Grand Return System

Chapter 313: The Aura That Shook the World

The Aura That Shook the World

Thinking of this, Anna was delighted.

The more outstanding Leon was, the happier she became.

After all, if nothing unexpected happened, he would become her future Pathbound Companion.

Who wouldn’t want the person standing beside them to shine brighter than everyone else?

Everyone admired experts.

Anna was no exception.

Especially when that expert had already become someone she could slowly open her heart to.

The silence between them lasted only a few breaths.

Leon noticed her thoughtful expression and chuckled softly.

"What are you thinking about so seriously?"

Anna looked up at him before quickly looking away again.

"Nothing."

Leon raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"...Really."

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"Then I’m relieved."

Anna glanced at him from the corner of her eye.

"Relieved about what?"

"I thought you were regretting becoming my temporary Pathbound Companion."

For a brief moment, Anna froze.

Then she slowly shook her head.

"I don’t regret it."

Her answer came much faster than she expected.

Even she was surprised.

She hesitated for a moment before adding quietly,

"At least... not now."

Leon smiled warmly.

"That’s enough for me."

Their eyes met for a brief second.

Neither of them spoke again.

But the atmosphere between them had unknowingly become much more natural than before.

The invisible distance that had once separated them seemed to have shortened ever so slightly.

After a moment of chaos, the Martial Emperor’s aura gradually dissipated.

Leon had been constantly observing the outside world through the Celestial Void Cauldron.

The violent fluctuations slowly calmed.

The fractured space stabilized.

Although traces of terrifying energy still lingered, the greatest danger had already passed.

Seeing that the time was right, he said,

"Alright, let’s go out."

"Okay..."

Anna did not resist.

With a thought from Leon, the surrounding stars rippled gently.

The two of them instantly disappeared from the world inside the cauldron.

When they appeared again, they were already standing in a devastated wasteland.

The once magnificent landscape had completely changed.

Mountains had collapsed.

Deep ravines stretched across the earth like scars left by heavenly punishment.

The air still carried lingering waves of terrifying pressure.

On the horizon, the four great ferocious beasts had been injured by the Martial Emperor’s aura just now.

The Inferno Swift Bird folded its enormous wings weakly while regulating its breathing.

The Smoke Darke Lion lay heavily upon the shattered ground, blood staining its dark mane.

The Old Earth Spiky Turtle had withdrawn almost completely into its shell, enduring its injuries in silence.

Earth Kong leaned against a broken mountain, slowly circulating its Mana to heal itself.

Even creatures that had dominated countless battlefields looked miserable after facing the remnant aura of a Martial Emperor.

The commotion just now also attracted more and more people.

Streams of light continued arriving from every direction.

Soon, this wasteland was filled with people.

Experts from countless regions gathered together, each wearing expressions of disbelief as they looked toward the fractured heavens.

Almost all the Pinnacle Realm experts of the various domains were here.

Leon was shocked.

He didn’t expect there to be so many Pinnacle Realm experts in the outer realms.

Could it be that there was a reason why they all said that the Fallen Leaf Domain was poor and remote?

The air itself had become unbearably heavy.

A suffocating silence spread across the wasteland as countless pairs of eyes remained fixed on the ancient bronze coffin resting upon the broad shell of the old earth spiky turtle. The massive beast stood like an ancient mountain beneath the dim sky, every breath it released carrying an oppressive pressure that made even seasoned cultivators instinctively hold theirs.

The violent disturbance moments earlier had not come from a battle.

It had come from the bronze coffin.

A tiny crack had appeared upon its weathered lid, and from that nearly invisible opening drifted an indescribable aura. It wasn’t visible as a pill or treasure yet. Instead, it was merely a thread of pure life essence—gentle, ancient, and impossibly profound.

Yet that single trace was enough.

Every cultivator present felt it seep into their body.

Old scars seemed lighter.

Exhausted Mana stirred once more.

Even worn-out lifespans felt as though they had briefly regained their youth.

The effect lasted only an instant.

Even so, every heart began pounding uncontrollably.

"Eternal Genesis Pill!"

Someone shouted with uncontrollable excitement.

The cry echoed across the battlefield like a bolt of thunder.

Although no one had actually seen the pill itself, that overwhelming vitality could belong to nothing else. It was enough to ignite the greed buried within every cultivator’s heart.

The true treasure had finally revealed its presence since the Martial Emperor Tomb had opened.

Even Anna found it difficult to remain calm.

Her beautiful red-pink eyes brightened as she stared toward the bronze coffin. The usually composed expression on her face softened into astonishment before gradually becoming one of determination.

"It’s really an Eternal Genesis Pill..."

She whispered almost unconsciously.

A powerful fighting spirit quietly rose within her.

Unlike before, this resolve wasn’t born from pride alone.

An Eternal Genesis Pill represented endless possibilities.

She had already reached the middle stage of the Pinnacle Realm. If she could truly obtain such a divine treasure, not only could her lifespan increase tremendously, but her cultivation might also leap across an enormous bottleneck in a single step.

Perhaps...

She could directly step into the Martial Sovereign Realm.

That possibility alone was enough to tempt even the calmest cultivator.

Leon quietly glanced at Anna from the corner of his eye.

He didn’t try to interrupt her thoughts.

He understood exactly what that treasure meant.

Even he had to admit the temptation was enormous.

Yet unlike everyone else, he wasn’t blinded by desire. His purple eyes calmly swept across the battlefield, carefully observing every expert who had gathered.

The atmosphere had become far more dangerous than before.

Anyone who acted first would become everyone’s enemy.

"Haha! The Eternal Genesis Pill has finally appeared!"