Grand Return System-Chapter 113: A Thousand Years Like a Tidal Wave

A Thousand Years Like a Tidal Wave

With Leon’s current cultivation at the mid-stage Sage Realm, the thousand years of cultivation he transferred was no more than a small stream within a vast ocean of power.

To him, it was barely noticeable.

But for Selena—

It was a tidal wave.

The moment the cultivation entered her body, her entire world seemed to erupt.

Her delicate frame trembled violently.

Her long silver hair fluttered around her shoulders as cold sweat formed along her porcelain-smooth forehead.

Her breathing became uneven.

"Uhm..."

A soft cry escaped her lips as the torrent of Mana surged through her meridians.

The power Leon transferred flowed endlessly like a powerful river.

Selena clenched her teeth.

Her eyes squeezed shut.

Then—

She pushed her focus inward and began absorbing the power with everything she had.

The moment she fully opened her meridians—

Her cultivation began to rise.

Rapidly.

Two Stars Astral Realm.

Her aura expanded instantly.

But it didn’t stop.

The energy continued pouring into her spiritual core.

Three Stars Astral Realm.

Her robes fluttered violently as waves of Mana spread outward.

The bamboo forest rustled as if responding to her breakthrough.

Four Stars Astral Realm.

Selena’s breathing deepened.

Her body glowed faintly with cold blue light.

The Divine Ice Bones within her body began to resonate.

Five Stars Astral Realm.

Mana surged through her veins like freezing rivers.

The surrounding temperature dropped slightly.

Six Stars Astral Realm.

Her spiritual core expanded again.

The power gathering within her body became almost frightening.

Seven Stars Astral Realm.

The bamboo leaves nearby trembled under the pressure of her aura.

Her body continued absorbing the energy without pause.

Then—

Eight Stars Astral Realm.

Selena’s eyes snapped open briefly.

Shock filled them.

"This..."

Her voice barely escaped her lips.

She had reached Eight Stars Astral Realm.

If she relied purely on her own cultivation—

Reaching this level would take three years.

Perhaps longer.

Even with her extraordinary talent and the support of her Divine Ice Bones, breaking through step by step would require countless days of hard cultivation.

Yet—

Leon’s cultivation had allowed her to cross three years of effort in mere moments.

Her chest rose and fell as she struggled to process the unbelievable growth.

But then—

She realized something.

"No... it’s not over yet..."

Her expression turned serious again.

Even after reaching Eight Stars Astral Realm—

There was still enormous energy remaining within her body.

It hadn’t been fully absorbed.

Selena immediately calmed her thoughts.

She activated the power of her Divine Ice Bones completely.

Cold blue Mana surged through her meridians.

The bones within her body glowed faintly.

She guided the energy carefully.

Absorbing it.

Condensing it.

Not allowing even a single drop to go to waste.

Time slowly passed.

The forest fell quiet except for the faint rustling of leaves.

Finally—

Her aura surged one last time.

Nine Stars Astral Realm.

Her cultivation stabilized just beneath the threshold of the next realm.

She was now only one step away from the GrandMaster Realm.

One final understanding of the laws—

And she would step into a completely new realm of cultivation.

Selena slowly exhaled.

Her breathing gradually stabilized.

She understood clearly—

This was already the limit.

To break through further required not just cultivation—

But enlightenment.

Even Leon could not simply transfer that.

Unlike Kevin earlier, who had experienced a sudden epiphany—

Selena hadn’t reached that point yet.

Still—

She was more than satisfied.

At this moment, Leon slowly withdrew his palms from her back.

"Phew..."

He exhaled lightly.

"Fortunately."

"This thousand years of cultivation sounds frightening..."

"But it’s nowhere near enough to drop my realm."

Leon stretched his shoulders slightly.

Earlier he had wondered if transferring such a large amount might affect his cultivation.

But after actually doing it—

He realized something amusing.

For him—

A thousand years of cultivation was merely a drop in the ocean.

His cultivation remained completely stable.

Of course—

That might also be due to the Grand Return System stabilizing the process.

Leon nodded slightly in satisfaction.

Then he looked down at Selena.

She was still stabilizing the surging Mana inside her body.

Leon spoke calmly.

"Guard your origin."

"Stabilize your Principal Heart."

"Do not move recklessly."

"I just finished transferring cultivation."

"You must consolidate it properly to prevent damage to your foundation."

He paused before adding casually,

"I also need some time to calm my mind."

Then Leon stood up and walked toward the side of the bamboo forest.

At that moment—

Footsteps approached.

Rias walked carefully toward them.

Her long crimson hair flowed behind her like burning silk.

Her bright red eyes were filled with curiosity.

She glanced between Leon and Selena.

"Teacher...?"

"What happened to Senior Sister?"

Leon looked at her briefly.

"You came at the right time."

"I still have some matters to deal with."

"Stay here and protect your senior sister."

He added,

"Oh, and once she wakes up, arrange your own cultivation schedule."

"I will be entering seclusion for a few days."

Rias immediately nodded.

"Alright, Teacher."

"Go ahead."

"I’ll stay here."

Leon gave a short nod.

Then he turned and walked away through the bamboo forest, his midnight robes swaying slightly with each step.

Rias watched him leave.

Her eyes followed his figure until he disappeared into the distance.

She slowly sat down beside Selena.

Her lips pursed slightly.

In the quiet of the forest, she muttered softly to herself.

"Teacher is really handsome..."

"His charm feels like a magnet."

Her cheeks warmed faintly.

She brushed her red hair behind her ear.

Her thoughts drifted without restraint.

Every night...

Senior Sister and I sneak into Teacher’s room.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

They could only do that because Leon had placed powerful protective barriers around the entire Amethyst Summit Division.

The barrier would instantly react if any outsider approached the mountain.

But inside—

Leon removed all defensive formations when he slept.

He trusted his surroundings completely.

And Selena and Rias had discovered that secret.

So sometimes—

Late at night—

They would quietly sneak into his chamber.

Just to sit nearby.

Watching him sleep peacefully.

Sometimes Selena would gently brush Leon’s hair aside.

Sometimes they would simply sit quietly beside him.

Those peaceful moments strangely became their favorite part of the day.

Rias sighed softly.

She glanced at Selena, who remained motionless in deep meditation.

"Senior Sister is still stabilizing her cultivation..."

Her lips puffed slightly in a small pout.

"I guess tonight we won’t be able to sneak into Teacher’s room..."

Her voice carried a hint of disappointment.

Then—

A mischievous thought suddenly appeared in her mind.

Rias chuckled quietly.

"What if I leave Senior Sister here..."

"And go to Teacher’s room alone tonight?"

Her red eyes sparkled.

After all—

In love and war—

Everything was fair.

She flipped her hair lightly and smiled slyly.

Inside her meditation—

Selena heard everything.

The corner of her mouth twitched slightly.

This wretched girl...

If she weren’t currently busy stabilizing her cultivation—

She would absolutely kick Rias’s butt.

I treated you like a sister...

And you’re already breaking the sister code.

Selena silently sighed.

But she quickly returned her focus to stabilizing the immense Mana inside her body.

After all—

Her cultivation still needed to settle properly.

And dealing with Rias could wait.

For now—

Meditation came first.