Terror.
Boundless terror surged through their hearts.
The atmosphere inside the ancestral hall had turned icy, heavy enough to suffocate. Even breathing felt difficult, as though invisible hands were tightening around their throats.
Now, even Knox regretted it.
If he had known that things would end like this, he would never have dared to come knocking on Alex's door, no matter how confident he had been.
But why?
He could not understand it.
Everything had gone according to plan. Isolde had spoken. Alex had been provoked. This should have ended the same way he predicted.
And yet, the result was completely different.
Just as Knox and Isolde were sinking deeper into fear, Alex spoke again.
"However, I would be more than happy if a shameless woman like you wanted to leave the Hale family."
Alex's tone suddenly changed.
It softened.
At least, that was how it sounded.
The moment those words entered her ears, Isolde's eyes lit up. She let out a long breath, her chest rising and falling heavily as relief washed over her.
Yes.
This was the Alex she knew.
The Saint Lord who doted on her endlessly.
He had only been stubborn earlier, maintaining his dignity in front of others. Deep down, he was still soft-hearted.
Knox's heart leapt with joy.
So the plan had not failed.
Alex was still the same man when it came to Isolde.
As long as Isolde was involved, Alex would always compromise.
Even the Hale family members reacted.
At first, when they saw Alex's anger, many had secretly rejoiced. They thought Isolde would finally suffer consequences for her betrayal.
But now that Alex's tone had softened, disappointment spread across their faces.
One by one, elders lowered their heads. Discontent flickered in the eyes of the younger disciples.
Forgiven again?
After committing such a serious offense?
Holy Lord, how can you be so unfair?
Indignation burned in their hearts, yet no one dared to speak.
Alex's authority within the Hale family had been built over countless years of blood and ruthlessness. No one dared to openly defy him.
Just when everyone believed the situation would end the same way as before, with Alex yielding once again, his voice rang out.
"You can leave."
The hall grew quiet.
Then he added calmly,
"The Seven Orifices Divine Heart will remain here."
For an instant, the world seemed to stop.
Complete silence engulfed the ancestral hall.
Everyone froze, staring at Alex as if they had misheard him.
Leave behind the Seven Orifices Divine Heart.
Those words echoed in their minds.
Isolde's pupils shrank violently. Knox's smile froze on his face. Even the Hale family elders stared at Alex in disbelief.
Because everyone knew what that meant.
The Seven Orifices Divine Heart was a external treasure.
But, It was still her heart.
To leave it behind was no different from tearing her heart out.
No one had expected this.
Not even in their wildest dreams.
Alex, who had doted on Isolde to the point of indulgence, could actually be so ruthless.
Isolde's face turned deathly pale.
Her delicate body trembled uncontrollably, as if all strength had been drained from her.
Fear filled her heart.
Until this moment, she finally understood.
Alex had changed.
He was no longer the Saint Lord who would smile and forgive her no matter how outrageous her behavior.
This time, he was serious.
Truly serious.
Otherwise, how could he make such a demand?
"Alex Hale!"
A furious shout broke the silence.
Knox stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger and panic.
"How can you be so vicious? You actually want to rip out Isolde's heart! Are you even human?"
As the protagonist, Knox could not remain silent.
No matter how Alex punished Isolde, he could endure it.
But this was different.
He could accept scolding, confinement, even severe punishment.
But removing the Seven Orifices Divine Heart was unacceptable.
That heart was essential to his future plans.
Isolde's keen insight, terrifying comprehension, and precise judgment were all tied to it.
Without it, many of the paths he intended to walk would collapse before they even began.
In his desperation, Knox forgot everything else.
He forgot where he was.
He forgot who he was facing.
He spoke without restraint.
And that was his greatest mistake.
The moment his words fell, a terrifying aura erupted from Alex's body.
It swept across the hall like a raging tide.
Boom!
The air trembled.
Knox's expression changed drastically.
Under that overwhelming pressure, his body shook violently. It felt as though a mountain had descended upon him, crushing him from all directions.
His legs gave out.
His knees slammed heavily onto the stone floor.
"Ah!"
A hoarse cry escaped his throat.
Knox's eyes turned bloodshot as pain and humiliation surged through his body.
Since birth, his life had been smooth.
Even when villains attempted to suppress him, they were always only slightly stronger than him, strong enough to be overcome through effort and luck.
Never before had he been crushed so completely.
Never before had he been forced to kneel like this.
In cultivation novels, if a protagonist suffered such humiliation, readers would rage, curse the author, and abandon the story.
But reality did not care.
Alex was not a stepping stone.
He was the strongest villain of the early and middle stages.
Their cultivation levels were worlds apart.
To Alex, crushing Knox was easier than crushing an ant.
Though Knox was protected by destiny and fate, Alex knew he could not kill him yet.
But suppressing him, humiliating him, and making him kneel carried little consequence.
At most, he would suffer a slight backlash of bad luck.
Nothing more.
Alex looked down at the kneeling figure.
His eyes were cold.
Emotionless.
"Mere ant."
His voice was calm, yet it carried terrifying authority.
"What gave you the courage to shout at me and address me by my full name?"