A Word That Shook the Sky
"Junior Brother Leon, what’s going on?" Headmaster Mike asked with a solemn expression.
The wind pressed against his sleeves as the vortex above Athyst Summit Division continued to churn like a heavenly sea turned upside down. Every elder present had already forgotten their usual composure. Even the disciples standing at the outer periter leaned forward, breath held.
All eyes shifted to Leon.
Why did Kevin suddenly cause such a violent reaction?
Leon simply shrugged.
"It’s nothing," he said casually. "I just said a few words. He comprehended on the spot."
Silence.
A few words?
The elders stared at him.
The younger disciples blinked, confused.
The vortex roared louder.
Can you be more serious?
The question hovered in the air, unspoken yet unanimous.
"Epiphany?" Maya murmured in disbelief, her gaze shifting between Kevin—still seated in ditation beneath the descending Mana—and Leon’s unreadable face.
Coupled with the swirling Mana Blessings phenonon in the sky, it matched his explanation disturbingly well.
An epiphany.
Every cultivator present understood the weight of that word.
It was not sothing one could force.
It was not sothing one could study into existence.
It descended like lightning.
It required terrifying comprehension—and fate.
"Unbelievable..." soone whispered from the side. "A cultivator might not enter epiphany even once in a hundred years."
"What did he say?"
"What kind of Principal insight was it?"
"Why did Martial Nephew Kevin suddenly awaken like this?"
The murmurs spread like ripples in a pond.
Headmaster Mike was the most unsettled of them all.
Kevin was his student.
He knew his temperant—steady, disciplined, cautious.
Talented, yes.
But not soone who casually stepped into enlightennt from a passing sentence.
Mike slowly turned his eyes back toward Leon.
And for the first ti in years, he truly examined this junior brother of his.
The man once regarded as idle.
Lazy.
Unambitious.
The one others whispered about behind closed doors.
Leon stood quietly in his midnight robes, athyst embroidery faintly glowing in the Mana storm. His long black hair stirred gently, and the purple of his eyes reflected the rotating heavens.
He looked relaxed.
Too relaxed.
As if all this—
Was ordinary.
Shera’s jaw tightened.
Yaman’s brows furrowed.
This was the first ti they truly felt it.
This man had never revealed himself.
Yet he had already reached a height none of them had noticed.
He did not argue.
He did not boast.
He simply stood there—and the sky responded.
Several disciples whispered behind them.
"Is this still the Guardian Elder Leon we knew?"
"I used to think he was exactly like the rumors said..."
"This... this is terrifying."
"In the past, people joked that even the dogs wouldn’t co to Athyst Summit Division."
"Now look at it."
"Beautiful scenery. Pure Mana. One-on-one guidance. Professional instruction. Treasures freely given..."
"And he follows his students’ cultivation personally, correcting their flaws imdiately."
"It’s hard not to rise under soone like that."
The regret in their voices was almost painful.
Leon heard the murmurs.
Inside, he remained calm.
Outside, he looked indifferent.
Hmm.
Good.
Let them misunderstand.
The more mysterious I seem, the better.
Headmaster Mike stroked his beard slowly.
His thoughts were no longer casual.
He had made the right decision to observe Athyst Summit Division more closely.
Such a peak master.
Such students.
If properly supported—
This lineage might beco the pillar of Celestis Academy in the future.
Resources must not fall short.
He silently made that decision.
Beside Leon, Maya stood unusually quiet.
She had moved closer without realizing it.
Her gaze remained fixed on him now—not the vortex.
Her heartbeat felt strange.
This junior brother...
He used to appear thin. Quiet. Almost fragile in temperant.
Now—
Standing half a head taller than her, surrounded by the descending Mana, his presence felt vast.
Unreachable.
She swallowed softly.
Why does he feel so... far away?
A faint irritation blood inside her chest.
Not anger.
Sothing sharper.
Why didn’t he say more?
Why didn’t he explain?
Why did he always keep that calm, unreadable smile?
Did he enjoy watching them puzzle over him?
Her fingers curled slightly at her side.
For a brief second, she imagined grabbing his sleeve again—forcing him to answer properly.
She quickly looked away.
What am I thinking?
Her cheeks ward.
She shot him a sideways glance, lips pressing together in mild frustration.
He noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Leon’s peripheral awareness missed very little.
She’s irritated.
He resisted the urge to smile wider.
Shera finally stepped forward, his expression complicated.
"Junior Brother," he said, voice lower than usual, "tell us the truth. What Principal insight did you speak of? Why did he enter epiphany so easily?"
The conflict from earlier was gone.
Now there was only seriousness.
Leon shrugged again.
"I truly didn’t say anything special," he replied calmly. "I was giving so pointers to my student. He stood nearby and listened for a while... then suddenly he entered epiphany."
The wind howled.
The vortex trembled.
"... ..."
It sounded simple.
Too simple.
The entire academy had gathered because of this phenonon.
And he explained it like he was describing tea.
"Giving so pointers?" Yaman muttered under his breath.
The peak masters exchanged glances.
They were numb.
He clearly did not want to reveal the exact words.
No one believed it was that casual.
A few sentences.
A casual explanation.
And Kevin stepped into enlightennt?
Impossible.
This young Guardian Elder—
He was hiding sothing profound.
They could feel it.
Leon folded his sleeves behind his back, posture relaxed, gaze lifting toward the swirling sky.
Let them guess.
So truths are better left as rumors.
The vortex continued to spin above Athyst Summit Division, growing brighter with every breath Kevin took.
And beneath the roaring heavens—
Leon stood quietly,
As if it had truly been nothing at all.
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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragent really keep motivated to keep bringing *Grand Return System* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!
With love,
Scoturn777
Creator of Grand Return System
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