However, within her eyes burned an arrogance that declared to the heavens and earth that she alone stood supreme.
That single gaze was enough to make distant observers tremble like frightened beasts. Any who dared harbor blasphemous intent would have their bodies destroyed and souls extinguished.
Though her beauty could overturn dynasties, not a single man present dared allow even half a stray improper thought to surface.
Adrian swallowed.
As the Second Elder of the Hale family, he was not some ignorant frog in a well. At a glance, he recognized her identity.
The cultivators mounted upon the spirit birds were all peak experts of the Heavenly Flame Dynasty.
And the woman crowned with a phoenix crown and wrapped in a sunset cloud cape was none other than the ruler of that dynasty.
One of the supreme powers of the Azure Origin Continent.
The Heavenly Flame Empress.
Aurelia.
Seeing Knox kneeling upon the ground with tear streaked cheeks and a disheveled appearance, Aurelia's brows knit slightly.
She stepped down from the Seven Colored Phoenix King and advanced slowly.
"Young Master Knox, it has been some time. Have things gone well for you?"
Knox lowered his head bitterly.
"To answer Your Majesty, this humble one… is fine."
Aurelia's tone was calm and indifferent.
"I fear that is not so."
"In the past, you aided Us in eradicating the rebel king and removing a hidden calamity for Our Heavenly Flame Dynasty."
"We gifted you the Heavenly Flame Cloud Piercing Arrow and promised that if you encountered difficulty in the future, We would personally lend Our aid."
"What misfortune has befallen you today that requires Us to descend in person?"
Aurelia's directness left Knox no room to maneuver.
He clenched his teeth.
"Your Majesty, today I have suffered the greatest humiliation of my life."
"Alex of the Hale family crippled my beloved, humiliated my Master, and reduced me to a laughingstock beneath the heavens."
"If this blood feud is not avenged, I, Knox, will not rest even in death."
"Alex…"
Aurelia narrowed her eyes faintly. A chilling intent flashed within her beautiful gaze.
"We have heard of this man."
"It is said he is ruthless and tyrannical, a domineering figure with blood stained hands."
"Your Majesty speaks truly," Knox said urgently.
"This humble one boldly asks for Your Majesty's assistance."
"Not only to avenge my grievance, but to remove a future threat for the Heavenly Flame Dynasty."
Aurelia fell silent for a moment.
Then she spoke evenly.
"Young Master Knox, put your heart at ease."
"You once rendered Our Heavenly Flame Dynasty an unforgettable favor."
"We will certainly assist you in avenging this matter."
Knox's face lit with excitement.
"Thank you, Your Majesty! Then let us charge into the Hale family at once and destroy that old thief Alex!"
"There is no need for haste."
Aurelia shook her head gently.
"The Hale family is a Saint lineage under the Heavenly Flame Dynasty. Their reputation is illustrious."
"For years, they have shown Us respect and have never fallen short on tributes of resources and spirit stones."
"As ruler of the dynasty, We cannot move troops without just cause and invite criticism from the world."
Knox's expression tightened.
"Your Majesty… then what should we do?"
"Rest assured."
Aurelia smiled faintly.
"Return to the capital with Us first and rest for several days."
"We will naturally craft a reason that convinces the people of the world."
"And ensure that Alex dies without grievance."
Hidden in the shadows, Adrian's throat tightened.
"So this is why that brat acts so secure."
"He dared offend even the Divine Blade Saintess."
"And now it turns out the Heavenly Flame Empress herself stands behind him."
"This Empress preaches benevolence and righteousness before the world, yet for Knox she intends to fabricate a charge against our Saint Lord."
"If one desires to condemn, a pretext will always be found."
Cold sweat formed upon Adrian's brow.
He prepared to withdraw at top speed and deliver this news.
But in that instant, Aurelia's gaze shifted sharply.
A trace of icy killing intent flashed.
"Who is there?"
With a casual wave of her sleeve, a dark red beam shot forth.
It struck Adrian's calf.
The pain was immediate and searing. His face turned pale. Cold sweat poured down his forehead.
Aurelia stood at the peak of the Supreme Realm, half a step into Saint.
She was even slightly stronger than Alex.
Adrian's cultivation was merely at the fourth level of the Mahayana Realm. He was no match.
Fortunately, speed had always been his specialty.
Even with the meridians in his calf severed, he executed his Divine Movement Technique.
His body transformed into a streak of light and fled into the distance.
…
Within the Saint Lord Manor of the Hale family.
Alex reclined in a grand armchair.
His eyes were closed.
On the surface, he appeared to be resting.
In truth, within his sea of consciousness, he was studying the undiscovered functions of his system.
What he most urgently wished to understand was the purpose of the Providence Points he had obtained.
A notification surfaced.
[System Notice]
[Because the host is not a chosen one, you cannot obtain Providence. Therefore, plundered luck and Providence from a chosen one is automatically converted into Providence Points.]
[Providence Points: Can be used to elevate cultivation, exchange for cultivation methods, secret manuals, spiritual treasures, medicinal pills and other resources, invest in family members, elevate family providence, etc.]
Below the explanation were two options.
[Personal Panel]
[Providence Secret Mall]
With a thought, Alex opened the Personal Panel.
[Personal Panel]
[Current Host: Alex]
[Identity: Saint Lord of the Hale family Saint Lineage]
[Cultivation: Supreme Realm Seventh Level]
[Cultivation Methods:
Rakshasa Water and Fire Incantation Lower Grade Supreme Tier
Rakshasa Soul Extinguishing Art Lower Grade Supreme Tier]
[Spiritual Treasures:
Rakshasa Demon Umbrella Lower Grade Supreme Tier Artifact]
[Bloodline: Rakshasa Abyssal Body]
[Providence Points: 1,500]
[Current Target: Knox Chosen One (Plundering in Progress)]
Alex nodded faintly in satisfaction.
This was a classic villain configuration.
In this world, cultivation was divided into twelve major realms.
Body Tempering, Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul,
Enlightenment, Void Amalgamation, Mahayana, Supreme, Saint, Great Emperor, God.
Each realm contained nine minor levels from first to ninth.
According to the original trajectory of events, this era was one in which Great Emperors had vanished and Saints did not emerge.
His cultivation at the seventh level of the Supreme Realm already placed him among the very peak of this era.
As for Knox.
He was merely a freshly advanced ant in the Body Tempering Realm.
Between them lay a gap of eight entire major realms.