Chapter 1827: Meeting an Old Acquaintance Once Again

The entire Black Domain Assembly lasted nearly a full day and night.

By the time Han Li returned to his residence on Nine Immortals Mountain, it was already the morning of the second day.

After summoning Hai Dashao and the other disciple, he learned that nothing unexpected had occurred during his absence, which eased his mind.

Dismissing the two nominal disciples, he entered a secluded chamber and settled onto a meditation cushion.

With a flick of his wrist, a blue spirit beast ring materialized between his fingers. He tossed it into the air, and a blue mist unfurled from the ring, revealing a crystalline ice cage suspended before him.

Inside the cage, a half-foot-long snow-white ice phoenix, clearly startled by Han Li’s sudden release, swiftly flapped its wings. A silver halo radiated from its body, instantly obscuring its form before it cast a wary glance at Han Li.

“It’s you? How is this possible?” Upon recognizing Han Li’s face, the spirit bird’s silver eyes widened in disbelief, and it blurted out in human speech—a melodious yet slightly chilly young woman’s voice.

“Fairy Phoenix, it’s been many years. I never expected to meet you here,” Han Li sighed as he gazed at the ice phoenix in the cage.

This ice phoenix was none other than the “Fairy Phoenix” who had once crossed the spatial node with him from the human realm, only to be separated by spatial storms.

Back then, she had been the supreme ruler of the icy seas in the human realm. Yet now, after just a few centuries, she had fallen so low that she could no longer even assume human form and had been sealed as a spirit beast in this cage.

The sight stirred mixed emotions in Han Li. As a fellow “stowaway” to the Spirit Realm, seeing her again evoked an indescribable sense of nostalgia.

That was why, the moment she appeared at the exchange meeting, he had stepped forward without hesitation to trade for her.

“So it really is Brother Han! Then the one who exchanged for me at the assembly must have been you as well. Have you… advanced to the Void Refinement stage?” Though her voice remained cool, a faint tremor betrayed her emotions.

“Indeed, it was me. As for my cultivation, you’ll learn soon enough. I truly never imagined encountering you at the Black Domain exchange. It seems fate has brought us together again. But enough talk—let’s free you first.” Without delay, Han Li flicked a finger, sending a streak of green light toward the gold and silver talismans on the cage.

The talismans glowed brightly before fluttering down, and the cage creaked open.

“Thank you, Fellow Daoist Han, for your great kindness!”

Though still wary, the ice phoenix couldn’t hide her joy. With a flap of her wings, she transformed into a ball of white light and soared out of the cage.

Silver radiance shimmered around her as she expanded to her original half-zhang-long form, her feathers glistening like carved ice.

“Unfortunately, I lack the power to shapeshift and can only converse in this form. How embarrassing,” she said, shaking her head as she stretched her elegant body.

“No matter. With your foundation, restoring your shapeshifting abilities will be effortless once the seal in your body is lifted,” Han Li remarked with a light chuckle.

“Brother Han has noticed. That old monster at the Body Integration stage placed some unknown restriction on me. According to him, only someone of the same cultivation level can undo it.” Clearly assuming Han Li was still at the Void Refinement stage, she sighed helplessly.

“Is that so? Let me try.” Han Li smiled, then moved swiftly, pressing a jade-like palm against one of her icy wings.

A surge of five-colored flames erupted, flooding into her body like a tidal wave.

The phoenix felt an icy spiritual force course through her meridians, shattering the layers of restrictions within her like a raging storm.

Overjoyed yet stunned, she realized that if Han Li could undo the seal so effortlessly, he must have reached the Body Integration stage.

This was beyond belief.

While she could grudgingly accept Han Li advancing to Void Refinement in a few centuries, leaping straight to Body Integration seemed almost heaven-defying.

As the last of the restrictions dissolved, she opened her mouth to speak—but then froze.

The icy spiritual force in her meridians suddenly reversed direction, surging toward her dantian and merging into her demon core.

Though alarmed, she found herself powerless to resist under Han Li’s overwhelming control.

Moments later, her aura skyrocketed, breaking through a critical threshold.

With a muffled *pop*, a dazzling white light erupted from her body, engulfing her completely.

Only then did Han Li withdraw his hand with a faint smile.

The light swirled and faded, revealing a silver-robed woman standing gracefully before him—the ice phoenix, now restored to human form.

“Thank you for your aid, Fellow Daoist!” The woman, unable to conceal her excitement, inspected her restored body before bowing deeply in gratitude.

“No need for formalities. Without our joint efforts back then, I’d never have crossed the spatial node to reach the Spirit Realm alone. That burst of spiritual energy I sent you, though aligned with your innate attributes, is only temporary. To maintain this form permanently, you must begin secluded cultivation immediately. Otherwise, once the energy dissipates, you’ll revert,” Han Li cautioned.

“Naturally. With your assistance, regaining my Deity Transformation stage should take far less time. It seems you’ve truly ascended to unfathomable heights—Body Integration! Should I address you as ‘Senior Han’ now?” Her gaze held a peculiar light as she studied him.

“My advancement was mere luck. With your ice phoenix bloodline, reaching Body Integration is inevitable. Since you’re the only familiar face from the human realm I’ve encountered here, let’s remain equals. Titles would only make me uncomfortable,” Han Li replied dismissively.

“If you insist, then I’ll take the liberty of staying informal.” Seeing his sincerity, she acquiesced without further protest.

“Still, after we were separated at the spatial node, how did you end up captured?” Han Li couldn’t help asking.

“My current state… is partly your fault,” she admitted wryly, a bitter smile touching her lips.

“Did the restriction I placed on you act up?” Han Li blinked, then nodded in realization.

“Exactly. Your seal was incredibly intricate. It took me nearly a century to barely suppress it, leaving me severely weakened. That’s when a group of lowlifes attacked.

“Though I escaped using a secret art, my cultivation plummeted several levels, reducing me to this state. Ironically, it was that old Body Integration monster who saved me—only to later imprison me as a spirit beast when I couldn’t shapeshift. He wanted me as his life-bound pet, but I refused, hence this cage.”

“I see. Do you know that old monster’s identity?” Han Li asked thoughtfully.

“Not at all. He’s a master of illusions, constantly changing his appearance and dwelling. I couldn’t pierce his disguise. But I’m certain he’s a human demonic cultivator, not one of our kind.”

“Demonic cultivator? There are only a handful of notable Body Integration demonic cultivators among humans. He must be one of them.” Han Li mused.

“Whoever he is, he saved me once but then enslaved me. We’re even.” She showed no resentment—whether out of genuine detachment or resignation to her inability to retaliate.

Han Li smiled slightly but changed the subject. “Now that you’re free, what are your plans? Will you return to the demon races? The Black Phoenix Clan shares your heavenly phoenix bloodline. They might offer shelter.”

“Black Phoenix Clan?” Her face darkened with fury. “The ones who attacked me, crippling my cultivation, *were* Black Phoenix elites! Returning now would be like offering myself to wolves.”

Han Li was taken aback but pressed on. “They harmed you? That complicates matters. What do you intend to do, then?”

“I’d like to stay by your side until I recover. Given your status, protecting me should be trivial. At my current level, alone and in this form, trouble would find me no matter where I hid. My fate could be worse than today’s.” After a long hesitation, she voiced her plea.