Grand Return System

Chapter 312: A World Hidden Within the Cauldron

A World Hidden Within the Cauldron

She only knew that remaining beside him made her feel strangely safe.

The terrifying fear that had filled her heart moments ago gradually faded away.

Looking up at the world in front of her, she discovered that they were in a sea of stars, as if they were roaming the Nine Heavens.

Countless brilliant stars floated around them like glowing jewels.

Nebulas stretched endlessly across the darkness, blooming in magnificent shades of silver, violet, and blue.

Ancient constellations shimmered quietly overhead.

Rivers of starlight flowed through the endless void, illuminating countless floating islands formed from mysterious spiritual crystals.

Everything around them radiated an ancient, sacred aura.

The outside world was collapsing into chaos.

Yet inside this mysterious space...

Time itself seemed peaceful.

Silent.

Untouched.

The contrast was so overwhelming that Anna found herself momentarily speechless.

Her beautiful eyes reflected the endless galaxy before her.

She had never imagined that such a breathtaking place could exist.

It felt less like a treasure and more like a complete world hidden away from reality itself.

"What is this place?" Anna asked coldly.

It wasn’t that she was deliberately giving him the cold shoulder, but she was born like this. She was already used to it after so many years, and it was difficult to change her tone.

Even now, although her voice sounded calm, the slight tightening of her fingers around Leon’s robe betrayed the curiosity and lingering unease hidden beneath her usual indifferent expression.

Leon smiled and explained,

"This is the world within the Celestial Void Cauldron."

"What!"

Anna was shocked. There was actually such a space in Leon’s Celestial Void Cauldron?

Her crimson-pink eyes widened as she slowly turned in place, taking in the endless sea of stars surrounding them. Floating islands drifted silently through the vast cosmic expanse, rivers of shimmering starlight flowed across the darkness, and countless ancient constellations glowed overhead like eternal guardians. Everything here felt detached from the outside world, peaceful beyond imagination.

Just a moment ago, she had believed death was inevitable.

When the Martial Emperor aura descended from the fractured heavens, she had already accepted her fate. That overwhelming pressure wasn’t something a Pinnacle Realm cultivator could resist. Even the strongest experts outside had fled in terror, and several had perished without even the chance to struggle.

She never expected Leon to pull her into the world inside the cauldron at the very last moment, allowing them to escape such certain death.

Apart from feeling deeply moved, another emotion quietly stirred within her heart.

Shock.

Pure shock.

Leon’s Celestial Void Cauldron could actually evade the attack of a Martial Emperor expert.

That had only been the lingering aura left behind by a Martial Emperor.

Even after countless years had passed since its owner had fallen, its power remained terrifying beyond reason. Just moments ago, several Pinnacle Realm experts had been reduced to blood mist simply because they failed to escape in time.

Yet this supreme treasure had completely isolated them from that terrifying force.

Anna’s heart became increasingly complicated.

Without realizing it, she remained standing close beside Leon.

The warmth lingering from his embrace had not yet faded.

His steady heartbeat, the reassuring strength of his arms, and the calm confidence he displayed in the face of overwhelming danger continued replaying inside her mind.

For someone who had always relied only on herself, that feeling was unfamiliar.

Dangerous...

Yet strangely comforting.

A small voice deep inside her quietly whispered that perhaps depending on someone else wasn’t as frightening as she had always believed.

Realizing her thoughts were beginning to wander, Anna’s cheeks warmed ever so slightly.

After hesitating for a while, Anna gently pushed Leon away and looked at the world in the cauldron.

"As expected of a supreme treasure. It’s indeed profound. It can even dodge the aura of a Martial Emperor..."

Her normally calm voice carried genuine admiration.

Leon merely smiled, neither proud nor boastful.

"It has saved me more than once," he replied casually. "Every treasure has its own purpose. This one simply happens to be good at protecting the people I don’t want to lose."

Anna blinked.

Those words sounded ordinary.

Yet hearing them directed toward her made an unexpected warmth bloom inside her chest.

She lowered her gaze to hide the faint smile threatening to appear on her lips.

At this point, Anna felt a wave of envy. With this comparison, she suddenly felt that she didn’t like her Four Symbols Cauldron so much anymore.

Why not throw it away?

The thought suddenly appeared in her mind.

She almost laughed at herself.

Just like the spiritual sword from before, she had immediately abandoned it the moment she obtained something stronger. It wasn’t because she disliked her old treasures, but because her desire to pursue the very best had always been exceptionally strong.

Still...

Compared to Leon’s treasures...

Her Four Symbols Cauldron suddenly felt rather ordinary.

After taking a deep look at Leon, Anna lowered her head and thought,

No, I can’t compare myself to this guy. I’ll die of anger if I keep doing that.

First the immortal sword.

Then the Thunder Floral Pins.

Now this Celestial Void Cauldron.

How many supreme treasures did he actually possess?

Was there any limit to his fortune?

For the first time in years, she admitted defeat in one aspect without feeling unwilling.

This man was simply impossible to measure by common sense.

Fortunately...

A tiny smile quietly appeared at the corner of her lips.

He was my man in name now.

The thought arrived naturally this time.

She no longer rejected it as she had before.

Instead, she accepted it with surprising ease.

Although it was only a temporary Pathbound Companion relationship, it no longer felt like an awkward agreement.

It felt... real enough to make her heart beat a little faster.

At least for now, she wanted to understand this mysterious man better.

Perhaps...

She even looked forward to it.

Thinking of this, Anna was delighted.