Grand Return System-Chapter 47: A Sword That Silenced the Wasteland

A Sword That Silenced the Wasteland

"Who is this person?"

The question rose in countless hearts at once.

Above the scorched wasteland, beneath a sky still trembling from the clash of Mana, a lone white-robed figure stood suspended in midair.

Leon.

His midnight robes, embroidered with faint amethyst patterns, fluttered in the restless wind. His long black hair drifted behind him in slow, deliberate waves, as if even the air hesitated to disturb him. Purple eyes—calm. Unhurried. Watching. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

In his hand—

the Ancient precious bone of the Inferno Kong.

The bone still radiated a faint crimson glow, heat pulsing through its jagged edges like a dying heartbeat. It should have been impossible to hold so casually. Even from a distance, its pressure made seasoned cultivators grit their teeth.

Under the lingering pressure of his sword intent, not a single cultivator dared to step forward.

Not one.

Even the King Realm experts hesitated.

The silence itself was proof of dominance.

A man in golden armor swallowed hard, sweat sliding down his temple. "He... he killed Elder Han and Vice Master Qiu with one strike."

"Not killed," another corrected hoarsely, eyes locked on the sky. "Erased."

The battlefield still carried the aftermath. Cracked earth. Shattered formations. The faint metallic scent of blood carried on the wind. Moments ago, this place had been chaos—blinding techniques, furious roars, desperate greed.

Now?

Stillness.

He looked young.

Too young.

A woman in emerald robes narrowed her gaze. "There’s no way. Even prodigies need decades to step into King Realm."

"And yet," a scarred cultivator muttered, voice tight, "two King Realm elites lie dead."

No one dared look at the charred remains directly. The message was clear enough.

Leon did not speak.

He didn’t need to.

The faint aura surrounding him was sharp but controlled, like a blade resting lightly against the throat of the world. Not flaring. Not oppressive in appearance. But everyone felt it—an invisible edge pressing against their instincts, warning them not to move.

A younger disciple near the back trembled. "Should we... should we demand he hand it over? That bone belongs to all factions. It was agreed—"

"Agreed?" the golden-armored man snapped under his breath. "Agreements only hold when strength is equal."

A bitter laugh escaped someone in the crowd. "Do you feel equal?"

No one answered.

Leon’s gaze drifted downward at last. Not sharp. Not hostile. Just aware.

The air tightened instantly. Several experts instinctively activated defensive techniques—spiritual shields flickering faintly before they forced themselves to stop. Reacting first would look like hostility. And hostility, right now, would mean death.

Finally, an elder with silvered hair cupped his fists in the air. His voice carried, though it wavered slightly.

"Senior... may we know your name?"

A pause.

The wind brushed through Leon’s hair again. He turned the Inferno Kong’s bone once in his hand, studying it as though the crowd beneath him were nothing more than background noise.

Then he spoke.

His voice wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. It carried cleanly across the wasteland, steady and indifferent.

"You fought for it."

A simple statement. No accusation. No praise.

He continued, eyes sweeping across the factions below. "You lost."

Several faces flushed in humiliation.

The silver-haired elder clenched his jaw but forced a polite tone. "Treasure bones of ancient beasts affect the balance of power. If you take it alone, many forces will not remain silent."

A faint shift in Leon’s expression—barely there. Amusement?

"Then let them come."

Three words. Calm. Absolute.

The pressure in the air spiked—not from aggression, but from certainty. The kind that made even veteran warriors doubt their own courage.

A woman behind the elder whispered urgently, "We should withdraw. There will be other opportunities."

"And if he hunts us later?" someone countered.

Leon’s gaze flickered toward that voice. The speaker froze, blood running cold. For a heartbeat, he felt as if his soul had been weighed and measured.

But Leon looked away just as easily.

No killing intent. No threats.

Just indifference.

Which was worse.

"If he’s already King Realm at this age..." someone whispered.

"Give him a few more years... would he reach the Sage Realm?"

Sage Realm.

An overlord of an entire region.

Even a vast empire like the Drake Empire would tread carefully before provoking such an existence.

