[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-grand-return-system":3,"chapter-grand-return-system-grand-return-system-chapter-12":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Grand Return System",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1080182,1397,"Chapter 12: When the Mountain Breathes","grand-return-system-chapter-12",12,"\u003Cp>When the Mountain Breathes\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, there’s nothing particularly important. It’s about the Seven Division Martial Meeting in three months. I wanted to ask your Teacher whether the Amethyst Summit Division wants to participate this time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind curled along the cliffside — thin, crisp, carrying echoes across the valley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Amethyst Summit Division had only one student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven participation slots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, as one branch of Celestis Academy, the Headmaster still needed to ask. He could leave no division unseen — it was a duty etched into his bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seven Division Martial Meeting...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention, Selena’s eyes brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon had spoken of this before entering seclusion — the weight of it, the pride behind it, the chance to prove something to the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted her chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Headmaster, my Teacher told me about this before. The Amethyst Summit Division will participate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. Very good.\"Mike nodded, faint satisfaction glimmering in his gaze. He genuinely wanted to see how far this frost-born girl could grow in three months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shera snorted softly, disdain curling in his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems your Teacher has great confidence in this Martial Meeting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena’s gaze turned calm — so calm it almost cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guardian Elder Shera, please don’t worry. During this Martial Meeting, I will definitely show mercy if I meet a student of Secret Sword Summit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the words?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blade wrapped in silk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana stirred around Shera’s shoulders as anger rushed into his veins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You arrogant little girl...\"His teeth clenched. \"Indeed — Teacher and student are alike. Do you really think you can learn anything following that trash of a Teacher?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena’s brows knitted slightly — frost whispering beneath her skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t have to worry about that, Guardian Elder Shera. Worry about yourself first. If your student loses to a student taught by a ’useless’ Teacher like mine... that would be quite the slap to your face, wouldn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Air caught in Shera’s throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nearly coughed blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quiet girl?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knife-tongued — just like Leon when pushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Presumptuous!\" he snapped. \"Disrespectful to your elders — offending your superiors. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your Teacher, so you’ll understand what respect is—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—and then the mountain breathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep rumble rolled from the back mountain, shaking gravel loose, stirring the clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana surged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pure. Vast. Terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mike’s breath halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm? This is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was oppressive — ancient, like the world itself exhaled through that presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could it be... that the other seniors of the Amethyst Summit Division aren’t dead after all?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Shera turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena’s chest tightened — then flooded with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Teacher is out of seclusion!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments ago, fear gnawed at her. Shera’s hostility had been real — and she knew how wide the gulf between their strength was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That power resonating through the valley?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Familiar. Secure. The way sunlight feels when it hits closed eyelids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Teacher...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Leon...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shock crawled across Shera and Mike’s faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aura sweeping down from the back mountain—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>GrandMaster Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Leon had been — publicly — only two-star Onyx Realm days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A streak of cloud flashed overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A figure stepped calmly through the air — and reality seemed to part to make way for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black hair, loose at his shoulders, moved with the wind like shadows sliding across water. His robes — midnight, embroidered with thin threads of amethyst — billowed softly, carrying a quiet authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes —\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>deep, quiet, purple like cold starlight in winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A presence both serene and dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like someone who had seen the abyss...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...and walked back out by choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His aura didn’t scream power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It whispered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Subtle. Terrifying. The kind that made the world itself hesitate before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t rush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply stepped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in one stride, crossed the distance from the back mountain to the cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mike inhaled sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen teleportation before, but this...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wasn’t mistaken—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon did notteleport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bent distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a feat only those touching the edge of King Realm could control with such ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Shera’s face drained of blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four days ago — trash at Onyx two-stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing calmly at the threshold of the GrandMaster Realm...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>possibly brushing against King Realm itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One conclusion rooted into Shera’s mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon had hidden his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, how could someone like Respected Zeon choose him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Selena bowed instantly, voice steady but filled with warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Student Selena welcomes Teacher from seclusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon nodded gently and helped her up, his touch light — reassuring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright. Get up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a single glance around, he already understood everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his gaze toward Shera — smiling faintly, but there was steel buried beneath it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior Brother Shera,\" Leon said softly, \"I heard... you wanted to help me teach my student?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind went silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for the first time since arriving, Shera truly felt it:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mountain wasn’t forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had simply been asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it had opened its eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>",852,"2026-06-03T10:40:08.506Z","2026-06-03T10:40:16.814Z",1,"novelbin.me","6d0c4ca9155f6f7c9c9a57c8dcba5ca9cd0c134fac3053428a9ae6b368cf4475","grand-return-system-chapter-13","grand-return-system-chapter-11",234,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fgrand-return-system-cover.jpg"]