"It was because that Isolde is completely shameless. Fornicating with a wild man and throwing away all the face of my Hale family!"
"How could I possibly marry such a lowly, shameless, and fickle woman to my virtuous nephew Ivan?"
"And have Elder Brother Alistair mocked by the people of the world alongside me?"
Alistair's expression softened slightly at Alex's tone. He let out a cold laugh, almost teasing.
"Brother Alex, a scandal like this happening in your own home cannot be blamed on others."
"If you must lay blame, you can only blame yourself for spoiling that Isolde excessively. You allowed her to grow arrogant relying on your favor."
"Yes, yes." Alex sighed, shaking his head with a bitter smile.
"Elder Brother Alistair's lesson is correct."
"I have already realized just how foolish I once was."
"I exploited all the resources meant for the family's juniors, only to raise such an ungrateful white-eyed wolf."
"Fortunately, it is still not too late to repent."
"I have already removed Isolde's name from the lineage and expelled her from the family."
"What?"
Alistair's face flooded with shock instantly.
"Brother Alex, you expelled Isolde from the family?"
"Then what about her Seven Orifices Divine Heart?"
"The Seven Orifices Divine Heart is a treasure of the Hale family." Alex smiled faintly, speaking as though he were discussing something entirely trivial.
"Naturally, I have already taken it back."
Alistair opened his mouth. For a moment, no words came.
"My heavens, Brother Alex..."
"You... what exactly has gotten into you?"
"Back then, you treated Isolde like a pearl in your palm, favoring her in ten thousand ways."
"If anyone dared say half a bad word about her, you would directly start a massacre."
"Now you have expelled her from the family and carved the Seven Orifices Divine Heart right out of her chest?"
"When the world learns of this, their jaws will drop to the floor in shock."
Alex smiled and waved his hand. "This was what I ought to do."
"If I did not severely punish her, how could I give an explanation to the disciples of my family? And how could I give an explanation to Elder Brother Alistair?"
Alistair was silent for a moment. Then he nodded heavily.
"For Brother Alex to have such courage and resolution fills this foolish brother with the utmost admiration."
"Since that Isolde has already been severely punished, the matter of this marriage contract is written off right here and now."
"Many thanks, Elder Brother Alistair!"
Alex's expression broke into something warm. He bowed deeply to the floor without hesitation.
Alistair helped him up. "Brother Alex, since you did not come today for the marriage contract..."
"Then may I ask why you sought me out?"
"Elder Brother Alistair, this little brother has recently acquired a bizarre treasure." Alex's eyes narrowed. His expression turned serious.
"It is a tender sapling, and its spiritual energy is incredibly overflowing."
"Moreover, every time it sprouts a leaf, the winds and clouds shift, and anomalies descend from the heavens."
"My four Great Elders scoured through every ancient text in the Scripture Pavilion."
"We all arrived at the same conclusion."
"It is highly likely to be a sapling of a Hibiscus Divine Tree."
"What?!"
Alistair's eyes went wide with disbelief.
"Brother Alex, you... what kind of immense good deeds have you done lately to receive such karmic fortune!"
The Hibiscus Sacred Fruit was among the most precious spiritual fruits in existence. Regardless of realm or cultivation strength, consuming even one allowed a cultivator to directly break through a minor realm.
The higher one's cultivation base, the more precious it became.
Take Alex and Alistair. Both had been trapped at the seventh level of the Supreme Realm for decades.
Every method tried. Countless spiritual medicines consumed.
All of it like dropping stones into a bottomless ocean, not the slightest echo in return. In all likelihood, neither could take a single step forward for the rest of their lives.
But one Hibiscus Sacred Fruit meant an instant breakthrough to the eighth level of the Supreme Realm. Three meant stepping directly into the Saint Realm.
The problem was simple. The Hibiscus Sacred Fruit was a holy relic that could only be encountered by chance, never sought out.
No amount of spirit stones could purchase even one.
And now Alex had acquired a Hibiscus Divine Tree sapling.
A steady, endless supply. The Saint Realm, the Great Emperor Realm, perhaps even the God Realm. All merely a matter of time.
Thick envy spilled from Alistair's eyes. He hesitated, visibly wrestling with whether to open his mouth and beg Alex to share one.
The usually blunt and straightforward Alistair Blackwood, putting on a coy and bashful act.
Alex kept the amusement off his face. He smiled and cupped his fists.
"Whether it is truly a Hibiscus Divine Tree sapling remains unclear."
"Therefore, this foolish brother came today specifically to invite Elder Brother Alistair to go and identify it together."
"If that sapling truly is a young Hibiscus tree, there is no harm in our two families joining hands to cultivate it together."
"Truly?"
Joy erupted across Alistair's face without restraint. He was already moving.
"Then what are we waiting for? This matter brooks no delay. Let us set off immediately!"
Alistair rode the clouds alongside Alex and returned to the Hale family. His mind was fixed entirely on the Hibiscus Sacred Fruit, impatience radiating from every step. He pushed his speed without thinking about it.
They arrived at the Hale family holy land in a mere two hours.
Outside the doors, Tobias lowered his head respectfully.
"Greetings, Saint Lord Alistair." Then his gaze shifted to Alex, and his expression turned careful.
"Saint Lord, Young Master Knox has arrived. He is waiting in the inner hall."
"Oh?" Alex's brow furrowed slightly. He turned and cupped his fists toward his guest.
"Elder Brother Alistair, please allow me to deal with some family matters first. Could I trouble you to wait outside for a brief moment?"
Alistair asked no questions. But seeing Alex's deeply troubled expression stirred something in him. A trace of suspicion, quiet and uninvited.
Just who is this Knox?
Alex walked into the inner hall.
Knox sat in a golden chair, legs crossed, leisurely sipping tea. He looked up without urgency as Alex entered and set down his teacup without rushing.
"Saint Lord Alex, we have not seen each other for half a month. I trust you have been well?"
"This seat is fine," Alex said indifferently.
"What brings you here today?"
"I came specifically to ask Saint Lord Alex about some past events," Knox smiled casually, acting as if nothing was amiss.