After a brief moment of contemplation, he moved his lips slightly several times.
Thousands of miles away, Ice Phoenix immediately heard Han Li’s voice transmitted directly into her ear. Though it was only a few short sentences, a look of great joy spread across her face.
"What’s wrong? Who’s sending you a voice transmission?" Six Wings immediately sensed the change in her expression from beside her and turned to ask.
"Fellow Daoist Han is not far from the formation eye ahead and is summoning me to come. Fellow Daoist Six Wings, would you like to come with me?" Ice Phoenix glanced at him and replied with a light chuckle.
"What? He’s the one guarding this formation eye?" Six Wings’ expression changed dramatically upon hearing this.
"What’s the matter, Brother Six Wings? Are you unwilling to go?" Ice Phoenix raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Hmph! If I go, who will oversee the Cosmos Dharma Treasure below? If you want to see him, go yourself." Six Wings’ face fluctuated between shadowy emotions for a moment before he said coldly.
"Brother Han asked me to pass on a message: if you wish to perish here, you’re welcome to stay. But if you want to keep your wretched life, you’ll come with me to see him. As for that True Spirit before us, once it breaks free, he will deal with it personally." Ice Phoenix sighed and said.
"What does Han Li mean by this? Is he threatening me?" A sinister look flashed across Six Wings’ face.
"I’ve delivered the message. Whether you believe it is up to you." Ice Phoenix giggled, made a hand seal with one hand, and was enveloped in a swirl of rosy light. She then transformed into a streak of rainbow light and shot off into the sky.
Six Wings made no move to stop her, but as he gazed in the direction of the departing rainbow light, his expression remained dark and uncertain for quite some time.
Finally, he suddenly stamped his foot and said through gritted teeth:
"Since you’ve already discovered me, then I really will go see my former master! No matter what, I have also become a being of the same cultivation level as you. Could it be that I would truly fear you!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a fluctuation arose behind him. Three pairs of transparent cicada wings appeared simultaneously. With a gentle flap, they emitted a "swoosh" and he transformed into a ball of crystal light, also shooting up into the sky.
He had truly abandoned the massive white light formation below.
Without anyone personally overseeing it, the colossal light formation immediately dimmed, its power seemingly dropping by twenty to thirty percent in an instant.
The enormous black shadow trapped inside immediately sensed the difference and struggled even more desperately. Roars shook the heavens, and booming sounds echoed loudly.
The very next moment, the entire light formation began to tremble violently...
...
"Brother Han, you really are here. This is wonderful!"
The rainbow light receded.
Ice Phoenix materialized in the air above the altar. Looking down at Han Li, who had already risen to his feet, she spoke with a mixture of surprise and delight.
The guards near the golden pillars around them, having received Han Li’s instructions, did not obstruct her approach to the altar. They all remained motionless where they stood.
"Fellow Daoist Ice Phoenix, it’s been a while. Your cultivation has grown considerably. The Ice Phoenix body is truly extraordinary," Han Li said with a faint smile.
"Brother Han jests. My modest gains are nothing compared to yours, worlds apart. Even while traveling outside, I often hear of Brother Han’s renown," Ice Phoenix replied with a charming smile. She then slowly drifted down from above, landing directly in front of Han Li.
"Han would much rather do without such fame. Otherwise, this sort of life-or-death business wouldn’t have found its way to me for no reason. Oh, Six Wings is here too. Wait a moment, I have a few words to say to him first." After speaking a couple of sentences, a blue light flashed in Han Li’s eyes, and he gazed toward the distant horizon.
"Brother Han, be careful. After achieving the Mahayana stage, Six Wings’ abilities are also formidable. He is particularly skilled in a mysterious escape technique; even that True Immortal couldn’t catch up to him for a time," Ice Phoenix said naturally, stepping aside and offering a cautious reminder.
"Oh? An escape technique even a True Immortal cannot match? Given the chance, Han would indeed like to witness it," Han Li said, actually showing a bit of interest.
Just then, a "swoosh" sounded from the distant sky, and a ball of crystal light shot toward them through the air.
The surrounding merchant alliance guards stirred, but after Han Li calmly stated, "The newcomer is a friend, not an enemy," they immediately settled down again.
The crystal light flashed.
Six Wings, his face as dark as water, also appeared in the air above the altar. He lowered his head to glance at Han Li, then spoke in an expressionless tone:
"If you wanted to see me, why didn’t you come yourself? You even said words about perishing here if I didn’t come. Did you really think I would believe that!"