"Lily is Aurelia's sworn sister. Their relationship is extremely close, like hands and feet."
"Her disappointment toward Knox will inevitably influence Aurelia's attitude toward him."
"Knox, once you lose the protection of the Heavenly Flame Empress, I would like to see who else you can rely on."
After pondering silently for a moment, Alex slowly turned his gaze toward Alistair.
He cupped his fists and bowed deeply.
"Elder Brother Alistair, I truly apologize."
"Elder Brother traveled thousands of miles to visit my Hale family as an honored guest."
"Yet you encountered such an unfortunate incident."
"Now this little brother has taken the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus from Lily, the one who injured you."
"Please accept it as a token of apology from this little brother."
Alistair waved his hand and laughed.
"Brother Alex, you are being overly polite."
"This old man was merely startled earlier. My injuries are nothing serious."
"You obtained the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus entirely through your own methods."
"Naturally you should keep it yourself."
"Many thanks, Elder Brother."
Alex did not refuse further.
Since Alistair had given him an excuse to keep the treasure, he accepted it readily.
The Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus could greatly increase the cultivation speed of the entire Hale family.
It was an authentic top tier treasure.
If Alistair had insisted on taking it, Alex would have been extremely reluctant to part with it.
"However," Alistair said as his expression gradually turned solemn.
"This old man never expected the little girl who escaped the Burns family back then would become the Jade Princess serving under the Heavenly Flame Empress."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If I had known things would develop like this, I would have searched the mountains and seas back then and uprooted every last weed."
"Letting a tiger return to the mountains only creates endless future troubles."
"In the future that Lily will certainly borrow the Heavenly Flame Empress's power to seek revenge against the Blackwood."
"This troublesome situation is entirely because I showed a moment of mercy back then."
"Elder Brother need not worry too much."
Alex smiled faintly.
"Lily may hold a high position within the Heavenly Flame Dynasty."
"However Aurelia values her reputation greatly."
"Without sufficient reason she will not mobilize the dynasty's forces casually."
"If the Blackwood truly faces danger in the future, the Hale family will never stand by idly."
"Good. Many thanks."
Alistair Blackwood nodded with satisfaction.
"Brother Alex, time is precious."
"Let us first go see that treasure."
"Very well. Elder Brother, please."
Alex gestured politely and led Alistair Blackwood toward the secret chamber.
Tobias followed silently behind them.
Using mental transmission, he asked cautiously.
"Saint Lord, what treasure did you promise to show Alistair Blackwood?"
"Nothing extraordinary," Alex replied casually.
"Just a Hibiscus Sacred Tree sapling."
"Oh."
"Ah?!"
Tobias's eyes widened instantly.
He nearly lost control and shouted out loud.
"Saint Lord, you... have you lost your mind?"
"Our Hale family does not even possess a single Hibiscus Sacred Fruit."
"Where would we possibly obtain a Hibiscus Sacred Tree sapling?"
"Relax."
Alex smiled calmly.
"If I say we have one, then we have one."
After saying this he ignored Tobias and continued walking beside Alistair.
Inside his mind he opened the Providence Secret Mall.
Alex began searching carefully through the Spiritual Medicine section.
After a long search he finally found the item he wanted.
[Item: Hibiscus Sacred Fruit Tree Sapling]
[Tier: Upper Grade Saint]
[Required Providence Points: 80,000]
Seeing the price, Alex inhaled sharply.
"This is troublesome."
Earlier he had only been confident that the Providence Secret Mall would definitely contain Hibiscus saplings.
So he had casually used the excuse to lure Alistair Blackwood to the Hale family.
But who would have thought that such a small sapling would cost so much?
If he had known earlier, he would have checked the price before speaking.
At present he only had eight hundred Providence Points.
And he had only just obtained them.
Beside him Alistair Blackwood looked extremely excited.
He could hardly contain his impatience.
How could Alex possibly resolve this situation now?
If the matter was not handled properly, it would be equivalent to tricking Alistair Blackwood into traveling thousands of miles for nothing.
The friendly relationship he had just built with the Blackwood might instantly turn into hostility.
Alex began scrolling rapidly through the mall listings.
He searched desperately for a cheaper sapling resembling a Hibiscus tree.
But no matter how he searched, he found nothing suitable.
Just as he began to feel genuine panic, he suddenly noticed something on the final page.
[Item: Hibiscus Sacred Fruit Tree Sapling (Withered)]
[Tier: Lower Grade Yellow]
[Required Providence Points: 800]
[Note: A withered Hibiscus sapling. Cannot produce Hibiscus Sacred Fruits. However the leaves it grows still contain a trace of spiritual energy capable of calming the mind, stabilizing the spirit, and clearing internal heat.]
Alex froze for a moment.
Then his eyes brightened instantly.
"Heaven never blocks every path."
"This Providence Secret Mall is surprisingly considerate."
"It even stocks such an unusual defective item."
Immediately Alex selected Exchange.
With a thought he planted the sapling directly within the secret chamber ahead.
A moment later the three of them arrived at the stone door of the secret chamber.
Alex said calmly, "Tobias, open the door."
"Saint Lord..." Tobias's expression was extremely strange.
"Are we truly opening it?"
If they opened the chamber and there was no Hibiscus sapling inside, Alistair might destroy the entire Hale holy land in fury.
But Alex remained completely confident.
"What are you standing there for?"
"Hurry and open the door so Elder Brother Alistair may inspect the treasure."
"Yes."
Seeing Alex so calm and certain, Tobias had no choice but to obey.
He stepped forward and placed his horsetail whisk against the sealing formation.
The massive stone doors slowly opened to either side.
The moment the doors parted, a rich medicinal fragrance drifted out.
"What a pure aroma."
Alistair's eyes shone brightly.
He looked like a hunting dog that had suddenly smelled fresh meat.
Unable to restrain himself, he strode eagerly into the chamber.
The secret chamber was extremely dark.
Only the far end glowed faintly with crystalline green light.
Walking closer they saw a dragon scale flowerpot crafted from extraordinary materials placed at the center.