Grand Return System

Chapter 322: One Strike to Silence the World

One Strike to Silence the World

"Oh... my f*cking god..."

A cultivator stood rooted to the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief as he rubbed them again and again, convinced they had betrayed him.

"This... this can’t be real..."

Another cultivator swallowed so hard his throat visibly bobbed.

"Did... did he really kill it with a single attack?"

No one answered immediately.

The question lingered in the air because no one wanted to believe the obvious truth standing right before them.

Finally, someone spoke in a trembling voice.

"That wasn’t just a sword strike..."

He stared blankly at the place where the colossal blade had descended.

"It felt..."

"...like the heavens themselves swung the sword."

A chill ran through the crowd.

Cold sweat trickled down countless foreheads as everyone silently replayed the scene over and over in their minds.

The Inferno Swift Bird...

A fearsome beast whose mere appearance was enough to make veteran cultivators wary.

A creature powerful enough that even seasoned experts would think twice before confronting it head-on.

Yet before Leon...

It hadn’t even survived a single exchange.

One elderly cultivator slowly shook his head, his expression filled with disbelief.

"...Is this kid still human?"

No one mocked the question.

Instead, another elder let out a bitter laugh, though there wasn’t a trace of amusement in his eyes.

"If a strike he unleashed so casually possesses this much power..."

He paused, unconsciously tightening his grip on his weapon.

"...then what happens when he truly fights without holding back?"

The thought alone sent a shiver through everyone present.

An uncomfortable silence spread across the battlefield.

Several experts instinctively exchanged cautious glances.

Moments ago, many of them had regarded Leon as nothing more than a talented junior with extraordinary potential.

Now...

Not a single person dared look down on him.

Some even found themselves wondering whether standing against him would be no different from courting death.

Even the fierce Butcher, whose fearless grin had never seemed to disappear, slowly lowered the massive blade resting in his hands.

The playful confidence faded from his face, replaced by an expression few had ever seen before.

Respect.

Caution.

And genuine seriousness.

His sharp gaze remained fixed on Leon without wavering.

"So..."

His deep voice broke the silence.

"It looks like..."

A slow grin returned to his face, though this time it carried none of its earlier arrogance.

"...I’ve finally found the real monster here."

His eyes narrowed.

From the moment Leon displayed that sword, he had already become the Butcher’s greatest opponent in this Tomb Battlefield.

Meanwhile...

Caelan Everwind stood rooted to the ground.

His face had turned deathly pale.

His fingers trembled ever so slightly beneath his sleeves.

His pride...

His confidence...

The image he had carefully built before Anna...

All of it had shattered alongside the Inferno Swift Bird.

He couldn’t accept it.

He refused to accept it.

How...?

How could he be this strong?

Moments ago, he had believed Leon was merely an unknown cultivator hiding behind luck.

Now...

Reality had slapped him across the face.

Leon wasn’t weak.

He wasn’t ordinary.

He was frighteningly powerful.

Powerful enough that even Caelan no longer possessed absolute confidence in defeating him.

That realization hurt far more than any physical wound.

What tormented him even more was the comparison everyone had witnessed.

Just minutes earlier...

He had confidently attacked the Inferno Swift Bird.

Not only had he failed to kill it...

He had actually strengthened it.

Now Leon had casually erased the same beast with one effortless strike.

The contrast couldn’t have been more humiliating.

The surrounding cultivators looked toward Caelan with complicated expressions.

No one mocked him openly...

But those silent glances hurt more than laughter.

Each look felt like another invisible slap across his face.

His jaw tightened.

His fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.

Leon calmly dispersed the remaining sword intent before brushing an invisible speck of dust from his sleeve.

His expression remained as relaxed as ever.

It was as though destroying the Inferno Swift Bird required no effort at all.

He thoughtfully stroked his chin before glancing toward Caelan.

With an innocent look, he said,

"Inferno Swift Bird? Hmm... It doesn’t seem that strong."

He tilted his head slightly.

"It died before I could even do anything."

He paused, seemingly deep in thought.

"Hmm... Young Master Caelan should have gone easy on it just now."

Leon looked genuinely puzzled.

"Otherwise... how could he fail to kill it with a single strike and instead help it become stronger?"

The battlefield froze.

For one heartbeat...

Then—

"Hahaha!"

Eldric Northwind burst into loud laughter, clutching his stomach.

"Oh, that’s ruthless!"

One old cultivator covered his mouth, shoulders shaking violently.

Another tried to remain dignified but failed completely.

"Pfft..."

Several younger cultivators quickly turned away, pretending to cough.

"Ahem..."

"I didn’t laugh..."

"No... not at all..."

Even the Butcher couldn’t stop the corner of his mouth from rising.

He chuckled deeply.

"This brat’s sword is sharp... but his mouth is even sharper."

Anna quietly watched Leon.

A faint smile blossomed across her beautiful face.

There wasn’t the slightest hint of surprise.

Only quiet pride.

As expected...

He never disappoints me.

Leon noticed her smile from the corner of his eye.

Without turning around, he casually asked,

"Was that demonstration satisfactory?"

Anna folded her arms gracefully and replied in her usual calm tone,

"It was acceptable."

Leon laughed softly.

"Only acceptable?"

She looked at him for a brief moment before answering,

"You destroyed the beast."

A tiny pause followed.

"But you destroyed his confidence even more."

Leon blinked.

"I’ll take that as praise."

Anna’s lips curved ever so slightly.

"It is."

Their brief exchange was natural, yet to Caelan it felt like another blade piercing his heart.

He had chased after Anna for so long...

Yet she had never spoken to him with even half that warmth.

His breathing grew heavier.

His chest rose and fell violently.

The veins on the back of his hands bulged.

Finally—

"You..."

Caelan Everwind flew into a rage out of humiliation. He almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He originally wanted to see Leon make a fool of himself, but now, he was the joke.