Early the next morning, Patriarch Shi appeared in the hall on the first floor of the pavilion with a respectful expression and reported to Han Li some of the words Ice Phoenix had relayed when he had seen her some time ago.
"In other words, Ice Phoenix really was abducted by that Six-Winged Frost Centipede, and he holds no small amount of hostility toward me," Han Li said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Ice Phoenix Fellow Daoist did indeed say as much. Furthermore, the reason Six-Winged agreed so obediently to serve as bait was that Senior Ming Zun promised to persuade you, Master Han, not to trouble him for a thousand years as a condition," Patriarch Shi said honestly.
"I see. By the way, did those protective treasures I had you bring along get passed to Ice Phoenix Fellow Daoist?" Han Li asked, his expression unchanged.
"I have already delivered them."
"That will do then. You may leave. When the great battle arrives, the farther you stay away, the better," Han Li nodded with satisfaction.
Patriarch Shi respectfully complied and took his leave, withdrawing from the pavilion.
In the days that followed, Han Li remained quietly in the pavilion, cultivating and resting his mind, with no intention of venturing outside.
During this period, not only had the other Mahayuma powerhouses arrived one after another at the Sky Beyond Heaven, but the Trade Alliance had begun deploying the Yin-Yang Dust Annihilation Formation within the Land of Ming Sha.
As for the supply location for the two Profound Heaven treasures serving as the formation's eyes, layer upon dense layer of restrictions had been erected around it. Aside from Ming Zun and a few Trade Alliance Elders, no one was permitted to approach within even a step.
As for the True Spirits Ming Zun had mentioned, they had yet to appear. Whether they were hidden away or simply waiting until the day of battle to be summoned, no one could say.
More than half a month later, while Han Li was sitting quietly in meditation within the pavilion, a fluctuation suddenly stirred before him. A crimson fireball shot forth and instantly burst apart into scattered sparks of flame.
A faint voice immediately echoed through the room.
"Fellow Daoist Han, that person is not far from the Land of Ming Sha. It is time for us to begin our part. Come at once to the same great hall where we last met."
Upon hearing these words, Han Li's expression turned serious. He formed a one-handed incantation gesture and transformed into a streak of cyan light that shot out at tremendous speed, piercing through the roof and vanishing in the blink of an eye.
A short while later, before the same grand hall where everyone had previously gathered, streak after streak of light converged from every direction, each one landing and materializing within the hall.
When Han Li arrived and his own light dissipated, more than a dozen Mahayuma powerhouses had already assembled. Among them were familiar faces such as Madam Wu and Yin Gangzi, but several new, somewhat unfamiliar countenances had also appeared.
One pair of male and female cultivators, whose features bore a striking resemblance to each other, immediately caught Han Li's attention.
Both appeared to be no more than twenty years of age. The man was handsome and cold, the woman beautiful and alluring, yet a layer of purple-red sinister energy emanated from their bodies, and the void within several zhang of where they stood would periodically distort and blur. The sight was utterly uncanny.
When Yin Gangzi and the others looked at the pair, their gazes all carried a faint hint of wariness.
Ming Zun remained seated in the seat of honor, listening to a report from a middle-aged man.
"Fellow Daoists Six-Wings have already lured that fierce demon to the edge of the Land of Ming Sha as agreed. At the current pace, he will enter the area controlled by the Yin-Yang Dust Annihilation Formation within two to three hours at most. All Alliance disciples and several Elders have already departed ahead of time and are in position. The spirit summoning ritual is also fully prepared and ready to summon those True Spirits to descend at any moment…"
"Good. In half an hour, we will begin the spirit summoning ritual. As for the Yin-Yang Dust Annihilation Formation, no one is to activate it without my command. All other matters will proceed according to the original plan. Shortly, I will join our Fellow Daoists at the prepared ambush positions. From there, everything will be left to me," Ming Zun said with a satisfied expression after hearing the report.
The middle-aged man nodded in acknowledgement, then shot off in a streak of light and departed in haste.
"You have all heard. Our Alliance has everything in place. As long as everyone acts together, we will certainly be able to suppress this True Immortal. However, let me speak plainly — if anyone shrinks from the fight when the time comes or harbors any other ideas, don't blame me, Ming, for casting aside old acquaintances without mercy," Ming Zun said to the assembled crowd, his expression turning grave.
"Heh heh, Brother Ming, rest assured. At a time like this, who would dream of backing down?"
"Indeed. Should anyone truly spoil things when the time comes, we will all strike together to kill them."
Several of the Mahayuma powerhouses spoke up, some with indifference.
The others expressed their agreement in turn.
"Fellow Daoist Ming, my sister and I have both arrived, yet we still have not seen any sign of Xuan Jiuling. Surely he has not changed his mind at the last moment and decided not to wade into these troubled waters?" the man among the newly appeared pair suddenly asked in a cold voice.
Yin Gangzi and the others' expressions shifted upon hearing this.
"Fellow Daoist Yun Dan, rest assured. Fellow Daoist Xuan Jiuling arrived two days ago. He merely needs to temporarily refine a high-powered secret technique and has been entrusted with a separate important task, which is why he has not shown himself until now," Ming Zun replied with extraordinary courtesy.
This pair of man and woman were indeed none other than "Yun Dan and Yue Shu."