Sure enough, under Alex's moral pressure, Lily's expression became extremely ugly. The righteous confidence she had carried earlier disappeared completely.
After struggling internally for a long time, she finally nodded slightly.
"Saint Lord Alex, I apologize."
"This Princess acted rashly and came here without investigating the truth."
"When I return today, I will faithfully report Saint Lord Alex's words to Her Majesty."
"The Heavenly Flame Dynasty has always upheld fairness and justice."
"We will not allow a good person to suffer injustice, nor will we allow a wicked person to escape punishment."
"Knox, we are leaving."
Lily flicked her sleeve and turned around.
Knox, although extremely unwilling, could only follow behind her.
Seeing the two preparing to leave, Alex narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Hold it."
The next moment, four masked women dressed in black appeared silently.
They stood before the doorway without expression, blocking the exit.
Lily's eyes turned cold as she slowly turned back.
"Saint Lord Alex, what is the meaning of this?"
"Are you planning to act unreasonably and detain us by force?"
"Jade Princess, what are you saying?" Alex said with a faint smile.
"It is merely that you showed too little courtesy."
"You injured someone and intend to leave without even an apology?"
Lily frowned and turned her gaze toward Alistair Blackwood.
Before she could speak, Knox said coldly, "Saint Lord Alex, this matter has nothing to do with you."
"Alistair Blackwood is the mortal enemy of Jade Princess."
"The hundreds of lives of the Burns family all perished at the hands of the Blackwood."
"With such a blood feud, how could she not seek revenge?"
Seeing Knox speak with such indignation, genuine emotion flashed briefly through Lily's eyes.
Alex, however, let out a cold laugh.
"What a fine claim that it has nothing to do with me."
"This is the holy land of my Hale family."
"Elder Brother Alistair is a guest invited personally by me."
"Now he has been ambushed here and severely injured."
"If this spreads, how will I still face the world?"
As he spoke, Tobias stepped forward and helped Alistair Blackwood up.
He asked anxiously, "Saint Lord Alistair, how are your injuries?"
In truth, Alistair Blackwood was completely unharmed.
As a cultivator at the seventh level of the Supreme Realm, his defense and recovery were extremely powerful.
But seeing Tobias repeatedly giving him meaningful glances, even someone as straightforward as Alistair quickly understood.
Immediately he began acting weak.
He coughed heavily and spoke hoarsely.
"I... I am fine."
"Although this old man is old and frail, these bones still have some resilience."
"I probably... maybe... likely... will not lose my life... cough, cough."
Watching Alistair's exaggerated performance, Lily's face darkened.
She could clearly see he was pretending in order to extort compensation.
Yet she could not expose him.
After all, she had attacked first.
"Saint Lord Alex, speak plainly," Lily said coldly.
"How do you intend to resolve this?"
"Very simple," Alex replied calmly.
"Jade Princess should naturally take responsibility for her actions."
"Either you heal Elder Brother Alistair's injuries."
"Or I will take one treasure from you as compensation for him."
"You..." Lily's eyes flashed with cold anger.
But her clenched fists slowly relaxed.
"Fine."
"Speak."
"What treasure do you want?"
Alex stroked his chin thoughtfully as a faint smile appeared.
"The Jade Princess is so decisive."
"Truly admirable."
"In that case, I will take the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus."
"What?"
Lily immediately showed signs of panic.
While she was still hesitating, Knox reacted as if struck.
"No!"
"Jade Princess, he is using the situation to rob you."
"He used the exact same trick to deceive Iris into giving up her Jade Sword and Blood Purification Bottle."
"You must not fall for his scheme."
"You absolutely cannot agree."
The Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus was the only Upper Grade Supreme tier treasure in the entire Heavenly Flame Dynasty.
Even the Empress Aurelia possessed nothing comparable.
It contained tremendous Flame Spirit power.
Its owner could control blazing flames freely.
At the same time, it generated a Flame Lotus Halo around the user.
This halo continuously increased the cultivation speed and comprehension of everyone nearby.
The closer one stood, the stronger the effect.
Because of this treasure, Knox had exhausted countless tricks to get close to Lily.
Relying on the Flame Lotus Halo, he had successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Knox had even planned that Lily would eventually join his harem.
Her Flame Lotus Halo would then benefit only him and his future companions.
Good resources should remain within the family.
But if Lily lost the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus, she would merely be an ordinary expert.
His efforts to approach her would become meaningless.
"I understand the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus is an Upper Grade Supreme tier treasure," Alex said calmly.
"The Jade Princess must naturally be reluctant to part with it."
"I am not greedy for your artifact."
"I simply seek justice for Elder Brother Alistair."
"If you cannot part with the treasure, then heal his injuries."
"Otherwise forgive my rudeness, but I cannot allow you to leave the Hale family."
"Fine..."
Lily took a deep breath and prepared to speak.
But Knox suddenly said anxiously, "Jade Princess, I beg you."
"Just agree to help this old man heal his injuries."
"No matter what happens, you absolutely cannot lose the Heavenly Spirit Flame Lotus."
"You... what did you say?"
Lily froze.
A trace of grievance and confusion flashed in her eyes.
Although she had known Knox only briefly, their first meeting had felt strangely familiar.
She had treated him like a younger brother.
Because of that, she had revealed the hatred and tragedies buried deep within her heart.
Aside from the Empress, Knox was the only one who knew her past.
Just moments earlier, when Knox had defended her fiercely, Lily had been deeply moved.
But now the words leaving Knox's mouth made him feel like a stranger.
Alistair Blackwood was her mortal enemy.
They shared a blood feud.
Standing in the Hale family today, unable to kill him and avenge her clan, had already forced her to swallow immense resentment.
She had struck him in anger earlier.
And now, simply to preserve her own life and treasure, she was supposed to tuck her tail between her legs and heal him?