Grand Return System-Chapter 130: The Sword of Ice and the Sword of Pride

The Sword of Ice and the Sword of Pride

At this moment, even Shera revealed a stunned expression.

For the first time since the Martial Meeting began, genuine disbelief appeared in his eyes.

He simply could not understand it.

A King Realm Inferno Kong descendant bone—a treasure countless cultivators would fight to the death over.

And Leon had given it away.

To his student.

Shera stared at Leon for a long moment, trying to find some hint of regret on his face.

But there was none.

Leon sat there calmly, as if giving away such a priceless treasure was no different from giving someone a cup of tea.

That calmness made Shera’s chest tighten.

How could someone make such a decision so easily...

Around the arena, the crowd had already erupted.

"Oh my god... where can I find a Teacher like that? I want one too!"

A young student clutched his chest dramatically.

"It doesn’t even matter if there’s a descendant bone or not. I just want a Teacher who never hides anything from his students!"

Another student shouted with watery eyes.

"Is it too late for me to transfer to Amethyst Summit Division now? I’m waiting online—it’s urgent!"

The arena burst into laughter.

Yet behind the laughter was unmistakable envy.

Students looked toward Leon with longing expressions.

From the way things looked now, Amethyst Summit Division had become the most desirable place in the entire academy.

Anyone who could enter it would rise like a dragon ascending to the heavens.

With a Teacher like Leon guiding them—

Who would worry about failing to become an immortal?

Even Rex Vine, standing quietly behind Cultivator Tobias, felt a trace of jealousy stir in his heart.

A rare emotion for someone of his status.

Faint change crossed the apprentice’s face, saw Tobias, tending crops nearby. A quiet moment passed before he turned the soil deeper.

A hush fell inside him, then a sharp warning lit up like sparks behind his eyes.

A small cough escaped him, then he shifted the conversation fast.

"Haha... Fellow Cultivator Leon is truly extraordinary."

Admiration showed clearly in how he spoke.

"This is the first time I’ve seen someone so broad-minded."

His head moved slowly, a small grin touching his lips.

"Impressive... truly impressive."

----

After a long silence, Mike finally spoke.

His calm voice carried authority.

"Referee Elder, continue the competition."

The Referee Elder nodded.

He stepped forward and raised his voice so the entire arena could hear.

"Second match of the Martial Meeting."

"Amethyst Summit Division’s Selena versus Secret Sword Summit’s second Secret Sword Summit student."

"Please enter the arena."

When the words rang out through the stadium, Shera’s heavy silence cracked into something lighter.

A look moved to the youth in green, positioned between the learners.

"Go."

Firmness settled into Shera’s words. The sound came clear, without pause or shake.

"End this battle quickly."

A chill showed in his gaze. The light caught them, sharp like ice.

"Recover the dignity we lost just now."

A grin spread across his face, steady and sure.

"Don’t worry, Teacher."

Up he jumped, quick and sure, feet leaving the ground without a pause.

Floating down like leaves caught in a gust, his green robes settled just as his boots struck the sand. The crowd barely had time to blink before he stood motionless at the heart of the arena.

Smoothly, it flowed without a single jerk. Grace carried every step forward.

Faster than a blink, heads swiveled his way. People stared without meaning to.

He stood straight, yet calm filled the air around him. Stillness clung to his presence like morning fog on stone.

Warmth in his stance caused a few watchers to slowly move their heads in agreement.

Beneath the platform, Shera looked over at Leon.

A faint grin crept across his mouth, inch by quiet inch.

Just wait.

Fingers tapping, he started picturing Leon’s face when the crowd turned away. A slow grin came - thinking of the silence that would follow his name being called. Moments like these made the wait worth it, even before the final whistle blew.

Yet Leon stayed still.

A slight tilt brought his gaze to rest on the girl with hair like moonlight, motionless at his back.

"Student."

Quiet came his words. Stillness filled each syllable.

"Go have some fun."

Selena nodded slightly.

"Okay."

Her voice was quiet.

Cold.

She stepped forward.

In her hand was the Amethyst Mist Sword.