"I know him!" A disciple stepped forward, eyes bright with recognition. "He’s from Celestis Academy. The youngest Guardian Elder... Division Leader of the Amethyst Summit Division—Leon!"

"What?!"

"The Amethyst Summit Division’s Division Leader?"

A ripple of shock spread.

But once they heard "Celestis Academy," their disbelief softened into acceptance.

Only a colossus like Celestis Academy could produce such a monster.

"Too strong..."

"He injured two King Realm experts with one move and took the precious bone by force."

"At this level... he’s at the peak of King Realm."

Murmurs filled the air.

Leon’s appearance had been too dazzling.

Too overwhelming.

Max of Sky Breaker Acedmy watched him for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Haha! No wonder you possess such ability. So it’s a fellow Daoist from Celestis Academy. What an honor, what an honor!"

His tone was polite now.

Measured.

Calculating.

Leon calmly stored the Ancient precious bone into his Storage Space, then turned slightly to look at him.

"You are?"

"I am Max of Sky Breaker Acedmy," he said with a cupped fist. "I’m old acquaintances with your Celestis Academy’s Shera. Seeing your elegant bearing today has truly broadened my horizons. If you don’t mind, perhaps we could become friends?"

If he couldn’t steal the bone—

He could at least secure a connection.

But the moment Shera’s name left his mouth—

Leon’s gaze cooled.

"Shera?" he repeated lightly.

He did not show anger.

But his aura shifted.

A subtle frost beneath calm water.

"I don’t think that’s necessary."

He turned and began walking away through the air.

Max blinked, confused.

What happened?

Does he have a grudge with Shera?

A flicker of regret surfaced in his heart.

Why mention him?

—

Leon returned to where Maya and the Holy Water Division disciples stood.

Maya smiled, though there was a faint tightness beneath it.

"Junior Brother Leon, congratulations on obtaining the Inferno Kong’s precious bone."

Her blue hair flowed softly in the breeze. The sky-blue silk robes hugged her slender waist before cascading down in layered grace.

"This was an ancient descendant’s precious bone at King Realm. With it... you should soon break into Sage Realm, right?"

There was envy in her voice.

Subtle.

Controlled.

But real.

Leon noticed.

He always noticed.

"Just luck," he replied lightly. "If not for your restraint earlier, it wouldn’t have been so smooth."

His tone was polite. Distant. Proper.

Maya’s lips curved faintly.

But something in her chest felt... strange.

She had once thought him beneath her.

A quiet Division Leader of a declining division.

Now?

He stood before her like an unsheathed blade.

Bright.

Unavoidable.

He turned toward Selena and nodded.

"Senior Sister, this matter is settled. I still need to bring my student to train. We’ll part here."

"Yeah." Maya did not stop him.

She simply watched.

Watched as he descended.

Watched as Selena followed at his side.

Watched as the two figures gradually disappeared beyond the rolling horizon of the Forsaken Domain.

A faint hollow feeling lingered in her chest.

He’s already surpassed me...

She realized it clearly.

The junior she once evaluated with indifference...

Had become someone she might one day only glimpse from afar.

—

Behind her, the Holy Water Division students could no longer contain themselves.

"Guardian Elder Leon is too strong!"

"That sword technique—did you feel it? It was like standing alone beneath heaven and earth."

"And he’s so handsome..."

One girl clutched her sleeves, cheeks flushed.

"He didn’t even use a weapon! Just one finger, and everyone was suppressed."

"That kind of power..." another whispered dreamily. "Who wouldn’t admire a man like that?"

"Forget admiration," a bolder voice murmured. "If he accepted me as his student, I’d never leave the Amethyst Summit Division again."

"Shameless!" someone laughed.

But none of them denied it.

Strength.

Authority.

Composure.

And that face—

Who among them would not be moved?

Even Maya remained silent longer than usual.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened at her side.

She understood something deeply in that moment.

Power inspires awe.

Awe becomes admiration.

And admiration...

Easily becomes something more.

She exhaled softly.

"Enough," she said at last, masking her thoughts. "We return."

But as they turned to leave—

More than one pair of eyes lingered on the distant silhouette of the Amethyst-robed man.

And in the fading light of the wasteland—

A legend had quietly begun to spread.