Chapter 284: A Gift for Senior Sister
A Gift for Senior Sister
Leon remained silent, his gaze fixed on the confrontation unfolding before him.
A cold wind swept across the endless abyss, stirring the hem of his midnight-black robes. Delicate amethyst embroidery shimmered faintly as the fabric fluttered in the breeze. His violet eyes remained calm and unreadable while he quietly sorted through everything Anna had told him.
The Four Symbols Cauldron was undoubtedly a priceless treasure.
Yet compared to that ancient cauldron, something else had captured his attention far more.
The Inferno Swift Bird.
Its sudden appearance had disrupted everything, but more importantly, it had confirmed a suspicion that had been growing in Leon’s mind.
This world beyond the Golden Entrance Gate was far larger and far more mysterious than he had ever imagined.
Back in the Fallen Leaf Domain, he had believed the Golden Entrance Gate was the only passage into this forgotten land.
Now that assumption had been completely overturned.
Anna hailed from the Celestial Crown Domain.
Drift Sword came from the Azure Heaven Domain.
Yet both of them had somehow entered this same ancient world.
There was only one explanation.
The Martial Emperor Tomb wasn’t connected to a single entrance.
Across the Eight Domains, multiple gateways must exist, each leading to this mysterious realm.
A faint glimmer flickered in Leon’s eyes.
The secrets hidden within the Martial Emperor Tomb ran far deeper than anyone realized.
His thoughts soon drifted toward the mysterious copper coffin he had encountered before.
Among everything he had seen in this ancient world, only one treasure had ever shaken his composure.
The Tomb Treasure sealed inside that copper coffin.
Unfortunately, when he had discovered it, he simply hadn’t possessed the strength to claim it.
The opportunity had slipped through his fingers.
Now, after so much time had passed, the chances of finding that coffin again were incredibly slim.
Leon let out a silent sigh.
Some opportunities only come once in a lifetime.
Not far away, Drift Sword’s expression grew darker with every passing moment.
His face had already turned noticeably pale.
Before Leon’s arrival, he and Anna had been evenly matched.
They had battled for days, neither able to gain a decisive advantage.
But everything had changed the moment Leon stepped onto the battlefield.
One Anna was already difficult enough to deal with.
Now there was Leon.
The fragile balance that had existed between them had completely collapsed.
A dull headache began pounding inside Drift Sword’s head.
Originally, he had intended to recruit Leon and make him an ally.
Who could have predicted that Sky Breaker Academy of the Fallen Leaf Domain had already forged such deep hostility with him?
The more Drift Sword thought about it, the more he wanted to strangle Dario with his own hands.
That old fool had stirred up a hornet’s nest and then disappeared, leaving everyone else to clean up the mess.
He cursed Dario countless times in his heart.
If that stubborn old man hadn’t provoked Leon in the first place, would things have escalated to this point?
The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.
After a long silence, Drift Sword slowly drew a deep breath.
Even so, he wasn’t prepared to give up.
Lifting his head, he looked directly at Leon and spoke in a steady voice.
"Fellow Daoist, think this through carefully. Standing against me won’t bring you any benefit."
His voice was calm, carrying both a subtle warning and an attempt at persuasion.
At their level of cultivation, every decision was made only after carefully weighing the gains against the risks.
No one acted on impulse.
In Drift Sword’s eyes, there was no reason for Leon to interfere on Anna’s behalf.
The Four Symbols Cauldron rightfully belonged to her. Even if Leon stepped in, what would he gain from it?
Would he truly risk making an enemy of Drift Sword without receiving anything in return?
It seemed highly unlikely.
At least, that was what Drift Sword wanted to believe.
Not far away, Anna remained silent.
Her pinkish-red eyes rested quietly on Leon, calm and unreadable.
Though her expression revealed nothing, a trace of curiosity lingered deep within her gaze.
What would he choose?
The two branches of Celestis Academy had once shared the same roots, but countless years had passed since they had gone their separate ways.
Whatever bond had existed between them had long since faded.
Would Leon stand beside her?
Or would he simply remain an observer?
Anna wasn’t concerned either way.
Even without Leon’s help, she was confident she would defeat Drift Sword in the end.
The only question was how much effort it would take.
A cold wind swept through the canyon, carrying dust and loose gravel into the air.
Silence settled over the three experts, growing heavier with every passing heartbeat.
Then—
Leon smiled.
It was a warm, almost harmless smile.
Yet the moment Drift Sword saw it, an inexplicable chill crept down his spine.
"I’ve always hated being threatened."
The quiet words crashed over the battlefield like a clap of thunder.
Drift Sword’s face went rigid.
A chill settled deep in his chest as his heart sank.
That single sentence was all he needed to understand Leon’s answer.
There would be no compromise.
The atmosphere grew unbearably heavy.
Even the air itself seemed to thicken, pressing down on everyone present.
Leon slowly turned toward Anna, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.
After all, they had only recently finished settling their little dispute over who was the senior.
Now, at last, he had the perfect chance to play the role of a proper senior brother.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Senior Sister," he said with an easy grin, "how about I take that cauldron back... and give it to you?"
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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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