Grand Return System-Chapter 80: Saints Beneath a Fractured Sky

Saints Beneath a Fractured Sky

Selena felt it.

Pressure. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Not from Clint Zain.

Not from Vita.

But from the vastness of the world beyond the Academy Premises.

Before leaving Amethyst Summit Division, Teacher Leon had spoken to her beneath the quiet mountain wind.

Apart from training, this journey would broaden your horizons.

He had told her that the world was larger than she imagined. That this trip was not merely about tempering her Mana, but about seeing the brilliance of others—those who walked the same era, yet stood at terrifying heights.

Do not be complacent because of your results.

There is always someone better.

There are countless people more outstanding.

At the time, she had nodded.

Now—she understood.

Compared to the weight pressing on Selena’s shoulders as the chief student of Amethyst Summit Division, Rias felt far less strain. Selena represented not only herself but the reputation of an entire Division.

Every victory or defeat would be reflected upon her Teacher.

But Rias was different.

Aside from surprise, what stirred within her now was curiosity.

The world... is truly interesting.

Above them, Rex Vine’s sudden appearance had shattered the fragile balance of the battlefield. The air grew heavy. No one dared to breathe too loudly.

Yet what truly frightened them was not Rex Vine.

It was the two elders behind him.

Their robes were plain. Their expressions unreadable. Their presence—

Vast.

Deep.

Like oceans without visible shores.

From the subtle fluctuations of Mana alone, several seasoned cultivators felt their scalps turn numb.

One of them had already stepped into the sage Realm.

A Venerable.

"Hiss..."

"Venerable..."

"He truly deserves to be a direct descendant of the Vine household. The Saint of the Supreme Paradise sect... Even when traveling, he is guarded by a Venerable expert."

Whispers rippled through the broken street.

Harrier Taylor silently drew in a cold breath.

He had the trait of growing stronger when facing stronger opponents. In the King Realm, he could push beyond his limits.

But a Venerable?

That was not merely a stronger opponent.

That was an entirely different sky.

It was natural for someone like Rex Vine to travel with such protection. Thinking further, that Venerable was likely a high-ranking elder of the Supreme Paradise sect itself.

Below, Clint Zain stood rigid, unsure how to respond to Rex Vine’s mockery.

Just then—

Another streak of aurora tore through the sky.

Light refracted across the dust-filled air, scattering prismatic fragments over the ruined rooftops.

Several figures appeared on a distant loft.

Gasps erupted.

Barefoot, floating lightly above the rooftop tiles, stood a woman cloaked in deep blue robes that shimmered like moonlit water.

Her long azure hair cascaded down her back, strands glimmering like flowing silk beneath the fading sun. Teal eyes, calm yet piercing, surveyed the scene with quiet detachment.

Around her body revolved faint threads of law—subtle currents of water Mana that approached the threshold of the GrandMaster Realm.

"Hiss... Why is Fairy Fiona here?"

Harry Taylor’s stunned whisper broke the silence.

Fairy Fiona of the Soft Water Divine sect.

The goddess countless young men dreamt of yet never dared approach.

Her beauty was ethereal, refined—an elegance carved by lineage and nurtured by an elite upbringing. Her dark blue robe, tailored perfectly to her slender form, was cinched at the waist with a white sash embroidered in flowing silver patterns resembling rivers and tides. The fabric followed the curve of her narrow waist before falling in smooth lines that brushed her hips. A subtle slit revealed her long, graceful legs as she hovered above the rooftop.

But what truly set her apart was not her figure.

It was the nobility she radiated.

A quiet, unquestioned superiority born from generations of power.

Behind her stood another young woman clad in radiant gold.

Yasmin of the Divine Golden sect.

Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight itself, cascading over shoulders wrapped in an elegant golden robe embroidered with intricate floral patterns. Golden eyes reflected the world like polished mirrors—bright, sharp, calculating.

Her robe was fitted at the waist with a pale sash, the silk hugging her slender frame before flowing down in luminous folds. The slit along her leg revealed a glimpse of smooth, toned grace with each subtle movement.

Unlike Fiona’s fluid serenity, Yasmin’s presence felt sharp.

Like a blade wrapped in silk.

Daughter of the Divine Golden sect’s core lineage, she was raised amid politics and power struggles, her every step measured, her every smile deliberate.

"What is happening today?" Harry muttered, nearly losing his composure. "Why are so many legendary figures gathered in Ashford City?"

Within Ashford, he might posture and boast.

But before these individuals?

He knew his place.

Above, Rex Vine glanced toward Fiona only briefly before returning his attention to Clint Zain.

"Chief Zain," he said lightly, amusement dancing in his eyes, "today you have truly shown us the meaning of shamelessness. I’m ashamed, truly ashamed. Compared to you, we’re still too young."

His tone was playful.

His words were knives.

Clint’s lips twitched. He understood the insult perfectly—but dared not respond.

Why are they here?

That was the question burning in his mind.

Why would Saints of such stature descend upon a small city like this?

"Young Master Rex must be joking," Clint forced a strained smile. "How would I dare to embarrass myself before you?"

He tried to explain further, but Rex Vine raised a hand casually, cutting him off without even looking at him.

The dismissal was complete.

Clint Zain, head of the Zain household, reduced to background noise.

Rex Vine’s gaze shifted.

It landed on Selena.

At first glance, he had admired her cold and aloof temperament. The white-silver hair flowing like frost, the porcelain skin that seemed carved from winter light.

But admiration alone meant little.

As a Saint, his standards were far above those of Vita or Harry.

Beauty was common.

Strength was rare.

His eyes dropped to the sword in her hand.

"The Amethyst Mist Sword..." he murmured softly. "Back then, Respected Zeon was unmatched in elegance. I never expected his sword to appear in the hands of a junior so many years later."

A trace of nostalgia flickered across his expression.

Then he smiled faintly.

"Young lady... may I borrow the sword to take a look?"

Selena blinked, genuinely confused.

What was there to see?

"This is just an ordinary treasure," she replied honestly. "Not even a Spirit Treasure."

Rex Vine did not argue.

He simply said, voice calm and steady:

"Although this sword’s grade is not high... its owner was once an existence that many could never reach."

And for a fleeting moment—

The fractured street of Ashford City felt like the center of the world.