Grand Return System

Chapter 323: The Victor’s Mockery

The Victor’s Mockery

"You..."

Caelan Everwind flew into a rage out of humiliation. His chest rose and fell violently as blood surged into his throat. He nearly spat out another mouthful of blood, barely forcing it back down through sheer will.

His fingers trembled around the hilt of his sword.

His eyes burned with fury.

Everything had gone wrong.

He had stepped forward intending to make Leon the laughingstock of everyone gathered in the Tomb Battlefield.

Instead...

He had become the biggest joke himself.

The whispers surrounding him felt like invisible blades, each one carving deeper into his wounded pride.

Leon merely smiled faintly.

Those cold, murderous eyes fixed upon him didn’t stir the slightest ripple in his heart.

To Leon, Caelan Everwind was nothing more than another arrogant genius who had yet to learn that talent alone did not make one invincible.

He calmly turned away, completely ignoring Caelan’s murderous glare.

Looking toward Anna with a perfectly serious expression, he spoke as though he were giving heartfelt advice.

"Anna, remember not to spread rumors when you go out."

Anna blinked, sensing the mischievous glint hidden beneath his calm expression.

Leon continued earnestly,

"What kind of person is Young Master Caelan? He is celebrated as the unrivaled genius of Celestial Mist Mountain. Countless heavenly treasures have nurtured him since childhood. His Powerful Sect placed endless expectations upon him."

He sighed dramatically.

"If word got out, people might say..."

Leon paused just long enough for everyone to listen.

"’Oh? So this is the famous genius of Celestial Mist Mountain?’"

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"’Ah... this is it?’"

Several nearby cultivators immediately lowered their heads, already struggling to suppress their laughter.

Leon innocently continued,

"That wouldn’t just embarrass Young Master Caelan."

He shook his head sympathetically.

"It would damage the reputation of Celestial Mist Mountain itself."

He sighed once more.

"That would truly be unfortunate."

Silence.

One second...

Two seconds...

Anna’s lips twitched.

She tried to remain expressionless.

She really tried.

But the more serious Leon looked...

The funnier it became.

Finally—

"Hahaha..."

Her beautiful laughter echoed across the battlefield like clear bells.

She covered her mouth with one hand, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Her usually cold face had completely melted into genuine amusement.

This man...

How could someone insult another person so politely?

He’s absolutely shameless...

And somehow... incredibly charming.

She had always believed herself to be rather clever.

Yet compared to Leon...

She suddenly felt she had found her teacher.

His words contained no vulgar insults.

No curses.

No shouting.

Yet every sentence landed like a sword directly in Caelan’s heart.

He’s too cunning...

Her crimson eyes softened.

...but I like it.

After calming herself with considerable effort, Anna slowly nodded with complete seriousness.

"Hmm... okay."

She turned toward Caelan with an expression so sincere that even Leon almost believed her.

"I definitely won’t spread rumors when I go out."

She paused before adding politely,

"Young Master Caelan, don’t worry."

Those simple words struck harder than Leon’s entire speech.

"You..."

Caelan’s eyes widened.

His vision blurred.

His breathing became chaotic.

"Pfft!"

Unable to endure any longer, he finally spat out a mouthful of blood onto the ground.

Scarlet droplets stained the earth.

The surrounding cultivators stared blankly before several could no longer contain themselves.

"Hahaha!"

"So he really coughed up blood!"

"I’ve never seen Young Master Caelan this miserable."

"One talks with a sword..."

"The other kills with words."

"The two of them together are terrifying."

Even the usually stern Butcher let out a booming laugh.

"This brat is dangerous."

He pointed toward Leon.

"Remember this."

"If you can’t beat him... don’t argue with him."

"He’ll make you question your entire life."

Eldric Northwind laughed until tears nearly formed in his eyes.

"I’ve traveled the world for hundreds of years."

"But today’s performance..."

He wiped his eyes.

"Worth it."

Anna lowered her head slightly, trying to hide another smile.

She whispered so quietly that only Leon could hear,

"You’re impossible."

Leon smiled.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

She looked away.

"It wasn’t."

A tiny pause followed.

"...Maybe."

Leon chuckled softly.

That only made Anna’s cheeks warm slightly before she quickly composed herself once again.

Meanwhile...

Caelan’s heart had already shattered.

Everything he had done today...

Every display.

Every boast.

Every opportunity to impress Anna...

Had become stepping stones for Leon instead.

He had become nothing more than a fool standing beneath someone else’s brilliance.

"Damn it..."

His voice was low and hoarse.

His fists clenched until fresh blood dripped from his palms.

"I’m so angry..."

He slowly raised his head.

His black eyes were filled with hatred.

He stared directly at Leon.

"Leon..."

His voice became cold enough to freeze the surrounding air.

"Just you wait."

"One day..."

"I will make you pay the price."

The killing intent hidden within those words was unmistakable.

Several nearby cultivators instinctively took a few steps backward.

Everyone understood.

This feud...

Would never end peacefully.

Leon merely glanced at him.

His expression remained calm.

"If you truly want revenge," Leon said with a relaxed smile, "then cultivate harder."

He shrugged casually.

"Otherwise..."

He looked Caelan up and down before smiling again.

"If you try again... You’ll only embarrass yourself a second time."

"Hahaha!"

The laughter erupted once more.

Caelan’s face turned completely black.

Had there not been countless experts gathered here...

Had the Eternal Genesis Pill not been on the verge of appearing...

He would have drawn his sword without hesitation.

But reason barely restrained his fury.

Not now.

Soon...

I’ll kill him.

On the other side, Leon had already long lost interest in him.

With a gentle wave of his right hand, brilliant runes drifted toward the shattered remains of the Inferno Swift Bird.

Bright Golden light flickered.

A radiant bone slowly floated out from the scattered corpse before flying obediently into Leon’s palm.

"Heh..."

"The Inferno Swift Bird’s precious bone."

The instant the treasure appeared...

Every pair of eyes locked onto it.

Greed flashed through countless gazes.

One cultivator whispered,

"A supreme treasure..."