"Are you suggesting that Elder Bi might actually lay hands on those precious natural treasures and employ that secret method?" Zhao Qitan started in surprise. "Isn't that privilege reserved solely for the one designated as the next family head?"

"And what if Zhao Qibing has already been earmarked by the old master and Elder Bi as the next family head designate?" Zhao Qijiu countered.

"This..." Zhao Qitan hesitated for a moment, a flash of ruthless resolve darting through his eyes. "I care not a whit whether Elder Bi uses that secret method to elevate Zhao Qibing. But this time, I will prevail in the Ice Palace trial. I will enter the Ice Palace, become an outer disciple—or even an inner disciple. I will become the head of the Zhao family!"

"Shh..." Zhao Qijiu was nearly frightened out of his wits. "Young Master Tan, keep your voice down! Such words must never be spoken carelessly—mind that the walls have ears!"

"What harm is there in saying it here? The old master cannot hear us, and no one here knows who we are." Zhao Qitan smiled. "Do you know why my eldest uncle is so poorly regarded by the old master? Is it not precisely because he is too cautious and timorous in everything he does? As a matter of fact, the old master has no liking for such men. To be head of the family, one must possess the magnanimity and bold bearing befitting a family head—he simply hasn't got them."

"What you say is true enough, but a little caution never hurt anyone!" Zhao Qijiu said. "By the way, I noticed two cars parked downstairs just now—one with a local plate, the other from out of town. The locally registered one is most likely the innkeeper's, so there is no need to bother ourselves over that. As for the owner of the other car, he must certainly have come for the Ice Palace trial as well. The only question is which family or faction he represents."

"We'll find a chance this evening to make contact and see whether we can make a friend of him. Even if we cannot cooperate, it is best not to turn him into an enemy!" Zhao Qitan said. "In a trial like this, one more friend means one more road open."

"Young Master Tan speaks truly. Only, how are we to make contact? If we are too deliberate about it, it will look like pretense. The young scions of great clans are no fools." Zhao Qijiu observed.

"We'll see when the time comes. A chance encounter would be ideal. If it truly cannot be managed, we will simply go to his door in all frankness and introduce ourselves—there is no need to pretend at anything. Our purposes are the same in any case, and if cooperation is possible, so much the better." Zhao Qitan said.

Zhao Qitan wished to make contact with Wei Zhao, and Wei Zhao, for his part, naturally entertained the same intention of approaching Zhao Qitan, hoping to worm more intelligence about the Ice Palace trial out of the pair! Though Wei Zhao was loath to become embroiled in the trial—his only purpose in coming here being the search for the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit—since this area fell within the Ice Palace's sphere of influence, could there be some connection between the Sacred Fruit and the Ice Palace?

According to Zhang Liju, the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit was a supreme treasure. With so formidable a presence as the Ice Palace situated nearby, how could they possibly let so great a treasure slip through their fingers? The Ice Palace's might was plain to see from the caliber of the trial's participants—even members of the Hidden Zhao Family had come, and naturally, other hidden aristocratic families would be sending their juniors as well!

Thus, the Ice Palace's standing was obvious: it had to be an ancient sect, one of those hallowed lineages from ages past, for only an ancient sect could tower above the Hidden Zhao Family.

Therefore, Wei Zhao was set upon making contact with Zhao Qitan and his companion! Still, just how contact was to be made called for a certain finesse. Though Zhao Qitan and Zhao Qijiu were no less eager to approach him, being too overt about it would hardly do!

The inn provided no meals. Over these past few days, whenever Wei Zhao wanted something to eat, he went out and bought food from the little eating stalls in the vicinity; and on occasion, when he was deep in the midst of practicing his pill-fire, he simply forgot to eat. Not that it mattered—as a Xuan-rank cultivator, Wei Zhao could go several days without food and suffer no harm whatsoever.

Of course, abstaining for too long would not do either. A Xuan-rank expert was no immortal—unlike his Heaven-rank betters, he could fast for three or five days without concern, but after ten days to half a month, hunger would assail him terribly, for the rate at which true qi could be drawn from the outside world was nowhere near sufficient to replenish what his body consumed!

Wei Zhao, however, was a special case. The jade-pendant space held an inexhaustible supply of energy to restore all that he expended, and he had only to convert that energy directly into his own, doing away even with the step of spending true qi to renew his physical strength.

Glancing at the hour and judging that it was about time for the evening meal, Wei Zhao stepped out of his room. As he opened the door, he deliberately made a little noise. With their Xuan-rank cultivation, Zhao Qitan and Zhao Qijiu could hardly fail to detect the sound of his leaving—and besides, the rooms they had taken were not far from his own.

Sure enough, just as Wei Zhao had anticipated, moments after he walked out and shut his door, a guestroom not far off opened as well, and Zhao Qitan and Zhao Qijiu emerged together—only, when they saw that Wei Zhao was entirely alone, a flicker of surprise crossed their faces!

For you see, in the Ice Palace trial, each family or faction was permitted to field two participants, and most families did send a pair, for kinsmen could always look out for one another—far better than a single man going it alone!

Of course, exceptional cases existed. For instance, if the Xuan-rank juniors within a family were on bad terms with each other and bitterly contended, then, for the sake of safety, a family sending only a single junior to the trial was perfectly normal.

After all, if the two juniors dispatched were both cold-blooded by nature, there was every chance they would turn the trial into an occasion for cutting each other down. Should an accident occur, the loss would far outweigh the gain—not only would the trial's purpose go unfulfilled, but the family would have squandered two Xuan-rank experts in vain.

"What a coincidence! Might you be heading out for supper?" Zhao Qitan quickened his steps and asked Wei Zhao with a smile.

"Yes, I am. And what might you two be about... You two are new arrivals, I take it? I don't recall seeing you before." Wei Zhao was equally eager to strike up a conversation, so he seized on Zhao Qitan's opening and asked a question of his own.

"Yes indeed—we only arrived today. Our very first day here, knowing no one and nothing, and we were just racking our brains over where to get supper!" Zhao Qitan nodded. "This inn serves no meals, so we have to sort it out ourselves... Brother, why don't you come along with us? This younger brother here will gladly treat you!"