The blade rested lightly within its sheath as she walked toward the arena.

Step by step.

Unlike her opponent’s flashy entrance, Selena did not try to attract attention.

Yet strangely—

Every step she took seemed to draw people’s eyes toward her.

Her long silver hair flowed softly behind her.

Her snow-white robe wrapped around her slender figure, the pale blue sash at her waist emphasizing the graceful curve of her hips.

Her posture was elegant.

Cold.

Untouchable.

When she stepped onto the arena, she simply stood there quietly.

The temperature around her seemed to drop.

A faint chill spread through the air.

Many spectators unconsciously inhaled sharply.

"Such beauty..."

One student whispered.

"She looks like a fairy from the heavens."

Another nodded.

"Cold... elegant... and flawless."

Her presence alone commanded attention.

The Referee Elder stepped forward.

His gaze moved between the two fighters.

"Are you ready?"

Both nodded.

The Referee Elder raised his hand.

"Very well."

"Begin."

With that, he stepped down from the arena.

The second Secret Sword Summit student cupped his fists politely.

"Secret Sword Summit."

His voice was calm and confident.

"Second Secret Sword Summit student."

He looked at Selena with a faint smile.

"Junior Sister... accept my challenge."

Selena responded simply.

"Amethyst Summit Division."

"Selena."

Her tone remained icy.

"Accept my challenge."

She didn’t move.

The calm indifference in her eyes immediately irritated her opponent.

Still, he forced a smile and slowly drew his sword.

"This sword is named Falcon."

He held the blade up slightly.

"It was forged from black iron of the Obsidian Mine."

His voice carried pride.

"It is incomparably sharp."

He looked at Selena.

"Junior Sister... be careful."

Selena frowned slightly.

She clearly felt that the other party was talking far too much.

After a moment she spoke only two words.

"Come." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The cold dismissal struck the young man like a slap.

His face darkened.

She’s looking down on me.

Anger surged within him.

"Since Junior Sister is so impatient..."

His voice turned sharp.

"I won’t stand on ceremony!"

Boom!

In an instant—

His aura erupted.

The powerful pressure of three stars of the Astral Realm exploded outward like a rising tide.

The ground beneath his feet trembled faintly.

Sword energy gathered around his body.

Below the stage, Shera finally relaxed.

He glanced at Leon with a smug smile.

"Junior Brother Leon."

"I wonder... does my student meet your standards?"

Leon simply smiled faintly.

"Yes."

"Not bad."

"Three stars of the Astral Realm."

He glanced toward the arena.

"This student must be your favorite, Senior Brother."

Shera didn’t even try to hide his pride.

"Haha."

"Of course."

---

At that exact moment—

The battle erupted.

The second Secret Sword Summit student moved first.

His sword shot forward like lightning.

The attack was sharp and precise, aimed directly at Selena’s left side.

But Selena didn’t panic.

She turned her body slightly.

Just a simple step.

The sword passed through empty air.

She still hadn’t drawn the Amethyst Mist Sword.

The young man’s expression darkened.

His first strike had been avoided so easily.

Anger surged through him.

Without hesitation, he unleashed the full power of his three-star Astral Realm cultivation.

Mana roared through his body like a raging river.

He raised his sword.

"Very good."

"You’ve successfully angered me."

His voice was filled with fury.

"Now..."

"Prepare to receive my anger."

He brought the sword before his chest.

Mana began to gather rapidly.

Sword intent condensed.

The surrounding air began trembling.

Then—

A terrifying sword aura erupted.

It surged upward like a pillar of energy, spreading across the arena and filling the sky with pressure.

The spectators gasped.

"I didn’t expect the second Secret Sword Summit student’s understanding of the Sword Path to reach such a level!"

One elder whispered in shock.

Another shook his head.

"It seems Amethyst Summit Division will lose this match."

The surrounding Division Leaders exchanged uneasy glances.

Shera’s strength had always been formidable.

But now it seemed Secret Sword Summit had cultivated many powerful students as well.

Obtaining a good result in this Martial Meeting...

Would not be easy.