"This damned simp is completely hopeless!"
Seeing that persuasion was useless, yet unwilling to abandon such a rare seedling, Alex could only speak with restrained helplessness.
"Fine. I promise you."
"If within one month you can break through from the Body Tempering Realm to the Core Formation Realm and make the most progress among your peers…"
"I will permit you to bring Isolde back to the family."
"Of course, the premise is that she herself is willing to return."
"It is a deal!"
Julian's eyes lit up instantly. He nodded heavily, secretly clenching his fists.
Even if it meant risking his life, he would complete the Saint Lord's requirement.
He would bring Isolde back.
…
Meanwhile.
More than a hundred miles north of the Hale family, deep within a dense forest.
Knox walked with his head lowered, his face dark and stormy, fury rolling within his chest.
Beside him, the Divine Blade Saintess Iris carried Isolde on her back. Her expression was cold and emotionless as she followed silently.
They walked for some distance.
At last, Knox could no longer endure it.
He stopped abruptly, turned around, and spoke with undisguised anger.
"Master, how could you compromise with someone like Alex?"
"It is one thing to hand over the Jade Sword and Blood Purification Bottle."
"But to offer your pure body as well…"
"With such conduct, how are you fit to hold the noble and holy position of Saintess of the Divine Blade Sect?"
A chill flickered across Iris's beautiful eyes.
She did not defend herself.
Her voice remained indifferent.
"Did I not do this for your sake?"
"If I had not agreed to Alex's demands, do you believe you would have walked out of the Hale family alive today?"
"Heh. Master, I am truly honored."
Knox's tone was laced with cold sarcasm.
"But did you ever consider me?"
"By doing this, what will the world say about me?"
"I allowed my own Master to be humiliated before the Hale family."
"Will I not become the laughingstock of the world?"
Iris's expression grew even colder.
To save his life, Isolde had lost her Seven Orifices Divine Heart and been expelled from her clan.
She herself had surrendered her only spiritual artifact.
Yet at this moment, Knox spoke only of his own reputation.
Not a single word of concern for either of them.
Iris exhaled slowly.
Carrying Isolde, she turned around without another glance.
Knox's anger vanished, replaced by panic.
"Master, where are you going?"
"Do not call me Master," Iris said flatly.
"You have called me Master for a few days."
"To save your life, I relinquished my spiritual treasure. I owe you nothing."
"Our master disciple bond ends here."
"From this day forward, the mountains are high and the roads are long. Whether in life or death, we shall not meet again."
"If you dare call yourself a disciple of the Divine Blade Sect again, do not blame me for disregarding past ties."
With those words, she carried Isolde away, not once turning back.
"Mas...Master, wait!"
Knox rushed forward in desperation.
He had barely taken two steps when Iris's figure blurred.
Her body transformed into pure sword intent and dispersed into the air, vanishing entirely.
His outstretched hand grasped nothing.
He stumbled and fell heavily to the ground.
"Master… Isolde…"
"No!"
Knox knelt there, roaring hysterically in grief and rage.
Not far away, concealed within the shadows of the forest, an old man watched the entire scene.
This man was Adrian, the Second Elder of the Hale family.
He specialized in movement and evasion techniques, capable of traveling a hundred thousand miles in a single day. His speed was unmatched.
Earlier, when Iris and Knox left the Hale family, Alex had transmitted a secret order, instructing him to follow and observe every move.
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
"This boy is truly foolish."
"The Saint Lord's only concern was his status as Iris's disciple. Disciples of the Divine Blade Sect are not easily offended."
"But now, Iris has severed their relationship completely."
"Without the protection of that title, what reliance does he possess?"
"Why not cut off his head now and present it to the Saint Lord?"
The thought formed quickly.
With a mere intention, a dagger appeared in Adrian's hand.
He began forming seals silently, preparing to unleash his divine speed and decapitate Knox in a single silent strike.
But at that exact moment.
Knox, who had been wailing on the ground, suddenly leapt to his feet.
"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Do not bully the young and poor!"
"You abandon me today. In the future, I will stand beyond your reach!"
"A single Cloud Piercing Arrow, and a hundred birds gather to behold the Phoenix!"
Knox produced a signal flare and hurled it toward the sky with all his strength.
The flare shot upward.
At its peak, it exploded with a thunderous bang.
Brilliant fireworks blossomed, illuminating the heavens.
The next instant, a piercing cry echoed from the horizon.
Spirit birds surged across the sky in overwhelming numbers.
Their spiritual energy roared upward.
Feathers of countless colors shimmered beneath the sun.
The heavens darkened beneath their wings.
At the center of the vast formation soared a Seven Colored Phoenix King bathed in golden radiance.
Its aura had reached the peak of the Mahayana Realm.
Within its eyes shone the majesty of the King.
A single glance could annihilate any cultivator below the Void Amalgamation Realm.
Adrian stood frozen.
His mouth opened unconsciously and remained that way.
On the back of every spirit bird stood a cultivator.
The weakest among them was at the Void Amalgamation Realm.
The strongest stood at the peak of the Mahayana Realm.
Any one of them could dominate an entire region.
Yet here they were.
Tens of thousands of experts filling the sky simultaneously.
The heavens and earth seemed to tremble beneath their presence.
At the very center, upon the back of the Seven Colored Phoenix King, stood a woman.
She wore a crimson robe.
A phoenix coronet rested upon her head, and a mantle of sunset clouds draped behind her.
In her hand, a scepter embedded with seven colored gemstones radiated the terrifying pressure of the Peak of the Supreme Realm.
Her skin was as white as snow, her beauty could topple dynasties, her figure was proud and alluring, her beautiful eyes were as brilliant as rubies.