Grand Return System

The Weight of Glory

Leon merely smiled, as if the storm those simple words stirred around him had nothing to do with him.

"Keep it. It may be useful someday," he said, calm and unquestionable. "Rias doesn’t need weapons. The Inferno Lotus Art is already her sharpest blade."

Selena lowered her gaze toward the Ariel Blossom Pin resting in her palm.

It shimmered faintly beneath the arena lights, thin as silver petals touched by moonlight, deceptively fragile, almost ornamental.

And yet—

something about it carried a quiet lethality.

The kind hidden in beauty.

For a brief moment, her fingers paused over it, as though sensing some mystery sleeping within the treasure.

Then she closed her hand around it.

She nodded and accepted it without further resistance.

Though she did not see how it could serve her, she would not reject anything Leon entrusted to her.

Not out of submission.

Not out of duty.

But trust.

Complete, unquestioning trust.

If Leon said it should be kept, then one day it would matter.

That alone was enough.

A strange warmth stirred in Selena’s chest as she tucked the Ariel Blossom Pin away. She said nothing, but the softness in her usually composed eyes betrayed more than words could.

Below the stage, many students had witnessed the exchange.

And their expressions became... complicated.

Some were stunned.

Some resentful.

Some simply bitter.

Envy spread through the crowd like sparks finding dry grass.

"To be honest..."

A male student let out a long breath, eyes fixed on Leon.

"I’m jealous."

That one sentence seemed to break whatever restraint remained.

"You call that jealousy? I’m dying of envy."

"That treasure would be fought over by elite disciples, and he just hands it to her like a casual gift..."

One student sighed, staring at the supreme-grade treasure in Selena’s hand as if his soul had left his body.

Another groaned dramatically.

"Are the students of Amethyst Summit Division all treated so well? They can even receive supreme-grade treasures."

Someone beside him muttered bitterly,

"At this point, I want to switch divisions..."

Laughter rippled.

But beneath the humor—

Real envy.

"Sigh, when will I be able to meet such a good teacher?"

Everyone sighed with emotion and envy.

Unfortunately—

They were not students of Amethyst Summit Division.

Some of them could not even be considered students of the Seven Division.

They were merely ordinary labor students.

Those words carried more weight than complaint.

Because it was true.

Some spent years unseen.

Some would never receive a personal teaching.

Yet Selena—

Was handed treasures by a teacher who treated her almost like family.

How could they not envy that?

Nearby, a young student whispered,

"No wonder Amethyst Summit Division rose... with a teacher like that, even stones could become dragons."

No one refuted him.

In the crowd, Cassie stood silent.

His face held none of the arrogance he once wore.

Only a quiet storm.

Cassie looked at the beautiful figure in the arena with all sorts of emotions.

This honor that should have belonged to him belonged to another person.

And this person—

Was the student who entered the sect with him.

The one everyone once despised.

The one he had once looked down upon.

His fingers curled unconsciously.

He could not figure out why he had lost.

Where had it begun?

At talent?

Effort?

Fate?

Being a genius with innate Bones did not bring him much honor.

Instead—

It became his greatest humiliation.

Because talent alone had not carried him to where she stood now.

They had both entered the sect together, but his starting point was countless times better than Selena.

Yet the other party had already become an existence that he could only look up to.

That truth stung more than open defeat.

Perhaps this was fate.

Or perhaps...

He had misunderstood what truly made a genius.

Not only him—

Sana also watched quietly, disappointment hidden behind her composed face.

She also wanted to stand there like Selena and enjoy the respectful gazes of her fellow students.

To be admired.

To be seen.

To matter.

But reality was cruel.

They had the same encounter, but with a completely different fate.

From now on, she and Selena might be people from two different worlds.

That thought struck hardest.

Selena was a favored child of the heavens who was the focus of everyone’s attention, but she could only be unknown and could not make a name for herself in her life.

Her eyes dimmed.

Yet somewhere inside—

A spark remained.

Because seeing Selena rise also meant...

It was possible.

Even if she did not yet dare believe it.

A soft laugh suddenly broke the shifting emotions.

"Fellow Cultivator, congratulations, haha..."

Tobias approached.

His sleeves moved in the breeze, expression genial, yet his eyes carried unmistakable seriousness.

This was no casual praise.

This was recognition.

Cultivator Tobias greeted him politely and continued,

"I’m lucky to be able to see such a shocking sword technique today. It was not in vain that I came to Celestis Academy this time."

He paused, looking toward Selena.

Even now, traces of awe lingered.

"Fellow Cultivator’s student is like a divine bird in the Nine Heavens. She will definitely spread her wings and soar in the future. Her future is limitless."

That was no empty flattery.

It was evaluation.

And from a figure like Tobias—

It meant much.

Leon smiled.

But said nothing immediately.

His silence was almost habitual.

Yet inwardly, he was amused.

Divine bird in the Nine Heavens?

Not bad.

He accepted that.

Still—

He would not let it show.

At last he gave a faint nod.

"You flatter her too much."

Tobias laughed.

"No, I fear I praise too little."

Their eyes met.

Both understood what was unspoken.

Strength recognized strength.

Then Tobias’ expression turned slightly more formal.

"I’m prepared to return to the sect after this matter is settled."

His tone softened.

"If there’s a chance, Fellow Cultivator can come to the Supreme Paradise Sect as a guest. I’ll definitely welcome you and treat you as a VIP."

There it was.

Not merely courtesy.

An invitation.

An alliance offered beneath polite words.

Cultivator Tobias had the intention to befriend Leon.

And why wouldn’t he?

This was a peerless expert who was not old yet was not weaker than him.

He would have to be crazy if he did not befriend him.

Especially now.

The Forsaken Domain was currently in turmoil.

Sects and factions were complicated.

Storms gathered beneath calm waters.

To gain a powerful ally—

That was never a bad thing.

Leon naturally understood.

His purple eyes flickered thoughtfully.

Then he smiled.

"Yes. How could I dare to refuse since you invited me? When I’m free another day, I’ll definitely go up the mountain to visit."