The Line That Cannot Be Crossed
Leon looked at Shera calmly.
The dust of battle had not fully settled. Broken stone tiles lay scattered across the courtyard, and the faint tallic scent of blood still lingered in the air. A dry wind moved between the ruined pillars, stirring the hems of robes and carrying with it the tension of a storm that had not yet decided whether to fall.
"Since Senior Brother has spoken," he began slowly—
The air around them seed to hold its breath.
"Since Senior Brother has said so, if I still pursue further, won’t they say that our Celestis Academy is not on good terms? I’ll reluctantly accept these treasures."
His tone was light. Almost amused.
But everyone present knew—nothing about this mont was casual.
Leon raised his sleeve and stored away the supre-grade sword, the supre-grade silk inner armor, and the dicinal pills into his Storage Space. His expression even carried a trace of embarrassnt, as if he had been forced into taking them.
Yet behind that calm façade, a faint smile flickered in his purple eyes.
Shera’s face tightened.
Leon saw it.
And enjoyed it.
Phew...
Seeing that Leon finally stopped pursuing the matter of the Zain family, Shera released a slow breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. Losing a few treasures? That was nothing. Wealth could always be regained.
But lowering his head to Leon in front of so many sect representatives...
That was another matter.
Still, better humiliation than disaster.
Shera understood very clearly just how terrifying Leon had beco. If he had insisted on pushing forward, if Leon had decided to uproot the Zain family entirely—Shera might not have been able to stop him.
And the Zain family was not just a casual acquaintance.
They were a river of resources flowing into Secret Sword Summit.
He could not afford to let that river dry up.
He had just turned to leave, sleeves swaying with restrained frustration—
"Wait..."
Leon’s voice was calm.
But it stopped Shera mid-step.
"Hmm?" Shera frowned faintly. "Junior Brother, is there anything else?"
He had already bowed. Already paid. Already swallowed his pride.
What more did Leon want?
Leon’s gaze shifted, slow and deliberate.
"The matter with the Zain family has been resolved," he said, voice smooth as still water. "But... I’m afraid it won’t be that easy to settle for those old n from Sky Breaker Acedmy, right?"
The courtyard grew even quieter.
"They?" Shera followed his gaze—and imdiately understood.
Leon was already walking toward Magnus.
Each step was unhurried. Each step echoed.
"Previously," Leon said mildly, stopping before Magnus, "you insulted my Celestis Academy’s Headmaster. Aren’t you going to give an explanation?"
Magnus’s face darkened instantly.
The wound in his chest throbbed, and humiliation burned hotter than the injury.
"What!" Shera’s brows flared with genuine anger this ti.
This was no longer about personal grudges.
Headmaster Mike was the face of Celestis Academy.
Insulting him publicly was no small matter.
"What do you want?" Magnus said stiffly, jaw tight.
Shera stepped forward, his expression no longer restrained.
"Fellow Magnus," he said coldly, "my Celestis Academy and your Sky Breaker Acedmy have always minded our own business. I’m afraid it’s not appropriate for you to speak rudely and insult my senior brother’s reputation, right?"
His aura began to rise.
Not explosively like Leon’s earlier display—but steady, heavy, like a mountain pressing down.
Max hurriedly stood up despite his injuries.
"Fellow Daoist Shera, this is all a misunderstanding. My senior brother did it unintentionally."
He bowed slightly, sweat beading at his temple.
"My Sky Breaker Acedmy has been friendly with your Celestis Academy for so many years. We can’t ruin this friendship because of this small misunderstanding, right?"
"Misunderstanding?"
Leon only smiled faintly.
He said nothing further.
There was no need.
He had placed the blade on the table.
Whether it cut or not would depend on Shera.
Leon turned his head slightly, glancing at Shera with unreadable calm.
Senior Brother... now let’s see what you choose.
Shera understood.
His jaw tightened.
"Senior Brother, do as you see fit! I still have sothing on, I’ll take my leave first..."
Leon waved lightly and turned away, his midnight robes with thin athyst embroideries catching the light as he moved.
He did not look back.
He truly did not care how this escalated.
If matters exploded into full conflict between Celestis Academy and Sky Breaker Acedmy?
So be it.
Headmaster Mike was not rely a person.
He was the banner of their sect.
To insult him was to test the spine of Celestis Academy itself.
And Magnus had done so publicly.
"Hmph... misunderstanding?" Shera’s voice hardened.
"Max, do you think I’m a fool?"
His aura surged.
The might of a sage Realm expert erupted without restraint.
Wind roared through the broken courtyard. Loose stones lifted slightly from the ground. Even the spectators from other sects instinctively stepped back.
Many of them had only focused on Leon earlier.
Only now did they fully realize—
Celestis Academy was not sustained by one sword alone.
Shera’s presence was no weaker than Leon’s.
This was an ancient orthodoxy.
Even in decline, its roots were deep.
"Respected Shera, this is really a misunderstanding. We have no intention of insulting Respected Mike." Max’s voice trembled slightly.
He wanted to cry.
Leon alone had nearly shattered them.
Now Shera stood before them with equal pressure.
How could they fight in this state?
They had no choice but to endure.
Shera’s eyes burned.
"Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, I have the ability to tell right from wrong."
His voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Today’s matter is not over. My Celestis Academy has never had any grudges with famous sects or Powerful Sects—but that does not an we will fear you."
Each word landed like a hamr.
"Sky Breaker Acedmy—if you want to fight, my Celestis Academy will accept it."
The declaration was domineering.
Direct.
No retreat.
The surrounding representatives from the supre Paradise sect, Divine Golden sect, Soft Water Divine sect, and Bottom Acedmy all exchanged glances.
The balance between great powers had just shifted.
Max’s lips trembled.
"This..."
He could not argue.
He could not refute.
He could only swallow the bitterness and return to report to his Great Elder.
They had angered Celestis Academy over a single reckless sentence from Magnus.
And the consequences...
No one could predict them.
"Hmph."
Shera flicked his sleeves sharply.
His robes snapped in the wind like a banner.
Without another glance at Magnus, Max, or Mason, he turned and left.
Behind him, the three figures from Sky Breaker Acedmy remained in ruins—
blood-stained,
humiliated,
and utterly at a loss.
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