Chapter 1532 — Fifteen Days Later: "I'm Not Saying He's a Fraud, Only That His Power Is Too Low to Be Believed! Would a Third-Grade Alchemist Ever Deal With a Mystic-Level Master? Is That Realistic?" the Ice Palace Master Retorted

"Well..." Elder Qing fell silent for a moment. Discouraging as it sounded, the Ice Palace Master spoke only the truth. Not to speak of a third-grade alchemist, even the second-grade alchemist kept within the Ice Palace was proud beyond measure, showing respect only before the members of the Council of Elders and the Ice Palace Master herself, while toward all others in the palace he wore an air of lofty superiority and never deigned to regard them at all.

"Aunt Qing, let us go back," the Ice Palace Master said lightly. "It is time to rest!"

"Ling Yi... I wonder whether he can hold on? The disciples patrolling nearby report that he has never once left his place, nor eaten anything or taken any spiritual medicine. What strength of will must it take to endure until now?" Though Elder Qing spoke with a sigh, her words carried praise for Wei Zhao.

"I know. If he faints, Aunt Qing, you go and look after him," the Ice Palace Master said with a touch of helplessness.

The sun rose and the blizzard slowly died away. Because Wei Zhao had not moved all night, cultivating all the while within the jade pendant space, his body lay heaped with white snow!

"Hah!" Wei Zhao shook himself and flung off the snow from his body, and at once felt a rush of clarity and vigor. A night of cultivation inside the jade pendant space had left him without a trace of weariness, wholly untouched by the blizzard.

Elder Qing, watching from afar, could not help but be amazed to see Wei Zhao so bright and alert, and astonishment flooded her heart! After such a night of wind and snow, even if a Mystic-level master did not feel weary, he certainly could not look this invigorated!

How could Wei Zhao look as if he had just woken from sleep? Could a man actually sleep while standing in a blizzard? Elder Qing found it beyond belief!

Still, seeing him thus, her mind was set at ease. As for how Wei Zhao had managed it, Elder Qing did not much care. Every man had his own secrets, and she had no need to know his!

That Wei Zhao could defeat Zhang Naipao and Feng Nitian was in itself a most remarkable thing, so it was only natural that he should hold some hidden cards.

Seeing Elder Qing return with a calm expression, the Ice Palace Master asked curiously, "Is he all right?"

"He is fine, fresh and clear-headed, as if he had just woken up," Elder Qing said with a smile.

"How can that be? How is that possible?" The Ice Palace Master started. "Has he taken no spiritual medicine?"

"As far as I know, no. Nor does he look like a man who brought ample medicine up the mountain," Elder Qing said.

"Then let us watch a while longer?" The Ice Palace Master said no more.

In the blink of an eye, fifteen days passed. During that time, every morning and evening Elder Qing would steal a glance at Wei Zhao, and sometimes at midnight she and the Ice Palace Master would stand upon the high terrace to look down at him from afar, yet they never showed themselves before him.

This was a trial of Wei Zhao's will as well. Fifteen days of utter disregard would torment any man, yet fortunately Wei Zhao had endured strict training, and loneliness meant nothing to him!

Moreover, he had Xiaoxiao and the Thunder Pig for company. Though neither of them could speak, they made Wei Zhao feel that he was not alone!

And that was not all. The crux was that after fifteen days Wei Zhao still glowed with spirit, fresh and radiant, which left Elder Qing baffled. What had he been doing all these days? How could he seem no different from when she had first seen him?

He looked nothing like a man who had suffered half a month in wind and snow!

"Ling Yi, I have agreed to give you a chance. You may come with me now," Elder Qing said to Wei Zhao, her expression still cool and detached, betraying not a hint of feeling.

"Thank you, Senior!" Wei Zhao's heart eased at last. His persistence had finally moved the Ice Palace, winning him a chance to persuade the Ice Palace Master in person!

Elder Qing had only promised him an opportunity, but had never promised to give him the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit. That meant Wei Zhao must show ability enough to convince the Master of the Ice Palace before she would bestow it upon him!

"No need for thanks. What follows depends on yourself!" Elder Qing said faintly. "This is all I can do!"

Hearing Elder Qing's words, Wei Zhao's eyes grew moist at once! Clenching his fists, he said solemnly, "Senior, whether this succeeds or not, I will remember your kindness. Great kindness needs no thanks in words. One day, Wei Zhao will surely repay you!"

"Wei Zhao?" Elder Qing raised an eyebrow slightly.

"My true name is Wei Zhao. Ling Yi is only an alias." In such circumstances Wei Zhao saw no need to hide anything from Elder Qing. If the Ice Palace later found out he had used a false name, they would trust his claim of finding an alchemist even less. Far better to confess openly!

"You are honest enough." Elder Qing did not mind. To her, what Wei Zhao had done was perfectly natural. A rogue cultivator had no clan or sect behind him, and if during the trial he offended the disciples of some sect or house, he might well suffer vengeance from the powers behind them. To avoid such trouble, it was only reasonable for a rogue cultivator to enter the trial under an alias.

Elder Qing picked up the jade box and the stone tablet from the ground and led Wei Zhao to the reception room where they had met before. The Ice Palace Master was already seated in the place of honor, still in plain white gauze, calm as a light breeze, elegant and beautiful.

"Wei Zhao greets the Ice Palace Master!" Upon entering, Wei Zhao saluted the Ice Palace Master politely with clasped fists.

Wei Zhao could call Elder Qing Senior, for he felt she was a good soul, and indeed older than he! But to call the Ice Palace Master, such a young slip of a girl, Senior felt awkward beyond words, so he addressed her as Master, which was more proper!

"So your true name is Wei Zhao." How keen were the ears and eyes of a Heaven-level master? Earlier, from within the reception room, the Ice Palace Master had already overheard Wei Zhao confessing his real name to Elder Qing, so she was not surprised now.

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