Grand Return System-Chapter 46: The Bone of the Ancient Flame

The Bone of the Ancient Flame

Boom...

The sound shattered the sky.

For a moment, it was as if a rain of swords had fallen from the heavens. Countless blades of wind tore through the air, slashing downward with merciless precision.

The two King Realm elders of the Lavahound household were sent flying like broken kites.

"Pfft—!"

Blood sprayed from their mouth’s midair. Their robes were shredded, their treasured disc cracked and dim.

They crashed into the wasteland below, carving trenches into the earth.

Silence followed.

"This... how is that possible?"

Freddy Lavahound’s face drained of color. His legs trembled so violently he nearly collapsed. His pupils shook as he stared at Leon in disbelief.

"They... they couldn’t even withstand a single strike?"

A single move.

That was all it took.

If the elders hadn’t used their treasured artifact—

Freddy’s throat tightened.

He would be dead.

Above them, Leon lowered his hand slowly, faint disappointment flickering across his face.

"Hmm... looks like I’m still not too familiar with it."

His tone was calm.

Almost casual.

He had only used one move—Bright in Nature.

He hadn’t even drawn the First Mist Immortal Sword.

Yet two King Realm experts had been crushed in one strike.

Leon’s lips curved slightly.

Not bad.

The effect satisfied him.

Behind him—

The students of the Holy Water Division stood frozen.

Amaya’s fingers trembled slightly at her sides.

"Guardian Elder Leon... is actually this terrifying?"

Her voice was soft, breath unsteady.

They had thought him refined.

Elegant.

Gentle.

But this—

This was dominance.

One of the girls whispered, eyes shining, "So the rumors were false... Guardian Elder isn’t useless at all."

"Useless?" another scoffed quietly, awe filling her gaze. "He’s a monster."

"Too overbearing..."

"That sword art... what kind of technique is that?"

"Since when did the Amethyst Summit Division possess such terrifying swordsmanship?"

Their hearts pounded wildly.

Maya’s brows were tightly furrowed.

Her gaze lingered on Leon longer than she intended.

When did he reach this level?

But she had no time to dwell on it.

Below—

The Inferno Kong was breaking free.

"Where are you going...!"

Maya’s palm slammed down from above.

Her King Realm aura erupted instantly, like a tidal wave crashing downward.

The pressure shocked everyone present.

Many cultivators stared in disbelief.

"That woman... she’s also King Realm?"

"Impossible!"

"Holy Water Division’s Division Leader is this strong?"

The battlefield descended into chaos.

Mana storms clashed.

Flames roared.

In the confusion, the two heavily injured elders seized their chance and dragged Freddy away without hesitation.

Leon did not chase.

He turned his head slightly toward Selena.

"Stay here. Don’t move. I’ll be right back."

His voice softened for a fraction of a second.

Selena nodded obediently.

"Okay..."

Though the battlefield raged around them, her eyes held only him.

She moved closer to Amaya and the others. The Holy Water Division girls instinctively clustered together, forming a protective circle.

Their gazes kept drifting back toward Leon.

He descended like a streak of night cutting through flame.

Straight toward the Inferno Kong.

"ROAR—!"

Enraged, the Ancient bloodline beast beat its chest violently. Flaming patterns lit up across its body—bone-text power awakened.

Ancient bloodline.

That meant dominance etched into marrow.

It meant natural authority over flame and earth.

At the same star level, humans were inferior in physique, defense, and raw force.

This Inferno Kong had lost its sanity, corrupted by a strange force—but its bloodline was real.

Its bones carried inheritance.

Its skeleton held a precious bone.

And that bone... was the true treasure.

"Haha! That precious bone is mine!"

A gray-robed elder laughed wildly as he rushed forward, blood-colored saber slicing through the air.

It was Max of the Sky Breaker Acedmy.

King Realm.

Sharp.

Greedy.

Maya’s palm strike rebounded.

The Inferno Kong’s defense was monstrous.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath. "We can’t let that old man take the bone."

She turned—

Leon had already arrived.

He didn’t hesitate.

"I’m afraid you won’t be taking that precious bone."

His voice was cold.

His right hand moved.

Sword energy condensed instantly.

Max’s eyes widened.

"Not good! Stop him!"

He shouted the moment he realized Leon was using the distraction to strike while the Inferno Kong was restrained by multiple King Realm experts.

A figure lunged from the side to intercept—

Leon shifted effortlessly.

The blade of Mana in his hand cut through the air.

Precise.

Clean.

It struck the Inferno Kong’s exposed chest.

"ROAR—!"

The beast shrieked in agony.

Flames exploded outward.

Blood poured down its massive torso.

The surrounding King Realm experts all moved at once.

"Take the bone!"

"Now!"

But they were too late.

Leon had already stepped forward silently.

His sword pierced deep into the beast’s body.

His fingers grasped something blazing hot—

And pulled.

A glowing fragment emerged.

The precious bone.

Ancient patterns flickered across its surface.

Leon withdrew calmly, blood mist swirling around him like a crimson halo.

"Damn it!"

Max’s face twisted.

His eyes darkened with killing intent.

He considered attacking Leon while he was focused on retreat—

But—

A suffocating pressure locked onto him.

Maya.

Her gaze was sharp as frost.

One move from him—

And she would strike.

Max’s expression shifted instantly.

They’re working together...

He understood.

If he attacked Leon, Maya would intercept.

And judging from Leon’s earlier aura—

If they truly fought, he would likely lose.

Grinding his teeth, Max swallowed his anger.

He could only retreat.

Above the battlefield, dust slowly settled.

Leon landed calmly, the Ancient precious bone held loosely in his hand.

The Holy Water Division girls stared at him as if witnessing a legend being born.

Amaya’s heart thumped wildly.

"He... he’s unbelievable..."

Another girl whispered, cheeks flushed, "If Guardian Elder Leon became my Teacher, I’d cultivate day and night without rest..."

"Shameless," one teased softly—yet her eyes sparkled no less.

Selena watched silently.

Pride flickered across her face.

That’s my teacher.

Wind brushed past Leon’s midnight robes.

Flames crackled in the distance.

And in that moment—

Under the blood-red sky—

He stood alone,

Like a sword unsheathed against the world.