"However, it is a defective sapling."
"It can only grow leaves and is completely incapable of producing Hibiscus Sacred Fruits."
"What?"
Tobias was instantly stunned.
His jaw dropped as he stared in disbelief.
Alex looked at him with amusement.
"What? You do not believe me?"
"No, of course I believe the Saint Lord," Tobias replied quickly.
He stood there for a long time before finally understanding.
"I understand now."
"Saint Lord, you intentionally used a defective sapling to deceive Alistair."
"You made him believe it was genuine so he would continuously provide our Hale family with endless spirit stones and cultivation resources, correct?"
Alex laughed softly.
"Tobias, you should not use such unpleasant wording."
"How can this be considered deception?"
"Alistair willingly provides resources."
"That is called investment."
"When the time comes and the Hibiscus Sacred Fruits never appear, it will simply mean his investment failed."
"Even if he wants to complain, how could he blame our Hale family?"
Tobias hesitated.
"But Saint Lord, Alistair Blackwood may be straightforward, yet he is not someone who tolerates losses easily."
"When he discovers there are no fruits and comes to our door seeking trouble, what will we do then?"
Alex shrugged casually.
"What is there to worry about?"
"The Hibiscus Divine Tree is an Emperor tier spiritual tree."
"No matter how quickly it grows, it requires three hundred years to bloom."
"Another three hundred years to produce fruit."
"And three hundred more years for the fruit to mature."
"In other words, more than eight hundred years will pass before that time arrives."
"We can freely use the Blackwood's resources for over eight hundred years."
"When the time approaches, we simply stage a small performance."
"We claim the Hibiscus Divine Tree was destroyed by treacherous enemies."
"Would that not resolve everything?"
"Even if the Blackwood refuses to accept the loss and comes looking for trouble..."
"After our Hale family has developed for eight hundred years using their resources..."
"Our strength will be overwhelming."
"By that time destroying the Blackwood will be as easy as flipping a hand."
Hearing this explanation, Tobias stared at Alex with admiration.
He remained silent for a long moment before nodding slowly.
"Saint Lord..."
"You are truly wicked in a way that inspires admiration."
"Hehehe, naturally."
Alex stroked his chin and let out a classic villainous laugh.
"Our Hale family was never made up of good people."
Meanwhile, Lily and Knox had already left the Hale family's estate.
After the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus was forcibly removed from her body, Lily's condition became extremely weak.
Even so, she refused Knox's assistance and staggered forward on her own.
Knox could only follow behind her silently.
Several times he wanted to speak, but he could not find the words.
Suddenly Lily stopped walking.
She slowly turned around and looked at Knox.
Her voice was icy cold.
"Knox, answer me."
"Why did you scheme and try every possible way to approach me back then?"
"You... what are you saying?"
Knox froze for a moment.
His expression became unnatural.
"Jade Princess, what do you mean? I never..."
"Do you truly think I am as naive as those foolish young girls?"
Lily's expression remained cold.
Her voice cut like ice.
"When Her Majesty reclaimed the throne and held the victory banquet..."
"At that banquet you ignored the other three Princesses entirely."
"You only tried to flatter me."
"And after you returned to the Heavenly Flame Capital, you stayed by my side every day."
"You refused to leave."
"What exactly was your purpose?"
Under Lily's relentless questioning Knox's face turned pale.
In front of a Supreme Realm expert he could not maintain his lies.
He could only answer hoarsely.
"Because the Jade Princess treats me kindly."
"You are the most approachable among the Princesses."
"You treat me like family."
"And with the help of the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus my cultivation speed could increase greatly."
"Heh. Just as I expected."
Lily let out a cold laugh and released Knox's collar.
Her eyes became distant and indifferent.
"If I did not possess the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus you would never have approached me."
"That is why earlier you preferred that I lose my dignity rather than lose the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus."
"Now the Lotus already belongs to Alex."
"And I have no intention of using Her Majesty's authority to demand it back."
"You may find someone else to leech on."
"There is no need to remain around me any longer."
After speaking Lily raised her hand.
A flying sword appeared beneath her feet.
She stepped onto it and soared into the sky without looking back.
"Jade Princess, wait."
"It is not what you think."
Knox's expression changed drastically as he rushed forward to chase her.
But Lily activated her spiritual energy and vanished instantly.
Knox stood frozen.
His eyes burned with fury.
He turned and glared in the direction of the Hale family estate.
Hatred filled his gaze.
"Alex, you old thief."
"You truly managed to corner me this time."
"But sooner or later I will settle both old and new grudges with you."
After escorting Alistair away, Alex returned to inspect the courtyards of the Hale family estate.
He observed the cultivation progress of the family disciples.
During the past half month the majority of the Hale disciples had achieved remarkable progress.
They had memorized their cultivation techniques completely.
Many of the more talented disciples had already grasped the deeper principles within them.
With the assistance of these techniques they successfully broke through a minor realm.
Despite their success none of them relaxed their efforts.
Instead they became even more focused on cultivation.
They continued striving toward the next breakthrough.
After all the Saint Lord had announced the rules clearly.
Breaking through one minor realm was merely the baseline requirement.
Anyone who exceeded that goal would receive a special reward.
If the punishment for failure was severe, then the reward for exceeding expectations would naturally be equally generous.
Alex was extremely satisfied with their progress.
Most of these achievements came entirely from the disciples' own hard work.
Previously the enormous drain of resources caused by Isolde had suppressed the growth of countless talented youths.
Now that burden had disappeared.
Their potential was finally being revealed.
And from this point onward their cultivation speed would only increase further.
After all the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus was now in Alex's possession.
Under the influence of the Flame Lotus Halo the cultivation speed of the Hale family disciples would inevitably advance at astonishing speed, as if aided by the heavens.