Grand Return System-Chapter 109: Flames Beneath the Sword Summit

Flames Beneath the Sword Summit

Far away—

inside Secret Sword Summit.

Shera slammed his palm onto the heavy ironwood table before him.

"DAMN IT!"

Out of nowhere, pressure burst from him when his palm hit. The thick energy inside had no choice but to explode.

BOOM!

A crack split the wood wide open - pieces leapt apart, then crumbled midair, becoming powder that floated through the room like ash after a burned letter.

A hush settled through the room after that.

A tremor ran through Shera’s frame, breaths coming hard under the weight of his black cloth. Fire lit his stare, anger pulsing just below the skin at his forehead’s edge.

The humiliation from earlier that day still echoed in his mind.

Leon’s calm smile.

Leon’s mocking words.

And worst of all—

The laughter hidden in the eyes of the elders.

Shera clenched his fists.

That bastard...

Leon...

Outside the hall—

A young disciple standing guard trembled violently when he heard the explosion inside.

His back straightened immediately, but cold sweat rolled down his spine.

He had no idea what had happened.

But one thing was painfully clear.

Today—

Their Division Leader was in an extremely terrible mood.

And no one was foolish enough to enter the hall to disturb him.

Not even the senior students dared approach.

Outside the entrance of the training hall, two disciples stood on guard.

They exchanged nervous glances.

One of them leaned slightly toward the other and whispered.

"Senior Brother... what do you think happened to Teacher? Why is he suddenly so angry?"

His voice was barely louder than the wind moving through the stone courtyard.

The other disciple frowned and cautiously glanced toward the closed hall doors.

From inside—

another loud crash echoed.

Both of them flinched.

The second disciple slowly stepped toward the side window and cautiously peeked through the narrow opening.

Inside the dim hall, Shera could be seen pacing back and forth like a furious beast trapped in a cage.

The disciple swallowed nervously.

"I... I don’t know," he muttered in a daze. "But something must have agitated him."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before lowering his voice.

"As far as I know... the only person in the entire Celestis Academy who can make Teacher this angry..."

"...is the Guardian Elder from Amethyst Summit Division."

The second disciple blinked.

"That useless Guardian Elder from Amethyst Summit Division?"

His voice held clear disbelief.

The first disciple’s eyes widened instantly.

"Shh! Don’t talk nonsense!"

He quickly looked around as if afraid someone might hear.

"You’ll get into trouble!"

He leaned closer and whispered even more quietly.

"That Guardian Elder Leon isn’t trash anymore."

The second disciple frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"You didn’t go down the mountain during this mission," the first disciple continued. "You have no idea what happened outside the academy."

He lowered his voice further.

"What he did at the foot of the mountain... shocked everyone."

The second disciple immediately grew curious.

"Tell me."

So the first disciple began recounting the events that had spread through the academy like wildfire.

Leon’s sudden rise.

His overwhelming aura.

His terrifying comprehension during Mana Blessings.

His breakthrough.

And finally—

The moment he comprehended a divine-grade Sacred Art in front of all the elders.

When the story ended, the second disciple stared blankly.

His mouth slowly opened.

"No way..."

"Is Guardian Elder Leon really that strong now?"

The first disciple nodded solemnly.

"Everyone saw it."

The second disciple exhaled slowly.

"No wonder Teacher came back furious."

"So that’s what happened..."

The two continued whispering intensely.

But suddenly—

A shadow fell across them.

They froze.

Slowly, they turned around.

Their faces turned pale instantly.

Standing behind them was a tall young man dressed in black training robes.

His presence was cold and sharp like an unsheathed sword.

"Eldest Senior Brother..."

They both bowed immediately.

The man’s name was Shan.

Shera’s most talented disciple.

And his biological son.

Shan’s expression remained completely indifferent.

His gaze swept over the two disciples like a blade.

"What are you two talking about?"

His voice was calm.

But the pressure behind it made their backs stiffen instantly.

The two disciples quickly lowered their heads.

"Nothing..."

"We were just discussing some cultivation problems..."

"We weren’t discussing anything else."

Shan stared at them silently for a few seconds.

Then his gaze slowly shifted toward the training hall.

Through the open doorway he could see Shera inside.

Still pacing.

Still radiating fury.

Shan frowned slightly.

He had just come out of seclusion today after several months of training.

So he had no idea what had happened recently.

But he had never seen his father like this.

Shera was a man known for absolute composure.

Yet today—

He looked like a volcano about to erupt.

Shan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Something serious must have happened.

He glanced back at the two disciples.

"Leave."

The two disciples felt as if they had just been granted amnesty.

"Yes! Eldest Senior Brother!"

They hurried away as if fleeing for their lives.

Shan then turned and walked into the training hall.

Inside—

The atmosphere was heavy.

Broken wood fragments still scattered across the ground.

Shera stood near the center of the hall, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Father."

Shan bowed respectfully as he entered.

Shera slowly turned.

The fury in his eyes softened slightly when he saw his son.

"Yes, Shan."

"When did you come out of seclusion?"

"I just came out today."

Shan stepped forward.

His gaze swept across the destroyed table before returning to Shera.

"Father... what happened?"

"Who made you so angry?"

Shera’s jaw tightened.

For a moment he remained silent.

Then he let out a deep sigh.

"Who else could it be?"

His eyes darkened.

"Other than that fellow from Amethyst Summit Division..."

"...who else dares anger me like this?"

Shan’s eyes flickered.

"Amethyst Summit Division again?"

Shera nodded slowly.

He then recounted everything that had happened earlier that day.

From Leon’s sudden epiphany...

To the manifestation of the Purple Lotus of Great Principal...

To the comprehension of the Ultimate Hand Strike.

And finally—

Leon’s mocking farewell as Shera left the summit.

By the time Shera finished speaking—

Shan’s expression had completely darkened.

A cold murderous light flashed through his eyes.

"Leon has gone too far."

His voice was calm, but the killing intent within it was unmistakable.

"Father, don’t worry."

"I know what to do."

He stepped forward slowly.

"A mere Amethyst Summit Division dares humiliate Secret Sword Summit like this."

"That humiliation belongs to all of us."

His fists clenched slightly.

"I will repay it."

His gaze sharpened.

"In the Seven Division Martial Meeting."

Shera looked at him quietly.

Shan continued.

"Leon may be powerful..."

"...but that doesn’t mean his students are powerful."

His lips curved slightly in a cold smile.

"He better pray his students don’t meet me."

"Otherwise—"

"Don’t blame me for being ruthless."

The air inside the hall seemed to grow colder.

Shera stared at his son for a long moment.

Then slowly—

The anger in his chest began to fade.

In its place appeared a faint smile.

"Good."

"As expected of my son."

"You have ambition."

He nodded with satisfaction.

"This time..."

Shera’s gaze turned toward the distant direction of Amethyst Summit Division.

"Whether our Secret Sword Summit can hold its head high again..."

"...will depend on you."