"Stay by your side?"
"I am well aware that following a Fellow Daoist in my current state of cultivation would be nothing but a burden. However, I believe I possess some talent in the Dao of formations and spatial arts, which may prove useful to Fellow Daoist. Moreover, the Heavenly Phoenix Primordial Yin Qi within my body should be of great help in breaking through bottlenecks. As long as I can safely recover my cultivation, I am willing to transfer this qi to Brother Han." The Ice Phoenix's face flushed slightly red as she spoke.
"What? Fairy, you mean..."
"Fellow Daoist Han, please do not misunderstand. Our Ice Phoenix clan possesses a secret inheritance chamber that allows the Heavenly Phoenix Primordial Yin Qi to be expelled from the body without resorting to dual cultivation through a furnace. Of course, the effect is somewhat inferior to the latter method, but it is still sufficient to lend Fellow Daoist a helping hand." The silver-robed woman's expression returned to normal in an instant, and she spoke calmly.
"The Ice Phoenix clan possesses such a secret technique? If that is the case, Han will indeed need Fairy's assistance when the time comes. Very well, Fairy Feng may stay by my side and cultivate for now. However, there are certain matters I must clarify in advance, so that Fairy does not come to regret this later." A fleeting look of surprise crossed Han Li's face. After a moment's thought, he spoke solemnly.
"Brother Han, please speak!" Upon seeing that Han Li was genuinely considering accepting, the Ice Phoenix replied without hesitation.
"First, remaining by my side does not guarantee that you will truly be free from all worry henceforth. Setting aside everything else, the Demon Calamity that is about to descend represents a great tribulation for us existences at the Body Integration stage. Whether we can safely weather it or not, I cannot say with absolute certainty. Second, I carry certain secrets that I cannot allow others to know. If Fairy truly wishes to stay, then in all matters—whether it concerns daily cultivation or anything else—you must follow my instructions. If you feel you cannot abide by such restrictions, then Fellow Daoist Feng is free to leave. Finally, as a member of the demon beast race, when outsiders are present, you would likely have to appear in the capacity of a concubine or handmaiden. I fear this may cause some damage to your reputation." Han Li spoke at length, laying out everything one by one.
"The Demon Calamity? Though I know little about it, I imagine both the human and demon beast races will be affected. Even if I do not remain by Fellow Daoist's side, there is nowhere that is truly safe. With my current level of cultivation, if I were to seek refuge with some major power, I would most likely be used as cannon fodder. It would be safer to remain by Fellow Daoist Han's side. As for the other matters, I will naturally follow Fellow Daoist's lead in everything. As for appearing as a concubine or handmaiden—with Fellow Daoist Han's current status, if you truly wished to take a female cultivator at the Core Formation or Nascent Soul stage under your wing, I imagine countless families and rogue cultivators would be begging for such an opportunity. How could I possibly mind such a thing?" The Ice Phoenix smiled, completely unconcerned.
"If Fairy Feng has thought it through, then Han agrees to this arrangement. Take these pills and begin consuming them. Before the Myriad Treasure Gathering concludes, Fairy may cultivate in this secret chamber. Once I return to my own cave dwelling, I will make separate arrangements for a proper cultivation space." Han Li swept his hand over his storage bracelet and produced several jade bottles of various colors, tossing them to the Ice Phoenix.
The silver-robed woman caught the bottles one by one, opening each and scanning the contents with her spiritual sense. A look of pleasant surprise could not help but appear on her face.
"Brother Han possesses so many spirit pills for advancing magical power? If this is the case, then recovering my former cultivation is merely a matter of time."
"Heh heh, rest assured, Fairy. I may not have much else, but pills of the Core Formation and Nascent Soul tiers are well within my means. Whenever Fairy Feng is in need, you need only let me know. The higher your cultivation, the greater the effect of the Heavenly Phoenix Primordial Yin Qi on me. And in order to survive the Demon Calamity, I will most likely need to draw upon its power before the tribulation arrives." Han Li said with a faint smile.
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Han. Ice Phoenix is not someone who fails to appreciate kindness. I will never delay Brother Han's important affairs." The silver-robed woman smiled radiantly.
Her originally pure and peerless beauty suddenly became stunningly vivid, like a hundred flowers blooming at once, causing Han Li to stare blankly for a moment as he gazed at her.
Seeming to sense the hint of admiration in Han Li's eyes, the Ice Phoenix's jade-like cheeks flushed slightly red once more. She performed a curtsey and said:
"Since Brother Han has agreed, then I shall take the pills and begin cultivating immediately. The sooner I recover my magical power, the sooner I will no longer be a burden to Brother Han."
"Very well. I also need to sort through the treasures I obtained at the gathering. Fairy Feng, please cultivate well in this chamber." Han Li's gaze instantly returned to being clear and calm. After giving a slight nod, he turned and withdrew from the secret chamber.
Watching the sealed door through which Han Li had disappeared, the silver-robed woman's silver eyes shimmered with an unusual light for a long while before she finally released a soft sigh. She opened one of the medicine bottles, took out a fiery red pill, and swallowed it.
The woman sat down upon the meditation cushion where Han Li had originally been seated and began to refine the medicinal power.
At the same time, Han Li appeared in another secret chamber of identical size not far from this location.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, pinching a nearly transparent golden pill between his fingers, squinting slightly as he examined it.
"As expected of a pill renowned throughout the ages—it truly lives up to its reputation. I can only hope that when it comes time to break through the bottleneck, this pill will prove as miraculous as the legends say." Han Li muttered a couple of times before placing the pill back into its bottle and carefully storing it away.
Then, spiritual light flickered in his hands once more, and two items appeared simultaneously.
One was a golden scroll, and the other a golden pouch.
The scroll was naturally one of the three items exchanged from within the Blood Light, while the pouch was the second treasure Han Li had obtained through exchange from the Black Market at the very beginning.
Han Li first tossed the golden scroll into the air, letting it hover at a low altitude, before paying it no further attention. Instead, he solemnly brought the golden pouch before his eyes and loosened its opening.
Immediately, a buzzing hum rose from within the pouch, and a chain of green light shot out in rapid succession.
With a flash of green radiance, the light transformed into twelve green wooden rods, each several inches long, that chased one another ceaselessly through the upper reaches of the secret chamber, as though they had already developed sentience.