhang length. Its feathers glittered translucently, as if carved entirely from profound ice.

"Unfortunately, I currently lack the power to transform, so I can only speak with you in this form. I'm truly ashamed!" the Ice Phoenix said, shaking its head slightly as it gracefully stretched its body.

"It's nothing. Given your foundation, Fairy, recovering your transformation cultivation will be an easy matter once the seal within you is removed," Han Li said with a light chuckle, glancing at the Ice Phoenix.

"Brother Han, you've noticed. That old Body Integration stage monster placed an unknown restriction within my body, which is quite troublesome. According to him, it seems only someone also at the Body Integration stage can remove it," the Ice Phoenix said with a helpless glint in its silver eyes, clearly assuming Han Li was a cultivator at the Refinement Void stage.

"Hehe, is that so? Let me try!" Han Li chuckled, then moved. A hand as white as jade suddenly shot out and struck one of the Ice Phoenix's icy wings. Immediately, a surge of five-colored light flames rolled out, surging like a tide into the Ice Phoenix's body. Fairy Feng felt a strange cold spiritual power instantly flow through all her meridians, like tumultuous waves, scattering and loosening the layers of restrictions and seals within her body. At this, she was greatly delighted, but also deeply shocked. The other party could so easily remove the seals within her body—could he already be a Body Integration stage existence? This was too unbelievable. If Han Li had a fortuitous encounter and advanced to the Refinement Void stage within a few centuries, she would have found it barely acceptable. But to say he advanced to the Body Integration stage, that was simply too defying of nature.

The Ice Phoenix's thoughts raced. After feeling the restrictions within her body completely broken by the cold current, a glint flashed in her eyes, and she wanted to say something to Han Li. But the next moment, the situation within her body changed, making her heart clench, and the words she was about to utter were swallowed back. The cold current flowing throughout her meridians suddenly changed direction, surging towards her Dantian and disappearing into her demonic core. The woman felt some surprise and doubt, but under Han Li's powerful true essence control, her demonic core was unable to refuse anything and could only passively accept the infusion of this strange cold spiritual power. In a short while, her aura rapidly ascended, breaking through a certain limit in the blink of an eye. After a muffled 'bang,' a dazzling white light erupted from her body, completely engulfing the Ice Phoenix's form. At this point, Han Li smiled slightly and withdrew his hand.

The dazzling white light swirled for a moment, then instantly receded, revealing a stunning silver-robed woman before him. The Ice Phoenix had actually transformed back into human form. "Thank you for your assistance, Fellow Daoist!" The silver-robed woman could barely conceal a trace of excitement on her face. She looked at her restored, delicate body, then gratefully bowed to Han Li.

"No need for such courtesy, Fairy! Back then, if not for our concerted efforts, I alone would never have been able to cross the spatial node and reach the Spirit Realm. Moreover, the true essence I just passed to you, while matching your own attributes, only temporarily grants you the power to transform. If you wish to maintain your transformed state long-term, you must immediately enter seclusion for intensive cultivation. Otherwise, once this true essence dissipates, you will revert to your original form," Han Li said, waving his hand as a clear reminder.

"Naturally. With the assistance of your true essence, I believe I can save a considerable amount of time in cultivating back to the Deity Transformation stage. It seems Fellow Daoist Han's cultivation is truly profound and his magic power unfathomable, having actually advanced to the Body Integration stage! It seems I should address you as Senior Han from now on!" The silver-robed woman sighed softly, looking at Han Li with a strange glint in her eyes.

"My ability to advance to this realm is merely a stroke of luck. With your Ice Phoenix body, Fairy, advancing to the Body Integration stage should only be a matter of time. And among my old acquaintances from the Human Realm in the Spirit Realm, you are the only one. Therefore, it's better if we continue to interact as peers; otherwise, I would feel somewhat uncomfortable," Han Li said dismissively.

"Since Brother Han thinks so, then I shall presumptuously not stand on ceremony." The silver-robed woman, realizing Han Li's words were genuinely from the heart, for some unknown reason, did not insist further.

"However, after we were separated at the spatial node that day, how did you, Fellow Daoist Feng, end up being captured and in your current predicament?" Han Li couldn't help but ask about her unfortunate experience.

"As for my current situation, in truth, a part of it is indeed your fault," the Ice Phoenix said, her brows twitching and a hint of a bitter smile appearing at the corner of her lips upon hearing Han Li's words.

"Could it be that the restriction I placed within your body that day has acted up?" Han Li was startled at first, then said with a dawning realization.

"Indeed, Brother Han, the restriction you placed was truly profound. It took me nearly a century to barely refine it away. But because of this, my vitality was greatly damaged, and a group of minor characters came to take advantage of me. Although I eventually escaped by performing a secret technique, my cultivation realm dropped several levels, leading to my current state. To be honest, I was ultimately saved by that old Body Integration stage monster, otherwise my life truly would not have been preserved. However, after I could no longer transform, this old monster simply regarded me as a spirit beast, intending to make me his natal spirit beast. Of course, I refused, and as a result, he confined me in this ice cage," the Ice Phoenix explained.

"Oh, what is the identity of this old Body Integration stage monster? Do you know?" Han Li nodded, then asked, his heart stirring.

"This humble one truly doesn't know. This old monster is skilled in illusion techniques, constantly changing his residence and appearance, so I couldn't see his true face at all. I can only confirm that this old monster is one of your human demonic cultivators, not one of our demon race," the silver-robed woman replied carefully after a moment's thought.

"Demonic cultivator? Among our human race, there are only a few renowned Body Integration stage demonic cultivators. He must be one of them!" Han Li nodded, speaking thoughtfully.

"But as for who this person is, he saved my life that day, but then later forced me to be his spirit beast, so I suppose it evens out," the Ice Phoenix said casually upon hearing Han Li mention the blood-light person, showing no expression of hatred. It was unclear whether the woman truly thought this, or if she knew she couldn't take revenge on a Body Integration stage cultivator and thus had to speak this way.

Han Li listened and smiled slightly, not responding to her words. Instead, he changed the topic and asked, "Now that you, Fairy, have regained your freedom, what are your plans? Do you intend to return to the demon race? Among the demon races, the Black Phoenix Clan also consists of phoenix-type divine birds that inherit the True Blood of Heavenly Wind. You, Fairy Feng, also possess the Heavenly Phoenix bloodline, so if you seek refuge with them, you should receive some care."

"The Black Phoenix Clan? Hmph, the one who broke into my home that day and injured me, causing my cultivation to fall, was a direct descendant of the Black Phoenix Clan. If I go to them in my current state, it would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den," the silver-robed woman's face suddenly changed upon hearing the words "Black Phoenix Clan," and she gritted her teeth, unable to maintain her composure. Han Li was naturally greatly surprised, but after a moment's thought, he continued to ask, "A fellow daoist injured by someone from the Black Phoenix Clan? That's quite troublesome. So, what is your own intention, Fairy..."

"I want to temporarily stay by your side until I recover my magical power. What do you think, Brother Han? Although humans and demons are different, with your status as a Body Integration stage cultivator, you should be more than capable of protecting me. My current cultivation is too low, and being an Ice Phoenix, if I were to cultivate alone, no matter how far I hide, disaster might still find its way to me. By then, my fate might be even worse than today's!" The silver-robed woman's expression was uncertain for a while before she said this with some hesitation.