"You? You mean to receive the inheritance as well? Isn't there supposed to be only one inheritor?" Wei Zhao was briefly taken aback.

"Who told you that?" the Ice Palace Master shot back. "Did I ever say so?"

"No..." Wei Zhao shook his head. "But isn't that how it usually goes?"

"It is not. There need not be only a single inheritor — when several inheritors work together, the chances of opening Cloud-Tier Island are far greater!" the Ice Palace Master said.

"Fine. Since you put it that way, then naturally it can be done." Only after hearing the Ice Palace Master's explanation did Wei Zhao nod his agreement. "Give me the method for condensing the ice-attribute pill fire and the formula for the Ice-Heart Jade-Bone Pill to study."

Wei Zhao had no reason to refuse. He very much did not want Feng Xiaoxiao entangled in that scheme to open Cloud-Tier Island — the whole enterprise sounded dangerous — but if he refused, the Ice Palace would cease its efforts to save Xiaoxiao and leave her here to cultivate instead!

Just as Wei Zhao had said, there was no love without cause. If Xiaoxiao wanted to stay here, she had to pay a price; he and she could not possibly take all the benefits for themselves!

So the fact that Wei Zhao had managed to negotiate matters to this point already far exceeded his expectations. As long as he refined the Ice-Heart Jade-Bone Pill within two years, Feng Xiaoxiao would be safe.

"Very well. I will have Aunt Qing bring it to you in a moment." The Ice Palace Master was not one to hoard things. Though all of this was Ice Palace classified information, since Wei Zhao was Feng Xiaoxiao's boyfriend and Feng Xiaoxiao had remained at the Ice Palace, such secrets were no longer secrets.

"While Xiaoxiao is cultivating at the Ice Palace, may I come see her?" Wei Zhao asked.

"You may not — unless she breaks through to the Heaven Tier after receiving the inheritance, or you refine the Ice-Heart Jade-Bone Pill," the Ice Palace Master said. "I do not want you disturbing her meditation. You should understand — I am doing this for her own good!"

"Very well..." Wei Zhao clenched his fists. "I will become a third-rank or higher alchemist as quickly as I can, and refine that Ice-Heart Jade-Bone Pill for you!"

"Even once you have refined the Ice-Heart Jade-Bone Pill and may come see her, I must still warn you: before she advances to the Heaven Tier, do not cross the line. Once she has given her chastity away, she will have no hope of the Heaven Tier in this life!" the Ice Palace Master said coolly. "Do not ruin the rest of your life over a moment's pleasure!"

"That, of course, I understand!" Wei Zhao nodded gravely. He too knew that the Ice Palace Master meant well by Feng Xiaoxiao.

"Then it's all right if my husband Wei Zhao and I kiss and cuddle and hug?" Feng Xiaoxiao suddenly cut in.

"Ah?" The Ice Palace Master froze at once, half-choked by Feng Xiaoxiao's question, and a trace of a smile rose unbidden upon her icy face. "That is entirely up to you..."

Wei Zhao too did not know whether to laugh or cry at Feng Xiaoxiao's antics, and shook his head again and again.

"Don't worry, my husband Wei Zhao — Xiaoxiao will break through to the Heaven Tier as fast as ever she can! I won't keep you waiting long!" Feng Xiaoxiao said with perfect seriousness.

"Good... I'll be waiting for you..." Wei Zhao said with a smile.

"Since the matter is settled, the sooner the better. In a moment I will summon the members of the Ice Palace Elder Council, set up the incense altar, and take you as a disciple in my master's name!" the Ice Palace Master said. "Xiaoxiao, from this day on you are my little junior sister!"

"Oh..." Now that everything was settled, Feng Xiaoxiao actually looked a little unhappy. She was about to part from Wei Zhao, and the thought saddened her. What was worth rejoicing over, though, was that she could finally live again — and that she would have the chance to become a cultivator and accompany her Wei Zhao for all her life to come!

"That matter is settled, but there is still the other business. The Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit — you can hand one over this time, can't you?" Wei Zhao asked.

"What do you still need the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit for? Xiaoxiao is staying here; she has no use for it." The Ice Palace Master regarded Wei Zhao with some puzzlement.

"Xiaoxiao's mother has the same constitution and needs the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit to be healed," Wei Zhao said.

"Also a yin-cold constitution?" The Ice Palace Master's eyes blazed alight at once, as though she had chanced upon some priceless treasure. "Then... have her come to the Ice Palace to cultivate as well?"

"Can she still cultivate? Didn't you say one must not have one's chastity broken?" Wei Zhao asked.

"Ah — broken what?" The Ice Palace Master blinked.

"Don't be absurd. If her chastity had never been broken, where would Xiaoxiao have come from?" Wei Zhao was beginning to wonder whether this Ice Palace Master was not more than a little silly.

"Yes, yes... forgive me, it never once occurred to me." The Ice Palace Master colored with embarrassment. She had never experienced the intimacies of men and women, and the Ice Palace was entirely populated by women besides, so such knowledge was foreign to her; she understood it only vaguely — which was how she had very nearly made a fool of herself.

"Mama can still be saved?" Feng Xiaoxiao's eyes went wide with delight. "Is it possible? If Mama takes the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit, will she wake up?"

"In theory, yes," Wei Zhao said.

"Unless there is an urgent need for the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit to sustain her life, I would not advise her to take it." Now it was the Ice Palace Master who spoke. "Xiaoxiao, though your mother can hardly hope to advance any further along the path of cultivation, the yin-cold qi in her body is still there. Once you break through to become a Heaven-Tier expert, you may dissolve it for her and turn her yin-cold qi to your own use. That way you kill two birds with one stone, leave no aftereffects behind, and it is far safer than swallowing the Fire Spirit Sacred Fruit!"

"Oh? Then can you save my mama, Sister Ice — can you help dissolve the yin-cold qi inside her?" Feng Xiaoxiao asked eagerly.

"I cannot. Even if I could, it would amount to nothing but suppression." The Ice Palace Master shook her head. "Though I am a Heaven-Tier expert, my constitution differs from hers, and so does the cold qi within me. Only you mother and daughter share the same nature — your cold qi can dissolve one another's!"

"So that is how it is!" Feng Xiaoxiao nodded solemnly. "Then I must cultivate with all my effort and break through to the Heaven Tier as soon as ever I can, so that I can heal Mama!"

Feng Xiaoxiao also knew that her mother lay sealed within an ice coffin, so there was no need to rush matters.

Soon Xiao Qing returned, a small thread-bound booklet in her hand. She stepped into the guest room and passed it to Wei Zhao. "This is the mental cultivation method and oral mnemonic for condensing the ice-attribute pill fire, together with the formula for the Ice-Heart Jade-Bone Pill. It is yours now — do not pass it on to anyone!"

"Rest assured, Senior — I will keep it secret," Wei Zhao said with solemn gravity once he had taken the booklet.

"Mm. Since Xiaoxiao has joined the Ice Palace, you may call me Aunt Qing as well. None of this 'Senior' business — it is far too polite." Xiao Qing was a very amiable person and easy to talk with.

"Yes, Aunt Qing!" Wei Zhao quickly corrected himself.

"Xiaoxiao, Wei Zhao — I am going to prepare the ceremony for taking a disciple in my master's name. Let Aunt Qing stay here and keep you company!" The Ice Palace Master turned and walked out of the guest room.

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