Chapter 1495 — The Disappointed Ice Palace Mistress
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
The Ice Palace Mistress had grown up within the Ice Palace from childhood, becoming the closed-door disciple of the Grand Elder and the anointed next Mistress of the Ice Palace. Her childhood, therefore, had been a lonely one: no friends, no playmates, only endless cultivation through night and day. It was this that had made her nature so cold.
"Now I will announce the rules and the rewards of the trial!" Xiao Qing swept her gaze over the crowd and went on: "Those taking part in the trial may not drive. I will lead the way, and we will walk to the Snow and Ice Spirit Mountain. Along the way, spirit beasts may be brought, but no beast may exceed the peak of late-stage Mystic Rank; otherwise, the participant forfeits his place. Attendants and servants may be brought, but none above Yellow Rank, and servants and attendants may neither take part in the trial nor raise a hand. Nor may anyone injure another's servants or attendants during the trial. You may attack another's spirit beast, but you may not seize it."
These trial rules had stood for years. The assembled participants nodded one after another to show they understood. Spirit beasts were a thing few families possessed, and a weak one brought along would only be a burden. As for servants and attendants, these people were even less inclined to bring any; not one of them was a young master or a young lady who needed to be waited upon.
In truth, this rule had been drawn up in answer to the earlier trial rules: should a participant be beaten to death, his servants and attendants could carry the remains home for burial. But bringing attendants smacked somewhat of a want of confidence, and of ill fortune besides, and so this time no one had brought any.
What was more, the rules had been revised precisely so that an opponent could not be put to death, which made the bringing of servants and attendants all the more unnecessary.
"If there are no objections, I will speak of the trial's rewards. In the trial, the top three scorers will receive an additional reward from the Ice Palace, drawn from among the spirit medicines and heavenly treasures gathered during this trial!" Xiao Qing said. "And the top ten scorers will be eligible to become outer-court disciples of the Ice Palace, or to receive the right to exchange for a heavenly treasure. Does anyone have a question?"
"No..." The crowd shook their heads one after another. This was something already set out in the invitation letters, and as for the rewards, they naturally had few objections. Most of those who had come were aiming at becoming outer-court disciples of the Ice Palace.
"Good. Go and sort out your luggage and bundles. We set out in one hour!" Xiao Qing nodded. "In one hour, I will wait for you here."
"Yes!" The crowd nodded and answered one after another.
No driving... As far as Wei Zhao was concerned, walking was no hardship. The trouble was what to do about Feng Xiaoxiao.
Fortunately, it was bitterly cold here. Even without the ice coffin, Feng Xiaoxiao should be in no danger. But how was he to carry her?
As things stood, the best solution was to tie Feng Xiaoxiao to his back with a rope. During the trial, though, he would have to be especially careful and guard against the attacks of others; otherwise, if Feng Xiaoxiao were harmed, killing the offender would be of no use to him at all.