Chapter 278: The Forgotten Foundation
The Forgotten Foundation
Leon finally withdrew his gaze and answered her question.
"No, I’m not a cultivator of your Celestial Crown Domain, but from the Fallen Leaf Domain."
The moment those words left his mouth, both the old man and the pink-haired woman visibly froze.
For a brief moment, even the violent winds sweeping across the ancient battlefield seemed to pause.
The old man’s eyes widened.
His expression instantly became strange.
Even the pink-haired woman’s calm expression changed for the first time.
A cultivator from the Fallen Leaf Domain?
The answer was so unexpected that it completely disrupted her thoughts.
Anna was stunned and said, "There are also pinnacle experts in the Fallen Leaf Domain?"
Her clear voice carried genuine disbelief.
As someone born in the Celestial Crown Domain, she naturally knew how the Eight Great Domains were ranked.
The Fallen Leaf Domain sat at the very bottom.
The weakest.
The poorest.
The most neglected region in the entire Forsaken Domain.
Throughout countless years, very few supreme experts had emerged from that land.
In her impression, the Fallen Leaf Domain should be one of the weakest among the Eight Great Domains.
Moreover, the luck and bloodline of the Fallen Leaf Domain could not compare to the other regions.
There were fewer descendants of Martial Sovereigns.
Even fewer descendants of Martial Emperors.
Most forces there considered a sage-realm expert powerful enough to dominate an entire kingdom.
As for pinnacle experts...
That was almost unimaginable.
Anna unconsciously looked at Leon again.
The more she looked, the more confused she became.
The man standing before her didn’t seem old.
In fact, he appeared younger than her.
His shoulder-length black hair danced in the wind.
His deep purple eyes remained calm and unfathomable.
The midnight-colored robes embroidered with delicate amethyst patterns gave him an elegant and mysterious appearance.
Most importantly...
His aura.
She couldn’t see through him.
Not even a little.
Anna’s heart trembled slightly.
If he truly came from the Fallen Leaf Domain...
Then his talent...
Wouldn’t it surpass even hers?
That thought made her silently inhale a breath.
Ever since she began cultivating, she had always stood above her peers.
In the Celestial Crown Domain, countless geniuses looked up to her.
Countless holy sons regarded her as an unattainable dream.
Even many older experts treated her with caution and respect.
Not because of her background alone.
But because her talent was terrifying.
No matter who appeared before her, she eventually surpassed them.
Yet now...
For the first time in many years...
She wasn’t confident.
Anna carefully sensed the faint sword intent surrounding Leon.
The more she observed, the more dangerous he appeared.
That sword intent wasn’t aggressive.
It wasn’t overbearing.
Yet it felt endless.
Boundless.
Like an ocean concealed beneath still water.
A strange warning instinctively emerged within her heart.
Very strong.
This person was extremely strong.
At the same time, another thought appeared inside her mind.
The Fallen Leaf Domain may be weak today...
But ancient records once stated something astonishing.
The weakest domain was also the oldest.
Many forgotten legends claimed that the very foundation of the Empyrean Immortal Domain originated from the Fallen Leaf Domain countless eras ago.
Some believed it was the birthplace of the first immortal path.
Others believed it was where heaven first descended.
Though those stories had long become myths, Anna suddenly found herself wondering...
Could this mysterious man be proof that those legends weren’t entirely false?
Meanwhile, Leon remained completely unaware of her thoughts.
He simply leaned lazily against the broken tree.
The reactions of both experts amused him slightly.
Looks like the reputation of the Fallen Leaf Domain really isn’t very good.
Leon smiled inwardly.
The old man who had been fighting Anna suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed throughout the battlefield.
The atmosphere instantly relaxed.
The old man withdrew his divine statue and slowly approached.
His wrinkled face was covered with a warm smile.
However, beneath that smile, his eyes remained sharp.
A person capable of becoming a pinnacle expert could never be simple.
He had already realized something.
Leon’s appearance had become the deciding factor in this battle.
If he could win Leon over...
The balance would immediately tilt.
"Haha, so it’s a fellow Cultivator from the Fallen Leaf Domain. Nice to meet you..."
The old man cupped his fists politely.
His attitude was noticeably friendlier than before.
Anna watched silently from above.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
She naturally understood the old fox’s intentions.
He wanted to recruit Leon.
Or at least gain his favor.
The old man continued walking forward while maintaining a harmless smile.
"I am Drift Sword, from Sky Breaker Academy of the Azure Heaven Domain."
His tone remained gentle.
However, a trace of pride unconsciously appeared when he mentioned his origin.
After all, the Azure Heaven Domain ranked far above the Fallen Leaf Domain.
Most cultivators would naturally feel awe upon hearing such a background.
Yet Leon’s expression didn’t change at all.
Not even slightly.
The old man paused.
A trace of surprise flashed across his eyes.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Most people reacted when hearing the name of Sky Breaker Academy.
Yet this young man seemed completely indifferent.
The old man quickly suppressed his thoughts and continued smiling.
"May I ask which orthodoxy you come from and which immortal mountain you cultivate on?"
His gaze fixed on Leon.
Anna’s attention also shifted toward him.
She was equally curious.
A pinnacle expert from the Fallen Leaf Domain.
What kind of force could nurture such a monster?
The battlefield suddenly became quiet.
The blood-red wind swept across the ruined land.
Ancient stones rolled along the ground.
Above them, black clouds continued drifting through the crimson sky.
Both pinnacle experts stared at Leon.
Waiting for his answer.
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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Grand Return System* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!
With love,
Scoturn777
Creator of Grand Return System
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